Smart and Sensational Design Ideas for Shade Gardens (2024)

Gardening

Gardening Basics

• 01 of 15

  Notting Hill Rooftop

  

  A roof terrace in the London neighborhood of Notting Hill (yes, that Notting Hill)is undeniably charming but limited on space. With that in mind, look for vertical space—on walls, trees, and anything that can climb upward.Adolfo Harrison Gardensof London designed a private, modern space with hardwood decking, mature grapevines pruned and trained into trees, and other shade/sun-tolerant plants. Although Harrison says the area is in the sun, it is London, which sees its share of rainy and overcast days.

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• 02 of 15

  Tropical in Sydney

  

  Tall palm trees create shade in this private spot of a property found in Sydney, Australia, designed bySecret Gardens. The shade-tolerant plants beneath the palms include Blechnum 'Silver Lady,' Heliconia 'Red Christmas,'Alpinia nutans, Strelitzia nicholai, and Costus 'Red Tower.'

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• 03 of 15

  Monochromatic Beauty

  

  Bliss Garden Designcreated a lush space with many shades of green andvarious textures for this Bainbridge Island property in Washington. Some of the species used includeAcorus gramineus 'Ogon,'Brunnera macrophylla'Jack Frost,' and Polystichum polyblepharum.

  See Also

  Shade garden ideas: 14 gorgeous designs to transform the shadowy spots in your plot

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• 04 of 15

  Hanging Gardens of Toorak

  

  Instead of outdoor drapes for privacy,Eckersley Garden Architectureplanted a curtain of Virginia creeper to create a shady and secluded outdoor dining room for a home in Toorak, which is asuburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Thegardenis sunny in winter and shady in summer and has lots of deciduous planting.

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• 05 of 15

  Side Yard Serenity

  

  Space is at a premium in densely populated Southern California, so you might want to reconsider outdoor areas like side yards if your property is limited.Debora Carl Landscape Designtransformed a neglected side yard into a charming gravel getaway at this lovely home in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, near San Diego.

  A vessel fountain creates a focal point, movement, and sound in the space. White impatiens brighten up the spot, along with the purple spikes of Liriope muscari 'Big Blue.' That drought-tolerant, shade-loving vine is creeping fig (Ficus pumila), which likes to attach itself to fences and walls.

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• 06 of 15

  Colorful Foliage

  

  Sure, flowers add color to any landscape. But plants with colorful leaves retain their color longer—pretty much throughout their growing seasons or lifetimes. For a Clappentail Park property in Dorset, England, Alice Meacham Garden Design used a variety of plants with colorful foliage such as Sacrococca, Heuchera, Allium 'Purple Sensation,'Euphorbia wulfenii, Spirea waterii, and Cotinus 'Royal Purple.'

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• 07 of 15

  Big Blossoms

  

  A property in San Diego County with lots of outdoor space flows beautifully from front to back with winding granite pathways. Designed byTorrey Pines Landscape Company, this shady spot gets pops of color from flowering hydrangea,Breynia nivosa, Trachelospermum jasmine, Liriope giganta, Begonia richmondensis, allaccented by Cassia leptophlly trees.

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• 08 of 15

  Santa Fe Respite

  

  Yes, a garden can be in semi-shade but still be hot. A deep and narrow garden in Santa Fe, New Mexico, became an irresistible outdoor room.Mark Designtransformedit in just four months. Since it gets hot in the summer, Mark hung a 14 x 14-foot shade sail canopy over a raised flagstone patio to make dining and relaxing more comfortable. Taking advantage of vertical space, he installed a hanging succulent planter on the red-orange wall. Succulents are drought tolerant and are fine in shade, especially during the summer.

  That lush-looking lawn is artificial turf. To cool things off, Mark constructed a stone fountain with water that pools at the top and rolls down the boulder. Plants used in borders and beds include coral bells, columbine, Japanese maple, and a blue spruce pine tree. That's an English ivy scaling the walls.

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• 09 of 15

  Elements of an Asian Garden

  

  During their world travels, the homeowners of this property in Santa Barbara, California, collected an assortment of garden ornaments and objects which they hoped could be incorporated into a new landscape design.

  One of the biggest challenges forGrace Design Associatesin creating this Asian garden was proportion and scale: artistically using various-sized statuary and hardscape elements in a 40 x 80-foot outdoor space. The objects the design firm worked with include a 6-foot-high Buddha, a 1,500-pound stone urn, and a prayer bell. Trees and plants were chosen and carefully placed to provide balance and counterweight to the ornaments and statues in the garden. Shade-tolerant plants include Korean grass, papyrus, and Japanese maples.

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• 10 of 15

  Norfolk Country Garden

  

  Starting with a blank slate,Karena Batstonecreated a series of garden rooms for this property in Norfolk, England. Assisted byTom Stuart Smith, Batstone added walkways, an ironwork ambulatory, a sunken pond surrounded by yew hedges, wildflowers, and more. Mature trees and English overcast days create a need for shade-tolerant plants.

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• 11 of 15

  Lazy Terrace

  

  A large estate in Greenville, South Carolina, has many mature trees that create much-needed shade during the hot summer months. For this shady side terrace,The Collins Group, Inc.used stone pavers planted with vivid green Mazus. Other plants include mondo grass andautumn ferns. The blue and green chairs bring bright colors to the space.

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• 12 of 15

  Greek Revival Mod

  

  An 1840s-built Greek Revival brownstone in New York is modern on the inside, with artwork from Dali, Gaudi, Armani, and Versace. Axis Mundi Designcontinued that modern vibe to the semi-shady outdoor terrace. Although it's paved in old-world Belgian cobblestones, the surface looks contemporary with a teak fence and electric orange and red Paola Lenti (Karkula) chairs. Hydrangeas are among the shade-tolerant trees and shrubs. Also on the design team:John Beckmann and Richard Rosenbloom.

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• 13 of 15

  Shed in Shade

  

  A rustic property in Portland, Maine, created by Atmoscaper Designincludes a shed and wooden containers filled with shade-tolerant vegetables and herbs, including Russian kale,which prefers light shade during hot weather.

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• 14 of 15

  Serenity

  

  A peaceful yard with a clear blue pool in Devon, Pennsylvania, is surrounded by established tall and wide trees that create canopies of shade. Designed byTexada Landscaping, the formal design includes hostas and ferns.

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• 15 of 15

  Shady Path

  

  A winding, edged gravel path travels through the yard of this home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Designed byW. J'Nell Bryson Landscape Architect, shady borders and beds include lettuces, which prefer less sun in the summer.