23 Shade Annuals That Will Thrive Without Sun (2024)

Gardening

Annuals

• 01 of 23

  Begonia

  

  Shade-loving begonia have waxy blooms and rounded rich green leaves that provide vibrant color all summer long. In tropical climates, they’re hardy year-round, but for most zones, they’re grown as annuals that love shady, warm weather and then die off at the first frost.Begonias can be toxic to animals.

  • Name: Begonia (Begonia)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-10, some varieties 6-9
  • Flower Color: Pink, red, white, yellow, orange
  • Light: Partial sun to shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring until first frost

• 02 of 23

  Sweet Alyssum

  

  Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) needs a few hours of sun a day but does best when it’s protected from the heat of afternoon sun in a partial shade garden. These darling white blooms form a carpet of color in the cool of early spring, then the flowers pop up again when the temperatures drop in fall.Note that sweet alyssum is considered invasive in various parts of the country but mostly in parts of California.

  • Name: Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
  • Flower Color: White, pink, purple
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, fall

• 03 of 23

  Lobelia

  

  Spreading gently throughout the summer, lobelia (Lobelia erinus) leaves a trail of small but abundant flowers in blue, purple, pink, white, and red. In its signature blue color, it attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making it a great choice for pollinator gardens. This plant is toxic to humans and animals.

  • Name: Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
  • Flower Color: Blue, pink, purple, white, red
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Summer, fall

• 04 of 23

  Polka Dot Plant

  

  The cheery pink and green polka dot leaves of the polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are charming additions to shade gardens, both in containers and on the ground. They grow slowly throughout the season and add subtle color to pots with showier plants.

  • Name: Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
  • Flower Color: Lilac or pink
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Summer to early fall

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  See Also

  Planting in Sun or ShadeThe Best Flowers For Shade17 Vibrant Perennials That Bloom All Summer for a Colorful GardenMarigold

• 05 of 23

  Fuschia

  

  Living up to its name, the vibrantly colored fuschia plant is a favorite of gardeners looking to attract hummingbirds to their yards. These teardrop-shaped flowers cascade beautifully over hanging baskets and thrive in shady, hot spots.

  • Name: Fuchsia (Fuchsia)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
  • Flower Color: Red, pink, white, violet, purple
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring through fall

• 06 of 23

  Viola

  

  Edible violas are the charming pansy-like flowers you often see on cakes and salads. These small colorful flowers, often seen in purple, orange, or yellow, are right at home in shady, cool temperatures, so they’re at their most vibrant in early spring or fall. Generally, they’ll fade once summer’s heat sets in.

  • Name: Viola (Viola)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
  • Flower Color: Purple, orange, white, blue, yellow, red
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, fall

• 07 of 23

  Wishbone Flower

  

  
  The striking bi-color combinations seen in wishbone flowers (Torenia fournieri) make them a gorgeous addition to any shady garden. Most often, you’ll find these small flowers in shades of purple, and its wishbone-shaped stamen is where it gets its name. Because of their purple-blue color, they’re attractive to pollinators.

  • Name: Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Flower Color: Pale violet and dark purple, yellow and dark purple, dark purple and white, pink and white
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer

• 08 of 23

  Caladium

  

  Grown as annuals throughout most of the United States, caladiums are heat and shade-loving plants that have striking, arrow-shaped foliage that features shades of neon green, pink, red, and white. The plants do flower, though it’s their leaves that add vibrance and color to shady gardens. This plant is toxic to humans and animals.

  • Name: Caladium (Caladium)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
  • Foliage Color: Green, pink, white, red
  • Light: Partial to full shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall

  Continue to 9 of 23 below

• 09 of 23

  Coleus

  

  Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) features an almost-clashing color palette of chartreuse green and deep maroon on its abundant leaves. When planted in shady areas, Coleus spreads, adding a vibrant ground cover to gardens with its bright color and striking foliage patterns. Coleus is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
  • Foliage Color: Green, maroon, purple, red
  • Light: Partial to full shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall

• 10 of 23

  Cineraria

  

  Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida) is known for its daisy-like, colorful, and long-lasting blooms that come in a range of delightful colors from purple to pink to lavender, often with a pop of white in the middle.Cineraria prefers cooler weather and blooms four months after seeds are sowed, which can be timed with spring, summer, or fall.

  • Name: Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11, grown as an annual everywhere
  • Flower Color: Purple, pink, red, blue, lavender
  • Light: Partial to full shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall

• 11 of 23

  Stock

  

  First introduced to the United States by Thomas Jefferson, stock flowers (Matthiola incana) are reminiscent of the tall, bloom-filled stems of some of your favorite spring blooms, like hyacinth. These gently-scented flowers are beautiful in gardens and bouquets alike, and they easily adapt to shaded spaces.

  • Name: Stock (Matthiola incana)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
  • Flower Color: Pink, apricot, purple, blue, white
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer

• 12 of 23

  Impatiens

  

  Impatiens are classic warm-weather flowers with four vibrant petals on billowy blooms. These cheerful flowers have been popular in the United States for decades, where they’re often used in flower beds and containers. In warmer climates, these tropical flowers can be grown as perennials.

