Six perennials that like deep shade:

1. Deinanthe caerulea comes from the cool, shady woodlands of China. Be sure to put it where you can see it up close, as you’ll want to get a look at its down-facing flowers with deep purple stamens surrounded by lavender petals.
2. Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow Waxbells) stands quietly in the background, forgotten until its foliage begins to look like huge maple leaves. Its blooms won’t disappoint either—from plump, waxy buds to the bright yellow bell-like blossoms this shade-lover will brighten up your September garden.
3. Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’ has some serious presence, considering its easy care. Perhaps that’s why it received the Perennial Plant Association’s 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year award. Its stems come up out of nowhere and grow taller by the day until they start to unfurl into bi-colored leaves.
4. It’s the flashiest native plant you can grow in the shade, blooming with bright red trumpet flowers, often twice per season. Spigelia marilandica, which is also called Indian pink, is a woodland plant, and prefers a loose loamy soil.
5. Vancouveria hexandra looks fresh all summer long, showing up in late spring with leaves like a duck’s foot in yellowish-green. As the leaves deepen in color, tiny white flowers dance above the foliage on wiry stems. It’s called inside-out flower, so they’re worth a close look.
6. If it weren’t for the silvery leaves of Viola walteri ‘Silver Gem’, the spot at the base of the conifer would be seriously problematic. The tiny purple blooms are cute, but it’s the silver and green-veined leaves with purple undersides that make it a great plant. It spreads very slowly, choking out weeds and undesirables.

Let a few of these shade-lovers darken your doorstep this spring. They’ll go a long way to color up your shady world.