"Astilbes are known for their feathery plumes of flowers that come in a wide range of colors, including pink, white, and red," according to Laura Root, a horticulturist for Jackson & Perkins. Astilbes offer unique flowers that entice pollinators to the garden and create texture and dimension in the garden. "Astilbes add a lovely vertical element to shady gardens and are also deer-resistant," she says.

Although it is a slow spreader, barren strawberry is a good choice for shaded areas where you want a dense, low-growing ground cover to keep out weeds. It has strawberry-like, glossy leaves and yellow flowers in late spring to early summer. In areas with mild winters, it is evergreen. The fruit is inedible. Barren strawberry is unfussy about soil and withstands drought once established. Mass plant it for the best effect. Barren strawberry spreads by stolons and runners.

Also called pig squeak or leather bergenia, this bergenia variety has large leathery leaves and pink flowers, starting as early as December and blooming into spring. The milder the winters, the earlier the bloom, and the higher the chance that the plant remains evergreen during the winter when the leaves take on purplish hues. While the plant tolerates brief periods of drought, lack of moisture over a longer period affects the foliage. Its low height of 12 to 18 inches and large leaves make it a good ground cover for shady areas.

Bleeding heart is an easy-to-grow perennial with heart-shaped blooms in hues of pink that dangle off a stem. "They prefer cooler temperatures and can tolerate partial to full shade," explains Root. In the hotter months, they go dormant. "Their summer dormancy makes them a good option for filling in shady spots that may be empty later in the season," she says. "During dormancy, reduce watering and avoid fertilizing to allow the plant to rest and prepare for the next growing season."

The small blue spring flowers of this plant gave this plant its common name: false forget-me-not. The large heart-shaped leaves are solid green or variegated, such as the popular cultivar 'Jack Frost', whose leaves are green with a heavy silvery overlay. The rough texture of the leaves is a plus because the plant is rarely browsed by deer or eaten by rabbits. Brunnera does well in any shaded location and benefits from mulching to keep the soil moist and cool. It prefers cooler nights.

Its colorful arrowhead-shaped leaves brighten up any shady corner. Protection from the sun is key for this plant because bright sun scorches its leaves. Moist soil is important; however, areas where moisture accumulates during the winter are not suitable as this will make the tubers rot. Plant at least three caladiums together, or, for the most striking effect, in groups of five or seven to create a carpet of color.

There are over 2,000 species of sedges (Carex) and many thrive in the shade. "Carex are often overlooked gems in the gardening world, but they are versatile and can be used in borders, as ground covers, or in mass plantings," recommends Vater. "They can also add a pop of color and texture to containers and window boxes."

She recommends planting Carex EverColor® ‘Everillo’ for its gold-toned color. "New foliage emerges lime-colored and matures to golden-yellow. At maturity, it grows 12 to 18 inches tall and wide," she says.

Coral bells, also known as heuchera, are a shade-loving plant that produces blooms in an array of hues from purple and orange to green. "Heuchera makes a fantastic choice for adding color and interest to shady garden areas," according to Root.

These plants are easy to care for and tolerate some neglect. "They are relatively drought-tolerant and can thrive without frequent watering," she adds. When in bloom, they provide an important food source for beneficial insects and birds. "Heucheras produce delicate, airy flower spikes from late spring through late summer," says Root. "These flowers attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, adding ecological benefits to their appeal."

Yellow corydalis, or yellow fumitory, as it is also known, is a woodland perennial with fern-like green foliage and bright yellow flowers that resemble those of bleeding heart. The flowers are small, but the plant blooms for a long period from May to September. When the foliage deteriorates in hot summer weather, cut back the foliage. Corydalis tends to reseed, which is a welcome effect if you want to fill a shaded area with a dense ground cover.

Looking for native perennials with plume-like foliage? Grow ferns. "Ferns are well-adapted to the humid conditions of the South, making them a low-maintenance choice for gardeners in this region," explains Root. "They are excellent choices for shady, moist areas in the garden and can be used to create a lush, naturalistic look." Consider varieties that thrive in the Southern United States, such as the Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) or the cinnamon fern (Omundastrum cinnamomeum), suggests Root.

With is vibrant, towering spikes, foxglove is one of the most striking spring and summertime blooms for shady locations. Even in ideal growing conditions, it is a short-lived perennial that often dies after its second year, but it’s easy to grow, and it often reseeds itself. The flowers, which come in white, peach, pink, and purple, attract hummingbirds and bees. Another boon of this cottage garden staple is its deer resistance.

If you would like to minimize weeds in shaded areas of your landscape, consider giant ajuga. This ground cover attracts pollinators with its multiple blooms. "It sends up 10-inch spikes of purple flowers that are more noticeable and appreciated than the dwarf varieties," says Ziegler. Bumblebees love its flowers.

Unlike pelargoniums, hardy geraniums grow in partial shade. They bloom profusely from late spring through early summer, and some varieties bloom into the fall. These low-growing, mounding plants work well as ground covers, edging plants, or in containers. Hardy geraniums are not fussy about soil type. The strong fragrance of the foliage keeps deer and rodents away. but the delicate flowers attract pollinators. Plant hardy geraniums in spring after the last frost, which allows them to become established before hot summer weather sets in.

