Flowering plants that thrive in shady areas are not at all difficult to find if you know what to look for. They are basically those plants that have a tendency to thrive where the sunlight is minimal.

The world in itself is a huge symbiosis where all the living beings thrive and have a harmonic dependence on each other. Same is the case with a simple garden. There are several types of plants present in a flowering garden which have different sizes and varied growing patterns. In your garden itself you would find many different plants grouped together. In a well-groomed garden you would always find flowering plants or different adaptations of flowering plants, growing, thriving and blooming in the shade of larger plants. At times these plants that grow in the shady areas, under the protection of much bigger and denser trees, seek refuge under the coolness of the shade in order to protect their beautiful and delicate flowers.

Before we start discussing them, let us have a look at the different characteristics of soils in which these flowering plants grow.

The first type of soil is the basic damp or moist soil that found in the shade of larger trees. This soil is extremely favorable for the growth of smaller plants that need more water and moisture and tend to have a delicate set of flowers. The second type is the dry type of soil that is found in the shadow of large structures and buildings. This type of soil is better for plants like medium-sized trees and the shrubs that usually do not require a large amount of soil.

Along with the types of soil another very important factor that has to be considered is the amount of shade and sunlight that is observed on the location where the plant is to be planted. Most flowering plants thrive in an area where there is a small amount of shade available during the day. On the other hand, there are also some types of plants which thrive only in total shade and cannot sustain the intense heat of the sun. Such plants that do not survive the heat of the sun are often used as hanging plants.

Garden plants can be broadly classified into 3 basic types namely; flowering plants, flowering trees and flowering shrubs that you can easily plant in your garden. The size goes on increasing with the age of the plants. Hence, you have to be particularly careful while selecting the plant specimen and the location while planting it in a shaded area. Here are few examples with characteristics of flowering plants.

These plants are basically small flowering plants that have a small height and also require a lot of care. In addition to the given list, you may also consider some of the container flowering plants if you want to keep some on your window sills.

1. Viola: First on the list is Viola. In reality, the Viola is a genus that has about 400 to 500 species. It basically has many different variety of species and cultivars that would go very well in your garden. The leaves of this plant are heart-shaped and scalloped-shaped. The flowers of these plants are usually made of five petals and the color of the petals depends upon the species and cultivar. After the flowering process is complete, the fruit capsules off this plant, thus completing the reproduction process.
2. Anemone blanda blue: Also known as the winter windflower blue, this is another very pleasant-looking plant that belongs to the anemone genus. The flowering period of this plant is from March to April and it has an excellent growth in partial shade. The daisy-like flowers of this plant display a very beautiful shade between blue and purple.
3. Aquilegia crimson star: The Aquilegia crimson star or the Granny's Bonnet is another very brilliant flowering plant that enjoys the protection of shade. This plant requires a very good moist and swell developed soil. It has an average rate of growth and flowers between May to June.
4. Cyclamen hederifolium: The Cyclamen hederifolium is another plant that tends to produce very attractive shade of flowers that range from light pink to purple. One must note that this plant is pretty delicate and cannot withstand the harsh rays of the sun. The flowering season of this plant is also very unique and it ranges from October to January.

Flowering Shrubs

Flowering shrubs grow up to medium height and also tend to thrive very well in the shady areas. Among all the common flowering plants, you would also find that these shrubs have a really calming effect when they are planted in gloomy corners.

1. Crimson and Gold: This is a very good flowering shrub that you can plant in a shady area. It is an early flowering plant and has flowers blooming on it from March to May. It thrives very well in partial or complete shade and has an average rate of growth. Its best feature is that it grows very well in a less fertile soil.
2. Mountain Flame: The second shrub that I would like to recommend is the Mountain Flame. This shrub requires a fertile and humus rich soil to grow and is also a very slow-growing one. Hence, if you plant and take care of it then it would be a lot of time before you reap the fruits (or rather the flowers) of your efforts. The flowering season of this plant spans between April to May, which is rather short.
3. Nivalis: The Nivalis is also another very interesting shrub that thrives very well in the time period between March to May. The growth rate of this shrub is average and it grows very well in a moderately fertile oil. The flowers of this shrub tend to give off a rather heavenly aroma that often engulfs the garden.
4. Flaming Silver: Another very brilliant flowering shrub that I would like to recommend is the Flaming Silver. Though this shrub is slow-growing, it bears very brilliant flowers during the months of April and May. This shrub is an evergreen and is thus lively throughout the year.

Flowering Trees

In the evolution of the flowering plants, we must not forget the flowering trees that bless the ground with a blanket of beautiful flowers that they shed.

1. Cercidiphyllum japonicum: Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a very interesting tree that you can plant in any shady corner of your garden. This tree has a brilliant growth rate and also has a range of red flowers. It thrives the best in a moist yet draining soil.
2. Variegata: This is a very peculiar tree that bears flowers in the month of June. It thrives really well in a deep and fertile soil.

It is advisable to plant the background piece and the centerpiece together. The background piece can be a tree or a large shrub and the centerpiece can be a simple and small flowering plant.

If you have sufficient space in your garden, then you can also have a shrub as a centerpiece and the flowering tree in the background. It is also important that you care for these flowering plants as they would definitely make your garden look more beautiful.