What plants will grow in a large container in shade?

Try impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vines, violas, petunias, pansies, hostas, astilbes, and trilliums . They look great and will thrive in full to partial shade. And don't forget to think vertically when designing your containers.

What is the easiest plant to grow in shade?

Heuchera, hellebores and bleeding heart are some of the beauties that grow easily in the shade.

What is the cheapest way to make a container garden?

Food-grade buckets, grower's pots, and plastic dishpans are all good to use as cheap gardening containers for growing plants. Just remember to add drainage holes. Containers can often be found at yard sales, thrift stores, and other secondhand vendors.

What are the best plants for small container gardening?

Impatiens, marigolds, pansies, petunias and zinnias are popular flowers for container gardens. Choose varieties that suit your aesthetic preferences and the level of sunlight available. Impatiens: Impatiens thrive in shady spots and provide an array of colorful blooms.

What big plant doesn't need a lot of sunlight?

The snake plant is one of the most popular low-light houseplants in the U.S. Snake plants are tall, flowering plants that grow vertical green leaves outlined in yellow. These plants have several nicknames, including the mother-in-law's tongue and the viper's bowstring hemp.

Are there any flowering plants that do well in shade?

Nicotiana, or flowering tobacco , is an amazing annual known for its star-shaped blooms and the sweet floral scent it emits. This fragrant flower, which comes in many colors, such as pink, red, white, and lime, grows well in partial or dappled shade.

What is a disadvantage to container gardening?

#1: Container Gardens Need to Be Watered More Often With such a limited soil volume, plants in containers need frequent watering. It is critical to check your soil weekly to determine hydration levels. Keep an eye open for the following telltale signs: Shriveled, brittle, or dead leaves.

What do you put in the bottom of a container garden?

One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot . You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.

What is the easiest vegetable to grow in a container?

Lettuce . Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in a container. It grows quickly and has shallow roots.

What annual flowers grow well in shaded porch?

Annuals for shade include the lavender-toned browallia and wishbone flower (Torenia), along with a rainbow of colors in Nemesia and monkeyflower (Mimulus) . Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana) opens blossoms in rose, burgundy, chartreuse and white.

What potted plants grow well on east side of house?

Dragon wing begonia, fan flower (Scaevola), pentas, heliotrope, sweet potato vine, licorice vine, fountain grass, petunias, and alyssum are just a few to try. Then consider adding some pansies for spring and ornamental kale, more pansies and mums for the fall. Even a veranda garden can provide seasonal interest.

Do any plants like full shade?

Our favorite shade-loving plants have striking foliage and bright blooms, both of which add much-needed vibrancy to dim areas. On our list of the shade plants we love, we've included evergreen shrubs like azaleas and boxwoods as well as seasonal bloomers such as begonias and hostas .

What to plant in tall outdoor pots?

Larger, vertical plants like small trees and shrubs perform well in tall planters. They also accentuate dramatic plants like ornamental grasses, bamboo, and tall flowers. As you might expect, tall planters provide ample room for root growth, making them ideal for deep-rooted plants.

25 Container Garden Recipes for Shade That Are Easy to Grow (2024)

Containers offer a quick and easy way to brighten up a shady yard. All you need are the right shade-loving plants to fill your pots. Use these recipes to create the best shade container combinations that have similar moisture and light requirements.

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Create Architectural Interest

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Use plant forms to create architectural interest when designing your landscape. Here, a full-moon maple makes a wonderful contrast against mounding plants and its square container.

A. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'): 3

B. Full-moon maple (Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'): 1

C. Oxalis 'Zinfandel': 1

D. Foamflower (Tiarella 'Pink Brushes'): 1

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Make a Statement the Simple Way

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This is a simple yet dramatic pairing for a shady spot—with just two plants (each with two leaf colors). The dark coleus contrasts with the bright caladium that lights up the center of a pot (like this Better Homes & Gardens Terrence 19" Wide Round Resin Planter, $27, Walmart).

A. Caladium 'Gingerland': 1

B. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Inky Fingers'): 1

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Look Up

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When selecting a container for your potted plants (such as this Better Homes & Gardens Pottery 8" Teramo Ceramic Planter, $12, Walmart), good drainage and the right size for your plant's root system are the two most important considerations, followed by the container material itself. Here, sleek, shiny pots draw your eye up to a bonanza of color and texture.

