Learn tips and ideas for how to create a planter full of shade loving plants for your front porch or other shady spots in your landscape.
Shade Loving Plants for the Front Porch
I’ve been growing plants on my front porch in a large container for years. There’s nothing like a pretty planter full of flowers to greet your guests. The problem is that this area is covered, and shrouded from the sun by a large red maple tree. So I’ve had to experiment with shade loving plants in order to grow a lush and full planter. Here are my favorite shade plants for the front porch, and below I’ve made a short video with tips on planting.
It’s hard to find flowering plants that do well in the shade. Sometimes you need to think outside of the box.
Here are a few tips:
- Use colorful foliage instead of flowers.
- Try flowering plants that are marked “part-sun”
- Don’t just stick to annuals – try houseplants and perennials
When it comes to planting my large front porch container I tried a few different variations. My all-time favorite is Lamium. This little guy grows without fail.
Look how big it grew last season from only two, 4-inch pots, over-flowing in front. At the end of the season, you can plant it somewhere in the garden, and often it will come back next year.
That big guy in the back it is Perilla Magilla. Again, look how much it grew from one 4 inch pot in just a few months.
Other Favorite Shade Loving Plants
When filling a container for your shade loving plants consider the following:
- One tall plant in the middle or back. (Perilla, Coleus, Rex Begonia, Grasses)
- Plants that will fill around the tall plant. (Impatiens, Fuchsia, Browallia, Coleus, Begonias)
- Plants that will trail or vine over the sides of your container. (Lobelia, Bacopa, Lamium, Trailing Fuchsia)
Bottom line is, even if you have a shady spot, color and blooms can still be grown with the right plants and a little creativity.
P.S. Need a planter for sunny spots? Check out this post on Sun Loving Planters You can find it and many other helpful posts on my Gardening Page.
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Karin says
What is the name of the plant that looks like a heart shaped ivy, white center with green on the edges? I would love use that in one of my container groupings. It is lovely and rather unusual.
Karin says
I found it. Lamium. 🙂
Patti Estep says
Hi Karin,
Lamium is the best performers in the pot. It comes in a variety of colors, even a gold one. This one is called Orchid Frost. Does really well in low light and sometimes over winters for me. They sell it with the annuals in nurseries here I think it is a perennial.
cecelia cole says
Where do you go to find the plants mentioned above? Home depot doesn’t carry them.
Patti Estep says
I did buy mine at a local nursery. Several were proven winners though and you can search for a store near you through their site here: https://www.provenwinners.com/retailers/locate. Home depot should have some begonias and maybe a coleus instead of the perilla magilla.