Shady yard owners, rejoice! These hardy outdoor plants can thrive in almost any condition.
Katie Holdefehr is the associate editorial director at Real Simple. Leisure Living Room Chair Suppliers
Haley is a Wisconsin-based creative freelancer and recent graduate. She has worked as an editor, fact checker, and copywriter for various digital and print publications. Her most recent position was in academic publishing as a publicity and marketing assistant for the University of Wisconsin Press
In the spring and summer, it's hard not to admire the yards and gardens around town that are filled with greenery and colorful blooms. If you've always assumed that your yard was too dry, too shady, or that the soil was too sandy to support such beautiful plants—guess again. In fact, these common problems may just inspire you to get more creative with your plant picks.
With expert advice and care tips from a couple of plant pros, we've id'd some pretty plants that will thrive in even the least plant-friendly spaces. These hard-to-kill plants are often readily available at nurseries and garden centers, so there's no reason to let a dry, low-light space stop you from creating a showstopping backyard.
If your backyard doesn't get much sun throughout the day, it can be tough to find attractive plants that will thrive in the shadows. To find the best shade-loving plants around, we asked Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms, for the company's top picks. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Costa Farms supplies houseplants and garden plants to retailers and garden centers across the country, so the team is well-versed in selecting plants that will survive in real backyards.
The shade-surviving plant at the top of the list: ajuga. "This weed-smothering groundcover is a great pick if you're looking to add color and decrease maintenance in shaded areas of your backyard. It offers adorable spikes of blue-purple flowers in spring, then a mat of dense foliage the rest of the gardening season," Hancock says. To up the visual interest, look for variegated selections, such as "Burgundy Glow," which has shades of pink and silver in its leaves. Plus, ajuga comes back every year, so you can plant it once and enjoy it for years to come.
"Bring a touch of the tropics to your shaded backyard with the big, beautiful leaves of caladium," Hancock recommends. This plant's arrowhead-shaped leaves are readily found in shades of red, pink, and white, so you can coordinate this pick with the other plants in your garden. Costa Farm's favorite hue? "The white varieties are particularly fun in the shade because they seem to glow, especially at dusk," Hancock says. You can treat caladium as an annual and leave it in the ground throughout the year, or you can dig it up and store it in a cool place for the winter.
If you're searching for a failproof plant that can thrive in the north or the south, in the sun or the shade, in a garden bed, or a container garden, then the Persian Shield is for you. This colorful, leafy plant is more than just durable, it's also a true standout in the garden. "We adore this tropical plant's metallic-purple foliage—it definitely makes a statement on its own or paired with other plants," Hancock says. Treat this tropical plant as an annual, or if you're adventurous, Hancock recommends bringing it indoors in the winter and keeping it in a bright spot.
To get even more shade-surviving selections, we turned to the plant pros at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Jacob Burns, the curator of herbaceous perennial plants, guided us through the varieties best suited for deep shade. Even when hidden beneath a conifer or tucked into the darkest corner of your yard, these plants are likely to thrive.
One low-light pick at the top of Burns' list was the oakleaf hydrangea shrub. Bold, textural leaves and large cone-shaped flowers make this shrub an option with serious curb appeal for the front yard. "These plants start blooming in mid-June, and they bloom well into the summer when a lot of other shrubs aren't," Burns explains. To enjoy blossoms throughout the season, opt for the oakleaf hydrangea.
If you're dealing with a backyard that's both shady and dry, the hosta is one of the few plants that will be happy to call it home. Growing to about 16 inches tall and 30 inches wide, a group of hostas can help fill the space in a low-light garden. In fact, most hostas prefer some shade, and the darker the plant, the more likely it is to thrive in a dim environment. When planting in deep shade, Burns recommends planting the "First Frost" variety of hosta, which has pretty variegated leaves with pale lavender flowers.
"This is a great alternative to grass for a shady spot," Burns says. This free-growing ground cover is similar to a soft carpet for your garden. Once planted, it will spread out over the yard, filling in any open areas without choking out the plants that already live there. "It adds a softer texture and will spread out and mingle with the other plants," Burns explains, so you won't have to worry too much about it. Pair this shady plant with a flowering, low-light pick, such as hellebore, that will bring a pop of color to the lush green landscape.
If your yard happens to be situated in a bright and dry area, choosing plants that will thrive there can be just as difficult as finding shade-surviving varieties. One of Hancock's favorite picks for a drought-prone area is the agave, a low-water succulent that makes a statement anywhere you plant it. "There are a wealth of varieties from which to choose. Our favorites are variegated types that bring in an extra splash of color," he suggests. Look for two-tone leaves with distinctive colorings, such as those with yellow borders and deep green centers, to up the visual interest.
"Think all succulents are spiny? Think again!" Hancock challenges us to reconsider what we think we know about these drought-tolerant plants. "Desert rose looks like a bonsai with a thick, squat trunk and beautiful flamboyant blooms. Because its trunk stores water, you don't have to water it—even in times of drought," he says. Whether planting in the backyard or designing an indoor container backyard, pair this flowering plant with cacti or more classic spiky succulents for a desert-inspired garden that will survive even the hottest summer. Plant desert rose as an annual in the north, or treat it as perennial in frost-free regions.
Even at the height of summer, this low-maintenance plant rarely needs to be watered. And because there is a seemingly endless variety of sedum available, ranging from low-growing groundcovers to upright bloomers, the best plant to pair beside sedum is, well, more sedum. To take the guesswork out of planting small individual plants, Hancock recommends buying a sedum tile (a "living carpet" made of a patchwork of smaller plants), often found at garden centers. To settle a sedum tile into its new environment, simply drop it onto loose soil, water well to start, and watch it grow.
