Part-Shade Plants

Partial-shade plants thrive in areas that get about 4 to 6 hours of sun each day, usually morning light or dappled shade under trees. This makes these plants ideal for borders, gardens under tree canopies, spaces along fence lines, hanging baskets, and even containers.

At Garden Crossings, we have a wide selection of perennials, annuals, edibles, and garden shrubs that’ll perform beautifully in your shady spot, each selected for exceptional quality and customer success. Explore our plants.

White part shade flowers with variegated green foliage
Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) features vibrant red blooms with yellow centers and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A green ceramic pot displays vibrant red Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with yellow centers and lush green foliage, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up shows Safari™ Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with small lavender-purple blooms and yellow centers trailing from a blue planter on a sunny day, with green grass in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A hanging basket showcases Safari™ Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with vibrant lavender-purple blooms featuring yellow centers and deep green foliage with some larger pink flowers in the center fo the basket - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99
Santa Cruz® Begonia displays bright orange-red, long-pointed flowers that hang downward amid green leaves and small white blossoms in a lush garden setting - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA vibrant Santa Cruz® Begonia, with lush dark green leaves and drooping red petals, thrives beside grass and mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Santa Cruz® Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of a vibrant Sapphire Indigo™ Clematis flower with pointed purple petals and detailed stamens, set among green leaves and blurred foliage - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisSeveral deep purple, star-shaped Sapphire Indigo™ Clematis flowers with pointed petals and green leaves bloom on a compact vine outdoors, set against a softly blurred brown and green background - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Sapphire Indigo™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A Sasquatch™ Dark Green Arborvitae (Thuja) shrub thrives beside a rustic wooden building, framed by pink blooms and greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Tall, dense Sasquatch™ Dark Green Arborvitae (Thuja) shrubs with lush green foliage create a fast-growing evergreen privacy hedge, partially screening a backyard pool and fence in a bright, verdant outdoor space - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Sasquatch™ Dark Green Arborvitae (Thuja)

$22.99
$22.99
Two spikes of small, white flowers bloom among lush green leaves on the Scentlandia® Sweetspire (Itea), their dense clusters standing out beautifully against the broad, veined foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCDense green foliage and clusters of elongated, cream-colored, bottlebrush-like flower spikes emerge from the stems of the Scentlandia® Sweetspire (Itea), with small flowers densely packed along each spike. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Scentlandia® Sweetspire (Itea)

$22.99
$22.99
Small white flower buds cluster among green leaves with cream edges on a Sgt. Pepper® Dogwood (Cornus) shrub, with softly blurred foliage in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCSgt. Pepper® Dogwood (Cornus) features small white flowers with pink buds, set among green leaves edged in creamy white, and is admired for its striking foliage and colorful stems. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Sgt. Pepper® Dogwood (Cornus)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

A close-up of 'Shade Fanfare' Sedge (Carex) shows long, narrow leaves with yellow-ish variegation and brown tips, growing in soil outdoors. Blurred greenery in the background highlights this striking groundcover - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of Shade Fanfare' Sedge (Carex) with dense, green pointed leaves featuring light yellow stripes - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Shade Fanfare' Sedge (Carex)

$19.99
$19.99
Close-up of Shadow Dancer® 'Marcia' Fuchsia with vibrant purple and red petals, long pink stamens, and green leaves in white pots - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.Close-up of Shadow Dancer® 'Marcia' Fuchsia featuring vibrant deep pink petals, purple centers, and delicate stamens, set against lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Shadow Dancer® 'Marcia' Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99

Two vibrant red and white Shadow Dancer® Betty Fuchsia flowers with elongated petals and pink stamens hang amid green leaves in bright sunlight, highlighting the plant’s compact growth - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of a Shadow Dancer® Betty Fuchsia with vibrant red and white petals, surrounded by green leaves and red buds. Dense, lush green foliage and hints of reddish-purple leaves fill the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Shadow Dancer® Betty Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99
Top-down view of Shadowland® 'Above the Clouds' Hosta showing its large, blue-green broad leaves among ferns, bright green foliage, and plants with reddish, maple-like leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Shadowland® 'Above the Clouds' Hosta features large, textured blue-green leaves and in a shade garden with other foliage and as a striking accent near fences - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Above the Clouds' Hosta

$19.79
$21.99 $19.79

Close-up of a Shadowland® 'Affair to Remember' Hosta's cluster of pale purple and white flowers with water droplets, blooming amid bold green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of Shadowland® 'Affair to Remember' Hosta with large, slightly glossy leaves with bold green edges, bright yellow centers, striking variegation, and dramatic foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Affair to Remember' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of Shadowland® 'Autumn Frost' Hosta features dense clusters of leaves with creamy yellow edges and dark green centers surrounded by mulch and other foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A group of Shadowland® 'Autumn Frost' Hosta, striking shade perennials with broad yellow leaves and green centers, grow in soil covered by pine needles inside a metal border - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Autumn Frost' Hosta

$21.99
$21.99

Shadowland® 'Chance Encounter' Hosta features broad, two-tone green leaves with yellow edges and thrives among other leafy plants and pinkish blooms - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Shadowland® 'Chance Encounter' Hosta features large, broad leaves with yellow edges and green centers, striking veins, and a lush overlapping pattern - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Chance Encounter' Hosta

