Plants for Partial Shade
Plants for dappled or part-day shade — reliable choices for borders that get some, but not full, sun.
shrubAlder Buckthorn
Frangula alnusHardy H7
perennialAlpine Primrose
Primula alpicolaHardy H6
shrubAngular jasmine
Jasminum angulareHardy H2
perennialAnise-scented sage
Salvia guaraniticaHardy H3
shrubApothecary's Rose
Rosa gallicaHardy H7
treeapple
Malus domesticaHardy H6
treeAustrian pine
Pinus nigraHardy H7
perennialautumn crocus
Colchicum autumnaleHardy H5
perennialAvens
Geum
perennialBamboo Iris
Iris confusaHardy H4
succulentBarbados aloe
Aloe veraHardy H1
shrubBarberry
Berberis
succulentBaum's Pincushion Cactus
Mammillaria baumiiHardy H2
treebay tree
Laurus nobilisHardy H4
perennialBear's Breech
Acanthus mollisHardy H6
perennialBear's Ear
Primula auriculaHardy H5
shrubBearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursiHardy H7
perennialBees' primrose
Primula beesianaHardy H6
perennialbeet
Beta vulgarisHardy H7
perennialBegonias
Begonia
perennialbellflowers
Campanula
shrubBig-leaf Rhododendron
Rhododendron calophytumHardy H5
shrubbigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophyllaHardy H5
perennialBirch-leaved bellflower
Campanula betulifoliaHardy H4
perennialBlack Iris
Iris chrysographesHardy H6
perennialBlood Iris
Iris sanguineaHardy H6
bulbBlue Garlic
Allium caesiumHardy H5
bulbBluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scriptaHardy H6
shrubBodnant viburnum
Viburnum bodnantenseHardy H6
annualBorage
Borago officinalisHardy H5
fernBoston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltataHardy H1b
shrubBoxwood
Buxus sempervirensHardy H6
shrubBrilliant fuchsia
Fuchsia fulgensHardy H2
perennialBristle-pointed Iris
Iris setosaHardy H7
perennialBugle
Ajuga reptansHardy H7
perennialbusy lizzie
Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.Hardy H1b
shrubbutterfly-bush
Buddleja davidiiHardy H6
perennialButtonhead primrose
Primula capitataHardy H7
bulbByzantine Crocus
Crocus banaticusHardy H6
perennialCalathea
Calathea makoyanaHardy H1a
treeCampbell's magnolia
Magnolia campbelliiHardy H4
perennialCandelabra Sage
Salvia candelabrumHardy H3
treeCappadocian maple
Acer cappadocicumHardy H6
perennialCast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatiorHardy H3
climberCatalonian jasmine
Jasminum grandiflorumHardy H4
perennialCatmint
Nepeta
annualchamomile
Matricaria chamomillaHardy H7
shrubChenille Plant
Acalypha hispidaHardy H1b
perennialChicory
Cichorium intybusHardy H5
perennialChinese peony
Paeonia lactifloraHardy H6
perennialChinese primrose
Primula chionanthaHardy H6
climberChinese wisteria
Wisteria sinensisHardy H6
perennialChives
Allium schoenoprasumHardy H6
perennialClustered bellflower
Campanula glomerataHardy H7
perennialCockburn's primrose
Primula cockburnianaHardy H6
treeCommon Beech
Fagus sylvaticaHardy H6
grassCommon Bent
Agrostis capillarisHardy H7
perennialCommon Bird's-foot-trefoil
Lotus corniculatusHardy H7
shrubcommon camellia
Camellia japonicaHardy H5
perennialCommon Daisy
Bellis perennisHardy H7
perennialCommon Dog-violet
Viola rivinianaHardy H7
shrubCommon Hazel
Corylus avellanaHardy H6
perennialCommon Mint
Mentha spicataHardy H7
perennialCommon Sorrel
Rumex acetosaHardy H7
annualCommon Spurge
Euphorbia peplusHardy H5
biennialCommon Teasel
Dipsacus fullonumHardy H7
perennialConeflower
Echinacea purpureaHardy H5
perennialCopper Iris
Iris fulvaHardy H5
perennialCoral Bells
HeucheraHardy H6
annualcoriander
Coriandrum sativumHardy H5
shrubCorrugated Sage
Salvia corrugataHardy H3
perennialCow Parsley
Anthriscus sylvestrisHardy H6
perennialCowslip
Primula verisHardy H5
treeCrab Apple
