9 Summer Flowers That Grow in the Shade

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Giant Himalayan Lily — Photo:
pcturner71 / GETTY IMAGES

When summer reaches full swing, a garden shows its true colors. The challenging conditions put your yard to the test—and will reveal whether or not you placed your flowers in the correct spots. To prevent your hard work from burning to a crisp (literally!), it's important to identify the summer flowers that just can't withstand that blast of sun before you plant them. Move them to a covered section of your garden, whether that's under a tree with a light canopy or near a wall that limits exposure, if their care requirements require part or full shade.

Part shade refers to plants that can withstand four to six hours of direct summer sunlight per day (but it's better if they receive those rays in the morning, when temperatures are cooler).
Full shade plants should receive no more than three hours of direct summer sunlight per day (preferably in the morning or evening). These varieties will typically thrive in a covered spot that receives dappled light (such as under a tree with a thicker canopy).

And if your yard is full of low-light pockets? You're in luck: There are so many beautiful summer flowers that can thrive and bloom underneath overhangs or in darker areas of your landscape. Here, discover nine shade-loving summer flowers to consider growing this year.

01 of 09

White Wood Aster

The white wood aster is a deciduous perennial for light shade; its white blooms appear in late summer, says Ray Larson, the curator of living collections and the associate director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens in Seattle. "It does best with the occasional summer water in drier climates," he says.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
Growing conditions: part shade or shade; well-draining soil

Find Your Garden Zone Here

02 of 09

Hardy Begonia

Hardy begonia is a deciduous perennial. It features bold foliage with clusters of white to pink flowers in late July and August. While it prefers some water during dry periods, it can handle being dry once it's established in shade, says Larson. It's also one of the best flowering late-summer shade perennials.

Zones: 6 to 9
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Growing conditions: light to full shade; rich, well-draining soil

03 of 09

Finger-Leaf Rodgersia

Finger-leaf rodgersia's bold, textural foliage is followed by panicles of flowers in early summer. "The flowers are white to pink and have large leaves up to 10 inches long with five to nine leaflets (they are reminiscent of chestnut leaves)," says Larson. "It can handle full sun if given adequate moisture; but is generally best in open shade. It prefers regular watering during the summer months for the best show."

Zones: 5 to 8
Size: 5 to 6 feet tall (with flowers) x 2 to 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: open shade (can tolerate more sun, too); rich soil

04 of 09

Hardy True Ginger (Butterfly Ginger)

Hardy Ginger bloom — seven75 / GETTY IMAGES

This deciduous species brightens up any woodland planting with showy orange-and-yellow flowers that arise from red bracts in July. "The narrow, deep green leaves appear in late spring and are followed by flower stalks up to 3 inches tall," says Larson. "The hardy true ginger needs regular summer moisture for the best effect, but happily grows into a sizable, well-behaved clump in time."

Zones: 7b to 9
Size: 3 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wide
Growing conditions: part shade; rich soil

05 of 09

Giant Himalayan Lily

The giant Himalayan lily's enormous, fragrant blooms appear in late spring and early summer. The white, Easter-lily like flowers have purple throats. From seed, each plant takes seven years to flower; bulbs will take just two to three years, with new offsets produced each year for an even better show down the road, says Larson. "Attractive seed heads follow and are held on sturdy stalks through the fall and into winter," he says. "They provide one of the most dramatic sights in any shade garden."

Zones: 7 to 9
Size: 6 to 9 feet tall x 4 feet wide
Growing conditions: part shade; rich soil

06 of 09

Beesia

This is a well-behaved evergreen perennial ground cover for part to full shade. "Beesia has small white blooms in early summer, but its outstanding feature is the glossy, heart-shaped, deep green foliage," says Larson. "Beesia needs some water during long, dry periods and is truly rabbit resistant to boot."

Zones: 6 to 9
Size: 1 foot tall x 2 feet wide (clump forming)
Growing conditions: part shade to full shade; rich, well-draining soil

07 of 09

Hydrangea Serrata and Hydrangea Macrophylla

It is hard to beat hydrangeas for early summer color in your shade garden. "From lacecaps to mopheads, there are a variety of colors and habits available, and many new cultivars have been introduced in recent years," says Larson.

Zones: 6 to 9
Size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide (varies by cultivar)
Growing conditions: light to open shade; rich, well-draining soil

How to Grow and Care for Hydrangeas

08 of 09

Plantain Lily

This herbaceous perennial blooms in white, lavender, or purple and comes with broad, heart-shaped leaves. "The plantain lily has beautiful variegated green, blue, or yellow leaves," says Beverly Anne, a gardening expert affiliated with MicroVeggy.com. "Be sure to use a regular application of balanced fertilizer in well-draining, rich soil."

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: part to full shade; well-draining soil

09 of 09

Sedum (Stonecrop)

stonecrop succulent — apugach / GETTY IMAGES

If you like your flowers thick and fleshy, the stonecrop sedum variety is a great option; its petals come in green, blue, burgundy, or variegated forms. "The succulent perennial stonecrop flower comes clustered in dense heads and flowers in late summer to fall. It has few pests or diseases," says Anne.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 6 inches tall x 2 feet wide (varies by cultivar)
Growing conditions: part shade (can tolerate full sun, too); well-draining or loamy soil

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9 Summer Flowers That Thrive in the Shade