7 Shade-Loving Flowers To Start From Seed Now For A Stunning Summer Garden

Add color and creativity to shady corners of a garden or patio that would otherwise feel lonely and lifeless. We may think these low-light places are dominated by ho-hum bushes and drab green groundcovers. However, there are dozens of annuals and perennials that thrive where light is limited. Their glowing colors illuminate these darker spaces, creating inviting places to explore in your garden. Maybe you’ll even create a new shade-covered space for warm-weather entertaining.

Many of the best flowers for shade can be grown from seeds at home. Getting a jump on their establishment is simple enough by starting seeds indoors in late winter or early spring. This preparation will provide plentiful small plants with strong roots for planting out once spring’s warmer weather arrives.

Whether you’re new to gardening or a veteran full-sun flower grower looking to conquer a dappled corner, our shade-loving flower choices will brighten your day.

1. Astilbe

Want to add brightness and texture to a dimly lit garden in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9? Try growing astilbe! With their plume-like clusters of tiny, feathery flowers in shades of pink, white, red, and lavender, astilbe lend a soft and colorful contrast to their darker, leafy surroundings.

Astilbe thrive in moist shade areas and their blooms last throughout the summer. Their fern-like foliage also adds visual interest even when the flowers aren’t in bloom, making them a great choice for perennial shade gardens.

Start your astilbe garden in mid-winter by sowing seeds indoors on top of a seed-starting mix. The seeds need light for germination, which can take up to 4 to 6 weeks.

2. Cosmos

Cosmos are some of the cheeriest blooms in the garden. In shades of pink, white, red, and purple, they are striking additions to any border. Growing cosmos in partial shade will provide a burst of color, as long as the area receives dappled sunlight. Their slightly cupped, daisy-like flowers and feathery foliage give the garden a light and airy feel. Cosmos are attractive to pollinators, so they help bring that added zest to your garden’s life.

The Sonata Mix Cosmos Flower Seeds, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, offers white, red, and lavender-pink blooms for summer-long color in the partial shade garden, or as lovely cut flowers to bring the outdoors in.

3. Begonia

There are several different types of begonias, the tender perennials known for the beauty and bold colors of both their flowers and foliage. Tuberous begonias are big and beautiful container-type plants with large, candy-colored double blooms, while the semperflorens – wax begonia – types are the workhorses of shady garden beds. Other types are grown for their patterned foliage or used as small shrubs in tropical climates.

Begonia seeds take close to three months to grow indoors before they are ready for the outdoors, but that’s okay because these tender plants appreciate warm days and nights. Begonia seeds need light to germinate, so simply scatter them on top of your germination tray’s seed-starting mix. Have patience with this one.

4. Delphiniums

Talk about stunning vertical color! Delphiniums are veritable tiki torches of vibrant blues, purples, pinks, and white for gardens in zones 3 to 7. Their blooms are densely packed along tall stalks, making them an effective addition to the back of a dappled border or along shaded garden walls. Although growing delphiniums is best in full-sun locations, the flowers will also thrive in partial shade, especially in cooler climates. As an added bonus, they are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Get a jump on bringing delphiniums’ vibrant color to your garden by starting seeds indoors this spring – although they may not flower until next summer. Sow into trays of moist, well-draining seed-starting mix, keep in a cool spot, and watch for sprouts in 2-3 weeks. The Gardening Know How Shop has seeds of Magic Mountain Mix Delphiniums, which includes an array of seeds of pink, blue, lavender, lilac and white blooms.

5. Columbine

Columbine flowers (Aquilegia sp.) are a wonderful addition of color to shade gardens, with their nodding blooms in shades of purple, pink, yellow, and blue. Their spurred petals and dainty appearance add a fairy-like look to spring gardens.

Columbines are perennial plants that thrive in partial shade in zones 3 to 9, making them perfect for adding a splash of color to areas where many other flowers struggle.

For winter or early spring sowing, add columbine seeds indoors in seed trays or small pots filled with well-draining soil. Lightly press the seeds into the surface, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist and cool. Look for green seedlings to sprout in two to four weeks.

6. Evening Primrose

Evening primrose, also known as Oenothera, add such a lovely touch of color to shade gardens in zones 5 to 8 with its delicate, cup-shaped blooms in shades of yellow, pink, and white.

This perennial plant typically prefers full sun, but some varieties can tolerate partial shade, with their bright flowers opening in the evening and on cloudy days to bring life to dim areas. Their blooms not only light up shaded gardens but also attract night pollinators like moths and have a pleasant fragrance. This plant is a triple threat!

It's simple to germinate these evening primrose seeds indoors in winter. Just provide a well-draining seed-starting mix and place in a warm, bright spot. Find seeds of the loveliest pink, low-mounding Evening Primrose in the Gardening Know How Shop.

7. Impatiens

Your shady spot will glow with all the color impatiens bring to a garden. The number of colors is uncountable – there are so many! Whites and light pinks shine even through the dimness of evening, and hot pinks, oranges and carmines can make a dark corner sparkle. Each bloom glows even more thanks to the mid- to dark-green backdrop of its tender leaves.

Have plenty of impatiens ready for spring by sowing your own seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before your region’s last frost. Use a standard seed-starting mix in trays and press the seeds onto the surface rather covering them. Expect to see the tiny sprouts emerge in two to three weeks.

Your Seed-Starting Setup

Get all the goods you need to start growing these shade lovers and other beautiful flower seeds at home (and don’t forget veggies, too!). You can find the following seed-starting essentials in the Gardening Know How Shop:

• Park’s Original 60-Cell Biodome with a vented humidity cover and sterile bio sponges.
• Standard Seedling Trays featuring eight spacious growing cells with air-pruning strips per tray.
• Seedling Tray Lids with Drip Irrigation to fit atop the Seedling Trays.
• Browse other seed-starting equipment and find the gear you need to get growing for spring.

This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.