No Sun in Front Yard

My house is pretty shady as well, and I have hostas and astilbes like the other women mentioned. I also have some type of fern that comes back every year. It was here when we bought the house, so I'm not too familiar with it. They get pretty large in the summer (like 2-3 feet tall) and they spread throughout the garden. We also have lily of the valley and another plant that I think is Solomon's Seal. The daylilies that I have planted in the full shade will produce leaves but rarely flowers. The ones that get a little bit of sun still bloom, though.

I will also put a plug in for hostas and coral bells. There are many colors and varieties. The other name you will see for coral bells is heuchera. There are big leafed ones and small leafed ones. Some that are more rust colored and some that are burgundy. As someone mentioned hostas have a large variety as well. There are different ones that bloom at different times of the year. The majority of the ones in my back yard bloom in the spring. Ones in other parts of my yard bloom in the fall. My heucheras bloom in the spring- late June. The hostas and the heuchera will thrive without fail in my yard and need almost zero maintenance. As someone said toad lillies are good but are harder to find. They are fall bloomers which is nice. I also got an anemone for a fall bloomer. It takes a bit more water during the heat of the summer. Astilbe like the shade and add some contrast. Japanese ferns add some texture - as do bleeding hearts. There are some things that will do ok in the shade but say they need sun. Per an internet suggestion, I got a ligularia about four years ago and put it in the sunniest part of my yard (that is still shady). It has large almost pond lily shaped leaves. I have seen different types of flowers. Mine has a daisy type yellow leaf so it adds color to the back yard. The leaves themselves are interesting. My grandmother always had blue bells in her front yard under the tree. I have not tried this but lenten roses are supposed to like more shade and are an late winter/early spring bloomer (around lent).

If the yard and trees allow you can also plant tulips. They will bloom before the trees get their full foliage and add some early spring color. You can fill in the periennials with annuals like coleus, begonia, and impatiens.

I would suggest looking on line for a shade garden plan. There are free ones on the Better homes and Garden website. It will give you some suggestions on how to contrast the color and texture of all your plants.

Good luck

hostas, coral bells are both thriving in the shade in my yard.

For something larger, try a dogwood tree....they require shade to live!

Also any good garden center will have lots of ideas.

I kind of glanced through the answers and hostas are great. Another one that did really well for me is bleeding hearts and I absolutely love them. My kids really enjoyed them as well. They really do attract butterflies. Good Luck!

No one mentioned Azalaes and Rhododendrons there is also everygreens you can do. If you go to a nursery they actually group the shade plants together in a shade hut so you know they are for the shade. My husband is at Family Tree and I like to go during different times of the year and see what is blooming that way you can have a variety of plants that bloom at different times throughout the seasons.

Hydrangeas! Beautiful!!!!

Hostas do very well in shade. They come in solid green or varigated. Anywhere that sells plants in your area should be able to recommend more. Also, most plants are sold with tags that explain where they will thrive best, sun or shade.

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Hostas do very well in shade. They come in solid green or varigated. Anywhere that sells plants in your area should be able to recommend more. Also, most plants are sold with tags that explain where they will thrive best, sun or shade.

Hostas are great and you can add some pansies for color!

Astilbes. Plus depending on how much shade you can put some sun plants in the shade and they will do okay. Day lilies for example. I have a yard of almost all shade. Check out Garden Gate magazine has lots of good ideas.

Lots of things, depending on the amount of shade. If there is some sun in the spring, you can plant almost any bulb. If it gets part-shade, you can plant Toad Lillies and Coral Bells. There are also all kinds of shrub bushes and things. Go to a nursery and explore!