If you're lucky enough to have a yard that's neither shady nor dry, it may still face a third common gardening dilemma: sandy soil. If you're a seaside gardener searching for a plant that can survive not only sandy soil, but also salt sprays and not-so-gentle seaside breezes, low-growing armeria will shine in your beachside backyard. "Cute and charming, this adorable little perennial has tufts of grassy foliage and globe-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, and white throughout the spring," Hancock explains. Measuring just 6 to 10 inches tall, this ground-hugging plant seems to duck underneath the wind in blustery areas.
"Dianthus is one of those plants you may be able to smell before you see it," Hancock says. Especially on a warm day, this flowering plant's lovely fragrance will greet you long before you spot the beautiful blossoms in shades of purple, pink, white, and lavender. While some varieties of dianthus bloom in spring, others, such as "Kahori," start in the spring and continue to flower all summer long. In addition to the spectacular blooms, the annual dianthus isn't afraid to show off its blue-green foliage, making it a welcome addition to garden beds or potted gardens.
When selecting plants for sandy soil, Jacob Burns from the Chicago Botanic Garden leans toward low-maintenance options, such as "Primrose Beauty," a type of flowering shrub that favors well-drained soil. Known for its pale yellow blooms, this variety fares best when situated in full sun. And the best part? "You don't have to prune it," Burns reports. From June until September, the blooms come out in full force, but with a maximum height of around 3 feet, this shrub won't take over your garden and will play nicely with other plants.
"Bees and butterflies love this plant," Burns says, so if you're looking to attract winged beauties to your yard, this flowering plant will soon become your go-to variety. The bright golden flowers will bloom for over a month, from June to July, and they will continue to bloom into the fall if you deadhead the spent flowers. Considering that its blooms don't seem to mind a trim every now and then, this plant makes an excellent addition to a cutting garden.
Burns suggests planting butterfly weed, not only because its vibrant orange blossoms will attract compliments, but also because it's the monarch butterfly host plant, and planting milkweed supports the species' survival. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the leaves of the milkweed plant since the leaves are the only source of food for monarch caterpillars. Native to North America, milkweed grows naturally almost everywhere across the country, except for parts of the Pacific Northwest, so it's adept at surviving not only sandy soil, but also the varied weather conditions across the country. Introduce this showy, no-fuss plant to your garden, and don't be surprised if it steals the show with its colorful flowers and entourage of butterflies.
As a professional plant curator at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Jacob Burns is continually considering which plants will coordinate well with others. Luckily, lilac sage makes the matchmaking process remarkably easy. "The purple color goes well with almost any other color in the garden," Burns explains. While well-drained, sandy soil typically provides a decent support system for these flowers, if they begin to droop under their own weight, Burns recommends cutting the stalks down and starting fresh. A relatively long bloom period, from July through September, will brighten up the garden for months, and deadheading faded blooms could help extend the season even longer.
If it's scented flowers you're searching for, check out our list of favorite fragrant flowers to add to your garden or backyard.
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With stunning purple flowers, Lobelia will add a pop of color to any shady garden. Lobelia prefers cool fall weather (check out some other great fall plants here), hates direct sunlight, and wilts if the temperature exceeds 70. An easy-to-maintain plant, they look beautiful cascading out of planters alongside garden walls. If they do get a little too sad looking just trim them back and once the temperature drops they’ll perk up.
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If you want color in your shady garden, go for Lenten Rose. A variety of hellebore, these perennials come in a variety of bright and bold colors and are perfect for cooler climates and shady spots, they even bloom when snow is still on the ground!
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These shaggy pom-pom-like plants add a fun pop to any garden but are especially great for darker areas that don’t get direct sun. An ornamental grass, they thrive in the shade and grow in cute round clumps.
Cranesbill, also called hardy geraniums, literally have hardy in the name. With pink and purple flowers, these hard-to-kill plants bloom in late spring through the end of summer, some even bloom continuously. They can survive almost anything and still pop out a flower for you, perfect for low-maintenance gardens.
If it's variety you’re looking for, look no further than begonias. With a ton of types to choose from, check out these adorable polka dot ones, these flowers will thrive just about anywhere and come in a whole slew of colors. Most grow as annuals, can handle both the sun and the shade, and work for garden beds, pots, or anything really! If it's scented flowers you're searching for, check out our list of favorite fragrant flowers to add to your garden or backyard.
While rain can be a great resource for natural watering, you shouldn't rely on it entirely to keep your outdoor plants hydrated. As a rule of thumb, many outdoor plants thrive when receiving at least 1 inch of water per week. So, if your area is receiving less than an inch of rain in a week, you'll want to help your garden out by doing some watering of your own. (A rain gauge can help you monitor how much rainfall your garden is getting.) However, some drought tolerant plants may be fine with less or no supplemental watering, so it's important to understand the specific plants in your garden.
For starters, not all pests are the same. Some pests only cause minor cosmetic damage, while others can lead to overall plant decline. So, it's important to know which pests you're dealing with to determine which steps you should take to remove them. Depending on the pest, you may want to give your plants a strong blast of water with a hose, manually knock pests off into a bucket of soapy water, or, cut away infested or diseased branches or leaves to keep them from contaminating the rest of the plant.
Plants that are hard to kill thrive in low to indirect sunlight, enjoy normal household humidity and temperature, grow well in typical potting soil, and can survive periods of neglect.
Chives, sedum, geraniums, herbs, and agave can withstand a variety of extreme temperatures and still thrive.
Wholesale Leisure Chair Herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme are great plants that require little maintenance and continue to grow despite neglect. They are all hearty plants that will repeatedly return, no matter how much you cut them back.