3 plants will thrive in shade and brighten any garden easily

If your garden lacks sunlight, or certain areas of it do, you might assume nothing will flourish there at all, no matter how much you will it to — but you’d be mistaken.

As it turns out, numerous plants actually thrive in the shadier corners of your outdoor space. Gardener @viewfromthepottingbench has suggested “three shade-loving plants” to transform even the darkest spots into something truly attractive.

“We’ve all got those awkward shady spots in our garden – either under a bush, or in the light of something else, and I’ve got three plants that are going to love the shade in your garden,” he said in a TikTok video. Here are his top recommendations.

Polemonium

The first plant he put forward is the polemonium, also known as ‘Heaven Scent’. The gardener described it as a “real show-off in the shade”.

It’s an exceptional plant for shaded areas because it thrives in the cool, moist conditions of woodlands, yet it also provides delicate blooms and fragrant flowers.

Vinca

He noted the plant boasts “gorgeous purpley-blue flowers and wonderful bronze-tinted foliage,” declaring it an “absolute winner for your garden.”

The green-fingered guru suggested this plant will “literally light up the shade” owing to its golden and green leaves, which he compared to “little lanterns in the garden.”

He further noted that this plant “even throws out geranium-like purple flowers,” making it an “absolute must-have for a moody, shady garden”.

It is particularly favoured for its ability to create a dense, weed-suppressing mat of glossy foliage, even under trees and in dry shade.

Polypodium vulgare

The gardener described this plant as the “no-drama fern,” calling it a “must-have in your garden.”

He said: “Evergreen, tough as nails, and it’ll give your garden that woodland vibe with zero effort.” Wrapping up the video, he said: “So, if you’ve got a sneaky shady spot in your garden that’s lifeless, then give these shade-loving legends a try”.

It is good at providing year-round interest and lush texture where other plants often struggle.

People were appreciative of the advice and took to the comments section to share their thoughts. One wrote: “This is perfect timing! I have some empty planters in a shady part of my garden.”

A second chimed in: “This is great! I need to fill space in the shady side of my garden”.

An enthusiastic gardener noted: “Skimmias are brilliant for shade and semi-shade” to which @viewfromthepottingbench replied: “They are!”