10 Great Plants for the Shady Spots in Your Garden

The large, dense clusters of flowers on these native shrubs last all season, even through fall and winter to provide three-season interest and texture. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from a few feet tall to 7 or 8 feet tall. Most tolerate a bit of sun, especially if it's not super-hot late afternoon sunlight. They're a nice transition from lawn to woodlands along a property line. Dwarf types do well in containers, too.

Try:

•Gatsby Gal: Spectacular, large white blooms that turn pinkish in fall

•Pee Wee: Dwarf variety that maxes out around 4 feet tall

These vigorous low-maintenance annuals bloom continuously until a hard frost without the need to pinch spent blooms. Flowers can be a variety of beautiful shades including rose, red, white, salmon or orange. Some types are grown more for their gorgeous foliage. Begonias thrive equally well in the landscape or in pots.

Try:

•Dragon Wing Red: Hardy, heat-tolerant true red flowers that bloom all season long

•Jurassic Green Streak Rex: Beautiful patterned leaves of green and white with a pinkish tinge

Frothy, delicate ferns are hardier than they appear, reappearing after even tough winters. These perennials come in an amazing array of shapes, sizes, and colors and absolutely adore shade. Many prefer somewhat moist ground but are drought-tolerant once established. Use as ground covers, borders or accents.

Try:

•Autumn: Feathery, coppery-red plant that matures to deep green

•Japanese Painted: Silvery or red-tinted fronds that stand out against other plantings

This exotic-looking perennial, also called hardy ground orchid, flowers in early spring in white, purple and various shades of pink. The blooms often last up to six weeks. It's a pretty, unusual landscape plant for warmer climates, or it can be overwintered indoors if planted in containers.

Try:

•White Pearl: Fast-multiplying type with pure white flowers

•Soryu: Lovely mauve-lavender flowers with white throats and deep purple ruffles

Spirea are dense, rounded shrubs that don't need coddled. They're extremely cold tolerant and will accept part sun conditions. Newer types come in bright colors and more compact sizes that stay neat as they grow. They work well in mass plantings, borders, or as pops of color in the landscape.

Try:

•Double Play Candy Corn: Red new growth turns to yellow, then orange, with purple flowers

•Double Play Red: New growth is purple with red flowers

These perky snapdragon-like annuals in purple, white, pink and yellow last from spring to fall and attract hummingbirds. They're sometimes called wishbone flowers. Their trailing habit makes them perfect for window boxes and hanging baskets, but they also do well as a groundcover.

Try:

•Catalina Midnight Blue: True blue color with bright yellow throats

•Catalina Pink: Eye-catching two-tone dark pink and pale pink flowers with yellow centers

These charming perennials also are known as fairy wings or bishop's cap due to the beguiling shape of their flowers. The delicate flowers appear in early spring. They're cold hardy but they tend to not like foot traffic, so situate them where they won't be disturbed as a ground cover.

Try:

•Pink Champagne: Purple-splotched leaves and ethereal pink flower spikes

•Lilafee Lavender: violet flowers with elegant long spurs