14 Container Plants for Shade That Thrive with Little Light
Brighten up darker areas of your yard with shade garden pots for a colorful multi-seasonal display
Garden areas in semi-shade and full shade can present growing challenges, with many plants failing to thrive if there’s too little light. By choosing plant varieties that require less light, gardeners can create a stunning display in shady spots.
Many shade plants perform well in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets, giving gardeners with limited space, shady entryways and patios more options. Even apartment dwellers with a north-facing balcony or patio can create a beautiful display with plants in pots in shade.
When container gardening in the shade, consider cultural needs. Flower pots for shade will need less water than containers placed in full sun. Make sure that planters in the shade have well-draining soil and drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Shade plants potted in containers may need more frequent fertilizing than those in the ground.
Here are some of the best plants for containers in shade, along with shade planter ideas for your shady space.
 1. BEGONIA Double Up™ Red Exposure: Sun or shade This versatile bedding annual is tolerant of sun or shade, and is useful in containers. Begonias bloom all summer long until the first frost, with different colored flowers and foliage. Double Up™ Red has rounded deep bronze leaves and bright red flowers for stunning contrast. One of the best potted shade plants, begonias add color to patios, decks and entryways. |
 2. BOXWOOD Neatball® Exposure: Sun to full shade Boxwood is one of the most versatile landscape shrubs, with evergreen glossy foliage that is amenable to shearing into formal hedging. Tolerant of sun or shade, boxwood adds year-round structure and color to the landscape. Use boxwood in containers as a focal point in a entryway, along a pathway, or on a patio or deck. Neatball® is a hardy variety with a compact habit and lush, dark green foliage. |
 3. HEARTLEAF BRUNNERA ‘Queen of Hearts’ Exposure: Partial to full shade Also known as Siberian bugloss, this hardy herbaceous perennial produces large green or variegated heart-shaped leaves and small vivid blue flowers in spring that resemble forget-me-nots. ‘Queen of Hearts’ has silvery foliage punctuated with green veining, making it useful for brightening up shady areas. Plant in a container by itself as a showy focal point, or alongside other plants with colorful foliage such as coral bells, lungwort and foamflower for multi-seasonal interest. |
 4. COLEUS ColorBlaze® Chocolate Drop Exposure: Sun or shade One of the most popular annuals, coleus plants come in an endless array of leaf colors, patterns and shapes. Plants are tolerant of different light conditions, from sun to shade. Use this versatile tropical plant as a showy focal point in a shady container, or in combination with creeping Jenny, wishbone flower, impatiens, ferns and caladiums. The deep crimson and green leaves of ColorBlaze® Chocolate add sophisticated color contrast to pots, with a trailing habit suitable for window boxes and hanging baskets. |
 5. CRESTED JAPANESE PAINTED FERN‘Crested Surf’ Exposure: Part shade to shade Japanese painted fern is an herbaceous perennial with sword-shaped fronds and silvery, white or burgundy patterns. The intricate leaves brighten up partial to full shade areas. ‘Crested Surf’ produces silver and green fronds with double-crested tips for a unique appearance. Combine in a container with colorful plants such as caladium, coral bells, impatiens or small hostas for showy contrast. |
 6. CORAL BELLSPrimo® ‘Black Pearl’ Exposure: Sun or shade One of the most versatile perennials, coral bells can be grown in sun or shade, and is somewhat drought tolerant once established. Plants produce evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves in a wide mix of colors, patterns and shapes. The stunning black foliage of Primo® ‘Black Pearl’ has a shiny sheen, with scalloped edges and rosy-purple undersides. Plant in a brightly colored pot for eye-popping contrast, or in a neutral white, silver or gray container for a sophisticated look. |