$13.99
$19.99 $13.99
Close-up view of Shadowland® 'Diamond Lake' Hosta features large, overlapping blue-green leaves with prominent ridges, forming dense clumps in natural sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Shadowland® 'Diamond Lake' Hosta features large blue-green leaves with prominent veins and a slightly waxy texture. The overlapping foliage forms a dense shade perennial, with occasional water spots or speckles on its surfaces - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Diamond Lake' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

Shadowland® 'Echo the Sun' Hosta features vibrant yellow foliage, growing in dense clusters within mulch and stone borders - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A close-up of a large, yellowing leaf with pronounced veins and wavy edges, showing stress typical of yellow foliage hostas like Shadowland® 'Echo the Sun' Hosta. Similar leaves are seen in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Echo the Sun' Hosta

$30.99
$21.99 $30.99

Close-up of Shadowland® 'Etched Glass' Hosta features large leaves with vibrant yellow centers and dark green edges. This shade perennial has healthy, lush foliage that stands out beautifully amid brown pine needles - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Shadowland® 'Etched Glass' Hosta, a shade perennial with large heart-shaped leaves boasting vibrant green edges and bright yellow centers, is surrounded by other leafy foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Etched Glass' Hosta

$17.59
$21.99 $17.59

A lush Shadowland® 'Hope Springs Eternal' Hosta, a prized shade perennial with large blue-green leaves edged in creamy white, thrives in dark soil near a wooden lattice and has yellow-green foliage in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Shadowland® 'Hope Springs Eternal' Hosta boasts large green leaves with creamy white edges, prominent veins, and wavy margins. Overlapping foliage creates a dense, textured look typical of this shade-loving perennial hosta - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Hope Springs Eternal' Hosta

$19.79
$21.99 $19.79

Shadowland® 'Love Story' Hosta is a large variegated perennial with broad green leaves striped in creamy yellow and pale green - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A close-up of Shadowland® 'Love Story' Hosta shows its large, textured leaf with striking green, yellow, and cream variegation - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Love Story' Hosta

$21.99
$21.99

Shadowland® 'Miss America' Hosta, a large hosta with green and creamy yellow leaves, is featured in a mulched shade garden bed among lush plants, its vibrant foliage illuminated by sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Shadowland® 'Miss America' Hosta, a large variety with pointed green leaves and creamy white centers, flourishes in mulched shade beds among other hostas. Sunlight enhances its vibrant foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Miss America' Hosta

$13.19
$21.99 $13.19
Shadowland® 'Seducer' Hosta, a large shade perennial with broad green and yellow variegated leaves, grows in a garden bed near other plants and a white porch railing - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Shadowland® 'Seducer' Hosta features broad green leaves edged in yellow and tall stems of white flowers in a garden bed with assorted green foliage and mulch - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Seducer' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

Shadowland® 'Voices in the Wind' Hosta features broad, wavy green leaves with creamy yellow edges in a shady garden with soil and pine needles - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Shadowland® 'Voices in the Wind' Hosta is a large perennial with broad green leaves and wavy yellow edges - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Shadowland® 'Voices in the Wind' Hosta

$19.79
$21.99 $19.79
A close-up of Shadowland® 'Waterslide' Hosta, a shade perennial with wavy, ribbed blue-green leaves, growing in a mulched garden bed among plants with yellow and reddish foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top-down view of the Shadowland® 'Waterslide' Hosta features broad, blue ruffled leaves and pale purple flowers on tall stems - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Waterslide' Hosta

$21.99
$21.99

Shadowland® 'Wheee!' Hosta is a ruffled shade perennial with variegated leaves—light green edges and dark green centers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Cluster of green ruffled hostas, including Shadowland® 'Wheee!' Hosta with its tightly curled leaves, growing in mulched soil against a backdrop of evergreen shrubs - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Shadowland® 'Wheee!' Hosta

$17.59
$21.99 $17.59

Part-shade abelia shrub with flowers.

Enjoy Beautiful Blooms and Foliage with Less Shade

Many of the most beautiful flowers and plants thrive in sunny gardens. Others prefer deep shade and will easily burn or scorch in the afternoon sun. But there are also plants that don’t fall comfortably in either category: part-shade plants.

These plants do best in morning sun and afternoon shade, which protects from the harsh midday heat. This gentle sun helps bring out their most vibrant blooms and leaf colors. However, you’ll find that some varieties, like bugleweeds, are very adaptable and grow well in full shade too.

Chokeberry plants for part shade.

Shop Part-Shade Plants and Flowers for Your Growing Conditions

Growing since 2004, Garden Crossings understands first-hand how growing conditions and hardiness zones can influence your plant’s growth. To support your gardening success, we’ve selected partial-shade plants for zones 2 through 9. You’ll also find varieties that meet your growing conditions, from drought-tolerant shrubs to pollinator-friendly perennials. 

Order online for pickup or get your plants delivered.

FAQs

Part shade means your spot gets 4 to 6 hours of sun every day. These plants specifically prefer gentle morning sun and shade in the afternoon for protection from intense midday rays.

Many plants thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade, including begonias, fuchsias, and mums. Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas also often love cool morning light.

Not necessarily. Regional variations can also influence how plants respond to sunlight. For example, afternoon sun in southern states is often much stronger than in northern states like Minnesota. Consider your climate and hardiness zone before planting.