A. Caladium 'Florida Elise': 2

B. Perilla 'Gage's Shadow': 1

C. Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii'): 1

D. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens 'Sonic Cherry'): 1

E. Oxalis 'Zinfandel': 1

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Look for Fun Containers

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Repurpose an ordinary household item into a one-of-a-kind container. This dramatic yet simple design relies upon foliage size and color contrasts for impact—all in a simple, salvaged bucket.

A. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Sedona'): 1

B. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Sweet Caroline Bronze'): 2

C. Elephant Ears (Colocasia 'Red Stem Rhubarb'): 1

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Play Off Your Container

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If you're not sure how to start designing your container, look at your container's color and then decide if you want to complement it or contrast it with your plants' color. Here, the black pots look great against bold, bright colors.

A. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Daffy'): 1

B. Sedge (Carex hachijoensis): 1

C. Caladium 'Florida Beauty': 1

D. Coleus (Solenostemon 'JoDonna'): 1

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Employ Powerful Foliage

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Enjoy a beautiful container garden without flowers by choosing plants with dramatic foliage. Plant varieties with textured leaves for added interest.

A. Golden sedge (Carex elata 'Aurea'): 1

B. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden'): 1

C. Elephant ears (Colocasia 'Black Magic'): 1

Grow Colorful Foliage

25 Container Garden Recipes for Shade That Are Easy to Grow (7)

This collection of troughs and pots relies on various foliage shapes, sizes, and contrast for impact. If you don't want to grow tropical plants like these elephant's ears, grow easy houseplants in the shade instead.

A. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Inky Fingers'): 1

B. Elephant's ear (Alocasia amazonica ): 1

C. Elephant's ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'): 1

D. Hosta 'Pot of Gold': 1

E. Sedge (Carex 'Beatlemania'): 1

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Keep It Simple

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You can have a beautiful container garden even with one kind of plant. Here, a single hosta in a classic container makes a statement all its own. The best hosta varieties offer different colors, sizes, leaf shapes and textures, and flowers, so choose the perfect one to fit into your garden's design.

A. Hosta 'Aureomarginata': 1

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Try Repetition

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Repetition is one of the elements of good garden design that is used by many gardeners. You can do the same thing with your container gardens. Here, bright begonias enliven a pot of herbs for the kitchen and create repeated points of color.

A. Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red': 4

B. Golden sage (Salvia officinalis 'Aurea'): 2

C. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): 1

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Add Color Anywhere

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This half wall-basket lined with sphagnum moss exudes old-world charm. You can create a vertical garden like this anywhere—from a wall to a gate or even a doorway.

A. Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima): 2

B. Double impatiens (Impatiens 'Fiesta Sparkler Hot Pink'): 3

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Create an Explosion of Color

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Similar pots in different sizes planted to echo each other present a clean and elegant display. Grouped containers can turn an ordinary outdoor space into a lush patio garden. Here, a fern is used to add height and extra interest.

A. Reiger begonia (Begonia 'Charisma Pink'): 6

B. Fuchsia 'Hidcote Beauty': 3

C. Wood fern (Dryopteris clintoniana): 1

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Select Easy Plants

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This unusual pairing of easy-growing but striking plants makes a statement in partial shade. Each container complements its contents perfectly.

A. Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red': 3

B. Oxalis regnellii: 5

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Pick a Specimen Plant

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Dramatic enough to stand alone, this wildly colored perilla punctuates a corner of the landscape all on its own. Also known by its Japanese name, shiso, this plant's leaves are a wonderful addition to a salad. Try growing your own salad greens in containers.

A. Perilla 'Magilla': 1

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Create Summer Cheer

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A colorful combination of easy-flowering plants that will remain attractive all summer long for a bright way to add interest to any shaded area of your garden.

A. Tuberous begonia (Begonia 'Scentiment Blush'): 1

B. Impatiens 'Accent Watermelon': 3

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Create a Tower of Color

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Tough, vigorous plants meet in a bold, colorful container garden that looks good all the way to frost. Consider placing a planter on a stand (like this Better Homes & Gardens 11in Kennewick Ceramic Planter with Stand, $33, Walmart) for extra height.

