Plants for Sunlight-Starved Areas

Plants for Sunlight-Starved Areas

In the heart of summer, gardens can often appear less vibrant due to reduced sunlight. However, there is a solution to this problem - a variety of annuals that thrive in part-shade and shade, adding a burst of colour to even the least sunny locations. Here are some of the best options for your summer garden.

**Salvia (Sages)** are rapid growers, reaching up to six feet tall, with tall spiky flower clusters that bloom all summer and into fall. Attracting pollinators and repelling deer and rabbits, they are an excellent choice for summer colour in part-shade areas [1].

**Annual Vinca (Periwinkle)** is heat and drought tolerant, boasting bell-shaped flowers that last until the first frost. It works well as ground cover or in hanging baskets and containers in part shade [1].

**Browallia**, also known as silver bells (Browallia speciosa), is an alternative to impatiens, producing periwinkle blue, white, or violet flowers and mounding foliage. It is suited for shady baskets, window boxes, and containers [2].

**Begonias** are versatile annuals that thrive in full shade or part shade, often valued for striking foliage as well as flowers [2].

**New Guinea Impatiens** are known for their tropical-looking blooms and glossy foliage that withstand heat, thriving in full sun or part shade, making them ideal for brightening shady summer spots [3].

**Coleus** is celebrated for its colourful foliage rather than flowers, thriving in partial shade and adding vibrant colour in late summer [3].

**Alternanthera “Purple Knight”** offers striking foliage, doing well in part shade to full sun, and serves as a great filler plant late in the season [3].

**Pentas** bloom in shades of pink, white, and lavender and do well in part shade, adding long-lasting colour [3].

Other noteworthy shade annuals include **Impatiens**, which grow well in full shade or partial sun and provide continuous colour through the summer with regular watering [5].

**Pansy (Viola)** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces brightly coloured flowers.

**Bachelor button (Centaurea)** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces blue flowers.

**Fuschia** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces red, pink, or purple flowers.

**Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces yellow, orange, or red flowers.

**Lobelia** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces blue, white, or pink flowers.

**Perilla (Perilla)** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces purple flowers.

**Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri)** is another uncommon annual for shade gardens, featuring white, pink, purple, yellow, or blue tubular flowers and growing 6 to 12 inches tall with bright green leaves.

**Rose balsam (Impatiens balsamina)** are taller (1-2 feet) than other impatiens and prefer a couple of hours of sunlight for best bloom.

**Forget-me-not (Myosotis)** is a shade-tolerant annual that produces blue flowers.

**New Guinea impatiens** heights range from 9 inches to 3 feet tall.

**Impatiens wallerana**, commonly known as shade-loving annuals, are readily available at garden centers.

**Wax begonia (Begonia × semperflorens)** is another common shade-loving annual with succulent leaves and white, pink, red, or salmon flowers.

**Tuberous Begonia (Begonia × tuberhybrida)** is another tender bulb that is often treated like an annual, featuring stunning rose or camellia-like flowers in pink, red, orange, lavender, yellow, or white, and growing in containers or hanging baskets.

**Caladium (Caladium bicolor)** is a tender bulb that is often treated like an annual, featuring bright red, pink, white, and green leaves and growing 12-30 inches tall, depending on cultivar. Flowers are insignificant and rarely produced.

**Baby blue eyes (Nemophila)** are shade-tolerant annuals that produce blue flowers.

For a combination of low maintenance and beautiful summer blooms in shady spots, these plants collectively offer options that will brighten and enliven your summer garden even in less sunny locations.

1. Salvia, annually blooming in part-shade areas, reaches up to six feet tall with spiky flower clusters that attract pollinators and repel deer and rabbits.
2. Annuals like Browallia, also known as silver bells, are suited for shady baskets, window boxes, and containers, producing periwinkle blue, white, or violet flowers and mounding foliage.
3. Coleus, celebrated for its colourful foliage, thrives in partial shade and adds vibrant colour in late summer.
4. New Guinea Impatiens are known for their tropical-looking blooms and glossy foliage that withstand heat, thriving in full sun or part shade, making them ideal for brightening shady summer spots.
5. The home-and-garden landscape can be enlivened by annuals like Wishbone flower, featuring white, pink, purple, yellow, or blue tubular flowers and growing in shady conditions, adding long-lasting colour to even the least sunny locations.

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