Damon Mcknight
Australia is home to a wide variety of shade-loving plants, from wildflowers to shrubs and ferns. These plants thrive in low-light environments, adding texture and colour to gardens across the country. Some of the most popular shade-loving plants in Australia include the Rhapis palm, devil's ivy, bird's nest ferns, and the New Zealand Rock Lily. For those looking for bright colours to illuminate their shady gardens, hostas, coleus, and heuchera offer a range of shades from scarlet to fuchsia to lime. With the right care and conditions, these plants can transform any dimly lit spot into a vibrant oasis.
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What You'll Learn
- Ground cover plants, e.g. Mondo grass, fan flower, creeping boobialla
- Climbing plants, e.g. Ivy, native hardenbergia, star jasmine
- Ornamental foliage, e.g. Calathea, bromeliads
- Wildflower seeds, e.g. Hardy Meadow Garden Seed Mix, Trailing Lobelia, Candytuft
- Full-shade flowers, e.g. Wood Forget-Me-Not, Dame's Rocket, Marigolds
Ground cover plants, e.g. Mondo grass, fan flower, creeping boobialla
Ground cover plants are an excellent choice for shade gardens, as they are low-maintenance and keep weeds at bay. Here are some ground cover plants that grow well in Australian conditions:
Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Mondo grass is a popular choice for shade gardens due to its attractive, grass-like appearance and ease of care. It grows well in shady spots and is hardy in Zones 6-10. Mondo grass forms dense tufts that slowly spread over time, requiring no mowing. It is also not picky about light exposure and can tolerate full sun to shade. However, it is important to note that it is not drought-tolerant and requires consistent moisture.
Fan Flower (Scaevola)
Fan flower, or Scaevola, is a tough and impressive ground cover known for its drought tolerance and nonstop blooms from spring to fall. It is perfect for containers, beds, ground cover, and cut flower arrangements. Fan flowers are self-cleaning, making deadheading unnecessary, and they attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. They require at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily and well-drained soil but are not particular about soil type or pH.
Creeping Boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium)
Creeping Boobialla is a fast-growing, dense, evergreen ground cover native to Australia. It has narrow, dark green leaves and produces delicate white or pink flowers with a sweet fragrance in spring and summer. This plant is valued for its drought tolerance, weed suppression, and ability to thrive in coastal and arid environments. It is low-maintenance and will tolerate salt spray, drought, and light frost once established. Creeping Boobialla thrives in full sun but can tolerate light shade, making it a versatile choice for Australian gardens.
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Climbing plants, e.g. Ivy, native hardenbergia, star jasmine
Climbing plants are a great way to beautify fences and pergolas, and can be trained to twine through various structures. They are also useful for adding privacy to an area where a shrub may not be suitable.
Some of the best climbing plants for shade in Australia include ivy, native hardenbergia, and star jasmine.
Ivy is a self-clinging climber that is very vigorous and can be used to create a green screen on an unsightly wall. Grape ivies (Cissus species) are superb plants for shady areas, with their glossy, deep green foliage. The kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica) is a type of grape ivy with particularly ornamental foliage that has even made it a popular indoor plant. Another type of ivy that grows well in the shade is the Virginia creeper.
Native hardenbergia (Australian sarsaparilla) is a fast-growing native climber with pea-shaped clusters of flowers in winter and spring that are loved by birds and butterflies. It is a low-maintenance climbing plant that will quickly cover fences, trellises, and other supports.
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a fragrant climbing plant with delicate white flowers. It can climb over supports and cling to walls, fences, pergolas, and hard surfaces. It is a relatively low-maintenance plant but can become weedy and may need ruthless pruning. While it can grow in partial shade, it will grow more slowly and produce fewer flowers.
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Ornamental foliage, e.g. Calathea, bromeliads
Calathea is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Marantaceae. They are commonly called prayer plants due to their unique daily leaf movement, called nyctinasty. The leaves fold up at night and unfurl in the morning. Native to the tropical Americas, they are known for their captivating foliage and air-purifying properties. They are low-maintenance plants that require medium but indirect light, moist soil, high humidity, and warm temperatures to thrive. Their leaves are often variegated with bright colours such as pink, orange, red, and white, while the undersides are frequently purple. They are sensitive to minerals in tap water and require well-drained, acidic soil.
