When springtime rolls around, finding the coolest plants moves to the top of my priority list. I look back at the photos I’ve taken of the plants in my garden that have thrived through the summer. I look for inspiration online and in books and catalogs. And I compile a loosely-observed list of shade-loving plants for my outdoor containers.

The term “shade” is relative. It can mean anything from a sunless but bright location to a spot with two or three hours of direct sun. As the summer heats up, the wind plays a role. Check shaded containers that get a lot of wind often for moisture needs.

Shady Container Tips:

1. Remember, if you’re planting in containers, you can move the whole kit-and-caboodle if it doesn’t thrive in its original location.
2. Determine where you’ll be viewing your creation. If your planter is serving as a front-of-the-house accent to be viewed from a distance, consider large-leaved plants like Hostas, or one of the large coleus varieties. Planters staged in your favorite beverage-sipping spot might be filled with delicately detailed bloomers like begonias or impatiens.
3. Even sun-lovers appreciate some shade when they’re first planted, especially if the day is a scorcher.
4. If you’re not sure how much sun a plant will like, start it out in the shadiest spot and then try moving it gradually to a sunnier location. Plants like Coleus become more colorful and even shade-loving Fuchsia will flower better if given a bit of sun.
5. If you grow houseplants, consider those that like as much natural light as possible—those are the ones that will thrive outdoors in shade, and might gradually be moved into a sunnier spot.