A. Begonia 'Dragon Wing Pink': 3

B. Impatiens 'Showstopper Tropical Punch': 3

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Choose Fun Containers

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Easy-to-grow plants combine here to brighten a dull fence. The metal container is unusual enough that it needs little embellishment, so white flowers are a perfect addition.

A. Impatiens 'Dazzler White': 2

B. Asparagus fern (Asparagus sprengeri): 1

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Create a Rustic Mood

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This rustic container is complemented by the simple plantings to create a perfect vignette for a shady woodland or country-style garden.

A. Browallia speciosa 'Blue Bells': 3

B. Asparagus fern (Asparagus sprengeri): 2

C. Begonia 'Prelude White': 2

D. Begonia 'Prelude Rose': 2

E. Variegated ivy (Hedera helix 'Gold Child'): 3

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Use Layers for Impact

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Two layers of plants create extra interest in this container. The bright caladium leaves are a perfect contrast to bold impatiens and vinca blooms. Add even more interest to your container by including plantings that attract butterflies.

A. Caladium 'Candidum': 1

B. Vinca (Catharanthus 'Titan Punch'): 3

C. Vinca (Catharanthus 'Titan Rose'): 3

D. Impatiens 'Jungle Gold': 3

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Use Powerful Contrasts

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Usually, the best annuals to plant together come from the same color family. Here, this grouping stands out with its repetition of reds from the coleus and impatiens that are contrasted with a white-variegated caladium.

A. Impatiens 'Petticoat Fire': 1

B. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Atlas'): 1

C. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Kingwood Torch'): 1

D. Caladium 'Candidum': 1

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Grow a Mixed Planting

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This container offers a little of everything: annuals, perennials, and tropical vines. Mix and match different plant types for high-impact combinations that are perfect for creating an easy cottage garden look.

A. Hosta plantaginea: 1

B. Mandevilla 'Alice du Pont': 1

C. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita'): 1

D. Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare): 2

E. Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis): 2

F. Verbena 'Superbena Burgundy': 3

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Try Long-Blooming Perennials in Pots

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Pots aren't just for annuals. Perennial container gardens look great with their gorgeous autumn colors. Here, a yellow corydalis will continue to bloom from spring to the first fall frost.

A. (Corydalis lutea): 2

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Go with Groups

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One pot by itself looks great—but more is better! Arrange several containers together and follow recipes for beautiful container gardens, such as a mix of colorful annuals and perennials or a monochromatic look created with flowers and foliage. This pink, white, and blue collection is set off by the solid green foliage of the fern behind.

A. Impatiens 'Accent Bright Eyed': 1

B. Wax begonia (Begonia 'Senator White'): 1

C. Browallia speciosa 'Blue Bells': 3

D. Pentas lanceolata 'New Look Pink': 1

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Use Bright Colors

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Light, bright colors show best in shade. In fact, you can grow colorful plants anywhere. The latest shade garden design ideas are filled with gorgeous plant varieties. This planting relies on shimmering white with a touch of pink to stand out from its surroundings.

A. Caladium 'Candidum': 3

B. Petunia 'Supertunia Mini-Silver': 3

C. Cosmos bipinnatus 'White Sonata': 2

D. Reiger begonia (Begonia 'Charisma Pink'): 3

E. Lamium galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride': 3

F. Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus): 2

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Look for Unused Space

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Just because your garden beds are full doesn't mean you don't have room for more plants. Vertical gardening adds another dimension to your outdoor growing space. This collection of baskets is a great way to add an extra dose of color to a garage.

A. Tuberous begonia (Begonia 'Nonstop Apricot'): 2

B. Tuberous begonia (B. 'Nonstop Bright Red'): 2

C. Tuberous begonia (B. 'Nonstop Yellow'): 2

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Create a Festive Feel

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This pleasing arrangement of easy-to-find plants could decorate a shaded summer deck or patio for several months. If you're going to grow multiple plants in one container, keep in mind that they'll need to have similar sun, water, and soil requirements in order to thrive.

A. Caladium 'Frieda Hemple': 1

B. Begonia 'Victory Green Leaf White': 2

C. Ivy (Hedera helix 'Duckfoot'): 3