Tips for gardening in a shady yard

Even if your yard doesn’t get much sunlight, it’s still possible to grow a beautiful garden. The key is to select shade-tolerant species. Here are some suggestions.

Perennials
In addition to hostas, which thrive in shady conditions, many perennials don’t require much sunlight. Consider planting:

• Leopard plants, whose yellow flowers are sure to brighten dim spaces
• Coral bells, which are great for lining the edges of a flower bed
• Undergrowth ferns such as ostrich, lady, and wood ferns
• Bugbane, which has spikes of wispy white flowers on tall stems
• Forget-me-nots, which have beautiful blue springtime blooms

There are also a number of ground cover plants that are well-suited for shady conditions such as bugleweed, lily of the valley, and creeping dogwood.

Shrubs
There are several types of ornamental shrubs that can add height and texture to a shady garden, including:

• Holly
• Dogwood
• Squirrel corn
• Rhododendrons
• Some hydrangeas

In addition to looking for shade-tolerant species, be sure to consider the hardiness zone you live in when selecting plants for your garden.