Partially shaded areas can be a hassle when looking for plants that will grow in those areas. We have compiled a list below of 16 different tall perennials that thrive in partial shaded areas to make your search easier.
Tall perennials can certainly add depth, texture, and beauty to your garden. With the thousands of species and varieties that are available, you can find one that fits your vision. They can serve as border plants, backdrops, edging walkways, and added interest for hard to grow areas.
1. Cardinal Flower
This American wildflower's Latin name is Lobelia cardinalis. Its brilliant red color alludes to the color of a Roman Catholic cardinal's robe. They are tall herbaceous perennials with trumpet-shaped blooms that grow from tall stalks. Their vibrant blooms last from the summer through the fall. Each plant can reach a height of 4 feet.
USDA plant hardiness zones 1 through 10 are where this plant grows, giving it a very wide range of climate durability. If grown in cool areas, they will require direct sunlight, but in warmer regions, they require morning sun with afternoon shade. Moist, nutrient-rich, organic soil is needed to keep these plants healthy.
2 bare root plants come in this order.
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2. Foxglove
Also known as Digitalis purpurea, this perennial features eye-catching bell-shaped blooms that grow from a tall, singular flower spike. Blooms come in shades of white, red, pink, lavender, and yellow and typically bloom from May to June or July. The throat of each bloom has colored speckles. Each plant has the ability to reach a height up to 6 feet.
To best survive, they need light, moist, well-draining soil. Light shade is their preference, but they can withstand various levels of sunlight. USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 10 are suitable for its survival. The hotter the climate, the more shade is necessary.
Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to the vibrancy and nectar of the blooms and will help in the pollination process.
Order this and receive over 8,000 seeds to start your Foxglove plants.
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3. Ligularia
Large toothed dark green leaves and bright yellow flower spikes adorn this plant. The flowers appear later in the summer and last for a couple of months. If the temperatures get too hot for the plant, its leaves will wilt temporarily in order to retain water. These plants can reach between 4 and 5 feet in height.
Its latin name is Ligularia dentata. Its meaning derives from the Latin word "ligula," meaning "little tongue," which refers to the shape of the flower blooms.
Partial to full shade is best for this plant to thrive as well as moist, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. Dry soil conditions will quickly impact the health of the plant. Ligularia performs best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Water these plants deeply every week and plant them in partially shaded areas.
This container comes with a well-rooted, ready to plant Ligularia.
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4. Lily of Peru
The Latin name for Lily of Peru is Alstroemeria.
This perennial can grow to a height between 1 and 3 feet and a width between 1 and 2 feet. They resemble lilies with their trumpet-like appearance and each blossom measures a width around 2 inches. They are very interesting due to the streaks and speckles that run along the throat of each bloom. They can be solid, bi-colored, or multi-colored with shades in white, pink, red, yellow, orange, and purple.
USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 10 are where this plant grows best. This low maintenance plant grows well in moist but well-draining soil that can have essentially any makeup. With one of the longest blooming seasons, they can be seen from early summer through early fall.
Over 100 seeds of different color varieties come in this packet.
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5. Japanese Anemone
These perennials bloom in the late summer through early fall and have daisy-like flowers in shades of white and pink. Its foliage is a beautiful green and has a mounded shape. Each plant grows between 2 and 4 feet in height.
These plants grow best in the USDA plant hardiness zones of 4 through 8 and do well in partial shade or full sun. If they're in full shade, they could become a bit leggy, but if they're in full sun, they'll need constantly moist soil. Its Latin name is Anemonoe x hybrida.
1 packet of seeds comes with this order.
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6. Astilbe
Fluffy, bright plumes of flowers rest atop full, bushy dark green foliage. The flowers are seen in shades of white, pink, purple, red, and lavender. The blossoms extend from long rigid stems. Depending on the variety, they can reach heights between 1 foot and 4 feet.
Partial shade to full shade is where they perform best, but if growing in colder northern climates, they may require more sun. USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8 are best suited for its growth. Well-drained moist soil is required for its best growth.
The foliage makes it deer and pest resistant, helping your garden stay more vibrant. These dramatic blooms can brighten up any region and provide interesting texture.
50 seeds of various colors come in this seed package.
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7. Balloon Flower
Similar to what its name suggests, this star-shaped flower has an almost puffy appearance, like a balloon. It can grow to a height between 1 and 2 feet and will typically spread in width about 1 foot. It blooms during the summer and comes in shades of purple, blue, white, and pink.
It can grow in partial shade or full sun and needs well-draining loamy soil that's slightly acidic. Don't let the soil get too moist because root rot can occur. It grows best in the USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Its Latin name is Platycodon grandiflorus, meaning "Broad Bell."
A small starter packet of seeds comes with this order.
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8. Baptisia
Commonly known as Wild Indigo, this herbaceous perennial boasts of eye-catching white, indigo, or yellow blooms that grow on rigid spikes. These flower spikes can reach a height of 3 feet. The blooms last for a few weeks during the early summer months. Whenever the blooms fade, more attractive foliage takes their place and fills out the plant to look like a small shrub.
