The best annuals for shade are impatiens, begonias, coleus, torenia, caladiums, browallia, fuchsia and lobelia, with New Guinea impatiens and Dragon Wing begonias leading for nonstop color in part shade. Most shade annuals bloom best with two to four hours of gentle morning sun or bright, dappled light all day; very few flower well in deep, all-day shade, where foliage plants like coleus and caladiums carry the color instead. Plant after your last frost, once nights stay above about 50°F, and keep them evenly moist, and they will fill beds, pots and hanging baskets until fall frost.
Part of our Flowers & Perennials guide →
In this guide
Key Takeaways
- “Part shade” means roughly 3 to 6 hours of direct sun, ideally in the morning; “full shade” means less than 3 hours or only dappled light.
- Impatiens, begonias and torenia are the most reliable bloomers in part shade.
- Coleus and caladiums provide bold color from foliage in deeper shade.
- Choose downy mildew-resistant impatiens series where the disease is a problem.
- Shade beds under trees dry out fast because of root competition, so water and mulch well.
How Much Shade Do You Really Have?
Before choosing plants, watch the spot through a summer day and note when direct sun hits it. A north-facing bed that gets an hour of early sun is very different from a bed under a high-canopy oak with bright, moving light all day. Morning sun is gentle, while afternoon sun is hot, so a bed with four hours of afternoon sun behaves more like a sun bed for tender shade plants. Our guide to full sun vs part shade explains how to map light in your yard.
| Light level | Direct sun | Best annual choices |
|---|---|---|
| Part shade / part sun | 3–6 hours, ideally morning | New Guinea impatiens, SunPatiens, Dragon Wing begonia, wax begonia, coleus, torenia, lobelia, browallia |
| Light or dappled shade | Filtered light most of the day | Impatiens, begonias, torenia, fuchsia, caladium, polka dot plant |
| Full shade | Under 3 hours, bright indirect light | Impatiens, caladium, coleus, tuberous begonia, polka dot plant |
| Deep shade | Little light, under dense evergreens | Very few annuals bloom; use caladiums and coleus, or shade perennials |
Flowering Annuals for Shade
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Still the gold standard for color in shade, with mounds of flat flowers in white, pink, red, orange, coral and purple, about 8 to 12 inches tall. They bloom heavily in light to full shade and need consistently moist soil. Impatiens downy mildew, a disease that causes yellowing, white fuzz under leaves and total collapse, devastated plantings across much of the US starting around 2011. Newer resistant series such as Beacon and Imara XDR have brought impatiens back; buy those if you have had problems. Space 8 to 12 inches apart. Our guide on how to grow impatiens covers care in detail.
New Guinea impatiens and SunPatiens
New Guinea impatiens have larger flowers, often bronze or variegated leaves and good resistance to impatiens downy mildew. They prefer part shade with some morning sun and grow 12 to 18 inches tall. SunPatiens, a hybrid series, tolerate more sun and heat than either, and work well where a bed gets shade half the day and sun the rest.
Begonias
Several types thrive in shade. Wax begonias are compact, 6 to 12 inches, with green or bronze leaves and small flowers; they tolerate everything from part sun to fairly heavy shade and handle dry spells better than impatiens. Dragon Wing and other angel-wing hybrids grow into arching 12- to 18-inch mounds with drooping clusters of red or pink flowers, superb in containers. Tuberous begonias carry big, rose-like flowers in cool, humid, shaded spots and are excellent in hanging baskets but sulk in hot summer regions. Our comparison of impatiens vs begonias helps decide between the two staples.
Torenia (wishbone flower)
Small, snapdragon-like flowers in blue, purple, pink, yellow and white with contrasting throats, on low, spreading or trailing plants 6 to 12 inches tall. Torenia handles heat and humidity well and is a strong choice for the front of a shade bed, window boxes and basket edges.
Browallia (bush violet)
Star-shaped blue, violet or white flowers on 10- to 15-inch bushy plants. True blue is rare in shade annuals, which makes browallia valuable for cool color combinations with white impatiens or silver foliage. It likes part shade and even moisture.
Fuchsia
Dangling, two-toned flowers that hummingbirds love, on upright or trailing plants. Fuchsias are classic for shaded hanging baskets on porches, but they prefer mild summers and struggle in prolonged heat above about 85°F. Keep them out of afternoon sun and wind, and water often.
Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
Masses of tiny blue, purple or white flowers on mounding or trailing plants, 4 to 8 inches tall. Lobelia is a cool-season performer that does best in part shade, where it lasts longer into summer. Newer heat-tolerant series hold up better in warm regions.
Other flowering options
- Nicotiana (flowering tobacco): tall, fragrant evening-scented types tolerate part shade.
- Pansies and violas: cool-season annuals for spring and fall that appreciate afternoon shade.
- Sweet alyssum: tolerates part shade, especially in hot regions, as a fragrant edging.
- Mimulus (monkey flower): loves cool, moist, shaded spots.
Foliage Annuals for Shade
Where flowers fade, colorful leaves keep a shade bed bright all season, without deadheading.
- Coleus. Endless leaf colors and patterns, from lime to burgundy to nearly black, on plants from 8 inches to 3 feet. Many modern varieties take sun, but most color best in part shade. Pinch the flower spikes to keep plants bushy. See how to grow coleus.
