Top 10 Shade Loving Annuals for Full or Partial Shade

By Calin Oancea and Florin Gabriel

4/11/20246 min read

In this article, we will reveal 10 shade-loving annuals, each with its own characteristics and care needs. These annual plants for full or partial shade are perfect for bringing vibrant colors and varied textures to shaded garden spaces. We have experience with these plants because we saw and inspected them in real life.

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a leafy shade loving annual plant in a shady place
a leafy shade loving annual plant in a shady place
a small Impatiens bush with a white flower
a small Impatiens bush with a white flower

Impatiens

These multi-color flowering annuals called Impatiens, grow up to 15-30 cm (6-12 in) and are a great choice for shaded spaces. They perform best in partial to full shade with moist, well-drained soil. Impatiens plants provide continuous blooms in summer and their size and form make them great flowers for shaded hanging baskets.

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a Begonia flower in full shade
a Begonia flower in full shade

Begonias

After growing Begonias, we saw that the annuals can reach heights of 45cm (18in), and they're perfect as shade plants for hanging baskets or window boxes similar to Impatiens plants. Begonias prefer well-draining soil and moderate watering, making them relatively low-maintenance.

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one leafy and shade loving Polka Dot annual plant
one leafy and shade loving Polka Dot annual plant

When it comes to planting annuals it isn't a difficult task to plant the Polka Dot Plant as it only grows to a height of 30-50cm (12-20in). Keep the soil consistently moist for best growth. This plant is a fantastic way to introduce texture and color variation to areas that receive little sunlight.

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Polka Dot Plant

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two purple annual flowers that like shade
two purple annual flowers that like shade

Stock Flower

Stocks thrive in cooler, partially shaded areas. Reaching a height of 30-75cm (1-2.5ft), they offer a vertical display of dense, colorful flowers. Stock Flowers prefer well-drained soil and regular watering, this makes them a great addition to shaded gardens that have a little more space.

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colorful shade Coleus leaves in a hanging basket
colorful shade Coleus leaves in a hanging basket

Coleus

The coleus plants are one of the best shade plants to grow and have a lot of colorful leaf patterns. These leafy plants are perfect for combining with other shade annuals for a colorful and lively display. The leafy plant can grow up to 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) and does best in partial shade and well-drained soil.

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a bush with pink and purple flowering flowers called Lobelia
a bush with pink and purple flowering flowers called Lobelia

Lobelia

Ideal for edges or as a shade annual for containers, Lobelia grows to about 20cm (8in) tall. It flourishes in cooler temperatures and should be kept evenly moist for best results. This plant is a wonderful option for adding a splash of cool color to shady spots.

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a single Torenia flower in shade
a single Torenia flower in shade

Torenia

Also known as the wishbone flower, Torenia thrives in the cool, moist conditions of full to partial shade and it is an annual that blooms all summer. This plant grows to about 25cm (10in) tall, producing trumpet-shaped flowers with vibrant colors and a unique wishbone shape inside.

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a Sweet Alyssum annual plant that thrives in shade
a Sweet Alyssum annual plant that thrives in shade

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum is a ground-hugging plant that reaches up to 15cm (6in) tall, offering a honey-scented fragrance and delicate white, pink, or purple flowers. It thrives in cooler, shaded areas and can spread out to create a beautiful ground cover. Alyssum is drought-tolerant once established, making it a fuss-free addition to the shade garden.

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one colorful Snapdragon flower
one colorful Snapdragon flower

Snapdragon

Snapdragons light up the garden with their tall spikes of colorful flowers, reaching up to 60-90cm (2-3ft) in height. We saw that they perform well both as full sun annuals but also in shade, especially in areas with cool summers. Water them regularly for a bloom-filled season. Snapdragons are perfect annuals for shade that add color and height.

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a silvery annual for shade called Dusty Miller
a silvery annual for shade called Dusty Miller
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Dusty Miller

Dusty Miller has a silver-gray foliage that adds a unique texture to the shade garden while being a rabbit-resistant annual plant. It grows up to 30-40cm (12-16in) tall and thrives in partial shade. This plant is drought-tolerant and prefers well-draining soil, making it a low-maintenance choice for adding an unique plant to darker areas.

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Sources

Nature and Sustainability uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, and other fact-dense and highly trusted sources to support the facts that we use in our articles. Please read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 

  1. Annual general information: Annual | Definition, Plant, Examples, & Facts | Britannica

  2. Stock Flower: Matthiola incana (Stock Flower): How to Grow and Care With Success (gardenia.net)

  3. Lamb's Ear: How to Grow Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina) | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

  4. Impatiens: Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  5. Begonia: Begonia | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

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Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
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Article By:

Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.

Reviewed By:

Florin, a more technical guy, is responsible for the design, reviewing the articles and making improvements, and optimizing for SEO so that everything we publish looks deam good.