Our guide to growing irises can help you keep them happy.
21. Lamium
Often called deadnettle, lamium (Lamium maculatum) has fascinating foliage with spotted or splotched leaves in shades of green, silver, and gray, and pink, purple, or white blossoms.
A little bit of sun will make the foliage even more distinctive, highlighting the variegations, but lamium is perfectly happy in shade in Zones 3 to 9.
Most stay under a foot tall and spread rapidly, which can be a blessing if you struggle with weeds under your trees.
Lamium ‘Ghost’
I’m partial to ‘Ghost,’ with its gray-green foliage and deep purple flowers.
You can find this cultivar available at Nature Hills Nursery in #1 size containers.
‘Beacon Silver’
‘Beacon Silver’ has silvery leaves and bright pink blooms. You can find plants available at Burpee.
22. Lily of the Valley
The sweet, white, bell-shaped blossoms of lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) nodding over elegant foliage add perfume and interest to even the darkest corners of the landscape.
The sword-shaped leaves are generally under a foot long, and the plant can spread up to two feet.
Beware, as lily of the valley can spread a little too enthusiastically, sending out rhizomes and seeds. The plant is listed as invasive or noxious in many regions in the eastern US.
Lily of the Valley
Provided that it’s welcome in your region, you can enjoy the flowers from late spring through early summer in Zones 3 to 9.
You can find bare root lily of the valley plants available at Eden Brothers.
See our guide to growing lily of the valley.
23. Lungwort
Even if lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) never flowered, it would still be an eye-catching focal point in the garden.
This shade-loving perennial grows in Zones 3 to 9, and sports silver-speckled foliage.
Then the vibrant pink, violet, or white bell-shaped flowers emerge in mid-spring and the plant is even more striking.
Growing to about a foot tall, some varieties have color-changing flowers that shift from pink to rosy-purple as they age. And like some hydrangeas, their flower color can be influenced by the acidity of the soil.
‘Raspberry Splash’ is a popular cultivar with leaves splotched with silver and two-toned fuchsia and deep purple flowers.
‘Raspberry Splash’ Lungwort
You can find ‘Raspberry Splash’ available at Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
Learn more about lungwort here.
24. Mock Orange
Mock oranges (Philadelphus spp.) bloom in spring with sweetly-scented, white or cream flowers.
Most mock oranges do better in partial sun, but the western North American native P. lewisii will thrive in shade though it will generally produce fewer flowers than in part sun.
It grows up to 14 feet tall and 10 feet wide, and it does so rapidly, gaining several feet each year.
If it starts to become leggy in its shaded spot, give the shrub a hard prune after it has finished flowering.
Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, check out our guide to growing mock orange to learn more.
25. Oregon Grape
I grow a lot of Oregon grape plants (Berberis aquifolium, formerly Mahonia aquifolium) in my yard as they provide texture and color in shady spots year-round.
They bloom in spring with bright yellow, highly fragrant clusters of blossoms and the berries make an excellent jam.
‘Compacta’ Oregon Grape
Suitable for cultivation in Zones 6 to 9, ‘Compacta’ is a compact cultivar that stays smaller than the species plant, topping out at about three feet tall and four feet wide.
You can find one for your garden at Nature Hills Nursery.
Learn more about the wonderful world of mahonia here.
26. Rhododendron
Rhododendrons and azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are staples in shady gardens.
Keep in mind that the flowers are less abundant in darker conditions, but the plants will grow happily even in deep shade.
There are seemingly endless options suitable for Zones 3 to 9, which can make choosing just one a bit overwhelming.
Narrow it down by color, size, and shape and then find a few that will fit.
If you want a large option, the stunning lavender rhododendron (R. catawbiense) grows to about 10 feet tall with a nice rounded shape.
Lavender Rhododendron
It can be absolutely smothered in purple flowers.
Bring one home from Fast Growing Trees in a one-, three-, or five-gallon container.
If you need something a bit more petite, everyone will be talking about ‘Conversation Starter.’
‘Conversation Starter’
It tops out at three feet tall and wide without pruning. Plus, it provides multicolored flowers with pink, white, and red hues.
It’s also available at Fast Growing Trees.
Learn more about growing rhododendrons here.
27. Spiderwort
Spiderwort, dayflower, or wandering dude, as they are known, are flowering plants in the Tradescantia genus.
Some have much showier flowers than others, but all species produce three-petaled blooms in varying sizes in the spring and summer. Not every species thrives in shade or partial shade, but many do.
Of the nearly 100 species, many are indigenous to North America, so they’re suitable for native gardens.
You can find species that grow anywhere from Zones 2 to 12. Bluejacket (Tradescantia ohiensis) has strappy, grass-like foliage and deep purple flowers.
Native to Ohio, it’s adaptable, attracts pollinators, and thrives in partial shade.
T. virginiana ‘Osprey’ has snow white flowers with mauve and yellow centers. ‘Bilberry Ice’ features dark mauve centers and pale mauve edges.
‘Blue and Gold’ is a hybrid with cute purple flowers that thrives in Zones 4 to 9.
‘Blue and Gold’ Tradescantia
You can find ‘Blue and Gold’ plants available at Burpee.
Our guide to growing spiderwort has more information.
28. Toad Lily
Toad lilies (Tricyrtis hirta and T. formosana) produce some pretty cool flowers.
They might be mistaken for orchids, with their bright color, eye-catching spots, and oversized tepals that bloom for weeks in the fall.
Originally from Japan and Taiwan, there are many popular cultivars available for Zones 3 to 9.
When not in bloom, the long, arching branches are laden with long, lanceolate leaves that somewhat resemble those of Solomon’s seal.
These plants reach up to three feet tall and do well in rocky areas, ideal for adding color to a shady rock garden.
Plant them close to benches or walkways so you can enjoy the petite pink, cream, white, or purple blossoms.
Toad Lily
You can find bare root T. formosana available at Burpee.
29. Trillium
With 38 species of trilliums (Trillium spp.) indigenous to North America, there’s definitely at least one that will thrive in your area.
These glorious spring ephemerals are a mainstay in shaded areas, bringing color and texture with large leaves and often showy flowers in Zones 4 to 9.
Also known as wake robins or birthroots, these low-growing plants will cheerfully spread under trees and in other moist, dark areas.
It can take several years for the plants to reach maturity and start blooming. But in the meantime, enjoy the foliage, which can be extremely pretty with multiple colors and patterns.
Red Trillium
The 16-inch-tall red trillium (T. erectum) is native to eastern North America and sports bright red blooms. You can find it available at Nature Hills Nursery.
In the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain area, look for western trilliums (T. ovatum), which grow throughout the region.
If you’d like to learn more about these lovely flowering plants, read our guide to growing trilliums.
30. Twinleaf
In the forested area of eastern North America in Zones 4 to 9 grows the tantalizing twinleaf plant (Jeffersonia diphylla).
It’s an herbaceous spring ephemeral that pops up before the trees leaf out with butterfly-like pairs of leaves and bright white flowers.