14 Gorgeous Shade Garden Plans to Turn Your Yard into an Oasis (2024)

Pink Spring Garden

Alliums, English bluebells, and primroses put on a spring show in this red-and-pink garden. A Japanese maple and hosta keep it vibrant into the fall. (Garden size: 17 by 18 feet)

• Learn about top perennials for shade gardens.

Year-Round Garden

A mix of shrubs and perennials teams up to provide an eye-catching dose of color all season long. (Garden size: 17 by 30 feet)

• Learn about great annuals for shade.

Formal Shady Garden

Dramatic tree-form hydrangeas create a striking contrast with the foliage from hosta, lady's mantle, and ligularia. (Garden size: 10 by 17 feet)

• Learn more about making a formal garden.

Shady Birdbath Garden

Surround a birdbath with a colorful ring of impatiens and polka-dot plants. You'll enjoy a bounty of color from late spring to fall. (Garden size: 9 by 9 feet)

Bold Woodland Garden

A handful of hostas, impatiens, and redtwig dogwood combine to create a naturalistic planting with four-season interest. This colorful arrangement is well-suited for a spot beneath a canopy of trees. (Garden size: 6 by 12 feet)

Shade-Loving Container Garden

A host of coleus yield such a stunning display that you don't even need flowers. This colorful grouping of containers is dazzling on a porch or tucked around a tree. (Garden size: 10 by 12 feet)

• Get more ideas for shade-loving container gardens.

Colorful Foliage Container Garden

Do you have a shady deck, patio, porch, or front entrance? This delightful trio of pots will pump plenty of texture and color into your least sunny spots. The colorful coleus leaves look great all season long! (Garden size: 8 by 14 feet)

Hosta-Filled Shade Garden

Hostas are perhaps the ultimate shade-garden plant. These low-maintenance perennials come in a wide range of sizes, textures, and colors, making them both adaptable and beautiful. In this plan, vinca and hosta surround a fountain for a magical getaway on hot summer days. (Garden size: 10 by 12 feet)

Partial-Shade Garden

If your spot is sometimes shady, but sometimes sunny, too, look to this garden plan, which incorporates adaptable plants that thrive in those in-between spots. A hydrangea anchors the back corner, while a bench framed by coleus invites enjoyment. (Garden size: 8 by 13 feet)

Beginner Shade Garden

We've combined some of the toughest shade-loving perennials—including witchhazel and hosta—in this garden plan. It'll look good through the seasons without requiring too much care. Just plant and enjoy! (Garden size: 8 by 18 feet)

Shady Side-Yard Garden

Not sure what to do with the shady area along your house? We have your solution: This plan is designed for long-and-narrow side yards with lots of shade. It's filled with gorgeous, easy-growing plants to enjoy through the seasons. Use crushed rock, flagstone, bark, or brick for the pathway. (Garden size: 26 by 10 feet)

Perennial Shade Garden

This shade garden stuns beneath mature trees. Filled with ample color and texture—thanks to two types of astilbe and golden corydalis, among other brightly hued plants—this plan will give you plenty to look at through the year. (Garden size: 23 by 12 feet)

Pocket Garden

Even shady corners can offer eye-catching impact. Use this garden plan to fill a small space with low-demand annuals and perennials that will bloom all summer long. (Garden size: 16 by 12 feet)

Shady Foliage Garden

Since it's built around plants with large, vibrantly colored foliage, this shady garden only needs a small area for impatiens. (Garden size: 16 by 10 feet)

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