Have you ever paused to consider adding shade flowers for pots to your backyard? You get to relish the contrasting shades of your garden without having to battle with the sun while tending to the blooms.
When spots of your garden receive beads of sunlight filtering through thick canopies, they are brimming with plants. But, the shady areas where you escape to take a breather in grueling summers have a vapid presence, lacking the colorful zeal.
Thus, growing some shade-favoring flower varieties can be your solution. Patios and decks have become highlights of modern gardens, but that doesn’t mean the natural lush green and blooming flowers lack aesthetic.
Pots, containers, and raised planters have made the growth process of plants that prefer shade convenient and less labor-intensive.
Beautiful Shade Flowers for Pots And Containers
To expedite the progress of making a shade garden, read about these 19 riveting shade-loving flowers.
#1. Hellebores
Resembling roses, Hellebores are gorgeous downward-facing perennials that sport a delicate appearance but have the resilience of nails.
Sometimes the blossoms that are sepals protecting the true flower can be black. The blooms come in a variety of colors ranging anywhere from muted pinks to pearl whites. These flowers thrive in shade-rich regions, blooming from late winter to early spring.
To grow these flowers will be a rewarding gardening experience because, like perennials, they come back every year, adding a spark of color with their evergreen foliage even in colder snowy areas.
Tip: Do not plant your Hellebores too deep in the soil. It can inhibit flower production.
#2. Impatiens
Shade-filled areas don’t have to be devoid of floral blooms because planting Impatiens, commonly known as touch-me-not, on your patio will ensure vibrancy in every crook and cranny.
Boasting the array of colors these varieties come in, they become a gardener’s instant favorite because of their feasible growth options.
From hanging baskets to window boxes, these bright annual flowers give your creativity exposure. The backyard can reach its maximum potential with the container-friendly nature of these blooms.
While their susceptibility to powdery mildew is a downer in some cases, many newly developed hybrid varieties function flawlessly. The acquired resistance makes these flowers a strong contender vying for the attention of its onlookers.
#3. Oakleaf Hydrangea
True to its name, Oakleaf Hydrangea produces foliage that shares a striking resemblance with oak trees. The plant has greenish-white flowers that acquire subtle tinges of pink, orange, red, and brown as they bloom during fall, putting on a show-stopping display at earlier unoccupied shaded places.
By staying attractive throughout the year, Hydrangea blooms appear in spring or early summer. They share a never-ending love for shade, which makes them an ideal choice for the obscure corners of your backyard.
Even more, these plants are disease and pest-free, also being a drought-tolerant variety simultaneously. With occasional pruning, the key to growing Hydrangeas is providing these pot dwellers with sufficient water.
#4. Astilbe
An excellent shade-loving companion to Hellebores, Astilbe provides your shade garden with all the texture it needs. Ravenous pale, pastel, tall, and fluffy plumes tower above fern-like, frilly foliage. They make for a jaw-dropping view with contrasting tones and unique blooms.
Amidst its twenty-five species and hundreds of hybrids, you can add any pastel shades ranging from creamy white and hot pink to dark purples for your yard.
Remember to supply your Astilbe with rich organic soil. If your lawn has rocky soil that lacks nutrients, working with some compost to power up the fertility will present ideal growth conditions for this plant.
#5. Bletilla
Another flower that stops the spectators in their tracks with its exotic beauty is Bletilla. Also known as Chinese Gourd Orchid, these shade flowers for pots come with a straightforward care plan.
Being a hardy terrestrial orchid, Bletilla produces magnificent cattleya-like small and pinkish-purple flowers. They tower artfully above its prolific green foliage that adds texture to the backyard with its sword-shaped leaves. The blooms can rise in clusters of 12 at a time. It provides a fantastic burst of color to the yard as well.
Garden stunners Bletilla will look amazing bordering landscapes, water beds, and rock gardens while also providing the freedom to plant anywhere in a shaded region with their container-friendly nature.
#6. Lamium
Prevalently known as dead nettle, this plant can often mislead you with its name. But, be rest assured because if there is a fast-growing perennial where almost everything is going in its favor, it is dead nettle.
