1
Cranesbill
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This pretty, low-growing perennial, also known as perennial geranium, has a spicy, minty scent that repels deer and rabbits. Cranesbill is a perennial that prefers shade, although it can tolerate full sun. Small white, pink, or purple flowers bloom in late spring.
Related article: 40 Deer-Resistant Plants and Flowers to Plant in Your Garden
2
Irish Moss
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Irish moss' delicate creeping leaves form dense mats in the garden, and when its small white flowers bloom in late spring, it looks stunning. It can tolerate some morning sun, but it does need plenty of water and shade.
Related article: 36 Beautiful Flower Images to Inspire You to Garden
3
Toad Lily
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With such an adorable name, you should definitely give this shade-loving perennial a try. Named for their spotted flowers, toad lilies bloom in mid-to-late summer and require partial shade to full shade to grow best.
Related Article: Maximalist Gardens Are the Peak of Summer Joy
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Four
Sneaking Jenny
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Creeping Jenny is a beautiful lime green with small yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. It can spread too quickly, so make sure you plant it somewhere you don't mind it spreading (but it's easy to pull out if you don't want it to spread).
Related Article: Best Gardening Gift Ideas
Five
Vinca minor
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Also known as periwinkle, this attractive ground cover tolerates full shade or a little morning sun. This shade-loving perennial produces beautiful blue flowers that bloom in late spring.
Related article: 34 Best Indoor Plants for Low Light
6
Lily of the valley
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Lily of the valley produces lovely bell-shaped flowers with a strong floral fragrance. This perennial spreads quickly, so plant it in a place that will not overgrow, such as between your house and the sidewalk. The fragrant flowers bloom in spring.
Related article: Designers share their favorite spring flowers
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7
Bretilla
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Bretilla (or ground orchid) is a hardy plant that likes moisture, so if it hasn't rained for a few days, give it a good watering. This shade-loving perennial will tolerate morning sun and produce beautiful orchid-like flowers in early summer.
Related: Most Beautiful Orchid Colors
8
Hosta
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Hostas grow well in shade, but for best leaf color, place them in morning sun. And they're a favorite food of Bambi, so avoid planting them if deer are common in your yard (or protect them with a wire cage). In midsummer, they produce tiny flower spikes that hummingbirds love.
Related article: 26 Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
9
Bleeding Heart
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The striking flowers of this shady perennial make it well worth planting. Bloody Heart takes several years to bear fruit, so patience will be rewarded. For best blooms, place it in mostly shade with morning sun. Flowers are pure white, red, or pink and appear in late spring.
Related article: How to Organize Your Garden Shed
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Ten
Japanese forest grass
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With its gold and green variegated leaves, Japanese forest grass brightens up a shady corner of the garden. It likes moist soil, but its beautiful arching leaves keep deer away.
Related Article: 10 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Garden
11
Foam Flower
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Also known as tiarella, these beautiful pale pink flower spikes bloom in late spring. When grown in clusters, they look like bubbles from a distance. The delicate flowers last for a month or more.
Related article: How to prevent crabgrass from taking over your lawn
12
Lamium
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Also known by the less-than-attractive name of dead nettle, this shady perennial makes a beautiful, low-maintenance ground cover. It tolerates full sun but spreads faster in shady gardens. Lamium flowers, which have silvery speckles on their leaves, bloom in pink, white, or purple from late spring to early summer.
Related Article: What is Companion Growing?
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13
Astilbe
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Astilbe's feathery flowers bloom in late spring and add a splash of color to shady gardens. They come in a variety of colors, including white and various shades of pink. Their gorgeous plumes bloom in summer and help deter deer.
Related article: How to naturally get rid of deer from your yard
14
Autumn Fern
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The glossy foliage of fall ferns adds subtle color to shady areas of the garden. They can tolerate some morning sun, but they grow best in full shade. They spread quickly in the right conditions. They're also deer resistant.
Related article: Best Evergreen Trees for Your Garden
15
Jacob's Ladder
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This shade-loving perennial's leaves grow into an interesting ladder-like shape, but the striking blue flowers are the real attraction. For best blooms, make sure it gets several hours of sun each day, and the flowers will bloom for several weeks from late spring to early summer.
Related article: Top 15 Easy-to-Grow Biennial Plants
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16
Bunchberry
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Bunchberry is a low-growing ground cover that thrives in shady areas and has white flowers that resemble those of dogwood (it is in the same family), which turn into bright red berries in the fall.
Related article: David Beckham's gardening genius
17
Fern
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White clover
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A mat of low-growing leaves makes this shady perennial an excellent ground cover. Bright blue flower spikes bloom on white clover in summer. White clover spreads aggressively, so be sure to keep it in check if you don't want it growing everywhere.
Related article: How to grow beautiful climbing plants in your home
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19
Coral Bell
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Coral bells come in a wide range of colors from burgundy to chartreuse and make beautiful ground covers. Their small, bell-shaped flowers, which hummingbirds love, bloom in early to mid-summer. Coral bells, also known as heucheras, are deer and rabbit resistant.
Related Article: Coral Bell Cultivation Guide
20
Columbine
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Columbines flower in early to mid-spring, providing much-needed food for pollinators early in the season. Although their complex flowers look delicate, they are shade-tolerant perennials that will continue to bloom for several years. Many species grow wild.
Related article: How to Plant a Clover Lawn
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