 7. HOSTAShadowland® ‘Diamond Lake’ Exposure: Part shade to shade This herbaceous perennial is one of the most popular garden plants, with showy leaves in an endless array of colors and patterns. Plants can range from tiny cultivars a few inches across to giant specimens up to 6 feet wide. Shadowland® ‘Diamond Lake’ is a medium to large variety with pale blue leaves that have a corrugated texture and wavy margins. Use as a specimen in a larger pot and display along a pathway or on a shady patio as a showy focal point. |
 8. IMPATIENSRockapulco® Rose Exposure: Part shade to shade One of the best flowers for shade pots, impatiens are a popular warm-season annual with colorful long-lasting blooms that occur from summer into frost. Rockapulco® Rose has a dense mounding habit, producing gorgeous double pink rose-like flowers on vigorous plants. Use as a filler element in a container in combination with polka dot plant, coleus, wishbone flower, caladium and sweet potato vine. |
 9. LUNGWORT‘Spot On’ Exposure: Part shade to shade Lungwort is an herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped green or patterned foliage and clusters of colorful flowers in spring. This shade lover thrives in rich soil and moist conditions, with protection from hot afternoon sun. The silver speckled foliage of ‘Spot On’ is complemented by salmon pink buds that open to rich blue flowers for a stunning two-toned effect. Plant in a shade container garden in a pot by itself as a captivating focal point, or in combination with other moisture loving shade plants such as hosta, impatiens, begonia and ferns. |
 10. WISHBONE FLOWERCatalina® Midnight Blue Exposure: Sun or shade Wishbone flower is a warm-season annual with brightly hued snapdragon-like flowers that bloom from summer into fall. Plants are heat and shade tolerant, and are virtually maintenance-free with self-cleaning flowers. The vivid blue flowers of Catalina® Midnight Blue are punctuated with a yellow throat for eye catching contrast. Use this mounding or trailing plant massed in containers, hanging baskets or window boxes. Combine with coleus, sweet potato vine, creeping Jenny or impatiens. |
 11. CALADIUMHeart to Heart® ‘White Wonder’ Exposure: Sun or shade Grown for the large showy leaves, caladium is a warm-season annual with foliage in a range of eye-catching colors and patterns. Tolerant of sun or shade, Heart to Heart® ‘White Wonder’ has white heart-shaped leaves with slender green margins and subtle veining. One of the best shade-loving plants for pots, use caladium as a stunning focal point to brighten up dark shade areas. Combine with sweet potato vine, impatiens, fancy leaf begonia or silver dichondra. |
 12. CHINESE FRINGE-FLOWERJazz Hands Bold® Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Related to witch hazel, Chinese fringe-flower is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with green, burgundy or chartreuse foliage and delicate tassel-like flowers in spring. This ornamental bush performs best with direct morning sun and protection from hot afternoon sun. Jazz Hands Bold® has deep burgundy foliage and bright pink flowers for stunning contrast. Plant in a larger container as a focal point in an entryway, shaded porch or patio. |
 13. PIGSQUEAK‘Miss Piggy’ Exposure: Part shade to shade This hardy perennial has large, thick cabbage-like leaves that are evergreen in warmer climates. In spring, upright stems produce clusters of white, pink or red flowers above the foliage. ‘Miss Piggy’ has robust stems with bright pink flowers that complement the glossy dark green foliage. Plant in a decorative container by itself or with other shade lovers and display in a semi-shaded entryway or along a woodland path for multi-seasonal color. |
 14. CREEPING JENNY‘Goldilocks’ Exposure: Part sun to sun Creeping Jenny is a semi-evergreen ground cover with small, rounded green, lime green or yellow leaves, and yellow flowers in spring. This versatile ornamental plant is tolerant of different growing conditions. The golden foliage of ‘Goldilocks’ is useful for brightening up semi-shaded areas. Use as a spiller element in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes. Combine with other shade lovers such as coral bells, hosta, lobelia, impatiens and coleus. |
LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS
Watch these videos to see how the pros create amazing shade containers:
RECIPES FOR CONTAINERS IN SHADE
Try some of these Proven Winners’ recipes to add beautiful color to shady pots, window boxes and hanging baskets:
 Precious Opal |  River Dance |  Cinnamon Toast |
Buy Proven Winners plants:
