Plant Growing Guides

Shade-loving Coleus Black Dragon

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon'

Shade-loving Epiphytes

Various species (e.g., Rhaphidophora pinnata, Scindapsus pictus, Hoya species)

Shade-loving Epiphytic Orchids

Orchidaceae spp. (epiphytic genera including Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium)

Shade-loving Ferns

Polypodiopsida (various species)

Shade-loving foliage plants

Various species (e.g., Hosta spp., Heuchera spp., Polystichum spp.)

Shade-loving Hosta

Hosta spp.

Shade-loving Hydrangea

Hydrangea spp.

Shade-loving native Hawaiian understory plants

Mixed native Hawaiian species (Psychotria hawaiiensis, Coprosma, Cheirodendron, Pittosporum, etc.)

Shade-loving Orchids

Orchidaceae (various shade-tolerant genera)

Shade-loving perennials

Multiple species (Hosta, Astilbe, Heuchera, Polygonatum, etc.)

Shade-loving Perennials (Astilbe, Coral Bells, Brunnera)

Astilbe spp., Heuchera spp., Brunnera macrophylla

Hellebore (Christmas Rose)

Helleborus niger

Shade-loving Perennials (Hosta and Hellebore)

Hosta spp. and Helleborus spp.

Helleborus (Christmas Rose / Lenten Rose)

Helleborus niger / Helleborus orientalis

Shade-loving Salvia

Salvia nemorosa

Shade-loving Sedums

Sedum spp. (shade-tolerant varieties)

Shade-loving shrubs

Various species

Shade-loving tropical houseplants

Various species (Philodendron spp., Anthurium spp., Zamioculcas zamiifolia, etc.)

Shade-loving tropical understory plants

Various species (Alocasia, Anthurium, Philodendron, Rhaphidophora, etc.)

Shade-loving Understory Shrubs

Various species (e.g., Ilex, Sambucus, Viburnum, Calycanthus)

Shade-loving Woodland Plants

Mixed Species (Helleborus, Hosta, Epimedium, Heuchera, Astilbe, and others)

Shade Perennials

Various species

Shade Perennials (Astilbe and Hosta)

Astilbe × arendsii; Hosta species and hybrids

Hellebore (Christmas Rose)

Helleborus niger

Shade Perennials (Hosta and Hellebore)

Hosta spp. and Helleborus spp.

Shade Perennials (Hosta & Liriope)

Hosta spp. & Liriope muscari

Hellebore (Christmas Rose / Lenten Rose)

Helleborus niger / Helleborus orientalis

Shade-providing large-leaf plants

Various species (Hosta, Fatsia japonica, Alocasia, Philodendron, etc.)

Shade-providing native shrubs

Various species (region-dependent)

Shade Shrubs

Multiple species (general category)

Boxwood & Inkberry (Shade Shrubs)

Buxus spp. & Ilex glabra

Celosia (Cockscomb)

Celosia argentea

Impatiens (Busy Lizzie)

Impatiens walleriana

Shade-tolerant Annual Vinca

Catharanthus roseus

Shade-tolerant Begonia

Begonia spp.

Shade-tolerant Begonia

Begonia spp. (shade-tolerant varieties)

Shade-tolerant Bromeliads

Bromeliaceae (various genera and species)

Shade-tolerant Coleus

Plectranthus scutellarioides

Dwarf Yew (Taxus)

Taxus baccata (and other Taxus species)

Shade-tolerant Euonymus

Euonymus japonicus

Shade-tolerant Geranium

Geranium sanguineum, Geranium clarkei, Geranium himalayense

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Vinca (Periwinkle)

Catharanthus roseus

Shade-tolerant Heather

Erica x darleyensis

Hellebore (Christmas Rose/Lenten Rose)

Helleborus niger, H. orientalis, and related species

Shade-tolerant Heuchera

Heuchera sanguinea and related species

Shade-tolerant Hydrangea

Hydrangea species (primarily H. arborescens, H. quercifolia, H. macrophylla)

Shade-tolerant Impatiens

Impatiens walleriana