12 Shade Perennials for the Gulf Coast

It often seems like the Gulf Coast is the perfect landscaping environment. The year-round temperate climate is ideal for growing beautiful flowering plants, shrubs and trees that love the sun. But what to do with shady spots? Fortunately, there are a number of attractive shade perennials for the Gulf Coast. Add some interest and a little color to light-challenged areas of your landscape!

Know Your Shade

Before we get into our list of shade-loving perennials, it’s important to spend a little time determining exactly what kind of shade you have. A lot depends on the type of trees or buildings that are casting the shade and how your property is oriented towards the sun.

• Partial Shade – refers to areas that get full sun, but only for part of the day, typically 3 to 6 hours during the summer. It’s important to note when the full sun occurs. Most plants will be fine with morning sun and shade in the afternoon. Many will suffer under hot afternoon sun, though, even if they’re shaded in the morning.
• Dappled Shade – the shifting, filtered patchwork of sun and shade typically found under deciduous trees during the summer. Some flowering perennials love the added winter and spring sunlight available before the trees get their new leaves.
• Deep Shade – typically found under evergreen trees or in the permanent north-side shadow of buildings. If you can’t see the sun from ground level at any time of day, you’re dealing with deep shade. Choices are limited, since even many shade-loving plants will struggle with a complete lack of direct sunlight.

Video Evidence

It can sometimes be difficult to determine exactly what your sunlight and shade conditions are. One way to make a thorough determination is by aiming an inexpensive security camera at your property once trees are in full leaf. Reviewing the footage from a sunny day will provide conclusive evidence of how much sun each area is receiving. 

Partial Shade Perennials

Partial shade provides the widest variety of options for shade perennials. Many plants that thrive in full sun may also tolerate partial shade. Some even enjoy an afternoon respite from hot full-sun rays. Too little sunlight will cause some plants to grow tall and leggy and flower less, though.

Even shade-tolerant plants will typically flower less in partial shade than they will when receiving more sun. Perennials with brightly colored or variegated leaves can be used to add a little variety instead of relying on flowers. Here are some good options:

• Bromeliads – Most bromeliads prefer shade or partial shade and come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. They do best in warmth and humidity, but will tolerate periods of dry conditions. 
• Flax Lily – Primarily used for their foliage, flax lilies are an almost grass-like plant that is often used as a ground cover. Variegated varieties provide additional interest with white stripes on a dark green background.
• Asiatic Jasmine – A fast-spreading perennial that thrives in sun or shade, asiatic jasmine makes an excellent ground cover. Once established, the only maintenance required will be trimming to keep it out of unwanted areas. It’s also salt-tolerant, making it a great option for coastal areas. 
• American Beautyberry – For something a little larger, American beautyberry won’t disappoint. It’s a decorative shrub with light green leaves on long, floppy branches. In late summer and early fall, American beautyberry provides a splash of color with large clusters of purple berries that also serve as a food source for wildlife. 

Dappled Shade Perennials

Some plants that perform well in partial shade will also do well in dappled shade. Many that are noted as full-sun to part-shade really need that 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, though. Here are a few that will thrive in filtered light. 

• Camelia – With deep shiny evergreen foliage and blooms in the cooler months, camelias make an excellent garden attraction and can even be used as a privacy hedge. Many varieties of Camelia do well in locations that receive filtered sunlight.
• Persian Shield – The purplish leaves of the Persian shield are made even more attractive by green veins and a silvery tint. The plant loves humidity, so it’s a good Gulf Coast choice. In the warmer climate it will do best in dappled shade or even full shade. It is tender when temperatures drop, so be sure to cover during cold spells.
• Cardinal Flower – The showy red blooms of this wildflower make it a beautiful plant to add to your shaded garden. Hummingbirds love the flowers, so it’s a great pollinator plant as well. It prefers soil that is constantly moist, so keep that care requirement in mind.

Full Shade Perennials

Full shade can be the most challenging area to find suitable plants for. The majority of plants will simply not do well in full shade, becoming tall and spindly in their attempt to reach direct sunlight. Many that will thrive in shade will suffer if placed in direct sunlight, so it’s important to plan well. Here are some that love the shade.

• Partridgeberry – If an inconspicuous ground cover is what you’re after, partridgeberry may be the answer. The evergreen foliage, dainty white flowers and red berries make it a pretty plant, but its inch or two height won’t attract lots of attention.
• Japanese Plum Yew – An excellent low-growing evergreen shrub that tolerates shade better than most needled evergreens. It also thrives in heat and humidity, making it ideal for the southeastern U.S.
• Soft Caress Mahonia – This variety of Mahonia gets its name from the soft feathery foliage that differs from the typically sharp and prickly Mahonia. Deep green fern-like leaves provide interest year-round. Delicate yellow flowers followed by dark blue berries add even more beauty in fall and winter months.
• Cast Iron Plant – Although the name conjures an image exactly the opposite of soft caress, the cast iron plant is a resilient shade option. A plant more commonly seen indoors, it can also be a relatively care-free garden plant in the southern states. Note that it will not withstand cold winter temperatures if your area gets them. 
• Autumn Fern – A standby in the shade garden, the autumn fern makes an attractive centerpiece or can be used as a taller ground cover. Copper-colored leaves emerge in spring and turn a luscious green as summer approaches. Autumn ferns are very shade tolerant, but will not do well in more than a few hours of direct sunlight.

Shade Doesn’t Have to Be Boring

A shady spot can be difficult to landscape. Sun-loving flowers usually grab all the attention, but the plants listed above can help to beautify a sunless spot. Combining them with hardscaping, a sculpture or water feature can really make a statement. Please get in touch to see how we can help make your shady spot look like a woodland paradise.