• Hostas are a common shade plant.Hosta image by Michele Maakestad from Fotolia.com
  
  Gardeners often need to deal with varying degrees of shade when determining their planting arrangements. An area is considered shaded if it receives less than 6 hours of sunlight per day. This can be under a large tree or on the side of a house or patio. Dense shade would be an area that receives no direct light at all.
  
  

Lily of the Valley

• This perennial can tolerate dense shade. It produces delicate white flowers full of fragrance. Lily of the valley quickly multiplies, so it's best if they're put in an area that has natural borders, or grown in a container.
  
  

Caladiums

• Caladiums are an easy-to-grow bulb. They feature variegated heart-shaped foliage in a combination of green, white, pink, red and salmon. Typically they grow around 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. They can be used effectively in combination planters.
  
  

Begonias

• Begonias are available in many styles. Some have beautiful flowers, and others are mainly attractive foliage. They thrive in the shade and can be used in container gardening in combination with other shade-loving plants if the soil is well-drained.
  
  

Pachysandra

• Pachysandra is a spreading perennial plant that does well in partial to full shade. The hardy light-green leaves grow to about 6 to 12 inches high. In late spring, pachysandra bears small creamy-white flowers. Often used under trees and shrubs as a ground cover, it also does well on steep slopes and in rock gardens.
  
  

Mountain Laurel

• Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub that bears clusters of pink flowers. They need a light, sandy soil and will grow 5 to 15 feet tall and wide. They do well in partially and densely shaded areas.
  
  

Abelias

• Abelia shrubs can be used as a border in a shaded yard. They're semi-evergreens that bloom in the summer and turn color in the fall.
  
  

Hydrangeas

• Hydrangeas are shade-loving shrubs that produce ball-shaped clusters of pink, blue or white flowers throughout the summer. They grow up to 12 feet tall and can be placed in a shaded area in the garden or in a perennial bed next to a house.
  
  

Hostas

• Hostas are a versatile shade-loving perennial. They come in a variety of colors, from deep blue-green to a pale yellow-green. Hostas can be divided in the spring and fall and transplanted to new areas in your garden.