If you want to design a terrace that doesn't get any sun, you don't have to do without plants. Because many potted plants also thrive in the shade.
Potted plants can turn the balcony and terrace into an oasis of well-being. In order for the selected plants to develop well and bloom profusely, it depends on the right location. Most flowering plants need a lot of sun. But even in a shady location you don't have to do without a bloom in the bucket. In the following we present shade plants, which provide a colorful variety in tubs and balcony boxes.
What is shadow?
Shadow is not the same as shadow. You will notice this at the latest when you look at the care instructions for the potted plants.
The following types of shadow can be distinguished:
- Penumbra
- light shadow
- Full Shadow
Penumbra
Plants suitable for semi-shade require about three to four hours of sun. Morning or evening sun is ideal. Avoid blazing midday sun. The sun in the afternoon can also damage the plants and cause burns on the leaves.
Light Shadow
When talking about light shade, sun and shade are constantly changing. This is the case, for example, in a sunny location, which experiences sunny and shady moments due to the foliage of the trees and their movement with the wind.
Full Shadow
No sunlight reaches a fully shaded location. Daylight also appears slightly darkened. Balconies and terraces facing north are in full shade. House fronts or dense foliage can also transform a south-facing terrace into a fully shaded location.
Tip: All of the plants mentioned below thrive in full shade, but are usually also suitable for a partially shaded location.
Shade plants for the tub from A-Z
Astilbe
It's not often that a plant grows such colorful flowers in the shade. The splendor grows upright and can reach a height of one meter. The fern-like leaves are an ornament. These are joined between June andSeptember the feathery inflorescences in white, pink or red. The plants need a loose soil and plenty of watering.
Tip: If the infructescence is left on the plant, the Astilbe is a bizarre beauty even in winter.
Bamboo (Bambusoideae)
Bamboo comes in many different species and heights. This allows a variety of combinations to be created. The grassy plants grow quickly and can reach an age of up to 150 years. The plant pots can be set up as privacy and wind protection. Bamboo requires moist, loamy soil and is conditionally hardy. Frost protection is required in the bucket.
Begonias ( Begonia)
The begonias come from the Andes of Peru and are robust and shade-tolerant. The breeding of hybrids allows a variety of colors and shapes. White, yellow, pink or violet plants can be put together in pretty arrangements in the bucket. A sheltered location should be found. Large-flowered varieties get a stick for support. Regularly removing faded flowers can encourage the plant to bloom again.
Browallia americana
A German name for the plant, which is still relatively unknown in our latitudes, has not yet been found. The flowering plant comes from South America and can grow up to 60 centimeters in height. The light violet flowers appear from July. The flowers stay in bloom until the first frost. There is a similarity to the native forget-me-not. Therefore the plants are called Jamaican forget-me-nots in England.
Boxwood
The boxwood is an almost indestructible container plant. Not every variety thrives in full shade. Therefore, when buying, take a look at the variety label. The boxwood grows very slowly and therefore does not have to be constantly transplanted. In winter, the evergreen plants can stay on the balcony and terrace and provide a splash of color.
Colored nettle (Solenostemon scutellarioides)
The coleus comes to us from the tropics of Africa. With many different leaf colors, the easy-care and robust plants convince their viewers. A sunny location does not get the exotic. The leaves threaten to burn. The colored nettle develops very well in the shade. However, the leaf coloring will be less intense due to the lack of sunlight. A permeable substrate should be found for the colored nettle. Since noLime is tolerated, preferably water the plants with rainwater.
Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum)
Most species feel comfortable in the shade. They will then grow a little more slowly and may not bloom as lavishly, but they will still provide a splash of color in the pot. Chrysanthemums bloom in a wide variety of colors until late autumn. The plants grow quickly and are very suitable for the flower vase. A cut back in mid-August encourages reblooming.
Osmanthus flowers
If you don't just want to be surrounded by greenery on the terrace, but also want to wrap yourself in sweet clouds of fragrance, you can grab a scented flower. Fragrant flowers also exude their aroma in the shade. The different species can be arranged harmoniously in the tub and a colorful interplay is created.
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Balcony flowers require care. If you don't have the time, you can think about greening with ivy. Even in full shade, lush carpets of leaves spread quickly. The hanging plant is particularly impressive in hanging baskets. In tubs, ivy is suitable as underplanting for tall stems or subshrubs.
