Shade-Tolerant Annuals
Annuals are the garden’s showstoppers, with bright, colorful blooms that draw the eye and energize any space. It can be slightly challenging to grow some of the brilliant annuals we cherish in a shady city, however. Popular annuals like zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, and petunias require abundant sunlight to bloom their best, but many colorful and exciting annuals thrive in part shade or even full shade conditions. Whether you are cultivating your garden in a narrow side yard, postage-stamp lot, on a balcony, or in any other shaded space, these top shade-tolerant annuals still create beautiful color.
How Shade-Tolerant Annuals Are Different
It takes great energy for a plant to produce large, colorful blooms, and plants get energy through photosynthesis. In shady areas, plants cannot photosynthesize as effectively. Instead of bigger, brighter flowers, many shade-tolerant plants create fantastic foliage that is vibrant and attractive. Embracing shade-tolerant annuals means not only enjoying annuals for their lovely blooms, but also seeing the beauty in their varied leaf shapes, textures, and colors. These plants are by no means less amazing than their sun-loving cousins, and will certainly stand out in urban gardens, planters, porch pots, and window boxes.
Top 10 Shade-Tolerant Annuals Perfect for Urban Gardens
Many annuals and their cultivars can tolerate different levels of shade. Before choosing annuals for your shaded space, investigate their specific space needs and sunlight requirements to ensure they will thrive. The top shade-tolerant annuals include…
- Rex Begonia
Available in many cultivars, rex begonias feature dramatic, large foliage in variegated shades of red, purple, white, and green. These flowers have a continuous bloom cycle, making them a valuable addition to any shady space for ongoing color and splendor. - Tuberose Begonia
With large bell-shaped or rose-like blooms, tuberose begonias are stunning flowers in peach, red, pink, yellow, and other hues. Both upright and cascading varieties are available, allowing you to make the most of limited growing space. - Polka Dot Plant
This bushy foliage plant has a delicate speckled, splashed, or confetti look on its green leaves. The colors range from white and cream to pink and red shades, and this annual is especially attractive as a groundcover or filling the bases of large containers. - Torenia
Compact and bushy, this flower has trumpet-like blooms with narrow bases. The flowers range from blues and purples to pink and red, giving you plenty of options for bringing color into any small growing space. - Impatiens
The classic shade-tolerant annual, these easy-to-grow flowers come in many sizes and shapes. Carefully note the sunlight and watering requirements of different cultivars, however, because their needs can vary widely and not all of them will thrive in deep shade. - Coleus
The ideal foliage plant, coleus has spear- or heart-shaped leaves that come in a range of unusual colors. From deep emerald to bright lime green, these plants are accented with red, pink, magenta, white, or burgundy, and add stunning color to any shady nook. - Caladiums
Known for their bold, heart-shaped leaves in striking combinations of red, pink, white, and green. Grown primarily for foliage, they bring vibrant texture and color to containers or shaded beds. - Ferns (Annual Varieties or Tropicals Treated as Annuals)
Add lush, airy texture with delicate, arching fronds. Perfect for filling in space under taller plants or for use in hanging baskets and porch pots in shady areas. - New Guinea Impatiens
Larger and more vibrant than traditional impatiens, these flowers thrive in part shade and bloom in bright hues like red, pink, and coral. Their lush foliage is often deep green or bronzed. - Lobelia
A cool-season favorite with mounding or trailing growth. Produces a profusion of tiny flowers in blue, purple, or white—ideal for edging, baskets, and window boxes in lightly shaded spots.
Caring for Shade-Tolerant Annuals
No matter what annuals you choose for your shady garden, be sure to give them the best care so they will reach their full growth and optimum beauty. Provide your urban garden annuals with the proper fertilizer mix, as well as adequate water for luxuriant growth. Prune and trim plants as needed, and stay alert to safeguard against any possible pests. Take note of the changing light levels in your garden space and adjust your plants accordingly, and you’ll be surprised and pleased with just how colorful and beautiful a shade garden can be.
