What plants thrive in the shade in Western WA? Meet the ‘princesses of darkness’
The last part of April is an excellent time to add plants to the landscape including trees, shrubs, perennials and roses.
Local nurseries are well stocked with not just traditional lilacs, rhododendrons and Japanese maples but also new and improved hydrangeas, perennials and trees. We are fortunate in Western Washington as the wholesale growers farm nearby so plants delivered to retail nurseries in the Puget Sound area do not spend days packed into a transport truck.
Tip: Take a photo of the area where you need to replace a dead or disappointing tree, shrub or perennial. Note how much sun or shade the area receives and anything you know about the soil. Next, seek out a local nursery and a staff member to recommend a replacement. You may find that there are more choices than you imagined and your hunt for a replacement plant will also be an education on all the new and improved varieties.
Q. What perennials do you recommend for shade? I have an area that only gets morning sun. I want plants that will come back year after year. Thanks. T., Email
A. I like to call these three the princesses of darkness, as they add grace and elegance even in the full shade.
Hosta: The king of the shady border, hostas are tough perennials that dazzle with foliage rather than flowers. New varieties in shades of lime green and lemon yellow make hosta colorful plants that are not as thirsty as other perennials. Hosta leaves grow larger with more water so keep a mulch on top of the soil and add compost to the planting hole to keep the soil moist if you want spectacular hosta.
Tip: Hostas are much loved by slugs but the varieties with blue or waxy leaves are more slug resistant.
Astilbe: Frothy and feminine, astilbe is a perennial that flowers even in the darkest parts of the garden with spikes of red or pink blooms. The foliage is finely cut, adding contrasting texture next to hostas plants with wide leaves.
Tip: Astilbe will dry out without enough water so only add them to a spot with naturally moist soil that you will remember to keep watered during dry spells.
Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss): Unusual leaves that are shaped like hearts that come in shades of white, green and white with strong variegation, brunnera is a shade loving perennial that blooms in spring with tiny blue flowers held on long stems that resemble forget me nots. Brunnera is more slug resistant than hosta and more drought tolerant than astilbe but happily shares a bed with these two more common perennials. In a shaded bed, hosta, astilbe and brunnera will be the triplets of delight.
Tip: Once brunnera flowers in the spring, snip off the long stems and faded flowers to encourage larger leaves that will be the showstoppers of the summer garden.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 5:15 AM with the headline "What plants thrive in the shade in Western WA? Meet the ‘princesses of darkness’."