Fuchsias (Fuchsia)
Fuchsias thrive particularly well in the shade. No compromises have to be made in the abundance of flowers. The evening primrose family is available in red, blue or purple colors. Upright-growing varieties are often offered as tall stems and are therefore ideal for planting in containers. Hanging varieties embellish the shady outdoor area in the hanging basket. Fuchsias need a sheltered location and must be poured abundantly.
Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana)
The diligent Lieschen lives up to its name even in the shade. The balsamic plants impress with their white, pink, orange or purple flowers as early as early summer. Two-tone varieties provide additional variety on the balcony and terrace.
Hosta
Hostas cannot cope with sunny locations. The variety of varieties allows for varied container planting. Even the leaves are an eye-catcher with their green, white or gold-colored markings. The flowers appear in midsummer. Varieties that are particularly tolerant of shade are the red-stalked hostas, the round-leaved hostas or the gold-rimmed hostas.
Bellflower (Campanula)
Bluebells are particularly easy to care for and developgorgeous even in the darkest location. The flowers appear from May and last until October. The plants are perennial and can survive the winter in the bucket. You get an extensive selection in a number of flowering colors and growth heights between 20 centimeters and two meters. Bluebells require little maintenance. However, too damp a shady spot can lead to root rot.
Hemp palm (Trachycarpus)
The term palm tree is inextricably linked to sun, sand and sea. However, the hemp palm feels much more comfortable in a shady spot. In this way, the shaded balcony can also radiate a holiday feeling. The palm trees require little care, but should get a cool shower from the plant sprayer every now and then.
Mahonia
Mahonia is an attractive container plant. Around 70 types are available. The easy-care plants are evergreen and catch the eye with their pinnate leaves. With its yellow blossoms, the “Winter Sun” species is an eye-catcher on the wintry terrace as early as January. Mahonies can be combined very well with ferns and can grow up to two meters tall.
Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica)
The Japanese camellia is in no way inferior to the native rose. The pretty tub plants impress with large numbers of white or reddish flowers. A cool and shady location is ideal for the exotic beauty.
Japanese spindle (Euonymus japonicus)
The Japanese spindle proves to be a true all-rounder in the shade garden. The plants not only cut a fine figure in pots and boxes, but can also be used as solitary plants. A privacy screen can be created with several potted plants on the terrace. The Japanese spindle can be trimmed at any time and adjusted to the desired height.
Nasturtium (Tropaelum Majus)
The nasturtium can be advantageously accommodated in all planters. The pretty orange-red flowers appear from early summer to autumn. The cress grows a little more slowly in the shade, but blooms profusely and persistently. Nasturtiums can serve as underplanting in the tub. The hanging shoots create pretty accents in the window box.
Globe spruce (Picea glauca)
If you don't have a garden, you can also fulfill your dream of having your own coniferous tree on the balcony or terrace. Ball spruces grow densely and compactly. At the same time, this ensures privacy. theundemanding conifers grow very slowly and can therefore remain in the same pot for several years.
Lobelias (Lobelia erinus)
Lobelia are also known under the name Loyal to Men. The bluebell family comes from South Africa and Western Australia. The lobelia is particularly popular as an underplanting for tall stems. Regular removal of faded leaves encourages reblooming. The plants are not sensitive to drought and need deep, humus-rich soil.
Mint (Mentha)
Why not turn the balcony and terrace into a herb garden. With mint, this is guaranteed to work on the north-facing balcony as well. Mint grows in hot and dry regions and is used to extreme climatic conditions. The herb grows luxuriantly and propagates through rhizomes. Mint can be harvested continuously and dried in small bouquets.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
With a maximum growth height of 30 centimetres, the decorative flowering plant is very suitable for underplanting in the tub. The groundcover blooms in early spring. The red, blue, white or violet flowers appear from March.
Foam Blossom (Tiarella)
Foam flowers are easy-care shade perennials. The attractive flowers are reminiscent of whitecaps thrown up by the sea and appear between May and August. The plants grow to a height of around 30 centimetres, making them a good combination with semi-shrubs or standard plants.
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum)
As an evergreen plant, the star jasmine is very well suited to fill shady terraces and balconies with life. The white to pale yellow flowers exude a pleasantly sweet fragrance.
Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes)
The spleen fern is an undemanding plant. The hardy plant can be combined in a variety of ways in the bucket. The fern also feels at home in small pots, because the plants tend to grow small in the shade and can therefore be arranged attractively in small spaces.