How to Garden in Deep Shade

Deep or full shade areas receive very little light due to crowded canopies or structures that block sunlight most of the day.

Designing a Garden for Deep Shade

Plants in deep shade face a significant challenge, as their growth is dramatically limited by a lack of sunlight for photosynthesis. While a variety of forms will succeed in deep shade, often the most successful plants are those with large, flat leaves that can act as umbrellas to catch any passing ray of light.

Though gardeners may be tempted to space plants further apart to reduce competition for light in the shade, this can often lead to landscapes that look barren and plants that look spindly or unintentionally placed. Instead, install plants leaving enough space for them to mature, but consider clustering like plants closer than their mature size in groups of threes or fives to create the appearance of a larger plant right from the start.

Gradually shift from low plantings to taller plantings, rather than layering low under tall as you might in other shade conditions, as this will help reduce competition for light while still leaving the garden dynamic and interesting.

Tips for Gardening in Deep Shade

• In areas that receive little to no direct sun or only minimal dappled sun, adding compost to the soil will help boost fertility and microbial content of the soil, improving the overall soil quality for successful plant growth.
• Be thoughtful when pruning existing plants to reduce crowding and competition, but don’t overprune, as it takes plants in deep shade longer to grow.

Discover more detailed information about shade gardening here!

Plants for Deep Shade

Shrubs & Trees

• Vine Maple (Acer circinatum): Deciduous, Native
• Japanese Aucuba or Gold Dust Plant (Aucuba japonica): Evergreen
• Russian Olive (Elaegnus varieties): Evergreen
• Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica): Evergreen
• Japanese Rose (Kerria japonica): Deciduous
• Fragrant Olive (Osmanthus varieties): Evergreen
• English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus): Evergreen
• Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata): Evergreen, Native
• Hemlock (Tsuga sp.): Evergreen, Native

Perennials

• Wind Flower (Anemone): Herbaceous
• Beesia (Beesia deltophylla): Evergreen
• False Forget-Me-Not, Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla): Herbaceous
• Corydalis (Corydalis): Herbaceous
• Evergreen Solomon’s Seal (Disporopsis): Evergreen
• Ferns: Herbaceous, Semi-Evergreen, Evergreen
• Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa): Herbaceous
• Plantain Lily (Hosta): Herbaceous
• Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon): Evergreen
• Variegated Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘varietagum’): Herbaceous
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria): Herbaceous
• Saxifrage (Saxifraga): Evergreen
• Wake Robin (Trillium): Herbaceous, Native

Bulbs

• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arum): Winter/Spring flowers, Summer dormant
• Meadow Saffron or Autumn Crocus (Colchicum): Autumn blooming, Spring dormant, Edible

Groundcovers

• Wild Ginger (Asarum): Evergreen
• Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis): Deciduous
• Bishop’s Hat (Epimedium): Semi-Evergreen to Evergreen
• Winterberry (Gaultheria procumbens): Evergreen, Edible
• Wood Sorrel (Oxallis oregana): Herbaceous, Native
• Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis): Evergreen
• Fragrant Sweet Box (Sarcoccoca): Evergreen
• Dwarf Periwinkle (Vinca minor): Evergreen