Shady Characters: Plants For Shade & Part Shade

golden spur columbine — Golden Spur Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) hosts a long display of fragrant yellow flowers in late spring. It does best in partial shade, but is quite sun tolerant at higher elevations.

By David Salman

I've been gardening in the high desert of New Mexico for more than three decades. And I've gained a healthy respect for the strength and intensity of our sunshine. A shade loving plant in too much sun quickly becomes a puff of smoke. So early on, I found it to be very important to define what sun or shade conditions mean to gardeners here, especially to those who've moved from areas with more benign and less sunny climates.

The intensity of sunshine varies considerably as one moves across the U.S. This is a huge continent with pronounced regional differences in elevation, heat, humidity, cloud cover, and the resulting intensity of the sun's rays. Full sun conditions in Ohio are radically different than in New Mexico. In Ohio, cloud cover is more consistent. Along with the humid, hazy skies, the strength of the sun's rays are greatly diluted by the time they reach the ground, whereas in the high elevation areas of New Mexico, our 300+ days of cloudless skies and lack of humidity and haze fail to dull the strength of our intense sunshine.

Elevation generally has a huge effect on the sun's intensity; the higher above sea level, the stronger the sunshine, and the higher the ultra-violet wavelengths. You don't tan at 7,000 ft. elevation; you burn.

Definitions for Sun or Shade During the Growing Season

In the Western United States:

Full sun - all day sunshine or a full afternoon of sun.
Part shade - morning sun and afternoon shade after 12 p.m. Or all-day dappled shade under small-leaved trees, such as honeylocust (Gleditsia) or desert willow (Chilopsis).
Full shade - no direct sun during the day because of dense overhead foliage or buildings.

In the Eastern United States:

Full sun - 8 or more hours of sun.
Part shade - up to 4 hours of sun (during any part of the day).
Full shade - little (morning only) or no direct sun.

Bottom line: study the light in your yard and become familiar with when the sunlight hits the ground and plant accordingly.

soapwort — Soapwort is an Old World wildflower and an outstanding groundcover for sun and part sun areas.

Favorite Plants for Full Shade

Favorite Plants for Partial Shade (Morning Sun or Dappled Shade)

coral bells — Best in part sun and shade in hot climates, Heuchera (Coral Bells) will do well in full sun at higher altitudes with cooler summer weather.

Some Miscellaneous Factors that Affect Plants and Sun Intensity

Variegated Plants - Plants with variegated foliage will always need less sun that the same species with green leaves. So variegated plants will do best in part sun, dappled, or full shade.

Hot Summer Weather - When day temperatures begin to regularly exceed 90◦F, many plants will benefit from afternoon shade.

New Homes - In new housing developments, sunlight conditions will change over time as trees mature. What was once a sunny spot may gradually change to part or full shade conditions. So plant for current sunlight conditions and understand that in five or more years, you may need to change out your plants as conditions become more shady.

Sunny Winters in Cold Areas of The West - During winter, the sun is lower in the sky, and the angle of the sunlight shifts. This can change a sunny location into a shady location. This is an important consideration for broadleaf evergreen plants in cold climates. Too much sun during Western winters can result in burned foliage. High-intensity sunshine combined with frozen soil prevents the foliage from transpiring (losing moisture through the leaves to cool the plant). So be sure to plant your broadleaf evergreens and evergreen perennials, such as Helianthemum (Rock Rose), in a spot where they are more shaded during the winter.

