Filling in shady places in your garden is easy with the right plants. Choosing annuals that grow for one season leaves room for flexibility in landscaping and garden design. This list of the top ten annual plants for shade gardens should get you started.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Ageratum
This low-growing annual plant is also called flossflower. It gets the common name from the pincushion-shaped flowers that have many floss or thread-like appendages. The flowers come in blue, pink, and white.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Wax Begonia
Wax begonias are very popular annuals for both shade and sun gardens. They have waxy leaves and bi-lobed flowers in red, pink, and white. The leaves can be either bright green or bronze.
Get an Egg Chair For Your Garden
Egg chairs have become hugely popular in Ireland in recent years and these can transform your garden into a full relaxation zone.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Impatiens
The common form of this flower is one of the most popular for gardens and landscaping. Impatiens can grow in mounds up to two feet tall. They are covered with bright flowers in pink, purple, red, peach, white, and combinations.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Nicotiana
Nicotiana is also called flowering tobacco. The plant can grow up to three feet tall and has graceful, trumpet-shaped flowers on tall stalks. This plant is popular with hummingbirds and butterflies.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Torenia
Slightly harder to find in landscaping centers, the wishbone flower, or torenia, will grow in full shade. The plant forms mounds that are eight to ten inches tall. The flowers are blue and purple with yellow spots. These will go really well with your hanging egg chair.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Polka Dot Plant
Another foliage plant, the polka dot plant gets its name from the masses of pink dots on the green leaves. There are varieties with white spots as well. This is often sold as a houseplant, but can be used outdoors.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Browallia
The browallia, also called amethyst flower, is actually a delicate perennial sold as an annual at many garden centers. It grows about a foot tall and has deep purple flowers shaped like stars.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Lobelia
This popular plant has bright blue flowers all over the low-growing clumps of foliage. It also comes in white, lavendar, and hot pink varieties.
Annual Plant for Shade Gardens – Caladium
This plant is usually purchased already potted. It can be found in the houseplant section of stores. Caladium are hearty in warmer climates. They have very large, showy leaves in green, white, red, and pink styles.
