Beautiful Shade Garden Ideas for Your Home

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Shade gardens are a beautiful and serene place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. They can be designed to suit any style, from simple and elegant to bold and colorful. 

If you're thinking of adding a shade garden to your home, here are a few things to consider:

• What kind of plants do you want to grow?
  There are a wide variety of plants that thrive in shady areas. Some of our favorites include impatiens, begonias, hostas, and ferns. 

• How much sun does your garden get?
  Light levels can range from light shade to full shade. The amount of shade your garden receives will determine what you can plant. 

• How will you use your shade garden?
  Shade gardens provide a refuge from the heat. If you live in an area with hot summers, then you know how important it is to have a place to cool off.

Shade gardens can be just as beautiful and productive as any other type of garden. Explore the ideas below to start planning your own shady retreat!

Top Shade Garden Ideas

What Are the Best Plants for Shade?

Gardens in the shade can be created using a variety of plants, including annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

Check out these popular plant choices for shade:

• Shade Perennials
• Foliage Plants for Shade
• Annuals for Shade
• Plants for Under Trees  
• 10 Colorful Coleus
• 10 Best Hydrangeas
• Vibrant & Versatile Caladiums

Shop for shade plants - Order plants online and have them shipped right to your door

How To Create a Beautiful Shade Garden

Anyone who has gardened in the shade knows the challenges it presents. Here you'll find solutions and inspiration for making the most of shady spots. 

10 Hosta Garden Ideas That Wow
Hostas are one of the most fool-proof plants for shady areas. Discover their nearly endless design possibilities in the landscape. 

What Does Full Sun or Part Shade Mean?
A guide to understanding light levels in your garden. Full sun, part sun, part shade, full shade...what exactly does it all mean?

Shade Caladium Garden
Use this landscape recipe as a starting point for your own shady garden bed. Includes a plant list and planting diagram. 

Planting Beds in Variable Light Conditions
No garden has totally perfect light conditions. Luckily there are versatile plants that can do well in sun and shade.  

Ideas for a Window Box in the Shade
Watch Laura of Garden Answer plant a window box with a colorful display of shade plants . 

Recipes for Shade Containers

If you have a shady porch or patio, a great place to start is with containers. Pot up a couple of shade-loving plants and you'll have an attractive focal point.

Get inspiration for what plants work well together from these shade container recipes. 

Get more container gardening ideas. 

The plants in this container include begonia, sweet potato vine, coleus and wishbone flower. 
View the Precious Opal container recipe