Plants That Require Little or No Sun

Hostas

• Hostas come in vibrant green, yellow and white varieties. They are generally easy to grow and will grab hold in almost any type of ground. Many use hostas as trim around the edges of flower gardens or to provide a backdrop of color. Depending on the variety, one to two hours of sun in the morning is sufficient but not required. To prevent leaf burn, hostas require afternoon shade---the plant expires a lot of water from its leaves and can pull only so much moisture from the soil.

Hydrangeas

• The most common species of hydrangea is the Hydrangea macrophylla, which means big leaf, according to the United States National Arboretum. Hydrangeas flower well in conditions of light morning sun followed by afternoon shade, in colors ranging from deep blue to white to light pink, depending on soil acidity. Full shade reduces the blooming of hydrangeas, but the plants will still produce green leaves. In hotter climates, hydrangeas like more shade than in cooler climates.

Shade-loving Perennials

• Perennials come back year after year and do not require replanting as annuals do. Several varieties of perennial plants thrive in the shade, needing little or no direct sun. Algerian Ivy is a climbing plant that tolerates full shade. Rue Anemone is a woodland wildflower well-suited to shady areas and produces tiny pink flowers. Brass buttons cover the ground in shaded gardens; its leaves take on a brass-like appearance and the flowers look like buttons. Deer ferns have small rounded fronds and thrive in moist, shaded areas. Forget-me-nots' tiny leaves are surrounded by blue flowers and can add color to shady parts of your garden. The fern leaf bleeding heart does nicely with no sun and offers beautiful colors, with red, white or pink blooms.