Malus sylvestrisHardy H6
perennialCrocosmia
Crocosmia crocosmiifloraHardy H4
bulbCrocus
Crocus vernusHardy H6
bulbdaffodils
Narcissus
perennialDalmatian cranesbill
Geranium dalmaticumHardy H5
shrubDaphne Rhododendron
Rhododendron campylogynumHardy H5
shrubdaurian rhododendron
Rhododendron dauricumHardy H6
shrubDavidson's Rhododendron
Rhododendron davidsonianumHardy H5
perennialDaylily
HemerocallisHardy H6
perennialDigenous Sage
Salvia digeneaHardy H4
shrubDog Rose
Rosa rugosaHardy H6
shrubDogwood
Cornus
shrubDogwood
Cornus sanguineaHardy H6
perennialDruce's cranesbill
Geranium × oxonianumHardy H7
perennialDrumstick primula
Primula denticulataHardy H6
fernDryopteris affinis
Dryopteris affinisHardy H5
shrubearly azalea
Rhododendron lutescensHardy H5
perennialeastern sowbread
Cyclamen coumHardy H5
shrubEdgeworth's Rhododendron
Rhododendron edgeworthiiHardy H3
shrubElder
Sambucus nigraHardy H6
climberEnglish Ivy
Hedera helixHardy H5
treeEnglish Oak
Quercus roburHardy H6
perennialFairy primrose
Primula malacoidesHardy H2
shrubfalse-gold-flower rhododendron
Rhododendron pseudochrysanthumHardy H6
shrubFarges willow
Salix fargesiiHardy H6
fernFern
Dryopteris filix-masHardy H7
shrubFern-leaved Begonia
Begonia foliosa
treeFiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrataHardy H1b
treeField Birch
Betula pubescensHardy H7
treeField Maple
Acer campestreHardy H6
shrubFire Heath
Erica cerinthoidesHardy H2
shrubFlaky Juniper
Juniperus squamataHardy H7
perennialFlorence fennel
Foeniculum vulgareHardy H5
perennialFlorentine Iris
Iris florentina
treeFolgner's rowan
Sorbus folgneri
perennialFormosan lady's slipper orchid
Cypripedium formosanumHardy H5
shrubFortune's Rhododendron
Rhododendron fortuneiHardy H5
biennialfoxglove
Digitalis purpureaHardy H7
shrubFragrant snowball
Viburnum × carlcephalumHardy H6
treeFreeman Maple
Acer freemaniiHardy H6
perennialFringed Iris
Iris japonicaHardy H4
shrubfuchsias
Fuchsia
treeFuji cherry
Prunus incisaHardy H6
shrubFulvous Rhododendron
Rhododendron fulvumHardy H5
annualgarden nasturtium
Tropaeolum majusHardy H3
annualgarden parsley
Petroselinum crispumHardy H6
perennialGarden phlox
Phlox × arendsii
biennialGiant herb robert
Geranium maderenseHardy H3
perennialGrass-Leaved Flag
Iris gramineaHardy H7
shrubGreat White Rhododendron
Rhododendron decorumHardy H6
perennialgreater masterwort
Astrantia major L.Hardy H7
shrubGuelder Rose
Viburnum opulusHardy H6
shrubGum Rock Rhododendron
Rhododendron calostrotumHardy H5
shrubHairy Grey Heather
Erica canaliculataHardy H3
perennialhairyflower bellflower
Campanula chamissonis
shrubHance's Rhododendron
Rhododendron hanceanumHardy H5
perennialHardy begonia
Begonia grandis
perennialHardy Geranium
GeraniumHardy H7
treeHawthorn
Crataegus monogynaHardy H7
shrubHeather
Calluna vulgarisHardy H7
perennialHellebore
Helleborus
shrubhighbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosumHardy H6
shrubHippophae-like Rhododendron
Rhododendron hippophaeoidesHardy H6
shrubholly
Ilex aquifoliumHardy H6
climberhoneysuckle
Lonicera periclymenumHardy H6
climberHoneysuckle
Lonicera
shrubhoneysuckle fuchsia
Fuchsia triphyllaHardy H1c
treeHornbeam
Carpinus betulusHardy H7
perennialhorned spurge
Euphorbia cornigeraHardy H5
perennialHorned Spurge
Euphorbia ceratocarpaHardy H4
treeHorse Chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanumHardy H7
climberHybrid honeysuckle
Lonicera × heckrottiiHardy H5
bulbHybrid squill
Scilla × alleniiHardy H6
shrubHypericum dummeri
Hypericum × dummeri
perennialI. fulvala
Iris × fulvalaHardy H5
Plants for Partial ShadeImperial begonia
Begonia imperialis
perennialIrises
Iris
shrubJame sage
Salvia × jamensisHardy H5
shrubJapanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergiiHardy H7
shrubJapanese maple
Acer palmatumHardy H6
perennialJapanese Primrose
Primula japonicaHardy H6
treeJapanese rowan
Sorbus commixtaHardy H6
shrubJapanese Spiraea
Spiraea japonicaHardy H6
shrubKeisk's Rhododendron
Rhododendron keiskeiHardy H5
perennialKerner iris
Iris kernerianaHardy H5
perennialKew primrose
Primula kewensisHardy H3
treeking rhododendron
Rhododendron rexHardy H5
treeKomine Maple
Acer micranthumHardy H6
treeKorean Fir
Abies koreanaHardy H7
shrubKorean rhododendron
Rhododendron mucronulatumHardy H6
bulbKotschy's Crocus
Crocus kotschyanusHardy H6
treeLaburnum
Laburnum anagyroidesHardy H6
shrubLadies' eardrop
Fuchsia denticulataHardy H2
fernlady fern
Athyrium filix-feminaHardy H6
shrublady's eardrops
Fuchsia bolivianaHardy H3
perennialladyslippers
Cypripedium bootsHardy H5
perennialLarge Speedwell
Veronica austriaca
perennialLazistan Iris
Iris lazicaHardy H5
perennialLeaf-ring begonia
Begonia annulataHardy H1
perennialLemon balm
Melissa officinalisHardy H7
annuallettuce
Lactuca sativaHardy H2
perennialLily of the Valley
Convallaria majalisHardy H7
perennialLindavicum cranesbill
Geranium × lindavicum
perennialLoiseleuri primrose
Primula × loiseleurii
perenniallong-scape iris
Iris delavayiHardy H6
perenniallupin
Lupinus
treeMagnolia denudata
Magnolia denudataHardy H6
shrubMakino's Rhododendron
Rhododendron makinoiHardy H5
shrubMany-branched Rhododendron
Rhododendron polycladum
perennialmaple leaf begonia
Begonia dregeiHardy H1b
shrubMartin's Spurge
Euphorbia martiniHardy H5
shrubMcCabe's Rhododendron
Rhododendron macabeanumHardy H4
succulentmexican-giant
Echeveria colorataHardy H2
perennialMichaelmas daisy
Symphyotrichum novi-belgiiHardy H6
perennialmint
MenthaHardy H7
climberMonstera
Monstera deliciosaHardy H1b
perennialMoth Orchid
PhalaenopsisHardy H1
perennialMoth orchid 'Ariadne'
Phalaenopsis × ariadne
shrubMountain-loving Rhododendron
Rhododendron oreotrephesHardy H5
shrubNakahara's Rhododendron
Rhododendron nakaharaeHardy H5
perennialNew England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliaeHardy H7
shrubNinebark
Physocarpus opulifoliusHardy H7
treeNordmann Fir
Abies nordmannianaHardy H7
perennialNorthern phlox
Phlox adsurgensHardy H5
shrubNotable Rhododendron
Rhododendron insigneHardy H6
treeoaks
QuercusHardy H7
treeOchre Rhododendron
Rhododendron ochraceumHardy H5
bulbOrchid Iris
Iris histrioidesHardy H7
shrubOven Wattle
Acacia pravissimaHardy H3
perennialPalm-leaf begonia
Begonia carolineifoliaHardy H1b
shrubPanicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculataHardy H5
biennialPansy
Viola × wittrockiana Gams ex Nauenb. & Buttler
treePaperbark Maple
Acer griseumHardy H5
perennialPeace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisiiHardy H1b
perennialPelargonium
Pelargonium x hortorumHardy H2
annualPetunia
Petunia × atkinsiana
grasspheasant's tail grass
Anemanthele lessonianaHardy H4
perennialPilea
Pilea peperomioidesHardy H1c
perennialPlantain lily
HostaHardy H7
perennialPolyanthus primrose
Primula danovaHardy H5
perennialPolyanthus Primrose 'Charisma'
Primula Charisma SeriesHardy H5
Plants for Partial ShadePoppy
PapaverHardy H6
annualPot Marigold
Calendula officinalisHardy H5
perennialpotato
Solanum tuberosumHardy H2
climberPothos
Epipremnum aureumHardy H1b
perennialPrimrose
Primula vulgarisHardy H7
shrubPrimrose-flowered Rhododendron
Rhododendron primuliflorum
perennialPrimroses
PrimulaHardy H7
perennialPrimula husky
Primula vulgaris 'Husky'Hardy H5
shrubPrivet
Ligustrum vulgareHardy H6
shrubPrunus cistena
Prunus × cistenaHardy H6
perennialPurple cranesbill