Baptisia australis is the Latin name for this plant. They are very tough and can withstand many different environments. They'll need at least 6 hours of sunlight each day and get about 1 inch of water weekly. Once they have been well established, they can tolerate seasons of drought. USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 are best for Baptisia's survival.
Receive a well-established plant when you order this option.
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9. Campanula
Its common name is "Bellflower" because of its small cup-shaped blooms in shades of purple, light blue, white, and pink that grows atop beautiful green foliage. There are hundreds of varieties, so some are low ground cover plants while others can grow to a height a few feet tall. Blooms grow from rigid stems.
Blooms typically last during June and July, but can stretch through October in some growing regions; cool summers are best for these perennials. They perform best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 and up.
Its Latin name, Campanula, means "Little Bell."
Receive about 500 seeds when you order this packet.
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10. Columbine
This herbaceous perennial can be seen in shades and patterns of white, red, yellow, purple, and pink with attractive green foliage. A unique feature of this plant is the colorful "spur" that grows behind the flower. Its blooms can be seen from later spring to early summer. They can grow to a height of 2 feet.
They perform best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9 as well as in partial shade. Well-drained soil with rich nutrients will increase its health. Once established, these plants are drought tolerant.
Its Latin name Aquilegia, comes from the Latin word meaning "Eagle."
Over 2,000 Columbine seeds come in this packet.
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11. Daylily
Many different varieties of Daylilies exist, having different petal forms, colors, and heights. Some petals are short and broad while others are more narrow. It has many different colors, patterns, and textures with shades of white, yellow, red, pink, and orange.
These perennials thrive best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, being able to tolerate a wide range of conditions. Moist, nutrient-rich, well-draining soil and at least 6 hours of sunlight are best for this plant.
Its Latin name is Hemerocallis, meaning "Beauty for a Day," referencing the fact that individual Daylily blooms appear in the morning and die by nighttime.
6 bare roots of mixed Daylilies come in this package.
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12. Garden Phlox
Oversized clusters of small white, lavender, pink, or purple blooms grow on tall rigid stems that can reach a height between 3 and 4 feet. The foliage underneath is a vibrant green. They bloom throughout the summer months.
Its Latin name is Phlox paniculata.
It does best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Moist, nutrient-rich, well-draining soil is a must for the success of this plant as well as adequate sunlight. It will perform best in regions where it won't experience harsh heat and a lot of humidity.
5 seeds come in each packet ordered.
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13. Globe Thistle
Though these plants have a prickly exterior, they are wildly interesting with their globular shape and bright purple or blue petals. Their flowers can last up to 8 weeks and will start to appear in the early summer months. Each stem can reach a height between 3 and 4 feet while each bloom can reach a diameter of 2 inches. The foliage is dark green and notched.
Echinops is its Latin name and fittingly, its name means "hedgehog" in Greek. Over 100 different species are within this genus, each with a few different distinctive characteristics. They are deer resistant and attract beneficial insects like butterflies and bees.
USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8 are where the Globe Thistle performs best. Once it has been established, it's drought-tolerant, making it very low maintenance. It needs well-draining soil and can thrive in soil types ranging from acidic to alkaline.
500 Globe Thistle seeds come in this package, ensuring successful growing.
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14. Goats Beard
This showy perennial can grow up to 6 feet in height and develop a very large bushy shape. Long branched spikes are covered in little feathery cream-colored blooms during the summer months. It grows at an average pace. The foliage is dark green and very striking.
It will grow best in nutrient-rich, moist soil that's located in the shade. It can survive in full sun as long as it has constant moisture. Peat moss and compost can help add the needed nutrients if the soil is naturally lacking. USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8 are best suited for this plant's growing needs.
Its botanical name is Aruncus dioicus. This plant is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants.
Over 50 seeds come in this package.
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15. Peony
Stunning and eye-catching, these garden perennials show off large, intricate blooms. Their blooms appear like tissue paper and come in shades and patterns of white, pink, red, and yellow. With three different varieties, peonies can grow as herbaceous plants or even as trees.
They need fertile, well-draining soil and at least 6 hours of sunlight each day for maximum health and performance. They are hardy in zones 3 through 8. They should have enough water to keep the top few inches of soil damp. Its Latin name is Paeonia.
This Peony shipment comes with 3-5 bare roots.
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16. Yarrow
This showy perennial has clusters of little blooms that come in shades of yellow, white, red, and pink. The plant can grow to a height of 3 feet and has fern-like foliage underneath its flower heads. Depending on its region of growth, the blooms can appear between springtime and late summer.
These plants can grow in shade, but full sun will ensure strong plants with compact growth and large flowers. Well draining soil that's loamy or sandy are good growing conditions for this plant. Deadheading the flowers will encourage more future growth.
It has been known throughout time for its healing properties. It can help for small things like nosebleeds and fevers or larger issues such as circulatory problems.
Its Latin name is Achillea millefolium. It is named after the Greek hero, Achilles, due to the story that he used Yarrow to treat the wounds of his soldiers during the Battle of Troy.
This shipment will come with over 17,000 Yarrow seeds.
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