How to grow plants in the shade?

Question

I am wanting to grow something in my front yard. The area is in the shade under a tree. I have heard of a "shade garden" but I don't know what that is. If anyone could give me an example of some plants that I could grow.

Answer 1

I would go with some groundcover like Tiarella, Vinca, and maybe some Lamium maculatum or Helleborus niger, which will all flower. Hosta’s come in all shades of solid blue or green and combinations of blue/green with variegated yellow and white and also flower. Ferns come in an assortment of colors and textures. Astilbe and “Bleeding Heart” would also add texture and color to a shaded area. With the above combinations you could have a stunning, colorful garden in the shade. Also, don’t forget the different types of moss or ivy available and Sedge with it’s grass-like appearance.

Answer 2

Impatiens are great with little light.I would try them.begonias may work but  I don't know for sure.

Answer 3

G'day Eddie, there's a lot of plants that grow in shade, some are indigenous to your area. If you have some woodland near you take a walk and just observe.

But most of the plants we grow in our shade gardens come from tropical rain forests. Some require 'filtered light' to do well. These are plants that are 'transitional'. Impatiens come under this category. They're best planted on the outer edge that gets some sun. Ferns usually require some light as well and they'd be best planted behind the impatiens. Then in really deep shade there's plants like philodendron, Syngonium, aspidistra and mother in laws tounges (Sanservera). Many succulents and cactus (counter intuitively) grow well in shade too and some make great hanging baskets which you can hang up on a branch.

Answer 4

Hostas and bleeding harts are two of the most popular shade perennials