Plan to add some green patches to your porch but realize that it’s not the full sun? Don’t worry, aside from many plants that love sunlight, there are lots of flowers and trees thriving healthily in shaded spots, which I’m going to tell you right now.
Below are the 7 best plants growing well on a shaded porch:
Flowering Porch Plants
Toad Lily
This is a member of the lily family. Its flowers are commonly on the cultivar of the plant, either in bell or star shape based on specific varieties, and bloom in a range of spotted colors. It normally blooms in autumn.
It can reach two to three feet in height.
As it’s simple to care for, toad lily is perfect for beginner gardeners. The only thing you should make sure of while caring for them is soil, which should be organic, humusy, and moist. Besides, feed it with weak organic fertilizer or liquid food.
Bleeding Heart
This shade-loving flower plant stands out from the rest for its eye-catching heart-shaped flowers borne on arching stems. They normally bloom in spring, might be in solid white, white, or pink, aside from attractive bluish-green foliage.
Another fact about Bleeding Heart is that they’re an herbaceous perennial. They emerge in the spring and die back in the summer.
To care for this shaded porch plant, remember to always keep its soil moist. Fertilizing compost into the area before planting Bleeding hearts will help provide enough nutrients for them as well as remain moist in the soil.
Spotted Dead Nettles
If you intend to cover your shaded porch with a plant, Spotted Dead Nettles are a shining contender because of their possible invasiveness.
With no extra effort on your part, the plant can easily spread from here to there and establish. They’re known as an easy-to-grow flowering plant with high condition tolerance and adoption to various soil types, such as lightly clayed, loamy, and sandy soils.
They can grow happily in both dried and moist soils, however, Spotted Dead Nettles might die back in the summer if not watering properly.
Besides, the soil should be well-draining.
Violets
There are roughly 400 violet varieties out there, known for high tolerance to various soil types and different conditions – whether in sunny locations or light shade. You can grow them in early spring and fall and they would grow best in moist, well-draining soil with rich nutrients.
Like most violas, they bloom from late winter or early spring to the summer, as long as the temp is increased.
The key element for violets to grow happily is an appropriate watering schedule.
To know if it’s time to water your plants, feel the top of the soil. For the best results, let your violets dry to the touch between each watering.
Under proper care and maintenance, violets can last up to 50 years, according to the Bay State African Violet Society.
Larger Porch Plants
Dwarf Arborvitae
While Arborvitae is commonly found in the landscape as hedge material, it can be grown in a pot. Of course, like most large plants, it requires some special care to grow happily on a shaded porch. Stick to varieties of "Emerald Green" arborvitae if you like something in a compact size.
The pot for it should be durable (as the average life expectancy of Emerald Green Arborvitae is up to 50 years) and large (at least 20-gallon capacity).
This plant loves full sun but it still thrives well in partial shade.
Just make sure to provide it with high-quality potting soil containing vermiculite or perlite for drainage improvement and moisture enhancement.
Besides, don’t forget to water it regularly and fertilize every four weeks during the growing season (using water-soluble, all-purpose fertilizer for the best results).
Japanese Maple
The slow rate of growth and modest stature makes Japanese maple a fantastic option to grow in a pot.
While there is a wide range of Japanese maple varieties, it’s best to go for those that grow to 10’ or shorter. Choosing an appropriate pot for it is essential. You shouldn’t pick a too-large planter at first because it usually causes health issues for your plant.
Instead, select a size that is twice bigger than the rootball size. The pot should have great drainage capabilities as well.
One thing that you should keep in mind is that although Japanese maple is known for great cold tolerance, that’s just true if they’re planted on the ground. In a pot, as they don’t have the root protection, that capability is decreased significantly.
If your living area suffers frost-bite cold during the winter, it’s important to move the plant inside for the best protection.
Japanese Forest Grass
This is an elegant member of the Hakonechloa family.
They are easy to care for, grow slowly, and thrive well in partially shaded areas, which makes them a shining candidate for this list. There’s an avalanche of varieties, meaning that you’ve got lots of size and color options to choose from.
Prior to growing Japanese forest grass, you should choose a container/pot that has a great drainage system because this plant can’t tolerate boggy conditions.
However, it requires consistent moisture so make sure to water the plant regularly. Spread a mulch around the base for the best moisture retention.
Conclusion
Now, you’ve learned about what plants grow well on a shaded porch. What do you think about this article of mine? Is it helpful and satisfying for you? Let me know in the comment section down below.