  • Name: Impatiens (Impatiens spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11, grown as an annual everywhere
  • Flower Color: White, red, pink, orange, purple, yellow
  • Light: Partial to full shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall

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• 13 of 23

  Nemesia

  

  Small nemesia blooms on tall stems covered in pairs of lance-shaped leaves are a joyful addition to spring and summer gardens, filling them with colors of red, orange, purple, pink, blue, and white. Nemesia should be planted before flowering and ahead of its warm weather blooming season. In areas where temperatures remain mild throughout the summer, Nemesia will produce near-constant and abundant blooms.

  • Name: Nemesia (Nemesia spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2a-10b, usually grown as annuals
  • Flower Color: White, red, pink, blue, orange, bicolor
  • Light: Partial to full shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer

• 14 of 23

  Snapdragons

  

  Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are bright, cool-season flowers that will continue to bloom as long as they receive light afternoon shade and adequate water during the heat of summer. Their tall stems are covered in blooms, which slowly open from bottom to top, attracting bees throughout their bloom season.

  • Name: Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11
  • Flower Color: White, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple
  • Light: Light shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
    

• 15 of 23

  Beefsteak Plant

  

  Beefsteak plant (Iresine herbstii) is a short-lived perennial typically grown as a tall annual. It has green to dark purple, almost maroon, foliage. While it doesn’t have showy flowers, the plant does provide color and height to shade gardens. It thrives in the heat of summer, allowing its foliage to reach its full vibrant color.

  • Name: Beefsteak plant (Iresine herbstii)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-12
  • Foliage Color: Green to deep purple
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
    

• 16 of 23

  Dichondra

  

  Creeping dichondra (Dichondra spp.) is an annual ground cover that has lush, rounded foliage that spreads quickly and trails over the side of container gardens. Its color ranges from vibrant kelly green to silver tinted, and it's a favorite of gardeners looking for a spiller, but it can take over quickly.

  • Name: Dichondra (Dichondra spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11
  • Flower Color: White, green, yellow
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Summer
    

  Continue to 17 of 23 below

• 17 of 23

  Sweet Potato Vine

  

  Unlike its root vegetable counterpart, the sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is planted for its ornamental look and striking leaves. It quickly grows with leaves that vary in color from neon chartreuse to dark purple to a rich black. The leaves tumble over the sides of containers and gardens, making them a perfect filler plant.

  • Name: Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
  • Foliage Color: Chartreuse, dark purple, black
  • Light: Full sun to full shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring to summer
    

• 18 of 23

  Browalia

  

  Browallia (Browallia speciosa) is a delightfully low-maintenance flower that is grown as an annual by most gardeners. It produces darling blue, purple, and white blooms on lush green foliage. It grows quickly and spreads, making it perfect for filling in gardens and hanging baskets. Plus, because of its blue color, it attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

  • Name: Browallia (Browallia speciosa)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
  • Flower Color: Blue, purple, white
  • Light: Partial or dappled shade
  • Bloom Time: Summer, fall
    

• 19 of 23

  Rose Balsam

  

  Rose balsam (Impatiens balsamina) has tall stems lined with full, cup-shaped flowers that can reach one to three inches across and provide color and height to shady gardens. The plant’s foliage is relatively sparse, with serrated, long leaves appearing up and down the tall stems, drawing even more attention to its eye-catching blooms.

  • Name: Rose balsam (Impatiens balsamina)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Flower Color: Purple, pink, red, white, bicolors
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
    

• 20 of 23

  Persian Shield

  

  Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) is a dramatic annual with leaves that resemble armor shields, with a silver metallic look and striking purple and green contrasting variegation. While it’s often grown as a houseplant that can last year-round and bloom during winter, it also provides color and pattern to warm-weather gardens.

  • Name: Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
  • Foliage Color: Green, purple, metallic, silver
  • Light: Partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Fall, winter

  Continue to 21 of 23 below

• 21 of 23

  Purple Heart

  

  Purple heart(Tradescantia pallida)is a sprawling ground cover that grows in full sun or partial shade. When grown in partial shade, the stems will appear more green than purple though you may enjoy both colors in a spot with dappled sun. You'll also likely see beautiful small flower clusters in violet to pink. In warmer zones, purple heart is grown as a perennial but in cooler climates, it's an annual.
  

  • Name: Purple heart(Tradescantia pallida)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
  • Flower Color: Purple, pink
  • Light: Full sun, partial sun, shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring

• 22 of 23

  Flowering Tobacco

  

  Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata), along with its cousin, white tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris), are both short-lived perennials that are often treated as ornamental annuals. They each have long-lasting trumpet-, star-, or bell-shaped blooms and a jasmine-like fragrance that fills the air, even in the shade. The plants prefer at least six hours of sunlight on most days for the best blooms but also appreciate afternoon shade. Be aware it is toxic to humans and pets.

  • Name: Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
  • Flower Color: Yellow, green, white, pink, red
  • Light: Full sun, partial shade
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
    

• 23 of 23

  Bacopa

  

  Bacopa(Sutera cordata) is typically grown as a trailing annual ground cover in warmer zones. The plant blooms better with more sun yet won't flower well with too much sun so some shade is preferable. It's worth trying to get the light right for this precious plant that blooms dainty little pastel or white petals surrounding a yellow eye. The best part of this annual is that there's no deadheading required to keep this lush and sprawling flowering ground cover plant going strong.
  

  • Name: Bacopa(Sutera cordata)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
  • Flower Color: Lavender, pink, red,white
  • Light: Full sun, light shade
  • Bloom Time: Summer, early fall