14 Fall Flowers That Grow Well in Shade

by Jennifer Poindexter

Do you have a shaded yard? Are you in need of flowers that will add color to your yard during the fall months?

I have the list for you. There are quite a few flowers, if grown in the right planting zone and provided the right growing conditions, which should thrive in this setting.

If you need inspiration for brightening up your shaded yard or garden, keep reading. Some of these flowers are commonly known.

Yet, some of them might be new to a few gardeners. Pick the flowers which interest you the most, and start experimenting around your home.

Here are fall flowers which grow well in the shade:

1. Aster

You might think that asters are only great flowers for full sun. They don’t bloom as vibrantly in shade, but they will still produce and remain healthy.

Asters are cheerful flowers that produce colorful, daisy-like blooms. They do need well-draining, loamy soil and do best in planting zones three through eight. Take their size into account when deciding where to plant them as some can grow to be as tall as four feet.

2. Viola

The first time I bought viola, I wasn’t savvy in gardening. In total ignorance, I planted these flowers in the brightest spot in my yard. Needless to say, they didn’t do very well.

Once I planted them in a shadier location of my home, these flowers thrived like you wouldn’t believe. If you need a shade-loving fall flower, don’t skip violas. They prefer well-draining soil that’s dense in nutrients and seem to grow best in planting zones three through eight.

3. Black-Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan plants are typically known for needing full sun. However, they can grow in areas with some shade.

Over time, the flowers might start to bend to reach sunlight. However, if you live in planting zones three through nine, this could be a good flower to experiment with in your shaded growing areas.

4. Japanese Anemones

When I see this plant, it makes me smile. Though they aren’t what some would consider a common flower. It could be a great choice for you.

Japanese anemone flowers grow best in planting zones three through seven. Though this flower can handle some sunlight, it needs some shade to avoid becoming too hot. It also needs well-draining soil to avoid becoming waterlogged which can eventually lead to its demise.

5. Rubella

Rubella is a unique plant that has dark green foliage. Stems protrude from the leaves and produce small dainty flowers that create colorful clusters. If you’d like this look in your shaded grow space, ensure you meet the following conditions.

This is a hardy plant in zones seven and up. It needs consistently moist soil that’s well-draining and contains nutrients. This plant loves shade because too much sun can damage the color of its leaves. If you get these things right, rubella could be a great fit for your garden.

6. Dianthus

I’m a huge fan of dianthus. It can grow in the ground or in containers. I actually planted it in containers around my firepit, and it has been an extremely low-maintenance plant. If you’d like to try growing dianthus, understand that it grows best in planting zones three through nine.

It does best when given well-draining soil and partial shade. Though dianthus may not be a great plant for growing in total shade, if you have an area with dappled sunlight for approximately six hours per day, this plant might work for you.

7. Croton

Croton is typically known as a full-sun plant. Yet, if you choose a variety that has duller colors, it can survive and thrive in partial shade.

This plant would need to be moved indoors over the winter months as it can’t handle frost or freezes. Croton needs well-draining soil, but it must have a high nutrient content. This plant is an extremely heavy feeder and needs to be able to pull what it needs from the soil at any given time.

8. Autumn Crocus

Autumn crocus has blooms which mildly resemble those of a buttercup or tulip. These flowers come in a variety of colors such as pink, white, yellow, or purple.

You can grow autumn crocus where they’re provided partial shade and well-draining soil. These flowers might bloom less when provided less sunlight. However, they’re a great choice for planting zones four through eight.

9. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is another plant that comes from deep green foliage. From there, the plant produces clusters of flowers that you can’t help but notice. They might be dainty but when blooming in harmony, they’re breathtaking.

If you’d like this show-stopping plant in your shaded yard, it could work. They grow in well-draining soil and do best in planting zones five through nine. Typically, sweet alyssum grows best in full sun. However, it can still produce in partial shade.

10. Checkerberry

Checkerberry plants are evergreens which produce small red berries that are eye-catching and definitely add a splash of color to the area where they grow.

These plants prefer shade, moist soil that’s well-draining, and soil that’s slightly acidic. Checkerberries grow best in planting zones three through six.

11. Beautyberry

If you live in a warmer climate, you aren’t left out of berry producing plants. The beautyberry plant produces bright purple berries.

They are hardy in planting zones seven through eleven. These plants also need well-draining soil that’s high in nutrients and aerated. If you’d like to grow a berry producing plant around your property, this might be a good choice.

12. Flowering Cabbage

Flowering cabbage is a great way to add color to your shaded growing location. They come in a variety of colors ranging from white to green to purple. These plants grow very well in containers.

If you’d like to incorporate this plant around your home, ensure you provide slightly acidic soil that’s well-draining. The dirt needs to remain consistently moist to keep these plants happy and thriving. However, they’re a great fit for most gardens as they grow in planting zones two through eleven.

13. Pansies

Pansies are one of my favorite low-maintenance flowers. If you have a shaded growing location, these flowers will show up and show out to provide color and life to this area.

These plants love shade, but they also enjoy well-draining soil that’s dense in nutrients. They’re hardy in planting zones seven through ten.

14. Mums

Chrysanthemums are the final fall, shade-loving plant on our list. These are traditional fall flowers that are great for adding color to your home.

Even better, if you choose the right variety, they’re perennials and will return each year. Mums like partial shade with indirect sunlight. They also need well-draining soil and consistent moisture. Take care of these flowers, and they should return for many years.

Hopefully this list inspires you to plant flowers in shade-filled spaces during the fall. Not every plant requires loads of sunlight to produce.

In fact, some plants don’t like as much sun because the heat and light stresses them out. If you have a shaded growing space that you need to liven up, choose the flowers from this list that will work best for your space and give it a try. Some gardens take experimentation to find the right matches, but once you plant the right things, your home could come alive like never before.