Shade is tricky. Not all plants grow well in it, but most gardens and yards have it. Finding cold hardy plants that thrive in shade can be even trickier. It’s not that tricky, though-- while options are slightly limited, there are more than enough zone 6 shade loving plants out there. Keep reading to learn more about growing shade plants in zone 6.
Shade Plants for Zone 6 Gardens
Here are some of the best shade plants for zone 6: Bigroot Geranium - Hardy in zones 4 through 6, this 2 foot (61 cm.) tall geranium produces pink flowers in the spring and the foliage of some varieties' changes color in the fall. Ajuga - Hardy in zones 3 through 9, ajuga is a groundcover that reaches only 6 inches (15 cm.) in height. Its leaves are beautiful, purple, and variegated in many varieties. It produces spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers. Bleeding Heart - Hardy in zones 3 through 9, bleeding heart reaches 4 feet (1 m.) in height and produces unmistakable heart-shaped flowers along wide spreading stems. Hosta - Hardy in zones 3 through 8, hostas are some of the most popular shade plants out there. Their foliage comes in a huge variety of colors and variegation, and several produce extremely fragrant flowers. Corydalis - Hardy in zones 5 through 8, the corydalis plant has attractive foliage and stunning yellow (or blue) clusters of flowers that last all the way from late spring to frost. Lamium – Also known as deadnettle and hardy in zones 4 through 8, this 8 inch (20 cm.) tall plant has attractive, silver foliage and delicate clusters of pink and white flowers that bloom on and off all summer. Lungwort - Hardy in zones 4 through 8 and reaching 1 foot (31 cm.) in height, lungwort has striking variegated evergreen foliage and clusters of pink, white, or blue flowers in the spring.