Perennials for
Part to Full Shade

Our plants and products are delivered throughout the season and are subject to availability.

For greater success, add Espoma BioTone when planting your perennials.

Full Sun (FS) – 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.

 

Part Sun (PS) – A greater emphasis is put on its receiving the minimal sun requirements.

 

Part Shade (PSH) – Should not be planted where they will get the burning late afternoon sun. Plant where it will get shaded from a tree or plant on the east side of a building.

 

Full Shade (SH) – Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day, with filtered sunlight during the rest of the day. Full shade does not mean “no sunlight.” There are very few plants that will grow in the dark.

 

Variety

Description

Exposure

Size

Aralia

Sun King

Bright chartreuse foliage. 36-60″ x 36-60″

PSH to SH

1 gal

Aquilegia / Columbine

Biedermeier

This upright perennial features tall stalks dotted with long-spurred, bell-shaped flowers. The blooms are predominantly blue and tinged with hints of pink and white. 10-12″ x 10-12″

PSH to SH

4.5″

Kirigami Deep Blue

Dark indigo blue outer petals and white inner petals shades. 22-24″ x 16-20″

PS to PSH

Astilbe / False Spirea

Bridal Veil

Pure white plumes above lacy deep green foliage. 28″ x 18″

PS to SH

4.5″

Dark Side of the Moon – PW

Rich deep chocolate brown leaves. New leaves are yellow with a dark margin turning completely dark as they age. Raspberry buds open to rosy purple flowers. 20-22″ x 24-28″

PS to SH

6″

Deutschland

Graceful, airy mounds with plumes of snow white, feathery flowers. Very showy in the landscape in moist areas, in a shaded to dappled shade setting.12″ x 36″ with flowers reaching 24″

PS to SH

4.5″ & 8″

Fanal

Noted for having perhaps the darkest red flowers of any of the astilbes and bronze foliage. It is a compact and forms a foliage mound to 9-12” tall with dark crimson red flowers appearing on upright, 15-18” tall stems. The foliage emerges bronze and turns dark green with a reddish tint as the summer progresses.

PS to SH

4.5″ & 8″

Happy Spirit

The large white flowers stand out against the dark red stems of this variety. 20-22″ x 14-15″

PS to SH

6″

Look at Me

Look at Me has large, fragrant, bubble-gum pink plumes on red stems over a compact mound of elegant, lacy green leaves. Declared the best new plant at Plantarium 2013. 16-18″ x 12-19″

PSH to SH

6″

Rheinland

Typically forms a dark green foliage mound (to 9-12” tall) with clear pink flowers appearing on upright, 24” tall reddish stems.

PS to SH

4.5″

Younique™ Ruby Red

Early season bloomer with upright ruby red plumes. 12-16″ x 14-18″

PS to SH

6″

Younique Salmon

Fluffy salmon-pink flower plumes rise above a mount of fern-like deep green, glossy foliage. Salmon-pink flowers appear in early summer. 12-16″ x 14-18″

PSH to SH

6″

Younique™ Silvery Pink

Petite foliage topped by bunches of fragrant, triangular, pale pink plumes in early to midsummer. 16-20″ x 16-20″

PS to SH

8″

Astilbe chinensis / Chinese Astilbe / False Spirea

Black Pearls

Late-flowering variety offers mid to late summer interest. A new color for astilbe, the plant produces feathery bright purple plumes with just a hint of blue. 24″ x 20″

PS to SH

6″

Fireworks Pink

This astilbe has large, delicate pink plumes of flowers on gracefully arching stems. 18-20″ x 18″

PS to SH

6″

Hot Pearls®

This is a later blooming type with large red flower plumes that sit above the feathery, medium green foliage. The thick stems are quite sturdy and will not flop over with the weight of the flowers. 18″ x 12-24″

PS to SH

6″

Vision in Pink

Light pink flower plumes are striking against coarsely textured, blue-green foliage. Tolerates drier soils than other varieties. 24-32″ x 12-24″

PS to SH

8″

Visions

A slow spreading, late bloomer. ‘Visions’ is a compact cultivar which features a foliage mound (to 9” tall) of bronze-green leaves and thick panicles of raspberry flowers on 12-15” tall stems in late spring to early summer.

PS to SH

8″

Brunnera macrophylla / Siberian Bugloss

Jack of Diamonds – PW

Heart shaped silver leaves with dark green veins. Baby blue forge-me-not flowers in spring. 14-16″ x 28-32″

PSH to SH

6″ & 8″

Queen of Hearts – PW

Heart shaped leaves have a silver overlay and a narrow band of dark green veining. Baby blue, forget-me-not type blossoms. 16-18″ x 28-36″

PSH to SH

6″

Dicentra / Bleeding Heart

Alba (Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart)

Large, exquisitely delicate white heart-shaped blooms. 30-36″ x 24-30″

PSH to SH

4.5″ & 6″

Gold Heart (Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart)

Golden yellow foliage (chartreuse in more shade) with pink and white heart-shaped blooms appear in early spring. 18-24″ x 24-36″

PSH to SH

King of Hearts

With a compact growth habit, King of Hearts produces blooms in arching sprays of hot pink, heart-shaped flowers. The fern-like, emerald green foliage forms a mound and lasts throughout the season in shady areas. 8-10″ x 12-14″

PS to SH

1 Gal

Pink Diamonds (Fern Leaf) – PW

Two-tone pink flowers are produced above fern-like blue-green foliage all season long. 12-16″ x 16-18″

PSH to SH

Spectabilis (Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart)

Pink and white flowers. 30-36″ x 24-30″

PSH to SH

4.5″, 6″ & 1 Gal

Helleborus / Lenten Rose

Honeymoon® Paris in Pink

3.5-4″ single flowers. Light pink to dark pink blossoms. Drought and salt tolerant. 18-24″ x 18-24″

