By Jennifer Poindexter
I have a space outside of my kitchen window I’m transforming into a flower garden. My only requirements are that the plants must be perennial, low-maintenance, and thrive in shade or part sun.
I live on a farm with multiple gardens and an orchard. I want to utilize all the space I have to ensure my landscape is beautiful.
However, I don’t want to add a lot of additional work on myself. Here are the plants I’ve decided to grow in my shaded kitchen garden:
Quick Tip: Grow These Plants in a Shaded Flower Garden
Though my kitchen garden is a great place for added life in my landscape, unfortunately, it doesn’t receive much sunlight. The front of my home (where my kitchen is) receives morning sunlight.
By the afternoon, it’s all behind the house. This is why it’s vital that I select plants which thrive in areas of partial sunlight or shade. Here are my selections:
1. Mint
My husband loves herbs. We have them incorporated into our landscape in various places. For this reason, I didn’t want to add many more to this area.
One option I did want to include is mint. The reason being is mint is useful and tough. This plant should survive each winter and thrives without much extra care. The only thing I’ll need to be careful about is the herb spreading. Otherwise, mint should do well in this partially shaded growing location.
If you’re interested in adding mint to your shaded flower garden, it’s a perennial in planting zones three through eight. It also thrives in areas of full to partial sunlight and desires well-draining soil.
2. Bleeding Heart
I love bleeding hearts. They’re a unique bush with heart-shaped blooms which look like they’re weeping or bleeding.
They’re vibrantly colored, smaller, and do well in a shaded growing location. The only thing bleeding hearts need is well-draining soil and regular watering sessions.
If you’d like to incorporate bleeding hearts to your shaded growing location anticipate this plant remaining hardy in planting zones three through nine.
3. Hosta
Hostas have always been one of my favorite plants. I love their coloring and how they can make any area appear complete.
Since I’m looking for ways to add life to an unused shaded growing location, hostas are a great fit.
They require quality, well-draining soil and regular waterings. Aside from this, they return each year in planting zones three through nine.
4. Astilbe
Astilbe is another personal favorite of mine. I’ve always desired to grow them around my property but struggled with finding the right location. This shaded growing space could be it.
When growing astilbe, they make wonderful background plants due to their base of foliage and long stems with colorful blooms. Expect astilbe to range in height from one to four feet tall.
These plants remain hardy in planting zones four through nine and need a growing location with nutritious, well-draining soil. They also thrive in partial shade.
5. Coral Bells
The last option I’ve decided on for my shaded flower garden is coral bells. These plants come in various shades but have a similar finesse to them as hostas.
For this reason, they’ve found a place around my home. When growing coral bells they need well-draining soil and partial shade.
However, in cooler climates they can withstand more sunlight. Coral bells should remain hardy in planting zones four through nine.
These are the five plants I’ve chosen to add to my shaded kitchen flower garden. If you have an area around your home that could use a few flowers, but doesn’t receive full sun, these options might work for you.
I’m a firm believer, every space has a plant which could serve as a good match. Do your research, find what you like, and add what you love to your shaded yard or garden area.
More About Shaded Flower Gardens
https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Shade-Gardening-1.pdf?fwd=no
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/gardening-shade
https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/06/shade-gardening/
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