Almost every homeowner has an area that receives full shade. Even if your entire lawn receives full sun, there is that inevitable part lying to the north of your house, outbuilding, or other structures that remains shady most of the day.
While many gardeners are accustomed to thinking that plants won’t grow in these areas, the truth is that you can brighten that darker spot with shade-loving plants. There is a wide variety of shade-loving plants that do well in shadowed spots despite the seemingly inhospitable conditions.
If you have a shady area in your garden in Boise where you wish to add texture and life, this post will cover a range of plants that relish shades.
When picking plants to grow, always keep in mind that Boise, Idaho is in the USDA plant hardiness zones 6b and 7a, where the lowest expected temperatures are -5˚F to 0˚F and 0˚F to 5˚F, respectively.
You want only to plant varieties that do well in your specific zone. The city has a semi-arid continental climate, so the plants in this post are suited for dry shades.
Shade plants for Boise Idaho
Shade plants are mainly grown for their attractive foliage and colorful flowers. For those living in the City of Trees, here are some easy-to-grow plants that thrive in the shade.”
1. Coral bells (Heuchera spp.)
Also known as alumroot, Heucheras are one of the most common plants for shady sites. They are moderately drought tolerant, which makes them a great option for homeowners who want to add deep vibrant color to the shadowy parts of their Boise gardens.
Although they bloom for a long time, showing off tall spikes of white or pink flowers, the wow factor is created by their multi-colored leaves. There seem to be endless variations of coral bell leaves’ colors, including chartreuse, salmon, rusty orange, purple-black, silvery, burgundy, and bronze.
2. Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Pearly Everlasting is a sturdy, undemanding wildflower native to Idaho. They are drought resistant and grow well in partial shade, and usually bloom into glowing, small white flowers with yellow centers, accounting for their “pearly” appearance.
What’s more, they have grayish, white foliage consisting of small fuzzy leaves.
3. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Foamflower is a cool-season shade-loving perennial hardy in USDA planting zones 5 to 9. Many gardeners love its showy, airy clouds of dainty white or pink flowers and delicate foliage found in several variegated colors, including green and red. The matte-textured leaves give the foliage a slightly more “natural” look.
It is an excellent option for adding a whimsical fairy look to shady areas of your Boise garden.
4. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Lady’s mantle is a long-lived and trouble-free perennial and will grow successfully in many conditions. It produces soft, fuzzy foliage consisting of scalloped-shaped leaves.
Your lady’s mantle plants will bloom into yellow-green flowers around early June. The flowers are a great choice for cut or dried floral arrangements.
5. Dead nettle (Lamium maculatum)
Dead nettle is a highly valued cold-hardy ground cover that is sure to add color to those unproductive bald spots in the shade. Both its flowers and foliage make a statement in the landscape.
Even in full shade, dead nettle plants show off their silvery foliage patterned green and white, then later in early summer blooms into white, red, pink, or purple flowers.
6. Birchleaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia)
This is an excellent small, rounded shrub that grows well in part shade, reaching a height of about 3 to 4 feet. It blooms into small clusters of white flowers and delivers multi-season interest.
Birchleaf Spirea’s foliage remains dark green in spring through summer, then warms up to glowing orange, orange, and purple colors as fall rolls around, adding sparkle to that shady spot on your lawn.
7. Astilbe
Astilbe is a beautiful, low-maintenance perennial that thrives in shade and moist soil. Many new varieties have showy foliage, but they are mainly grown for their impressive and colorful flower plumes.
You can find varieties with bronze, blue-green, wine red, or pale green foliages. For the most impressive results, you can mix varieties with varying height, foliage colors, and blooms times.
Shade plants for Boise Idaho: Conclusion
Boise, located in Southwest Idaho, sees relatively longer and hotter summers. However, this doesn’t impede how you can add beautiful flowers and shrubs to the unproductive shady areas of your garden.
For the best result with shade plants, you can mix perennials and enjoy almost year-round beauty.
Related Article: North Idaho Wildflowers