Top 15 Part Shade Perennials for Beautiful Potted Gardens

Want to bring color and charm to those shady spots with easy-to-grow potted plants?

part shade perennials for pots

If you’ve got a spot that gets some sunlight but not the full blazing sun, adding pots of part-shade perennials can bring in color and texture without worrying about constant maintenance.

These plants thrive in dappled sunlight or a few hours of morning sun, making them perfect for shady patios, balconies, and partially covered garden spaces.

Looking to brighten up a shady spot with plants? Here are some easy-care flowers and leafy plants that grow well in pots with only a bit of sunlight.

So, let’s dig in!

1. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)

Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)

This lovely potted Toad Lily (Tricyrtis) is a fantastic choice for part-shade areas, with its unique, speckled purple-and-cream flowers that add a touch of the exotic.

Its intricate blooms thrive in dappled sunlight, bringing beauty to shaded spots, and it’s an easy-care perennial that works well in containers.

The sturdy, green foliage provides a lush backdrop, making it an eye-catching addition to any patio or balcony garden that gets limited sun.

Watch, 23 Best Low Growing Perennials for Ground Cover

2. Tiarella (Foamflower)

Tiarella (Foamflower)

This potted Foamflower (Tiarella) is a perfect choice for a part-shade spot, featuring soft, airy clusters of pale pink blooms that add a delicate touch to any shaded patio or entryway.

Its lush, deeply lobed green leaves provide lovely texture, while the flower spikes bring a hint of vertical interest.

Foamflower is a low-maintenance perennial, ideal for containers, and it thrives in cooler, shady spots, making it both beautiful and functional for limited-sunlight areas.

3. Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)

Solomon's Seal

This potted Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) is an elegant choice for part-shade settings, showcasing graceful, arching stems with small, bell-shaped white flowers that dangle delicately beneath lush green foliage.

The plant’s variegated leaves add visual interest, and its slender structure creates a refined, natural look that complements other potted shade plants.

Easy to care for and beautifully understated, Solomon’s Seal brings both charm and texture to shaded porches, patios, or garden nooks.

4. Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

This charming potted Lungwort (Pulmonaria) brings vibrant shades of blue and purple flowers that brighten up any part-shade area.

The textured green leaves and compact size make it a perfect choice for small containers on shaded patios or windowsills.

Known for its early spring blooms, Lungwort adds a burst of color to those often overlooked shady spaces and is both easy to care for and highly attractive to pollinators.

5. Lamium (Dead Nettle)

Lamium (Dead Nettle)

This potted Dead Nettle (Lamium) is a delightful choice for part-shade, featuring soft, lavender-pink flowers that contrast beautifully with its textured green foliage.

With its trailing habit, it fills out containers nicely, making it perfect for adding a lush look to shaded corners of patios or garden tables.

Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, Lamium is ideal for adding color to areas with limited sunlight while providing a touch of elegance with its delicate blooms.

6. Hosta

Hosta

This potted Hosta is a classic choice for part-shade areas, with its broad, textured green leaves and graceful lavender flower spikes that add elegance to any shady patio or indoor space.

Known for its lush foliage, Hosta brings structure and volume to container gardens, creating a full, eye-catching look.

Easy to care for and highly resilient, it’s ideal for gardeners who want low-maintenance beauty in low-light areas.

7. Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

This beautiful pot of Coral Bells (Heuchera) showcases stunning clusters of delicate, coral-pink blooms paired with intricately veined green foliage, adding both color and texture to any shaded spot.

Heuchera thrives in part-shade and brings a lovely splash of brightness to container gardens, patios, and shaded balconies.

Its hardy, compact form and long-lasting blooms make it a low-maintenance yet eye-catching choice for filling out any garden container with charm and elegance.

Watch, 10 Stunning Rooftop Garden Ideas to Grow Fresh

8. Hellebore

Hellebore

This potted Hellebore brings an elegant touch to any part-shade space, with its soft, pastel blooms in shades of pale pink and cream that brighten up even the gloomiest spots.

