15 ornamental plants that tolerate shade
Plants need light to grow, but not all plants need direct sunlight for growth and flowering. It may sound strange, but there are ornamental plants that love the shade!
Plants with lush vegetation and impressive flowering, suitable for balconies, yards and gardens that do not have sunlight and have shade most of the day.
Caring for ornamental plants in shady areas requires special attention and diligence, as the metabolism and photosynthesis function is at a different level compared to plants exposed to sunlight.
As a general rule, they should be watered only after the soil has dried. Excessive watering can cause leaf drop, flower drop, as well as the development of fungal diseases and root rot.
In addition, it is good to avoid excessive fertilization of the ornamental plants growing in the shade to avoid burns on their outposts and flowers.
Spraying to protect against diseases and insects is easier on plants that are in the shade, since in the absence of intense solar radiation we do not have high temperatures that can cause burns.
Ornamental plants that grow in the shade
The list of plants that grow in the shade is quite long and includes both ornamental shrubs and climbing plants.
Some of them stand out for their impressive and characteristic foliage and others for their wonderful flowers, prolonged flowering and wonderful fragrance.
In today’s article we choose the most beautiful flowers and wonderful shade-tolerant shrubs to plant in parts of our garden and balcony where we don’t have much light.
- Camellia
We start our list of plants that thrive in the shade with the camellia, an ornamental shrub with impressive foliage that blooms in shady places and generously offers us single or double flowers in white, pink or red.
To be precise, the camellia does not prefer sunny positions as it suffers from the heat and its direct exposure to the sun which can cause burns to its foliage.
We keep the camellia soil relatively moist with frequent watering, the fine, prominent camellia roots are stressed when the soil substrate dries out, and special attention must be paid in the hot summer months.
- Stefanoti
Coriander, known as Madagascar jasmine, is a climbing shrub with white fragrant flowers that bloom even in shady places.
Ideal choice for planting in pergolas and phrases to grow and create with its glossy green foliage and flowers a particularly impressive scenery.
We should pay special attention to the crown and make a sheltered position from frost and strong winds as it is relatively sensitive to adverse winter conditions.
The corolla has important details in water and needs regular watering to have lush growth and flowering.
Especially during the summer, which additionally moistens its leaves for cooling, at dusk.
- Azalea
The azalea, the plant of the rhododendron family, is another popular acidophilic plant with great decorative value, which thrives in shade and gives us rich and dense flowering in various colors.
Spring has increased environmental conditions and that’s why we water every 2-3 days, while in the summer season we should water every 1-2 days and do a cooling by spraying its leaves.
However, in the event that we observe closed flowers, it is good to reduce watering, because this is probably due to excessive humidity.
- Cyclamen
Cyclamen is one of the most popular autumn flowers that can be planted in shady places in the garden, as well as in a pot.
The lovely cyclamen flowers make their appearance with the first autumn rains.
We protect our cyclamen from strong sunlight and wind and keep it cool in shady places.
If we still want to keep the cyclamen inside the house, we ensure a well-lit and ventilated area, away from heaters, while in the evenings it is good to take it outside to the balcony.
- Geranium
Our list cannot include the geranium, one of the most well-known flowers that bloom in the shade, without special information on its care.
The geranium is one of the few plants that, even if planted in another place, will thrive and give us its flowers, although it should be admitted that they have relatively less flowering in shady places.
Geraniums are very resistant to high temperatures and drought, even if left for days.
They are also suitable for coastal plantings, as they are resistant to soil salinity, but require protection from strong frosts.
- Hydrangea
The hydrangea is another impressive ornamental shrub with large flowers, which gives us abundant flowering in shady places.
The hydrangea stands out for the variety of colors that adorn its flowers and which, when dried, continue to maintain their decorative value.
Although the hydrangea loves the heat, it does not want direct, intense sunlight because characteristic burns will be created on its foliage.
The hydrangea needs relatively little watering to ensure sufficient soil and moisture in its soil. Especially during the summer season, more frequent watering every 1-2 days will be required to avoid problems.
- Begonia
Begonias or begonias are among the favorite ornamental plants that thrive in shady places in our yards and balconies.
