Shade-Loving Annuals for Containers
Coleus (thriller)
Prized for dazzling foliage in a large array of colours and textures, this plant doesn’t rely on florals. A top choice in containers for its ease of care and moderate to low watering needs.
Fuschias (spiller, good for hanging baskets)
Producing long-lasting and brightly coloured flowers; the pendulous shape of the florals attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Impatiens (filler)
Self-cleaning with no deadheading required these low-maintenance flowers provide a pop of colour essentially from planting well into the Fall. In shaded areas they brighten and remain visible even as the light dwindles in the evenings.
Begonias (primarily thrillers, trailing varieties also good for hanging baskets)
Providing a long-lasting visual display, the begonia is versatile in having both upright and trailing varieties available. Drought-tolerant, generally pest-free and always a show-stopper.
Torenia (filler or spiller)
Particularly well suited to hotter environments, these interesting looking flowers do not collapse in high-heat, remain compact in growth and are seen as a good vibrant option for both roles.
Coral Bells (filler)
This shade-loving annuals brings the drama. Available in a very wide array of foliage colours allowing great flexibility in container garden colour scapes. While the leaves are the main point of interest, the dainty flowers are pollinator-friendly attracting hummingbirds and bees.
Caladium (thriller)
Another bright and beautiful foliage-forward pick, the heart-shaped leaves offer a tropical style. Often found in variegated pinks, reds and whites.
Lobelia (spiller or filler)
Considered prolific bloomers, this plant works well as both a filler, or gushing over the sides of your containers in the role of a spiller. A true-blue flower (a rarity in annuals), they are considered low maintenance although they do require more moisture than some of the other drought-tolerant picks on this list.
Ivy (spiller)
Hardy and durable, ivy is a charming pick to create a lovely cascading and flowing effect. It is fast-growing and often evokes the “cottage-garden” aesthetic.
Japanese Painted Ferns (filler)
Providing a sharp contrast to bright colours with silver-like fronds that are eye-catching in both colour and texture. Like any fern, they do better with moisture.
Shaded Container Combos to Try
There’s versatility even in shaded areas. Here are a few combinations to consider depending on your particular type of shade:
Part-Shade: Impatiens x Begonia x Coleus x Lobelia
Impatiens are your filler, Begonia and Coleus your thrillers and Lobelia for your spiller.
Moist-Shade: Torenia x Lobelia x Caladium
Torenia and Lobelia tag team, working together as both fillers and spillers with the caladium bringing together the visual interest as our thriller.
Hanging Container Backet: Fuschia x Begonia x Ivy
Ivy gently ripples down as our spiller paired with the bright fuschia flowers and the begonia takes center stage as the thriller. We’d recommend planting the ivy on the outside, with fuschia in the middle layer and begonias in the center for the best growth.
May even the shadiest spots in your outdoor spaces be filled with beauty and colour. Did you know? The Wild Blog covers many aspects of container gardening including selecting the right container, maintenance and troubleshooting in the summers, our picks for pollinator-plants and so, so much more. P.s., if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on Pinterest and Instagram.