Known as the “Lenten Rose,” Hellebore is a hardy perennial that thrives in containers, adding timeless beauty and resilience to shaded patios and indoor areas.

Its delicate flowers and lush green foliage make it a perfect choice for early spring color and long-lasting charm.

9. Ferns (such as Japanese Painted Fern)

Ferns (such as Japanese Painted Fern)

This lovely potted arrangement of ferns, possibly including the Japanese Painted Fern, creates a lush, green display that thrives in part-shade, perfect for adding natural elegance indoors or in shaded garden spots.

The feathery, layered foliage pairs beautifully with the blue and white ceramic pot, giving a refined and timeless look to any room or patio.

Low-maintenance and visually soothing, ferns like these are perfect for bringing a touch of nature into spaces with limited sunlight, adding both freshness and texture.

10. Columbine (Aquilegia)

Columbine (Aquilegia)

This beautiful potted Columbine (Aquilegia) features delicate, nodding purple blooms with charming yellow centers, adding a whimsical touch to part-shade areas.

The intricate flowers and fern-like foliage give this plant a natural, cottage-garden feel, perfect for shaded patios or garden corners.

Columbine is easy to grow, bringing unique color and elegance to container gardens while attracting pollinators like hummingbirds and bees.

11. Brunnera

Brunnera

This potted Brunnera adds a touch of charm with its clusters of tiny, sky-blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots, beautifully contrasting against its soft green foliage.

Known for thriving in part-shade, Brunnera is an ideal choice for shaded patios, bringing a light and airy feel with its delicate blossoms.

This plant is not only easy to care for but also brings a lovely pop of color to shaded spaces, creating a soothing, cottage-garden vibe.

Watch, 20 Best Perennials for a Low-Maintenance Garden

12. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

This potted Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) brings a romantic touch to indoor and part-shade spaces with its arching stems adorned with heart-shaped pink and white flowers.

The delicate blooms dangle gracefully above soft, fern-like foliage, making it a perfect accent for a shaded patio or cozy living area.

Known for its charm and ease of care, Bleeding Heart adds both beauty and elegance, creating a lovely focal point with minimal maintenance.

See, 23 Stunning Ornamental Grasses for Shade

13. Astilbe

Astilbe

This beautiful potted Astilbe adds a soft, romantic feel to part-shade areas with its fluffy, feathery plumes of pale pink flowers.

The upright blooms stand above lush green foliage, creating a striking contrast that works well on shaded patios, porches, or indoors.

Astilbe is easy to maintain, providing lovely texture and color to low-light areas while bringing elegance and a touch of whimsy to any garden or interior space.

Watch, 25 Vibrant Shade Garden Ideas to Spark Color in Dark Corners

14. Anemone

Anemone

This charming potted Anemone brings bright, delicate blooms to part-shade areas, with its soft pink petals and cheerful yellow centers standing out beautifully against rich green foliage.

Anemone is perfect for adding a burst of color to shaded patios, porches, or indoor spaces, and its long-lasting flowers make it a delightful, low-maintenance choice for container gardening.

Known for its graceful beauty and resilience, Anemone adds a light, airy elegance that complements any garden style.

See, 10 Stunning Potted Fruit Tree Ideas for Small Spaces

15. Ajuga (Bugleweed)

Ajuga (Bugleweed)

This vibrant potted Ajuga (Bugleweed) is perfect for part-shade areas, featuring striking spires of deep blue flowers that create a beautiful contrast against its dark green, textured foliage.

Compact and low-maintenance, Ajuga is ideal for adding color to shaded patios or as a ground cover in container gardens.

With its dense growth and vivid blooms, Bugleweed adds a splash of color and texture to any low-light space, making it both functional and attractive for container gardening.

Watch, 11 Best Easy-Care Flowers for Pots in Shade

With these part shade perennials, adding color and life to shaded areas is simple.

Each plant is low-maintenance, grows well in containers, and brings unique beauty to spots that get only a bit of sun.

From delicate flowers to bold foliage, these options make it easy to create a cozy, inviting space on your patio or balcony that you’ll enjoy all season long.

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