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A common problem that many small space gardeners face is shade. Maybe your balcony is on the shady side of the building, or the building next door is so close that it casts a shadow over your entire balcony for most of the day. Or, your garden might be like my brother’s–it’s so small that its own walls cast a shadow over most of the garden.
Want to create a stunning shade garden without guessing which containers work best? This complete raised garden bed kit makes it easy to grow ferns, begonias, coleus, and other shade-loving plants in a beautiful, organized space.
Luckily, these days there are a lot of stunning plants that thrive in the shade. Another bonus to having a shady garden is that you can make use of the tons of cool, modern, metal pots that are all the rage right now. Since your garden doesn’t bake in the sun all day, the metal pots won’t cause your plants’ roots to overheat.
These modern metallic planters are perfect for shady patios and balconies. Since they receive less direct sunlight, they’re ideal for creating the contemporary look mentioned in this guide.
All of these plants are gorgeous shade lovers and do well in containers:
- Japanese Painted Fern, “Silver Falls” – Silvery leaves with raspberry colored stems, what’s not to love? The coloring gets even more intense as the temperature heats up.
- Acer palmatum Atropurpureum – A small Japanese Maple with deep wine-colored leaves. It’s ppest-resistantand isn’t bothered by a little pollution.
- Fishnet Stockings Coleus – The name sounds a little scandalous for a plant until you see this coleus. It has magenta veining against a lime backdrop. Yep. Definitely deserves the name.
- Begonia “Escargot” – Another shade lover with a great name. The swirly/spiral leaves make the white flowers on this plant almost superfluous.
- Alocasia Cuprea – Dinner plate-sized, metal leaves with deep ridges that are purplish on the underside. Need I say more?
Looking for even more ideas? These best gardening books are packed with plant combinations, design inspiration, and expert growing advice for small-space gardens.
