Transforming those dim, neglected corners of your Illinois garden can be a real challenge. Shady spots often become barren eyesores where nothing seems to grow well.
Fortunately, nature offers beautiful ground-covering plants that not only tolerate shade but actually thrive in it, bringing color and life to those dark garden areas.
1. Sweet Woodruff
Delicate star-shaped white flowers hover above fragrant, whorled foliage in spring, creating a fairytale carpet in shaded areas. Sweet woodruff spreads gently through Illinois gardens without becoming invasive.
The dried leaves emit a pleasant vanilla-hay scent, historically used in potpourri and to flavor May wine. Once established, this European native handles the challenging dry shade beneath mature trees with remarkable resilience.
2. Wild Ginger
Native wild ginger boasts heart-shaped leaves that create a lush green blanket in woodland gardens. The unusual maroon-brown flowers hide beneath foliage, attracting curious woodland pollinators in Illinois forests.
Early settlers used its aromatic roots as a cooking spice. Perfectly adapted to our local climate, wild ginger thrives in those difficult spots where hostas struggle, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
3. Creeping Phlox
Cascades of pastel blooms transform shady garden corners each spring when creeping phlox awakens. The evergreen needle-like foliage forms a dense mat that suppresses weeds effectively throughout the year.
Hardy enough to withstand Illinois winters yet delicate-looking in appearance. Plant along shaded pathways where the sweet fragrance can be enjoyed up close, or let it spill over retaining walls for a waterfall effect of color in partly shaded locations.
4. Spotted Dead Nettle
Silver-splashed leaves light up dark garden corners like scattered moonlight. Despite its unfortunate name, spotted dead nettle brings months of interest with silver-variegated foliage and purple, pink, or white flower spikes in late spring.
Morning sun with afternoon shade produces the best leaf coloration in Illinois gardens. Quick-spreading but easily controlled, this European native tolerates clay soils and root competition that frustrates other shade plants.
5. Hosta
The undisputed king of shade gardens offers endless variety in leaf color, size, and texture. From tiny miniatures to massive specimens, hostas bring architectural interest to Illinois’ shadiest spots.
Blue-leaved varieties retain their color best in deep shade, while gold types need morning sunlight to develop rich color. Summer brings spikes of lavender or white flowers that attract hummingbirds. Deer love them, unfortunately, so consider protective measures in rural Illinois gardens.
6. Lily Of The Valley
Sweetly scented bell-shaped flowers dangle above glossy green leaves in spring, filling the air with intoxicating fragrance. Lily of the valley creates a dense carpet that spreads steadily in difficult dry shade.
Red berries follow the flowers, adding visual interest. Perfect for Illinois gardens with deep shade and challenging soil conditions. Remember all parts are poisonous, so place accordingly if you have curious children or pets.
7. Ajuga
Stunning purple-blue flower spikes rise above glossy foliage in spring, creating weeks of color in shady spots. Also called bugleweed, ajuga comes in varieties with bronze, chocolate, or variegated leaves that brighten dark corners year-round.
Forms a tight, weed-suppressing mat that stands up to light foot traffic. Thrives in Illinois’ clay soils where other plants struggle. Look for newer cultivars like ‘Black Scallop’ with extra-dark foliage for dramatic contrast against other shade plants.
8. Foamflower
Frothy white flower plumes dance above maple-shaped leaves in spring, bringing airy brightness to woodland gardens. Native to Illinois forests, foamflower thrives in the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees.
Many varieties offer burgundy-veined or mottled foliage for multi-season interest. Pairs beautifully with ferns and wild ginger in naturalistic plantings. Semi-evergreen leaves provide winter interest in protected locations, especially during mild Illinois winters.
9. Japanese Forest Grass
Graceful arching blades of gold-striped foliage bring movement and light to the darkest garden corners. Unlike most ground covers, Japanese forest grass forms elegant mounding clumps rather than spreading mats.
The bamboo-like leaves shimmer with the slightest breeze, creating a rippling effect. Particularly stunning when backlit by morning sun filtering through trees. Tolerates Illinois’ hot, humid summers better than many ornamental grasses when given consistent moisture.
10. Allegheny Spurge
Rosettes of leathery, evergreen leaves create a tapestry of texture in dry shade. Come spring, Allegheny spurge produces bottlebrush-like white flowers that hover above the foliage like miniature constellations.
Native to eastern woodlands including parts of Illinois, this pachysandra relative handles drought once established. Leaves often develop beautiful burgundy winter coloration when exposed to cold. Slower-growing than Japanese pachysandra but worth the wait for its superior ornamental qualities.
11. Barrenwort
Fairy-like flowers in yellow, pink, white, or lavender dance above heart-shaped foliage in early spring. Also called epimedium or bishop’s hat, this refined ground cover brings elegance to woodland gardens.
The delicate appearance belies its tough nature – barrenwort handles dry shade once established. New spring foliage often emerges with red or bronze tints before turning green. Semi-evergreen in Illinois, providing winter interest in protected locations.
12. Lungwort
Spotted silver leaves brighten shade gardens all season, while pink-to-blue flowers create springtime magic. Lungwort’s unusual spotted foliage was once thought to resemble diseased lungs and treat respiratory ailments.
Modern gardeners treasure it for illuminating dark corners with silver-dotted leaves. Prefers rich, moist soil but tolerates dry shade once established. Illinois gardeners should look for heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Diana Clare’ for best performance during summer months.
13. Creeping Jenny
Coins of golden foliage spill across the ground like sunshine, brightening the darkest garden corners. Creeping Jenny’s round leaves form a mat that suppresses weeds while adding cheerful color to shade gardens.
Small yellow flowers appear in summer but the foliage is the main attraction. Golden form shows best color in morning sun with afternoon shade in Illinois gardens. Contains growth by planting in areas bordered by hardscape or mowing edges.
14. Ferns
Unfurling fiddleheads transform into lacy fronds that bring woodland magic to shady spaces. Illinois gardeners can choose from native options like Christmas fern, lady fern, and ostrich fern for reliable performance.
Different varieties offer heights from 6 inches to 5 feet, creating multi-level interest. Most prefer consistently moist soil but established Christmas ferns tolerate surprisingly dry conditions. Plant in groups for a lush, cooling effect in summer shade gardens.
15. Coral Bells
Ruffled foliage in shades from purple to caramel to silver forms colorful mounds in dappled shade. Coral bells send up delicate flower stalks with tiny bell-shaped blooms that attract hummingbirds to Illinois gardens.
Modern varieties focus on dramatic leaf colors rather than flowers. Plant in groups for maximum impact or use as colorful accents among green shade plants. Prefers morning sun with afternoon shade for best color development while avoiding leaf scorch.