The Best Plants for Full Shade Areas in Your Garden
Got a dark corner in the garden where nothing seems to grow? You're not alone. Shaded areas — under trees, beside fences, along southern walls, or between tall buildings — can be tricky to plant out. But don’t give up on those spots just yet. There are plenty of plants that love full shade and will transform gloomy spaces into lush, vibrant pockets of green.
Whether you’re creating a peaceful retreat, a tropical understorey, or simply looking to green up a shady corner, here are our top shade-loving plants that thrive with little to no direct sunlight.
🌿 What Is “Full Shade”?
Full shade doesn’t mean zero light — it typically refers to areas that:
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Receive less than 2 hours of direct sunlight per day
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Get filtered light through trees
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Are protected from the sun most of the day due to walls, fences, or structures
Plants that grow in full shade are specially adapted to lower light levels and often feature larger, darker leaves that help them absorb what little light they can get.
🌱 Top Plants That Thrive in Full Shade
1. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
As its name suggests, this plant is almost indestructible — and thrives in low-light conditions.
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Height: 60–80cm
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Foliage: Glossy, dark green, strap-like leaves
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Care: Extremely low maintenance, drought tolerant
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Perfect for: Deep shade, under trees, large pots
2. Clivia (Clivia miniata)
A favourite in shady Brisbane and Sydney gardens, Clivia adds bold foliage and bright orange flowers in late winter to spring.
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Height: 40–60cm
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Foliage: Broad, strappy, evergreen
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Flowers: Orange, yellow or peach trumpet blooms
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Bonus: Tolerates dry shade and root competition
3. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
A lush fern that loves humid, protected areas — perfect for that shaded, sheltered nook.
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Height: 60–90cm
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Foliage: Wavy, lime-green fronds form a rosette shape
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Position: Shade, moist soil, humidity-loving
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Great for: Tropical-style gardens and courtyards
4. Philodendron ‘Xanadu’
An elegant tropical shrub that forms clumps of dissected, leathery leaves.
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Height: 80cm – 1m
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Foliage: Deep green and glossy
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Light: Shade to part shade
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Bonus: Low-maintenance and ideal under taller trees
5. Japanese Ardisia (Ardisia japonica)
A fantastic groundcover for dense shade with attractive foliage and small pink flowers.
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Height: 15–30cm
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Spread: Spreads gradually by underground runners
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Light: Deep shade to filtered light
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Extra: Red berries in winter add colour
6. Liriope (Liriope muscari)
This clumping, grass-like plant is perfect for edging shady pathways or underplanting trees.
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Height: 30–50cm
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Flowers: Purple or white spikes in summer
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Light: Shade to part shade
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Toughness: Handles frost, dry shade, and clay soils
7. Camellia japonica (for cooler climates)
Camellias tolerate more shade than many flowering shrubs and will brighten up even dark gardens in winter with their vibrant blooms.
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Height: 2–4m
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Light: Filtered sun to full shade
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Flowers: White, pink, red, or bi-colour in winter
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Tip: Ideal as a shady feature plant or espalier
8. Native Violet (Viola hederacea)
A low-growing native groundcover perfect for damp, shaded zones.
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Height: 5–15cm
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Spread: Creeping, fast-spreading
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Flowers: Small purple and white blooms most of the year
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Best for: Natural-looking lawn alternative in shaded areas
9. Fatsia japonica
Also known as the Japanese Aralia, this bold-leaved shrub is made for shady tropical gardens.
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Height: 1.5–2m
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Foliage: Large, glossy hand-shaped leaves
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Light: Prefers full to dappled shade
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Bonus: Adds strong architectural form to dark corners
10. Hellebores (Winter Rose)
These winter-blooming perennials bring colour to the coldest, darkest time of year.
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Height: 30–60cm
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Flowers: Soft pink, white, green, burgundy blooms
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Climate: Best in temperate and cool zones
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Bonus: Deer-resistant and long-lived
🪴 Design Tips for Shady Gardens
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Go bold with foliage: Use a mix of leaf textures, shapes, and shades to create visual interest.
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Use variegation: Plants with white or yellow variegation (like variegated Aspidistra or Liriope) brighten up dim spaces.
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Layer heights: Combine tall shrubs, mid-level foliage, and groundcovers for a lush, natural look.
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Soften hardscapes: Trailing plants like native violet, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, or ferns can soften the edges of retaining walls or pathways in shaded spots.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Shade Gardening
❌ Using sun-loving plants in deep shade
They’ll struggle, look sparse, and be prone to disease.
❌ Overwatering
Shady areas retain moisture longer — make sure soil drains well and don’t water too frequently.
❌ Neglecting soil improvement
Even in shade, healthy soil is key. Add compost and mulch to support slow-growing plants.
Final Thoughts
Just because an area is shady doesn’t mean it has to be lifeless. With the right plant selection, full shade gardens can be cool, lush, and full of character — even outperforming sun-drenched spaces during hot Aussie summers.
From tough groundcovers and bold-leaved tropicals to flowering winter heroes, there are plenty of shade-loving plants that will thrive with minimal light and low maintenance.
Browse our full range of shade-tolerant plants online, all backed by our 30-day healthy plant guarantee and fast delivery straight to your door.