For a hardy perennial that grows in areas where many plants fail, plant hellebores. "They thrive at the foot of large trees where it is challenging for anything to grow," raves Ziegler. As a bonus, deer won't eat them. "The leathery foliage must not be enticing," she adds. These plants also continually produce new leaves. "They provide an evergreen presence with the new leaves emerging as the old foliage lays down, making them self-mulchers in our garden, " explains Ziegler.

It is for good reasons that hostas are one of the most popular shade perennials. Gardeners are pressed for choice, given the mind-boggling array of sizes and shapes with rounded, heart-shaped, lance-shaped, or oval leaves in blue, green, chartreuse, or golden with stripes of yellow, cream, or white. In summer, spikes of blue, purple, lavender, or white bell-shaped blossoms rise about the foliage. The long-lived plants grow slowly; some cultivars gradually spread over time. Hostas need about two months of temperatures below 40° F to undergo dormancy. If you live in Zone 9, make sure to select a suitable variety for a warm climate.

A beautiful shade perennial is the Japanese anemone 'Queen Charlotte'. This hybrid anemone has evergreen-hued leaves and produces blooms later in the summer season. "When least expected, it sends up beautiful tall stems topped with pink blooms," says Ziegler. After the flowers bloom, a seed head comes up that is worth leaving in the garden for the fall and winter seasons. 

Also known as leopard plants, this shade-loving woodland plant has daisy-like yellow flowers and heart-shaped foliage. Because of its moisture needs, it is best planted near a body of water, such as a pond or streambed, or in low, damp spots. During the first year after planting, water ligularia regularly so it can establish a deep, extensive root system. The popular cultivar 'The Rocket' grows 5 to 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide and is large enough to serve as a focal point in the landscape.

 Lungwort is a semi-evergreen shade plant that looks good throughout most of the year, not only in early spring when it sports brilliant blue, pink, or white flowers, even in cold weather. As the flowers age, they change color. The green leaves are splotched with white and bumpy on the upper side, and the stems are hairy, which deters deer. Lungwort is a slow grower, forming dense clumps over time. It tolerates dry conditions.

Because it withstands drought and heat and grows in rocky and poor soils, sedum is a popular ground cover. Most sedums, however, need sun to thrive. Mountain sedum is an exception. Native to the Eastern U.S., it tolerates full sun but thrives in shade. It has light green, rounded, flat leaves and small, showy, star-shaped white flowers in spring. It grows 6 inches high and spreads 12 inches wide, creeping on the ground and forming dense mats.

If you're looking to grow a hedge or small shrub to fill in some areas of your shade garden, nandina is a good choice. "Nandina cultivars are a staple in my landscape because they are so resilient, vibrant, and low maintenance," says Vater. She recommends the hybrid 'Blush Pink'™ nandina because it adds a pop of evergreen color to shady spaces. "In fall, the leaves transform into stunning shades of red and bronze that continue through winter." When selecting nandina, make sure to select a non-spreading variety such as 'Blush Pink'.

Oakleaf hydrangea have multiple blooms that create a pom-pom look. "Oakleaf hydrangea is fun to grow because it has pillowy clusters of white blooms that fade to soft pink with age," says Vater, "and has unique oak-shaped leaves that put on a show in fall with vibrant red, orange, and burgundy hues." She recommends ‘Semmes Beauty’ because this variety of oakleaf hydrangea flowers earlier than others. 

For a native shade garden, consider Virginia spiderwort. The blue-violet flowers on this clump-forming perennial last only for one day, but it blooms for several months during the spring and summer. In the summer heat, the foliage usually dies back, and it is recommended to cut back the stems at that point. The plant rebounds in late summer and often reblooms. Virginia spiderwort needs consistently moist soil and additional watering during dry spells. 

The toad lily produces orchid-looking flowers with bright green leaves. "Tricyrtis blooms for several weeks in late summer, offering color and interest to carry your garden through to the fall," says Root. She suggests pruning toad lilies that are well established every spring and every three or fours to divide the plant to maintain its vigor. 

Virginia bluebells are a native wildflower that grows in Eastern and Southern states. "The plant emerges in spring, followed by blue-pinkish trumpet blooms with the foliage and stems disappearing as summer heats up here in my garden," says Ziegler. She likes to grow Virginia bluebells at the edge of her shade garden next to her hellebores. 

Wild ginger is different from culinary ginger and is not edible. Two native ginger species suitable for the South are heart-leaf ginger (A. virginicum), also known as little brown jug. It has mottled flowers and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-8. Canadian wild ginger (A. canadense). or common wild ginger, is a little hardier and grows in USDA Zones 4-6, so it's suitable for North Carolina and other cooler areas. The flowers of all wild gingers grow close to the ground and are concealed by the foliage. Plant wild ginger in groups rather than specimens and a spot without competition from taller plants.