1Cranesbill
Photos by R A Kearton//Getty ImagesThis pretty, low-growing perennial, also known as perennial geranium, has a lovely spicy-minty scent that also repels deer and rabbits. Cranesbill tolerates full sun but is more of a shade perennial. They have small white, pink, or purple flowers that bloom in late spring.
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2Irish Moss
lukasz1981//Getty ImagesThe delicate creeping foliage of Irish moss forms dense mats in the garden. When its tiny white flowers bloom in late spring, it looks irresistibly beautiful. Give it lots of moisture and shade, though it will tolerate some morning sun.
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3Toad Lily
Alex Manders//Getty ImagesWith such an adorable name, you have to grow this shade perennial! Toad lily, named for its spotted flowers, blooms in mid-to-late summer. It needs part-to-full shade to do best.
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4Creeping Jenny
Getty ImagesCreeping Jenny has a beautiful chartreuse color with tiny yellow flowers that appear in spring. Make sure to plant it somewhere you don't mind it spreading, as it can take over an area in a hurry (though it's easy to pull, if you don't want it spreading).
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5Vinca Minor
Volodymyr Kazhanov//Getty ImagesAlso known as periwinkle, this charming groundcover tolerates full shade or a little morning sun. The pretty blue flowers of this shade perennial appear in late spring.
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6Lily of the Valley
Getty ImagesLily of the valley has darling bell-shaped flowers with a strong floral scent. This perennial spreads rapidly, so plant it where it won't take over, such as between a house and a sidewalk. The fragrant flowers appear in spring.
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7Bletilla
Getty ImagesThe bletilla, or ground orchid, is a sturdy plant that loves moisture, so make sure to water deeply if you haven't had rain in a few days. This shade perennial will tolerate morning sun, and the pretty orchid-like blooms appear in early summer.
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8Hosta
Darrell Gulin//Getty ImagesHostas do well in shade, but for best leaf coloration, give them some morning sun. They're also a favorite of Bambi, so avoid planting (or protect with chicken wire cages) if deer frequent your garden. They do get tiny spikes of flowers that hummingbirds love in mid-summer.
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9Bleeding Heart
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty ImagesThe striking flowers of this shade perennial make it worth planting! A bleeding heart takes several years to show its stuff, so be patient, and you'll be rewarded. Give it mostly shade with some morning sun for the best blooms. The flowers are pure white, red, or pink, and they appear in late spring.
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10Japanese Forest Grass
photohampster//Getty ImagesWith variegated gold and green foliage, Japanese forest grass lights up shady corners of your garden. It does prefer moist soils, but the beautiful arching leaves are deer-resistant.
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11Foamflower
Alex Manders//Getty ImagesAlso called tiarella, the beautiful pale pink spikes of foamflower appear in late spring. When planted in masses, they resemble foam from a distance! The delicate flowers bloom for more than a month.
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12Lamium
Massimiliano Finzi//Getty ImagesAlso known by the not-so-glamorous name of dead nettle, this shade perennial makes a beautiful, low-maintenance ground cover. It tolerates sun but spreads faster in shade gardens. With silvery splashes on its foliage, lamium flowers bloom in pink, white, or purple in late spring to early summer.
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13Astilbe
Tatiana Terekhina//Getty ImagesThe feathery flowers of astilbe appear in late spring, adding gorgeous, saturated color to the shade garden. They come in a variety of colors, including white and various shades of pink. The stunning plumes appear in summer; they're also deer-resistant.
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14Autumn Fern
tacojim//Getty ImagesThe burnished fronds of autumn fern add subtle color to shady areas of your yard. They'll tolerate a little morning sun, but they do best in full shade. They'll spread rapidly in the right environment. They're also deer-resistant.
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15Jacob's Ladder
skymoon13//Getty ImagesThe foliage of this shade perennial grows in an interesting ladder-like form, but the striking blue flowers are the real showstoppers. Make sure Jacob's ladder receives a few hours of sun each day for the best blooms. The flowers bloom for weeks in late spring to early summer.
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16Bunchberry
Getty ImagesBunchberry is a low-growing groundcover that does well in shady areas. The white flowers, which resemble dogwood blossoms (it's in the same family), become bright red berries in the fall.
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17Japanese Painted Fern
kimmac//Getty Images 18Bugleweed
Wirestock//Getty ImagesA mat of low-growing foliage makes this shade perennial an excellent groundcover. In summer, bright blue spikes of flowers appear on bugleweed. It can be an aggressive spreader, so make sure to contain it if you don't want it growing everywhere.
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19Coral Bells
Darrell Gulin//Getty ImagesAvailable in a wide range of colors from burgundy to chartreuse, coral bells make for a lovely groundcover. Tiny bell-shaped flowers, which hummingbirds love, appear early to mid-summer. Coral bells, also called heuchera, are deer- and rabbit-resistant.
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20Columbine
Getty ImagesColumbines are early- to mid-spring bloomers, offering much-needed food early in the season for pollinators. The intricate flowers look delicate, but it's a tough shade perennial that will return for several years. Many types reseed themselves.
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