With its silvery foliage that will distract you from your gardening duties because it’s too enrapturing to go unnoticed, they produce sweet two-lipped white, yellow, pale-pink, or purple flowers. Keeping up well with moist conditions, these shade preferring plants work as excellent ground covers.
Bonus Tip: Planting this in a spot away from small plants is ideal to avoid competition as it can be invasive at times.
#7. Torenia
Bearing many names, like wishbone flower, bluewings, and clown flower, Torenia will brighten all the uninspired parts of your patio with its generous blooms and easy-to-care-for nature.
Perfect for adding a spice of contrast to your backyard, this annual flower produces bicolored or tricolored blooms. These trumpet-shaped plants have clashing shades lining the delicate throats. The velvety texture is an added plus to their never-ending charms.
What’s more, this plant is a favorite of hummingbirds, and it offers flexibility in its growing conditions as you can plant this anywhere because it is not invasive. Thus, you won’t have to worry about a takeover.
Tip: Planting these flowers in baskets or window gardens will result in gorgeous blooms.
#8. Foamflower
Tiarella, another name for Foamflower, is an herbaceous perennial that receives extensive love from gardening enthusiasts. Nothing beats the ravishing sight of these plants in woodland and cottage gardens with their frothy flowers when their blooms are in full glory.
By adapting well even in mild winter climates, their foliage boasts burgundy-variegated veins on semi-glossy, heart-shaped leaves. Notably, the shift of their foliage from the spring and fall lavender aesthetic to reddish-bronze during winters is a sight to behold.
Acting as a great choice as ground covers or under-planters for the shaded and dim regions of your patio, Tiarella blooms charming pink-tinged flowers that become a graceful creamy white as the weather progresses.
#9. Lobelia
Next up, we have Lobelia, harvested for centuries due to its herbal uses. This sweet annual harbors a dislike for heat, thus ensuring to add a dash of freshness in all the dusky corners of your garden that are always shade-filled.
Growing the bright violet-blue blooms is an asset for gardeners because this carefree plant enjoys chilly weather and produces flowers even in frosty conditions. Line this plant along borders, dry creeks, ponds, use them as container plants or groundcover; the choices are endless.
Bonus: The cascading flowers of Lobelia can reach their peak attractiveness when grown in hanging baskets.
#10. Fuchsia
Fuchsia thrives in conditions where most plants struggle to survive. With an immense love for shade, your backyard will be brimming with bright-colored teardrop-shaped flowers. Over that, Fuchsias serve as a splendid staple for hanging baskets.
Likewise to crystals that shine on a fancy chandelier, the drooping flowers of this plant are great companions of an outdoor container garden. Because of their sensitivity to extreme cold, the ideal time to sow their seeds is at a comparatively warm temperature.
Another favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds, these plants will propagate on their own in the required humidity and water levels. On the negative side, Fuchsias hate dry heat and cold. But, on the positive side, you can transfer them indoors when outdoor gardening becomes arduous.
#11. Brunnera
If there is a standalone bloom that can capture the hearts of their viewers with natural and perpetual beauty, it is Brunnera. Commonly known as false forget-me-not, Siberian bugloss, or heartleaf Brunnera, this herbaceous perennial will become the attention center of your shade garden.
With glossy foliage that shares variegation of silver, white, and green, the light blue blooms rise above the heart-shaped leaves, blossoming in early to mid-spring. They don’t do well in soggy soils that dry out quickly.
Thus, remember to locate these shade flowers for pots in well-drained soil areas where they receive plenty of shade.
#12. Begonia
Packing a punch of bright colors that interests every passerby, begonias work brilliantly as houseplants and primary focuses of shaded summer beds.
Since they share a love for shade and containers, these plants will give a glow to your garden that will last throughout the year.
Some varieties that make great additions to shade gardens are:
- Wax begonias with succulent stems and reddish-brown leaves. They have single or double flowers in tones of pinks, reds, and whites.
- Tuberous begonias have upright or trailing burgundy leaves with ruffled yellow-orange flowers.
- Angel wing begonias with speckled foliage and deep red leaves.
Tip: Keep begonias away from pets as they can be toxic, with tubers being their most poisonous part. Even some humans could have allergic reactions, therefore check beforehand.
