Most of us aren’t fortunate enough to have a full day’s worth of sun in our gardens, yet even the most experienced among us is still a little intimidated by shady areas. They’re often uncharted territory—the last place you want to plant because you’re not even sure what will grow there. But whether you have a shady entryway or a tree-shaded yard, there are plenty of options that can bring light and life to your dark space. Simply remember that a successful shade garden starts with good plant choices and adherence to the principles and elements of design.

When you begin exploring your plant options, you’ll discover a plethora of textures and forms. You’ll also find plenty of color—most notably, shades of green and light-simulating chartreuse and silver. The first step is to pair these plants, focusing on establishing contrast among textures, shapes, sizes, and colors to help you play up the qualities of each plant. Next, become aware of how the plant combinations work in relation to the scale of their environment, how they create focal interest, and how they draw the eye from one successful combination to the next. You’re striving to create individual combinations that add interest and fend off the monotony of hosta, hosta, hosta. But you’re also trying to create combos that contribute and connect to the overall landscape.

Here are examples of how picking the right plants and sticking to these basic elements of design can create a pleasing ensemble of plants that make the shade come alive.

In this entry garden leading to the front door, the central stone path divides the garden in half, yet each side remains connected through repetition of the same or similar plants. For example, Japanese painted fern, ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass, ‘Nikko Blue’ hydrangea, Emperor I® Japanese maple, and ‘Blue Angel’ hosta are all duplicated on the opposite side of the path. The Japanese maples are essential for adding a little color and offering some transitional height between the canopy of mature oaks and the lower herbaceous perennials and small shrubs. The sun-loving pine in the foreground takes advantage of one of the few pockets of full sun and is right at home alongside its shady neighbors.

Light level: Partial shade

1. Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8)

2. ‘Patriot’ hosta (Hosta ‘Patriot’, Zones 3–9)

3. Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia cv., annual)

4. ‘Nikko Blue’ hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’, Zones 6–9)

5. ‘Frances Williams’ hosta (Hosta ‘Frances Williams’, Zones 3–9)

6. ‘Chidori Red’ ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Chidori Red’, annual)

7. ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Zones 5–9)

8. ‘Blue Angel’ hosta (Hosta ‘Blue Angel’, Zones 3–9)

9. Emperor I® Japanese maple (Acer palmatum* ‘Wolff’, Zones 5–8)

10. ‘Chalet’ Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra ‘Chalet’, Zones 3–7)

A Little Color Goes a Long Way

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a shade garden? Probably not color. When color is used, however, a little bit can make an impact. In this combination, ‘Red Ruffles’ coleus adds a splash of rich color that ties the combo to the warm, reddish tones of the stone path and a burgundy Japanese maple in the background. The large variegated leaves of ‘Frances Williams’ hosta create a focal point and complement the deep color of the coleus and the fine-textured foliage of ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass. Although hostas like this are often seen going solo in a shade garden, they look best when paired with other plants.

Light level: Partial shade

1. ‘Red Ruffles’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Red Ruffles’, Zone 11)

2. ‘Frances Williams’ hosta (Hosta ‘Frances Williams’, Zones 3–9)

3. ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Zones 5–9)

Large groups of herbaceous perennials provide impact and appropriate scale near the foundation of this home. Layering bands of contrasting textures, shapes, heights, and colors add depth, interest, and drama. The bright chartreuse foliage of the fine-textured Japanese forest grass highlights the edge of the bed while drawing the viewer’s eye to other foundation plants. The group of tall ‘Lavender Mist’ meadow rues offers height and transparency without compromising the view from the window behind them. Several pines to the left of this combo offer year-round stability as the flowers of hydrangea, ligularia, and meadow rue come and go throughout the seasons.

Go Short in the Middle