Geranium × magnificumHardy H7
shrubPurplish-blue rhododendron
Rhododendron russatumHardy H6
shrubRacemose rhododendron
Rhododendron racemosumHardy H6
annualRadish
Raphanus sativusHardy H3
perennialraspberry
Rubus idaeusHardy H6
perennialRed Campion
Silene dioicaHardy H6
shrubRed Currant
Ribes rubrumHardy H6
perennialRed flower iris
Iris milesiiHardy H3
shrubRed-barked dogwood
Cornus albaHardy H7
shrubRhododendron
RhododendronHardy H5
perennialRhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarumHardy H6
perennialRock Crane's-bill
Geranium macrorrhizumHardy H7
shrubrose
RosaHardy H6
perennialRosebay Willowherb
Epilobium angustifoliumHardy H7
perennialroseleaf sage
Salvia involucrataHardy H3
shrubRosy Rhododendron
Rhododendron oreodoxa
shrubRound-leaved Rhododendron
Rhododendron orbiculareHardy H5
treeRowan
Sorbus aucupariaHardy H6
treeRowans and Mountain Ashes
Sorbus
shrubRoxie's Rhododendron
Rhododendron roxieanumHardy H5
shrubRoyal azalea
Rhododendron schlippenbachiiHardy H6
treeRubber Plant
Ficus elasticaHardy H1b
perennialRudbeckia
Rudbeckia fulgidaHardy H6
shrubRue
Ruta graveolensHardy H5
perennialsage
Salvia officinalisHardy H5
perennialSalvia
Salvia nemorosaHardy H7
shrubScarlet-plume
Euphorbia fulgensHardy H1b
succulentSea Milkball
Euphorbia flanaganiiHardy H2
shrubSilver-leaved Rhododendron
Rhododendron argyrophyllumHardy H5
treeSmall-leaved Lime
Tilia cordataHardy H6
shrubSmooth Azalea
Rhododendron arborescensHardy H6
succulentSnake Plant
Dracaena trifasciataHardy H1c
bulbSnowdrop
Galanthus nivalisHardy H5
shrubSnowy Rhododendron
Rhododendron niveumHardy H5
perennialSpider Plant
Chlorophytum comosumHardy H2
perennialSpurges
Euphorbia
perennialSt John's Wort
Hypericum perforatumHardy H6
shrubSt. John's worts
Hypericum
bulbStar of Persia
Allium cristophiiHardy H5
perennialStinking Iris
Iris foetidissimaHardy H6
perennialstrawberry
Fragaria × ananassaHardy H6
treeStrawberry Tree
Arbutus unedoHardy H5
succulentString of Pearls
Curio rowleyanusHardy H2
shrubStriped begonia
Begonia listada
treeSweet Chestnut
Castanea sativaHardy H6
treeSycamore
Acer pseudoplatanusHardy H7
shrubThick-flowered Rhododendron
Rhododendron pachysanthumHardy H5
perennialTibetan Cowslip
Primula florindaeHardy H7
annualtrailing lobelia
Lobelia erinus L.Hardy H2
climbertraveller's joy
Clematis vitalbaHardy H6
treeTree fuchsia
Fuchsia arborescensHardy H2
shrubTree Rhododendron
Rhododendron arboreumHardy H4
perennialTropical sage
Salvia coccineaHardy H3
perennialtulip
Tulipa
perennialtussock bellflower
Campanula carpaticaHardy H5
shrubUpright Rhododendron
Rhododendron fastigiatumHardy H6
perennialVerbena
Verbena bonariensisHardy H4
shrubviburnums
Viburnum
shrubWall Speedwell
Veronica albicansHardy H4
perennialwax begonia
Begonia (Semperflorens Cultorum Group)Hardy H1c
shrubWayfaring Tree
Viburnum lantanaHardy H7
shrubWeigela
Weigela floridaHardy H6
perennialWhite Dead-nettle
Lamium albumHardy H7
treeWhitebeam
Sorbus ariaHardy H6
bulbWild Garlic
Allium ursinumHardy H7
perennialwild geranium
Geranium maculatumHardy H7
perennialWild Mint
Mentha arvensisHardy H5
annualWild Parsley
Aethusa cynapiumHardy H5
perennialWild Strawberry
Fragaria vescaHardy H6
shrubWinter heath
Erica carneaHardy H6
shrubwinter jasmine
Jasminum nudiflorumHardy H5
perennialWood Anemone
Anemone nemorosaHardy H5
perennialWood Sorrel
Oxalis acetosellaHardy H5
perennialwood spurge
Euphorbia amygdaloidesHardy H6
perennialWoodrush
Luzula sylvaticaHardy H7
perennialYarrow
Achillea millefoliumHardy H7
perennialYellow Crocus Iris
Iris croceaHardy H6
treeYew
Taxus baccataHardy H7
perennialYunnan iris
Iris forrestiiHardy H6
perennial