Create A Beautiful Fall Landscape That's Perfect For Shaded Areas Of Your Yard

Having shady spots in your yard doesn't mean you have to miss out on fall color. There are some beautiful flowers and foliage that you can bring into your yard to liven things up when the weather gets colder. To create a fall landscape in the shadier areas of your yard, there are a few things to consider to ensure that the plants you incorporate thrive. Firstly, reflect on how shady the spot is. Is it in full shade, with no sun at all? Or, does it get morning sun or dappled shade? Certain plants do well in full shade, but others prefer partial shade. 

You should also consider your climate and weather conditions. If you want your fall landscaping to return year after year, it is essential to select perennial plants that are winter hardy in your USDA Hardiness Zone. Consider how rainy or dry your yard is, and what plants are suitable. For example, if you live in a hot climate with little rain, opt for drought-resistant plants that will thrive without much water. Have a think about your soil, too, and make sure you pick plants that will be happy with the type of soil you have. 

If you want to bring fall landscaping into an area with full shade, there are some great varieties of coral bells (Heuchera spp) that add texture and foliage to otherwise dull garden beds. From the deep colors of Palace Purple (Heuchera 'Palace Purple') to the pink tones of Berry Smoothie (Heuchera 'Berry Smoothie'), coral bells bring some wonderful hues into your fall garden. As a fast-growing shade plant, coral bells are an iconic fall landscaping choice. 

When it comes to fall bloomers for the shade, the intriguing Japanese toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta), the native wildflower zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis), and the dainty white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) make for wonderful perennial choices. White wood asters are pretty low-maintenance and can happily grow in medium to dry, well-drained soil. Similarly, the zigzag goldenrod can tolerate dry soils when it has established itself. The Japanese toad lily requires a bit more attention, needing constant moisture and high organic matter in the soil. However, their wonderful, spotty blooms are well worth it and would look great dotted amongst the beautiful leaves of coral bells. 

When it comes to partial shade, there are so many fantastic options for fall landscaping. For foliage and texture, ferns are a great choice. The evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) will add rich green colors to your fall garden throughout the season. The northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) also stays bright well into the fall. The Christmas fern prefers drier areas, whereas the northern maidenhair fern enjoys a moist environment. 

The best plants to grow in partial shade for fall landscaping include blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis), and bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii). These flowers all prefer moist, well-drained soils that do not dry out. However, bottle gentian does not do well in warmer, humid climates. Growing up to 3 feet, blue mistflower matches the height of the ferns, with its fluffy flowers bringing brilliant dots of color into the foliage. The other two flowers are smaller, creating a carpet of color on your garden bed during the fall months.