Rock gardens are usually in the sun, which is why they are often planted with sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants such as grasses or shrubs. The choice of plants for rock gardens in the shade is somewhat limited, but there are quite a few grasses, perennials and shrubs that also thrive in the shade. Below is a list of the most beautiful shade plants for your stone bed.
Many sedge species also thrive in the shade
Shadow is not the same as shadow
Most plants can cope well with partial shade, even light shade is often still tolerable. It only becomes a problem when the plants get less than an hour of sun or no sun at all. Few plants like that. Below is a list of grasses, shrubs and perennials that tolerate both total shade and light shade or very little sunlight.
Shade-tolerant plants for the rock garden
In general, most plants whose names begin with "forest" tolerate shade well. These include, above all, native forest plants such as wild strawberries, ferns or forest stones. But since grasses and shrubs are often used in the rock garden, plants with a strong solitary character, you will find below a list of shade-tolerant ornamental grasses and shrubs for your rock garden.
If you want to add some color to your rock garden, you will find a list of shade-tolerant perennials here.
Shade-tolerant grasses for the stone bed
| ornamental grass | growth height | features |
|---|---|---|
| broad-headed grass | Up to 1m | Broad, dark spikes in autumn |
| Broadleaf sedge | Up to 30cm | Evergreen, broad leaves |
| Variegated Japan Sedge | Up to 30cm | periwinkle |
| Variegated sedge 'Snowline' | Up to 20cm | Evergreen, pretty foliage |
| Gold Sedge 'Evergold' | Up to 30cm | Evergreen, yellowish leaves |
| Hanging sedge | Up to 1m | periwinkle |
| Giant Chinese reed 'Aksel Olsen' | Up to 4m | Impressive solitary grass, beautiful autumn colours |
| shadow sedge | Up to 20cm | periwinkle |
| snow marble | Up to 40cm | Graceful grass with white flowers, evergreen |
| Sedge 'The Beatles' | Up to 20cm | Evergreen bushy grass |
| Carpet Japan Sedge 'Irish Green' | Up to 40cm | Evergreen groundcover |
| forest marbel | Up to 40cm | periwinkle |
| forest sedge | Up to 40cm | evergreen |
Shade-tolerant shrubs for the rock garden
| woody | growth height | features |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Hydrangea 'Annabelle' | Up to 1.3m | Large white flowers |
| Stuffed ranunculus bush | Up to 2m | Beautiful golden yellow flowers |
| Golden shrub yew 'Semperaurea' | Up to 3m | Evergreen, native, yellowish needles |
| Harlequin willow | Up to 1.5m | Beautiful foliage, beautiful flowers |
| Shadowbell 'Mountain Fire' | Up to 1m | Red leaf shoots, white flowers |
| Narrow-leaved cherry laurel 'Herbergii' | Up to 3m | periwinkle |
| Narrow columnar yew 'Fastigiata' | Up to 3m | Columnar evergreen coniferous tree |
| Shrub Ivy 'Arborescens' | Up to 1.5m | Evergreen, attracts bees |
| Carpet Dogwood | Up to 20m | Beautiful, white flowers, red fruits |