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9 Super Plants for Shady Containers

by Fern on September 16, 2009

in Gardening in the Shade

Gardening in the shade can be pretty challenging, especially if you like bold, colorful plants. But rest assured that “challenging” doesn’t mean “impossible.” Check out these plants for some ideas for your shady container garden.

Black Mondo Grass

Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’

Japanese Blood Grass

Purple Heart ‘Purple Queen’

Oxalis ‘Molten Lava’

Coleus ‘Fishnet Stockings’

Foxglove

Dead Nettle

Bleeding Hearts

Don’t forget about the Twitter Contest for a chance to win a copy of either The Green Gardener’s Guide by Joe Lamp’l or Sunset’s Western Garden Book

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Bob September 16, 2009 at 6:29 am

I have also seen both heuchera and hosta grown in shade containers for great color/texture.

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Fern September 16, 2009 at 8:51 pm

Bob–There are waaaay more than just these nine plants that are shade tolerant. Or even these nine plus the two you mentioned. I do like huecheras, but I’m not a fan of hostas. I think there are a lot more interesting plants than hostas for shade, and they tend to get kind of bushy and take over in containers.

invisiblebees–I’ve never grown bleeding hearts in a container myself. I did plant them in some pots for a client, but they were on a drip system, so there would be no need to mist them. That being said, the humidity level in coastal California is usually 70 or 80 percent. In the shade, most pots stay nice and moist, especially glazed containers.

invisiblebees September 16, 2009 at 8:01 am

Do you grow Bleeding Hearts on your SoCal balcony, Fern? If so, do you find you have to mist them so they don’t dry out/scorch in the lower humidity? Or… do you get plenty of humidity in Long Beach? Thanks!

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meryemilymay September 17, 2009 at 4:49 am

i would like to grow foxgloves they are goegeous also the bleeding hearts

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