20 colorful plants for shade gardens

Plant some of these beauties for great garden color, even in shade

Heucherella - 'Stoplight'
Photo via Terra Nova NSY

Heucherella

Heart-shaped leaves on clumping plants 5 inches tall and 1 foot wide come in many beautiful colors. We especially love ‘Stoplight’ for its lime green leaves splashed with red, and the new ‘Sweet Tea’, which has orange caramel-colored leaves with huge cinnamon-hued stars in the center.

Small spring flowers are a bonus. Grow this little perennial beauty in a shaded rock garden or as a groundcover in a woodland corner. It needs humus-rich, well-drained soil.

Zones 1–10, 14–24.


  • Loading comments...

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining

Advertisement