7 Container Plants That Thrive in North-Facing Gardens – And Bring Color to Shady Spots

Providing a cool shaded spot on a scorching afternoon, north-facing gardens are a respite from the summer heat and a chance to experiment with lush, shade-loving plants. Furthermore, in the face of climate change and rising temperatures, south-facing gardens, commonly prized for long daylight hours, are not commanding the premium they once did.

With full or partial shade, however, north-facing gardens do require some thought when it comes to choosing the right plants – and even more so if you are limited to container gardening. In my two decades of professional horticultural experience, I have had the chance to manage many shaded outdoor spaces and share my best container plant for north-facing gardens.

If you have recently acquired a north-facing yard or are planning a refresh, you may be wondering which garden design styles and plant types will suit. From lush layering to embracing structure, these seven plants for north-facing garden ideas will inspire you with some interesting options.

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Hostas

Also known as the plantain lily, hostas are loved for their shade tolerance and lush foliage.

Hardy perennials generally suitable for growing in USDA zones 3-9, hostas are low-maintenance and easy to care for. Blooming over the summer months, they can produce showy pink, purple, or white flowers.

Requiring shade rather than strong direct sunlight, hostas are a perfect choice for a north-facing garden. Furthermore, hostas thrive in containers, making them ideal for a shaded patio or walkway.

Displaying variegated blue-green and gold leaves, and appropriate for growing in zones 4-11, June Hosta is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

Ferns

Ferns are well-suited to a shady spot, and their exotic-looking fronds are great for creating a luscious and vibrant look.

Depending on your conditions, you can choose between container-suitable ferns that prefer a dry soil or those that require a consistently moist growing medium.

Some ferns can grow large, but for a smaller specimen, why not try the northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) or the five-fingered fern, as it is also called, which grows to around 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide.

Producing elegant and delicate foliage, it can be grown in zones 3-8, it thrives in a sheltered spot and in partial or full shade.

You can purchase live Northern Maidenhair ferns from Amazon.

Coral Bells

Also known as coral root, the best heuchera varieties are renowned for their vivid colors and bell-shaped flowers. Perfect for lining a path or forming ground cover, coral bells are another good choice for growing in a container.

Most coral bells prefer the shade; however, there are some cultivars that can tolerate more sunlight, so care should be taken when choosing which to grow. With foliage colors ranging from deep purple to lime yellow, heucheras can add impact and interest whether grown on their own or when mixed with other perennials.

For a classic style, why not pair a coral root plant with an Artevasi 10-inch terracotta clay pot with a drainage hole available to purchase from Walmart.

With its black and pink leaves and hardy through USDA Zones 4-9, the Midnight Rose Coral Bells is available to buy from Nature Hills.

Japanese Anemone

Preferring dappled shade, Japanese windflowers, or anemones, generally thrive when they receive morning sun but are shaded from the harsh afternoon light. However, do not be tempted to plant them in full shade, as they may flower poorly and become leggy as they look for more light.

Adding much-appreciated color in late summer and early fall, Japanese anemones are excellent for extending the season. However, they are renowned for spreading vigorously via underground rhizomes and can take over a bed or border if not controlled.

Thankfully, by growing windflowers in pots, you are restrict their spread and can move them to a spot where they will thrive.

Producing delicate pink blooms on top of tall slender stems, Anemone x 'September Charm' is suitable for growing in Zones 4-8 and reaching only 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide, is appropriate for a large planter or container.

September Charm Japanese Anemone is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

Hydrangeas

With their reliable, showy blooms available in a range of colors, hydrangeas are a joy to grow. Having grown many specimens over the years, I have become fond of them and have loved seeing their recent rise in popularity again.

Flowering from July to September, hydrangeas come in many forms and sizes, so you will need to look for a container-suitable one. Growing best in partial or dappled shade, they prefer fertile, moist, yet well-drained soil.

Growing 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, you can purchase Proven Winners® Bobo® Hydrangea Shrub from Fast Growing Trees. Producing white cone-shaped blooms that turn a soft pink as they age, it is considered hardy in zone 3 and above.

Winter Box

Perhaps one of the best evergreen container plants is Christmas box, or Sarcococca, as it is botanically called. A classic evergreen, winter box produces dark green leaves that contrast strongly against its pure white, scented flowers.

In the gardens I have cared for, I always ensured that there was a container of winter box growing somewhere that visitors could stop, smell, and enjoy.

Easy to grow and care for, winter box thrives in zones 7-9 in dappled or partial shade and when provided with damp soil. Growing 4-5 feet tall by 1-4 feet wide, and best put in a large container, you can purchase fragrant sweet box from Nature Hills.

Clematis

A solid choice growing up an obelisk or along a trellis, clematis are an easy-to-grow climber for a pot.

Although clematis tend to thrive with their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade, there are some cultivars that thrive in low light. With its large pink and white flowers that do best in partial shade, Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ is available from Fast Growing Trees.

With a final height of around 12 feet, Nelly Moser is ideal for adding height and impact against a partially shaded wall or for growing in a planter box with trellis.

Requiring tying in as the shoots grow, clematis are non-clinging and thrive when planted in fertile soil that is neither allowed to dry out nor become waterlogged.

If you have a north-facing garden boundary, you might be wondering what you could plant along it to provide coverage and interest.

Our specialist feature on the best plants for north-facing walls will show you how to elevate a traditionally gloomy area with foliage, texture and even flowers.

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