Buzz
Image: Getty ImagesDo you dream of a garden brimming with vivid blooming flowers, but your backyard or patio lacks abundant sunlight? No need to worry—your garden vision can still come true. The secret is knowing which varieties to plant. Fortunately, shade-tolerant annuals are the perfect solution.
A great way to design with these flowers is to choose a color scheme and then preserve the greenery after the blooms fade. “You can plan a sweeping display of stunning colors that occasionally merge into one another,” suggests Bouquet Box's founder Courtney Sixx. “Start with whites, soft pinks, purples, blues, yellows, and consider seasonal themes like July 4th, Easter pastels, or even special colors for birthdays and other celebrations.”
Not sure where to begin? Here are four shade-loving annuals that will brighten up your garden.
Image Source: Getty ImagesImpatiens
Kaylyn Hewitt, the lead floral designer and senior content manager at The Bouqs, shares that impatiens are her top choice for shade-tolerant annuals. “I adore how they flourish in window boxes, trailing beautifully and adding a burst of color to any garden.”
If you have a compact garden or are growing plants on a city balcony, impatiens are a great choice and likely to thrive.
Photo: Getty ImagesBalsam
Michael O’Brien, a plant artist and landscape designer at Hommes + Gardens, shares that balsam is an excellent option. “Balsam stands out for its ability to add height and variety while attracting helpful pollinators like hummingbirds and bees. Planted in a shady spot near your vegetable garden, it not only beautifies the area but also helps pollinate your vegetables.”
To keep its vibrant blooms in the spotlight, he recommends regularly trimming away any obstructing leaves as part of your care routine. “Balsam's self-seeding nature allows it to thrive with minimal interference, offering a colorful display year after year. Opt for varieties in bold colors like deep pink, purple, and white,” he suggests.
Photo: Getty ImagesViolas
O’Brien loves violas for their beautiful range of bi-colored flowers, such as purple and yellow, blue and white, or even red and orange. “They thrive in partial to full shade and continue to bloom from late spring until fall, outlasting many other annuals that struggle in shady spots as autumn sets in,” he explains.
If their beauty alone isn't enough reason to plant viola seeds, these stunning flowers are also edible. Add a pop of color to your cakes and salads this summer with these vibrant blooms—you won’t regret it.
Just remember, these flowers do require some upkeep. “Regular deadheading, along with a balanced fertilizer application every four to six weeks during the growing season, will encourage continuous blooming and healthy growth,” advises O’Brien.
Photo: Getty ImagesRex Begonias
O’Brien recommends rex begonias as a must-have for any garden, thanks to their stunning variety of leaf colors, patterns, and textures. “From bold hues of silver, green, pink, and burgundy to intricate patterns like spirals, swirls, and spots, these begonias provide endless ways to enhance the beauty of any garden. While they sometimes produce small, subtle clusters of flowers in pink, white, or red, it’s really the foliage that steals the show year-round,” he says.
To keep their beauty intact during the colder months indoors, O’Brien suggests transplanting rex begonias into pots. “Fertilize lightly with a balanced liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks during the growing season to promote healthy foliage growth and overall well-being,” he advises.