PSH to SH

8″

Honeymoon® Rio Carnival

2.5-3″ single flowers. Light yellow blooms have burgundy red speckling. Reliable evergreen perennial for the shade. 18-24″ x 18-24″

PSH to SH

8″

Honeymoon® Sandy Shores

2.5-3″ single flowers. Pale apricot blossoms. Backs of the flowers are rosy pink. 18-24″ x 18-24″

PSH to SH

8″

Heuchera / Coral Bells

Dressed Up® Evening Gown – PW

Huge glossy black leaves are incredibly ruffled and form a substantial habit. Large flower scapes hold pink buds that open to white flowers. 12-14″ x 20-24″. Scape height 18-20″

PS to PSH

6″

Primo® Mahogany Monster

Massive glossy, mahogany red leaves form a substantial clump of foliage. Large burgundy flower stems hold light pink buds with cream flowers. 12-16″ x 22-28″ Flower height is 32-38″

PS to PSH

8″

Primo® Peachberry Ice – PW

Large, apricot orange leaves have a silver overlay, beautifully pronounced ruffling, and bright pink undersides. Leaves mellow in warmer months. Cream flowers. 8-10″ x 30-34″. Scape height 24-30″

PS to PSH

8″

Primo® ‘Wild Rose’ – PW

This Coral Bell has a dense habit of large, bright rosy purple leaves with prominent deep charcoal gray veining. Upright, dark burgundy stems hold rosy pink flowers. 8-10″ x 18-20″

PS to PSH

8″

Primo® Black Pearl – PW

The stunning black foliage on this Coral Bell will grow in both shade and sun. It has a dense habit of shiny, jet black leaves with scalloped, ruffled edges and rosy purple undersides. Topped with white flowers with pink outer whorl of the flowers. 8-10″ x 18-20″

PS to PSH

8″

Forever Red

This fast growing Heuchera has extremely red. The leaves are cut and somewhat ruffled and are reddest in the spring and fall when the temperatures are cooler. The 14″ spikes have white flowers in mid summer. 7″ x 14″

PS to PSH

1gal

Heucherella / Foamy Bells (Cross of Tiarella and Heuchera)

Fun & Games® Capture The Flag – PW

This large-leaved variety has deeply lobed chartreuse leaves with dramatic burgundy red centers. In late spring clouds of white flowers appear on light colored stems above the foliage. 8-10 x 20-22″

PSH to SH

1gal

Hosta

Blue Angel

Blue Angel is a giant of a hosta! It has very large blueish green, slug resistant leaves. Blue Angel has a medium growth rate and will reach 24-30″ tall by 6′ wide. The near-white flowers bloom in mid summer on 3 to 4′ scapes. Blue Angel is drought tolerant once established. This impressive hosta makes a great specimen plant.

PSH to SH

Shadowland® Autumn Frost – PW

This striking Hosta forms a medium sized mound of showy, frosty blue leaves with extra wide, bright yellow margins. The margins lighten to creamy white and light lavender flowers are produced in summeron 12-16″ scapes. 10-12″ x 12-16″

PS to PSH

Shadowland® Diamond Lake – PW

This attractive hosta has heart-shaped, thick and heavily corrugated blue leaves with wavy margins. Pale lavender flowers grown on 25-28″ scapes. 17″ x 45″

PSH to SH

8″

Shadowland® Hope Springs Eternal – PW

A ruffled hosta that will bring joy year after year. Heart-shaped, blue leaves have crisp, creamy white edges. Near white flowers. 20-22″ x 45-48″

PSH to SH

Shadowland® Wu La La – PW

Similar to Empress Wu. Blue-green leaves have striking apple-green margins. Give the plant about 5 years to reach full maturity. Violet flowers. 3-4′ x 5-6′

PSH to SH

8″

Pulmonaria / Lungwort

Raspberry Splash

The attractive raspberry-pink blooms of Raspberry Splash appear early, but the brilliant silver-spotted leaves and upright habit are what make this an exceptional plant. 12″ x 12-18″

PSH to SH

Raspberry Frost

A sport of Raspberry Splash is an easy to grow plant. Raspberry Frost is enhanced by a cream-silver margin and a heavily veiled leaf surface for added interest. The bright coral-red flowers are showy in early spring and when finished are covered by newly emerging foliage. 10″ x 18″

PSH to SH

6″

Shrimps on the Barbie

This large, spreading Pulmonaria has an amazing number of large, deep shrimp pink flowers in the spring. Foliage is green with prominent white spots. 10″ x 24″

PSH to SH

6″

Ferns

Dryopteris Jurassic Gold

Young shoots emerge golden orange, and the fronds fade to golden yellow, eventually turning green with age. Autumn fern on steroids! 48″ x 48″

SH

Pteris cretica Jurassic Velociraptor

This evergreen Ribbon Fern is best grown in partial shade where it will form a burly, finely textured, compact clump, but also ideal for a container on a shaded terrace, or even in the home near a bright but not sunny window. 18″ x 18″

PSH to SH

Grasses for Part Shade to Shade

Hakonechloa macra All Gold / Gold Japanese Forest Grass

All Gold Forest Grass has graceful aching golden foliage. 12-18″ x 12-18″.

PSH to SH

6″

Hakonakloa macra Aureola / Variegated Japanese Forest Grass

Variegated but nearly all yellow the leaf blades have narrow green stripes mostly near the margins. The cascading habit in which most of the leaves arch in the same direction appearing much like a golden waterfall. 1-2′ x 2-3′

PSH to SH

6″