Flowering Annuals That Can Grow in Full Shade

Below you will find a list of flowering annuals from our plant database that can grow in deep shade. If you click on any of the photos, you will see a Virtual Plant Tag that may contain plant descriptions, usage suggestions and a link to where you can buy that plant.

Uses for these annuals that flower vary by variety, and may also thrive in full shade, partial shade or even full sun. Flowering bedding plants that flourish in shady areas may do equally well in wet soil, average moisture or dry conditions. 

Many plants with variegated leaves lose the richness of the variegation in the shade.  A great example of a popular flowering annuals that holds the bright contrast of greens, whites, reds, yellows and purples on its leaves is Coleus, known botanically as Solenostemon scutellarioides.  Through extensive breeding, Coleus will now tolerate a wide range of shade and soil moisture including full sun.

Intense research and development is providing additional tolerance for Begonias and Impatiens too. Bedding Begonias known throughout different parts of the US as Fibrous-rooted, Perpetual or Wax Begonias (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum) flourish in the deepest shade, but now do very well in partial shade too.  Bedding Impatiens or Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana) are America's number one selling bedding plant and can now handle partial shade / partial sun, occasionally in full sun with the right conditions.  Plants are now more robust and vigorous, so choose the smaller growing varieties for your garden areas that have the deepest shade so they won't get too tall and thin.  The larger growing Impatiens varieties are ideal for less shady areas.

Less well-known annuals that are shade-loving should be tried in the home garden, adding a new look and texture.  Despite it's unattractive name, Dead Nettle, Spotted Nettle or Lamium maculatum adds soft, delicate color and foliage texture and works nicely in the mixed containers popular today.  While often thought of an a perennial, depending on your part of the country, using plants in a new way brings freshness to the landscape.  Another fantastic shade lover, often used as a perennial are the new Coral Bells or Heuchera.  They are being bred more for the fantastic foliage colors than for the blossoms. Since many perennials are not at their best when they aren't in full bloom, adding plants developed for their leaf color and texture adds richness to urns, decorative planters, window boxes and hanging baskets where they can be protected from too much sun. Experimenting with new plants is interesting and fun.