Partial Shade Flowering Plants
- Areas of the yard in partial shade are ideal spots to grow a variety of flowering plants, shrubs and groundcovers that can be damaged when exposed to too much sun. Partial shade plants will thrive on the limited amount of sunlight they receive throughout the day with regular watering and fertilizing. A selection of plants with different colors and textures will brighten up these shady areas.
- Glossy abelia is a fast-growing, small to medium sized flowering shrub. It typically grows 3 to 5 feet tall, though it may be up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide in zones 8 and 9 where the warm weather makes it evergreen. The shrub is semi- evergreen in zones 6 and 7. Glossy abelia has multiple stems, arching branches and dense growth with shiny, dark green foliage in the summer. In winter, the leaves are tinted with bronze. Clusters of tubular, white flowers measuring about 1 inch long bloom from mid-summer until the first frost. Some cultivars have dark pink flowers and variegated or yellow foliage.
- Foamflower, also known as heart-leaf or heartleaf foamflower, is a flowering perennial groundcover for partial shade areas named for its foam-like flower spikes. On the end of a 6- to 12-inch long stalk, the flower spikes are filled with tiny, star-shaped flowers that are pink or white. Foamflower blooms from April to July and the plant reaches 12 to 15 inches tall. The foliage on some plants are green, but cultivars such as Iron Butterfly, Pink Skyrocket and Pirates Patch have dark red patches in the center of the leaves. It's hardy in zones 3 to 8 and needs well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
- Reaching a height of 1 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, astilbe, also known as false spirea, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant. Astilbe is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and is grown in moist, well-drained soil with lots of organic matter. The foliage emerges as green, tinted bronze or red and when the plant is mature, the foliage is medium green, dark green or bronze tinted. Pyramidal flower spikes bloom on the end of stiff or arching upright stems in colors such as violet, white, scarlet, cream, red, pink, purple or lavender. The flowers are in bloom for two to six weeks from June to September.
- The Eastern red columbine attracts hummingbirds and long-tongued insects that are able to sip the nectar from the distinct backward-pointing tubes at the top of the flowers. Other wildlife attracted to the Eastern red columbine are hawk moths, bees and butterflies, as well as buntings and finches who eat the tan capsule-shaped seeds produced by the flowering plant. It grows up to 2 feet tall with green to blue-green leaves and 2-inch long bell-shaped flowers hanging from the end of long, thin stems. Groups of yellow stamens hang below the yellow and red petals. The Eastern red columbine is very drought tolerant and is hardy in zones 3 to 8. This plant should not be grown in soil with a high level or organic matter. Rich soil will cause weak stems and excessive vegetative growth.
