Just because you have shade doesn’t mean you can’t have great looking containers. Through many years of trial and error (a lot of error), I have found a handful of annuals that consistently perform well in the shade. This is not to say that no other annuals do well in shade, but the following have never failed me.

Impatiens

Impatiens are an old favorite that are easy to find at any retailer that sells annuals. They are also very easy to grow from seed. These budget friendly flowers come in many colors and will grow on average between 8 and 14 inches tall, depending on variety. Impatiens flower freely all season long and require no deadheading. They respond well to pruning (or pinching) so feel free to trim back any stray stems. Deer and rabbits love to eat Impatiens, consider yourself warned!

New Guinea Impatiens are also great annuals for shade containers. In addition to many colors of blooms, the foliage is a nice feature of New Guinea varieties. They average between 14 and 20 inches in height and mature to a nice mounded shape.

Annuals: Begonias

Begonias are another old favorite that are readily available at most retailers. I prefer to use Dragon Wing™ varieties for their graceful arching appearance and glossy leaves. They bloom in pink and red and can get up to 16 inches tall. Begonias are one of the toughest annuals and can tolerate occasional neglect. They require no deadheading and can also be used in full sun (with more water). Deer will occasionally munch on them, but Begonias are generally a safe choice for areas with deer problems.

I also love Rex Begonias for their amazing leaf patterns and colors. Most retailers carry at least one variety of Rex Begonia, but look for online retailers if you want more options. Some of the leaves will blow you away!

Coleus

I love Coleus! This plant comes in a truly amazing variety of colors and leaf patterns. I’m serious, do an image search for Coleus online, and you will be amazed at the number of results! This plant is all about foliage, so much so that it’s best to remove the flowers, which are unremarkable, to keep the plant’s energy focused on leaf development. Most retailers will carry a few varieties of Coleus, but if you want specific colors, it’s best to order seeds or plants from a catalog or online. In addition to color and leaf pattern, Coleus comes in a range of sizes, from vining to 36 inches tall. They respond well to pruning and are easy to keep in shape. I should mention that I am not a fan of the Kong™ varieties of Coleus; they have just never performed as well as any other variety I’ve tried. Deer and rabbits will both chew on Coleus.

Lysimachia (Golden Creeping Jenny)

This is an excellent draping foliage plant for shade containers. I love the chartreuse color, especially when combined with a chartreuse Coleus and another annual flower in a mixed container. This bright green will really brighten up any shady corner! Be warned, Lysimachia is well-behaved in containers, but will run rampant if allowed to spread in the ground. Because of its invasive nature, keep it trimmed so that it doesn’t touch the ground and root.

Annuals: Sprengeri (Asparagus Fern)

Asparagus Ferns are tough as nails and are great for adding a loosely trailing element to any container. Grown for its frond-like foliage of small green leaves, it brings a delicate airy touch to combination planters. Asparagus ferns root aggressively in containers, I always end up cursing when trying to remove it at the end of the season, but then use it again next year! I also really like the Foxtail variety of Asparagus Fern. Its fronds are more tightly rounded and it is gorgeous in a pot all by itself.

Sweet Potato Vine

Sweet Potato Vines are lush trailing plants that often outshine the other plants in a mixed container. To combat this effect, use larger annuals like Dragon Wing™ Begonias that can balance the visual weight of the Sweet Potato Vine. That being said, I love these plants for their vigor and bold colors. Grown for their colorful foliage, the most readily available colors are chartreuse and purple. There is also a variegated green, white, and pink variety as well as varieties with deeply lobed leaves. Don’t be afraid to trim the vines back if they become unruly. Deer like to munch on the leaves of Sweet Potato Vines.

Well, those are my favorite, perhaps unadventurous, but tried and true performers in the shade.