Suburban gardens are becoming shadier. More modern homes are taller than a single story, so make larger shadows. Taller and more fortified fences likewise create more shade. Smaller garden spaces of modern homes, or of older homes that have been added onto, have less sunny area away from the shadows of the associated homes and fences. Even large gardens of low profile homes lose sunlight as shade trees grow.

Most plants that prefer or at least tolerate shade are ‘understory’ plants; which means that they naturally live in the shade of larger plants. Consequently, most of the few trees that tolerate shade do not get very tall. Vine maple, dogwood, Japanese maple, Eastern redbud and many podocarpus are small to medium sized trees. All palms tolerate some shade, although most grow tall enough to eventually get above it.  

Aucuba, boxwood, euonymus, Japanese aralia, holly, Heavenly bamboo and some pittosporums are among the evergreen shrubs that provide foliage in partial shade. Andromeda and Oregon grape have both appealing foliage and flowers. Sarcococca, daphne and gardenia flowers are not quite as showy, but are remarkably fragrant.

Rhododendron, camellia and mountain laurel provide some of the most colorful flowers in partial shade, and have good evergreen foliage while not blooming. Fuchsia and abutilon are rather lanky shrubs, but do have interesting flowers. Hydrangeas are deciduous, so can have good fall color after providing nice foliage and big billowy blooms through summer.

Both Algerian and English ivies, as well as star jasmine, are climbing vines that enjoy partial shade. (Although the ivies cling to whatever they climb, so should be confined to where they will not ruin paint or siding). Star jasmine does not bloom as well or nearly as fragrantly in shade as it does in sunny areas, but has good foliage nonetheless. Any of these vines, as well as periwinkle, is good ground cover for shady spots.

Cast iron plant and arum are not only tough perennials that produce rich deep green foliage in the shade, but can actually become invasive and are difficult to eradicate once established. Bear’s breech is comparable, with the advantage of striking flowers, but the disadvantage that it defoliates through warm summer weather. Various ferns are perhaps the most familiar and complaisant foliar perennials for shade. Lily turf is an evergreen flowering perennial, but realistically, has better foliage than flowers.

Clivia miniata, bergenia and hardier begonias are grown for their colorful flowers as much as for their rich foliage. Clivia miniata is like lily-of-the-Nile for the shade, but blooms with shorter bright reddish orange, red or yellow flowers instead of soft blue and white on tall stems. Some of the various campanulas are delicate shade tolerant perennials with pale blue or white flowers.

Cyclamen, primrose, viola, pansy, forget-me-not, foxglove and impatiens are seasonal annuals that do not mind partial shade. Cyclamen and primrose are actually perennials that can survive through summer to resume bloom the following autumn. Impatiens is actually a warm season annual for summertime that can survive as a perennial through winter.