#13. Primrose
If your lawn requires a bit of naturalizing, Primrose will be an ideal choice. Popping in with a burst of color in early spring, right when the monotonous winter stretch is over, Primroses provide evergreen vibrancy to your yard.
Remember to tuck these flowers in the dim regions of your garden that receive plenty of shade, and they will multiply vigorously by themselves, providing colors to your landscape every fall.
Checking with your local nurseries and gardeners will ensure you have the variety of Primrose that will be best suited to your region. Keep in mind, these perennial plants prefer damp, woodland-like conditions and thrive with little care.
#14. Loropetalum
Also known as Purple Pixie, it is a Chinese fringe flower. Loropetalum often gets overlooked by gardeners because it’s more suitable for warmer climates. But, if you are looking to add a unique charm to your shade garden, this plant will be a befitting choice.
Above all, the cascading feature of this plant makes it a terrific container shade flower. With its softly crinkled foliage that sports deep purple or burgundy leaves, Loropetalum has pink tassel shaped, lightly scented, and spidery flowers.
Additionally, its layered branching habit boasts contrasting tones, blooming early-mid spring and occasional re-blooms throughout the growing season.
#15. Bergenia
All gardens require filler additions to keep the yard from becoming a dreary place once the bright blooms of summer flowers fade away. One such evergreen shade flower for pots is Bergenia.
Meanwhile, they have a startling common name, pig squeak, because their leaves create a sound when rubbed together. These flowers can enchant any gardener with the rich bronze it exhibits in fall and winter.
But, the elegance that glows in dappled shade with its April blossoms is the perfect foundation for an attractive perennial flower border. These plants reach full maturity in two to five years and keep the backyard devoid of washed-out colors.
#16. Bleeding Heart
Asian Bleeding Hearts are spring-blooming perennials that can be divided into pots once they multiply, making the perfect gift for a friend. These flowers are heartthrobs with their pillow-like heart shape and a single dangling pendulous drop.
Just find the correct watering schedule for these gorgeous blooms, and a well-shaded region will assure their growth throughout summer, fall, and following spring.
Although, never expose these plants to too much sun, or they will perish. Even though they are not drought tolerant, they are simple to maintain.
#17. Phlox
What can beat the timeless charm of old-fashioned classics? Phlox is a cottage garden mainstay, which fills your shade-loving areas with perfumed scents. The main reason for their peaking popularity over the decades is their non-fussy nature and coral bicolor combinations of blooms.
Adding to that, the icing on the cake is the long flowering season these varieties offer as they blossom from early spring to the first hard frost.
Ironically, the hues that these shade flowers for pots possess can be so wide-ranging that it could become a daunting task for gardeners to settle on just one shade. But positively, you will never have a bland patio again after the addition of phlox.
#18. Clematis
Every gardener should have this queen of climbers in their backyard at least once. The innumerable options to select from in its endless list of species and hybrids will ensure you find a variety catering exclusively to your needs.
Forming a gigantic blossom with six to seven lavender petals, white and wine red petals, clematis serve statement-making views as they spill from a container climbing an arbor, pergola, or trellis.
Bonus Tip: Plant clematis deeply in the soil and add mulch. But remember not to pile the mulch around stems as it can cause wilting.
#19. Lungwort
When looking to expand your shade garden, you don’t have to compromise on durability. Lungwort might throw you off with its name, but this garden stunner is a resilient variety that will last long.
Also known as cowslip or Bethlehem sage, lungwort remains untouched by deer and rabbits. Being an early spring bloomer, it has flowers that change colors as they progress from buds to blooms.
But, their leaves stand out the most with their bleach-like silver speckled appearance.
Conclusion
Even the mundane regions of your garden that were unoccupied earlier due to shade will transform into a charismatic space if you expand your gardening activities to make a shaded yard.
When you try to search, countless varieties are waiting to flourish in the vicinity of shade-loving corners. Grow the preceding introduced plants in pots and containers and enjoy a rewarding gardening experience.
Bonus Read: Make a shade for the over-heated patio in your garden by reading these brilliant economical solutions.