Best Perennials for Shady Gardens in the Pacific Northwest

Perennial flowers are fabulous additions to the garden with their rich waves of colorful blooms that can be enjoyed from spring to fall. And gardeners in the Pacific Northwest region are blessed with various herbaceous perennials to pick from.

• Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis): A woodland native, bleeding hearts produce arching sprays of heart-shaped pink or white flowers in spring. They are very hardy and provide a soft, delicate texture to shaded areas.
• Hostas: These are a go-to choice for shady gardens with their lush foliage in various shades of green, blue, and yellow. Hostas are incredibly hardy and come in a multitude of sizes and leaf patterns.
• Astilbe: With fern-like foliage and fluffy plumes of flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and purple, astilbes brighten up shady spots in late spring to early summer.
• Hellebores (Helleborus): Also known as Christmas or Lenten roses, hellebores are one of the earliest blooming perennials, with flowers appearing in late winter or early spring. They love shady woodland conditions.
• Ferns: Native ferns like the sword fern or maidenhair fern thrive in the shaded understory of the Pacific Northwest. Ferns provide a unique texture that contrasts nicely with flowering perennials.
• Coral Bells (Heuchera): With colorful foliage ranging from chartreuse to deep burgundy, Heucheras are perfect for adding a splash of long-lasting color to shady corners.
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum): This woodland plant offers arching stems of hanging, bell-shaped white flowers in spring.

If you are looking for beautiful, low-maintenance plants that will thrive in partial shade, you may want to consider these top-performing perennials, which will suit you nicely. They will perform beautifully with only 3-4 hours of sun per day, and some will even thrive in full shade (no direct sun at all).