Bromeliads are slow-growing plants with attractive foliage that can be grown as houseplants or outdoors in tropical and subtropical climates. They are drought-tolerant and can be planted in shady spots, but their leaves tear easily in the wind. They should be fertilised frequently with diluted, water-soluble fertiliser. The leaves may be solid, striped, or banded in various colours, and some varieties have silvery-grey scales. They are either terrestrial or epiphytic, with the latter surviving by clinging to trees or other supports.
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Wildflower seeds, e.g. Hardy Meadow Garden Seed Mix, Trailing Lobelia, Candytuft
Wildflower seeds are a great way to create a vibrant and colourful garden in Australia. Here are some options to consider:
Hardy Meadow Garden Seed Mix
This seed mix contains a variety of annual and perennial plants native to Australia, including Marigold, Flax, Rudbeckia, Thyme, Yellow Chamomile, and Blue Glow Globe. With just one gram of this mix, you can expect around 700 to 800 seeds, depending on the variety. This mix is perfect for creating a stunning wildflower meadow that will bloom year after year, even in tough Australian conditions.
Trailing Lobelia
Lobelia is a vibrant and colourful addition to any backyard and is easy to grow. It originates mainly from the temperate regions of the Americas, Africa, and some perennial species indigenous to Australia. Lobelia typically forms low mounds covered in flowers, with shades of blue, purple, red, pink, and white. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, and the soil should be well-drained, humus-rich, and organic while also retaining moisture. Annual lobelia varieties can even survive light frosts.
Candytuft
Candytuft flowers, also known as Iberis sempervirens, are aesthetically pleasing and perfect for covering walls, hanging baskets, or draping over tall, bloomless stems of other flowers such as zinnia, cosmos, and evening primrose. They can be grown from seeds or cuttings, with seeds sown directly into flower beds when the soil has warmed to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius). Softwood cuttings during midsummer can also propagate more candytuft flowers.
In addition to these wildflower options, there are other shade-loving plants that can thrive in Australian gardens. These include vines and climbing plants such as ivy (hedera) and star jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides), as well as groundcovers like fan flower (Scaevola) and Australian native violet (Viola hederacea). For bright colours, consider hostas, coleus, and heuchera, which come in a range of shades from scarlet to fuchsia to lime.
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Full-shade flowers, e.g. Wood Forget-Me-Not, Dame's Rocket, Marigolds
Forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica) are a low-maintenance flower that grows well in full sun or partial shade. They are a short-lived perennial, usually grown as a biennial, and produce classic blue flowers in late spring. Forget-me-nots thrive in moist, but not waterlogged, soil and can be grown from seeds or bought as plug plants.
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a flowering plant species native to southern Europe and Eurasia and has been introduced to many other parts of the world. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial that grows up to 100 cm tall with multiple upright, hairy stems. Dame's rocket grows well in full sun to partial shade and is often found in roadside ditches, dumps, and open woodland settings. It has a strong fragrance that becomes more noticeable in the evening.
Marigolds are native to Central America and Mexico and are low-maintenance plants that thrive in full sun locations. They come in three main types: French, African, and Signet. Marigolds can be grown from seeds or bought as transplants, and they require full sun all day to produce blooms all season. They are popular around the world due to their ease of growth and ability to repel pests with their distinct odour.
These three flower varieties can add colour and fragrance to gardens with full or partial shade, providing a diverse and vibrant display.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many plants that grow in the shade in Australia, including the Rhapis palm, devil's ivy, bird's nest ferns, New Zealand rock lily, and wildflowers like wood forget-me-nots, dame's rocket, and yarrow.
Some flowering plants that grow in the shade in Australia include hydrangeas, azaleas, rhododendrons, clivia, and impatiens.
False Goat's Beard, mondo grass, creeping boobialla, and Australian native violet are all low-maintenance plants that grow well in shaded areas.
Yes, the Oakleaf Hydrangea and New Zealand Rock Lily are both shade-loving plants that are also drought-tolerant.
Shade-loving plants in Australia require soil with good drainage to prevent waterlogging. It's important to consistently water these plants but avoid overwatering as shaded spots tend to retain more moisture. Using mulch and fertiliser can also help promote growth.