- Caladium. Heart-shaped leaves splashed with white, pink, red and green, grown from tubers. Plant when soil reaches about 70°F, as they rot in cold soil. Shade-loving “fancy-leaf” types are the classic; “strap-leaf” types handle more sun.
- Polka dot plant (Hypoestes). Speckled pink, red or white leaves on 8- to 12-inch plants; great filler in pots.
- Persian shield (Strobilanthes). Metallic purple leaves on 2- to 3-foot plants for part shade; a striking thriller in containers.
- Sweet potato vine. Chartreuse, purple or bronze trailing foliage that grows well in part shade, though more slowly than in sun.
Shade Annuals for Containers and Hanging Baskets
Pots under porches and on shaded patios are where shade annuals really shine. Use the thriller, filler, spiller approach: one upright focal plant, mounding plants around it and trailers over the edge.
- Thrillers: Dragon Wing begonia, upright fuchsia, Persian shield, tall coleus, caladium.
- Fillers: impatiens, New Guinea impatiens, wax begonia, browallia, polka dot plant.
- Spillers: torenia, trailing lobelia, trailing fuchsia, sweet potato vine, creeping Jenny (often sold as an annual).
Use a quality potting mix with slow-release fertilizer, and water whenever the top inch is dry; baskets may need daily watering in July even in shade.
Planting and Care Tips
- Timing. Plant after the last spring frost date, when nights stay above about 50°F. Impatiens, coleus, begonias and caladiums are especially cold-sensitive.
- Soil. Work 2 to 3 inches of compost into beds. Shade soil under trees is often thin and full of roots.
- Planting under trees. Do not pile soil over tree roots or till deeply. Tuck plants into pockets between roots, or use containers set on the ground.
- Watering. Most shade annuals like even moisture. Tree roots and leaf canopies block rain, so beds under trees often stay drier than you expect. Water at the base in the morning to reduce disease.
- Feeding. Use a slow-release fertilizer at planting or a diluted liquid feed every two to three weeks. Shade plants need less than sun annuals.
- Mulch. Add 1 to 2 inches of fine mulch to hold moisture, keeping it off stems.
- Slugs. Moist, shady beds attract slugs, which chew holes in impatiens, begonias and hostas. Hand-pick at dusk or use iron phosphate bait.
Design Ideas for Shady Beds
Light colors read best in shade. White, pale pink, lavender and chartreuse glow in low light and at dusk, while deep reds and purples can disappear. Mix fine and bold textures, such as torenia in front of caladiums, and repeat one plant down a long bed for cohesion. Combine annuals with shade perennials like hostas, ferns and heuchera for structure that returns each year. For more combinations, see our shade-loving flowers guide and our broader flowers and perennials guide.
Regional Notes
- Northeast, Midwest and Pacific Northwest (roughly zones 4 to 7): Summers are mild enough for fuchsia, tuberous begonias and lobelia to last most of the season. Plant out in mid to late May or early June once nights warm, and expect frost to end the show in late September or October.
- Southeast and Gulf Coast (zones 8 to 10): Heat and humidity favor torenia, caladiums, coleus, wax and Dragon Wing begonias and SunPatiens. Fuchsia, lobelia and tuberous begonias usually fade by midsummer. In the warmest areas, pansies and violas are grown as fall-to-spring annuals instead.
- Southwest and interior West: Low humidity and intense light mean even “part shade” plants need protection from afternoon sun. Bright shade on the east or north side of the house works best, and containers need more frequent watering.
- Mountain and high-elevation gardens: Short seasons and cool nights suit impatiens, begonias, lobelia and pansies, but wait for warm soil before planting caladiums and coleus.
Wherever you garden, check your average last and first frost dates and treat them as the bookends for shade annuals. Starting with healthy transplants rather than seed is the norm for most of these plants, since impatiens, begonias and coleus are slow and fussy from seed.
Troubleshooting
- Few flowers, leggy growth: too little light. Move pots to a brighter spot or switch to foliage plants.
- Scorched, crisp leaves: too much afternoon sun or drought.
- Impatiens yellowing and collapsing: likely downy mildew. Remove and bag plants, and replant with resistant types or a different annual.
- Wilting in wet soil: root rot from poor drainage, common with begonias and caladiums.
- Holes in leaves: slugs or snails, usually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What annual flowers bloom in full shade?
Impatiens are the most reliable bloomers in full shade, followed by wax and tuberous begonias, torenia and fuchsia in bright shade. In very deep shade, even these flower lightly, so foliage plants like coleus and caladiums are better choices.
What is the longest-blooming annual for shade?
Impatiens, New Guinea impatiens, wax begonias, Dragon Wing begonias and torenia all bloom from late spring until frost with minimal care, as long as they get enough moisture.
Are impatiens safe to plant again after downy mildew?
Standard Impatiens walleriana can be reinfected because the disease persists in soil. Choose resistant series such as Beacon or Imara XDR, or plant New Guinea impatiens, SunPatiens or begonias in that bed instead.
Can I grow shade annuals under a tree?
Yes, but root competition and a dry canopy make it challenging. Avoid piling soil over roots, plant small transplants in pockets between roots, water regularly and mulch lightly. Containers set under the tree are an easier option.
When should I plant shade annuals?
After your last frost date, when nights reliably stay above about 50°F. Caladiums need even warmer soil, around 70°F, or the tubers may rot.