6 Amazing Shade Plants for Your Garden

Photos courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

I love purple and chartreuse plants. The two colors compliment each other perfectly. Best of all, chartreuse foliage brightens up any shady corner of your garden. Guaranteed.

Here’s a list of my six favorite purple and chartreuse plants for shade. These plants not only look great together, but they’re also tough. Making them the perfect plants for your shade garden.

1. Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

This container has a great combination of Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Japanese Forest Grass), Viola ‘Heartthrob’, purple sweet potato vine, and a deep green ornamental grass. The colors look great together and the Japanese Forest Grass brightens everything up.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Size: 6 to 12 inches high, 2-3 ft spread
Exposure: Part Shade, Full Shade

2. Viola ‘Heart Throb’

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

This plant has heart-shaped leaves with deep, burgundy centers and green edges. The colors are amazing. This plant works in containers, as a ground cover, or planted in a perennial border.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Size: 8 to 12 inches
Exposure: Part Shade, Full Shade

3. Heuchera ‘Electric Lime’

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

Heuchera ‘Electric Lime’ is perfectly named with its electric chartreuse leaves and white flowers. This heuchera is heat and humidity tolerant, and in cooler climates, the leaves form red veins.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 – 9
Size: 18 inches to 22 inches
Exposure: Full Shade
Boom Times: August and September

4. Heuchera ‘Grande Black’

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

This plant is a real looker with those deep black leaves. It has great rust resistance and is known for being a strong grower. This plant tends to look good long into the growing season. Longer than most heuchera varieties.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 – 9
Size: 18 to 22 inches
Exposure: Part Shade, Full Sun, Full Shade
Boom Times: May through October

5. Athyrium ‘Burgandy Lace’

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

This painted fern is a stunner with its metallic burgundy leaves. The color is strongest in spring. This is a tough, gorgeous plant that also grows well in containers.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 – 9
Size: 24 to 28 inches
Exposure: Part Shade, Full Shade

6. Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

This plant was 2020 Perennial of the Year and it’s clear why. This deciduous plant has big, bold chartreuse leaves. It thrives in the landscape and containers. It prefers moist, well-drained soils.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 – 9
Size: 48 inches
Exposure: Part Shade, Full Shade
Boom Times: August – September

I’d love to hear if you grow any of these plants in your garden. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the list.

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