Herbaceous flowering plants that will flourish in shade and suit borders or planting under trees

There are a number of herbaceous flowering plants that will benefit from shade conditions. Most of these plants will produce both flower alongside an attractive bold foliage. Many are planted as much for their large attractive foliage as they are for blossom.

Many of these shade tolerant herbaceous plants have evolved under sheltered woodland canopy and as such their foliage will scorch in a exposed sunny location. As with all other herbaceous plants you will need to dig compost into the soil when planting as well as put time into mulching around plants with compost every few years; this will help improve soil fertility as well as lock in soil moisture.

Many of these herbaceous plants will also require lifting and dividing when old and congested, this will encourage rejuvenated growth and flowering as well as new sense of vigor. Some of the taller plants will also need staking to stop larger plants from collapsing, especially in more exposed locations.


Click on an image or plant name to view the full plant profile
Click Image for Full ProfileLatin & Common NameType & FormFlowersFoliageEarmark
Euphorbia amygdaloides - Robbiae - Wood SpurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides

'Robbiae'

Wood Spurge
Herbaceous Flowers, Ground cover, Container-friendly, SpreadingGreen flowers (Spring)Medium Green foliage
Hosta halcyon - Plantain LilyHosta halcyon

Plantain Lily
Herbaceous Flowers, Ground cover, Container-friendly, Rounded - ClumpWhite flowers (Summer early)Blue foliage
Bergenia Sunningdale - BergeniaBergenia 'Sunningdale'

Bergenia
Herbaceous Flowers, Ground cover, Container-friendly, SpreadingDark pink flowers (Spring)Medium Green foliage
Liriope platyphyllus - Lily TurfLiriope platyphyllus

Lily Turf
Herbaceous Flowers, Ground cover, Container-friendly, SpreadingViolet flowers (Autumn)Medium Green foliage
Helleborus feotidus - Stinking Hellebore,  HelleborusHelleborus feotidus

Stinking Hellebore, Helleborus
Herbaceous Flowers, Upright - ClumpGreen flowers (Winter, scented)Dark Green foliage
Convallaria majalis - Lily of the valleyConvallaria majalis

Lily of the valley
Herbaceous Flowers, Ground cover, Container-friendly, Rounded - ClumpNon-floweringMedium Green foliage
Tiarella - Spring Symphony - Foam Flower, TiarellaTiarella

'Spring Symphony'

Foam Flower, Tiarella
Herbaceous Flowers, SpreadingWhite flowers (Summer)Medium Green foliage
Symphytum - Album - ComfreySymphytum

'Album'

Comfrey
Herbaceous Flowers, Herbs, Ground cover, Culinary, Container-friendly, SpreadingWhite flowers (Summer early)Medium Green foliage
Dicentra - Langtrees - Dutchmans trousers, DicentraDicentra

'Langtrees'

Dutchman's trousers, Dicentra
Herbaceous Flowers, Ground cover, Container-friendly, Spreading clumpWhite flowers (Summer)Grey foliage


You can use our plant-finder to find plants that match your garden conditions exactly, for example Herbaceous flowering plants that will flourish in shade and suit borders or planting under trees - click to give it a try!

Have you seen our other plant top ten recommendations?

Share this page with your friends on Facebook!
Find Me Plants - the search for the right garden plants starts here
Send this page to a Friend Link to this page Bookmark
Add our plant search tool to your website or blog, absolutely free.
Find out how
Buy the FMP boys a cuppa! ©www.FindMePlants.co.uk