Shop Plants For Shade

30-36" tall x 18" wide. Golden Spur columbine yellow blooms for months beginning in late spring with a profusion of large, cheerful yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds. Allow th...
Learn More

Golden Spur Columbine Golden Spur Columbine Aquilegia chrysantha
$9.99
Per Plant - 5" Deep Pot

30-36" tall x 18" wide. Golden Spur columbine yellow blooms for months beginning in late spring with a profusion of large, cheerful yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds. Allow the plant to reseed itself to form colorful long lived colonies. (seed propagated).
Learn More
Bellium is a vigorous grower, covering itself with a multitude of 1/2" white daisies from late spring through the summer....
Learn More

Miniature Mat Daisy (Bellium) Miniature Mat Daisy Bellium minutum
As low as $8.99
Per Plant - 2.5" Pot

Bellium is a vigorous grower, covering itself with a multitude of 1/2" white daisies from late spring through the summer.
Learn More
Lamium maculatum Orchid Frost (Orchid Frost Deadnettle) is showy, repeat blooming groundcover for shady areas with large orchid-pink flowers and frosty variegated foliage....
Learn More

Orchid Frost Lamium Orchid Frost Dead Nettle Lamium maculatum Orchid Frost
As low as $7.99
Per Plant - 2.5" Pot

Lamium maculatum Orchid Frost (Orchid Frost Deadnettle) is showy, repeat blooming groundcover for shady areas with large orchid-pink flowers and frosty variegated foliage.
Learn More
Appalachian Sedge (Carex appalachica) is a native grass-like plant with thin, fine-textured leaf blades. Appalachian Sedge is an outstanding choice for use as an attractive grassy gr...
Learn More

Appalachian Sedge Grass Appalachian Sedge Carex appalachica
As low as $9.99 Sale $8.49
Per Plant - 3.25" Pot

Appalachian Sedge (Carex appalachica) is a native grass-like plant with thin, fine-textured leaf blades. Appalachian Sedge is an outstanding choice for use as an attractive grassy groundcover for shade and heavy shade areas.
Learn More
Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is one of the most versatile groundcovers for cold climates growing in both sun and shade and most soil types. Plumbago blooms in late su...
Learn More

Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma) Hardy Plumbago, Leadwort Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
As low as $8.79
Per Plant - 2.5" Pot

Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is one of the most versatile groundcovers for cold climates growing in both sun and shade and most soil types. Plumbago blooms in late summer with deep blue flowers followed by the foliage that turns burgundy red in fall.
Learn More
Bella Blue Self-Heal (Prunella grandiflora Bella Blue) is a vigorous, long-blooming groundcover with short spikes of violet-blue flowers that attract butterflies....
Learn More

Bella Blue Prunella Bella Blue Self-Heal Prunella grandiflora Bella Blue
$8.99
Per Plant - 2.5" Pot

Bella Blue Self-Heal (Prunella grandiflora Bella Blue) is a vigorous, long-blooming groundcover with short spikes of violet-blue flowers that attract butterflies.
Learn More
2001 Plant Select Winner 4-6" tall x 15-18" wide. Orange Carpet® is a vigorous perennial groundcover that blooms in mid- to late summer with a profusion of bright orange trumpet ...
Learn More

Orange Carpet® Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria) Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet Orange Carpet® (Fire Chalice) Zauschneria garrettii Orange Carpet®
$10.99
Per Plant - 5" Deep Pot

2001 Plant Select Winner 4-6" tall x 15-18" wide. Orange Carpet® is a vigorous perennial groundcover that blooms in mid- to late summer with a profusion of bright orange trumpet shaped flowers. Spreading with underground stems, this beauty is perfect for slopes and cascading over the edges of raised beds.
Learn More
Herman's Pride Variegated Yellow Archangel is one of our best Old World groundcovers for shade and semi-shade. Lamiastrum galeobdoblon Herman's Pride features short spikes of bright ...
Learn More

Herman's Pride Archangel (Lamiastrum) Herman's Pride Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon Herman's Pride
As low as $7.99
Per Plant - 2.5" Pot

Herman's Pride Variegated Yellow Archangel is one of our best Old World groundcovers for shade and semi-shade. Lamiastrum galeobdoblon Herman's Pride features short spikes of bright yellow flower are held over variegated silver and green foliage, Blooms in late spring.
Learn More

© All articles are copyrighted by High Country Gardens. Republishing an entire High Country Gardens blog post or article is prohibited without permission. Please feel free to share a short excerpt with a link back to the article on social media websites, such as Facebook and Pinterest.