Have you got a shady spot in the garden you want to plant out? Often we have shady areas around the home that tend to be forgotten about. However, planting out your shady areas – like alongside the house – can really give a lift to an area that may have been left behind.

Shade doesn't have to mean a dull, empty garden corner. There are countless beautiful plants that thrive in low-light conditions and can transform forgotten spaces into lush, green havens.

❋ Tips on Keeping Your Shade Plants Healthy

  • Protect from Sun Damage: Exposing some of these plants to direct sun can damage their foliage. Be sure their position is genuinely shady and protected from harsh sunlight.
  • Be Careful with Watering: Shade dwellers don't need as much water as those positioned in the sun, as they retain water for longer. Overwatering is a common mistake – let the soil dry out slightly between waterings.

Pro Tip: Shade plants are often more moisture-efficient than sun-loving plants, making them great choices for water-conscious gardeners. Use the poke test (insert a chopstick into soil) to determine when watering is actually needed.

❋  Taller Heights – For Screening or Statement Pieces

Create dramatic focal points and privacy screening with these taller shade-loving varieties:

Strelitzia Nicolai
Giant Bird of Paradise
Alocasia
Elephant Ears
Bambusa textilis gracilis
Slender Weaver Bamboo
Rhapis Palm
Lady Palm
Parlour Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
Hydrangeas
Best in part shade
Cordylines
Multi-coloured foliage
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Climbing Jasmine
Ctenanthe Grey Star
Prayer Plant

❋ Medium Heights – Shrubs & Trees

Perfect for mid-layer planting, these varieties add structure and interest to shady garden areas:

Fatsia japonica
Japanese Aralia
Syzygium wilsonii
Lilly Pilly (Qld availability)
Acer palmatum
Japanese Maple (Part sun to shade)
Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'
Coral Bark Maple (Part sun to shade)
Camellias
Part sun to partial shade

❋ Garden Fillers & Shrubs – Perfect for Shade or Underplanting 

Fill your shady spaces with these beautiful ground covers, shrubs and smaller plants:

Philodendron 'Xanadu' & other Philodendron varieties
Birds Nest Fern
Lomandra longifolia
Ligularia dentata reniformis
Tractor Seat Plant
Bromeliads
Alpinia caerulea
Clivia
Bush Lily
Native Violets
Viola hederacea
Azaleas
Calathea varieties
Plectranthus argentatus
Silver Spurflower
Ajuga australis
Australian Bugles
Dichondra repens
Ground Cover
Heuchera
Coral Bells

❋  Looking for more shade plant varieties?

For varieties not listed on our website, please contact us. We also have a more extensive list available on our Shade & Indoor Plants product page.

❋  Transform Your Shady Spaces – Don't let those dark corners go to waste! With the right shade-loving plants, you can create beautiful, lush gardens that thrive in low-light conditions. Whether you want tall focal points or delicate underplanting, there's a shade plant perfect for every space in your garden.

Ready to Plant The Shady Areas In Your Garden?

Browse our complete range of shade-loving plants or contact our team for expert advice on creating a lush shaded garden

Contact Us View Shade Plants