We choose a spot that is not protected from too much sun but also from the cold. It is good to know that begonias with red flowers seem to be more resistant than those with pink ones.
We water the begonias often, but in small quantities during the spring and hot summer season.
We greatly limit water, as excessive winter watering can create shoot rot at the base of the begonia.
- Double sided
The Brazilian jasmine, dipladenia is an evergreen plant with impressive flowers in shades of red, white and pink that gives us flowering in shady and semi-shady places.
Although not as fragrant as the jasmine species we are used to, dipladenia stands out for its small trumpet-like flower shape.
It loves the heat, giving us continuous flowering in the summer, but it is quite sensitive to the intense sun that can cause burns.
The one next to it also needs frequent watering during the summer, every 2-3 days, to give its rich flowering, whether it is planted in a pot or in the ground.
- Rhododendron
The rhododendron also loves the coolness that a shady place provides, so that it can create dense foliage and its beautiful flowers.
The rhododendron is quite resistant to low temperatures, but direct exposure to the sun can create problems.
The colors as well as the rhododendron species have such a wide variety that you don’t know what to choose!
It has a surface root system, loves the situation and requires frequent watering, provided there is good drainage in the soil.
- Rhynchospermo
Rhynchosperma, the climbing plant with deep green shades and small white fragrant flowers that look a lot like jasmine, also blooms in the shade.
When we think of creating a fence in our space with plants, one of the first choices is the rhynchosperma, which can thrive and bloom in sunny, shady, and even seaside locations.
Rhynchosperma is resistant to high temperatures and drought, but frequent watering is required during the hot summer season.
If we have planted the rhizosperma in a pot, more frequent watering will occur, 2 times a week during the summer months.
- Gardenia
The gardenia is one of the most impressive ornamental plants that thrive in shady places and gives us its flowering, with its wonderful white fragrant flowers.
Gardenia needs a cool semi-shady environment to thrive, in a relatively sheltered position, away from hot winds and strong north winds.
It needs enough light to bloom, direct sunlight should be avoided, as it burns the leaves.
The watering of the gardenia must be regular and more frequent during the summer, while it is necessary that it does not contain much else.
- Ivy
Ivy, one of the most popular climbing plants commonly used to create a garden fence, can grow impressively in a shady environment. After all, in recent years we often meet it as an indoor plant.
The ivy can provide us with dense coverage on rocks, walls and trees, it is also suitable for ground cover and can just as easily decorate the living room of our house.
Ivy is an extremely hardy plant that adapts to all conditions and situations. It withstands the low and high temperatures found in Greece and can be planted in all types of soil, even in coastal areas.
But Quixote needs regular watering, so as soon as we notice that the soil starts to dry out, we have to water.
- Laurel
Our list of plants that thrive in the shade cannot fail to include the laurel that grows naturally throughout Greece.
Laurel has deep green, leathery aromatic leaves and white or yellow-green flowers that appear from April to May.
The laurel bears fruit and gives fruits of black color, with an oval shape and the size of a small olive.
The bay leaves, which are ready to harvest from August to September, have an aromatic odor and a slightly bitter taste.
Laurel is resistant to drought, pollution and salinity, which is why it is suitable for seaside plantings.
Because of the root system it develops, we water it once a week in the spring and twice a week in the summer months.
- Angelica
An essential addition to our list, and angelica, the ornamental shrub that stands out for its glossy, smooth, leathery leaves.
Angelica relatively grows best in semi-shaded and shady environments and acquires a solid spherical shape.
Resistant to dry heat and coastal conditions, angelica also withstands atmospheric pollution as well as low temperatures.
Angelica is moderate in water, as it is a drought-resistant plant.
During the spring and autumn, the angelica needs watering once a week, while in the hot summer months we water the angelica twice a week.
- Boxwood
Last but not least, the shade growing plant, boxwood is an evergreen ornamental shrub with its dense, round and glossy green foliage.
Boxwood is not suitable for planting in coastal areas, as it is sensitive to the salinity of the sea.
It is also relatively sensitive to atmospheric pollutants and is therefore not suitable as a divider for boulevards and highways.
Boxwood is resistant to low temperatures, although its leaves often turn red-brown in severe frost. Boxwood has significant watering needs, especially in the summer months when we have to water it every two days.
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