Gardening in the Pacific Northwest presents unique challenges with its abundant shade and distinctive climate patterns. Finding beautiful annuals that flourish without much sunlight can transform those darker corners into stunning garden spaces.
As a longtime PNW gardener, I’ve discovered these shade-loving annuals not only survive but actually thrive in our cool, moist conditions, bringing color and life to areas where other plants struggle.
1. Impatiens: The Shade Garden’s Best Friend
Coming in every color except true blue, these flowering gems have been my go-to for brightening shady spots under tall Douglas firs. Their continuous blooming habit from spring until first frost makes them invaluable in our region.
Moisture-loving by nature, impatiens perfectly match the Pacific Northwest’s natural rainfall patterns. I’ve found them particularly happy in containers on my north-facing porch, where they receive morning light but stay protected from harsh afternoon conditions.
Plant them 8-12 inches apart for a carpet-like effect, or mix varieties for a patchwork of colors. Their self-cleaning habit means less maintenance—a welcome feature during our busy summer hiking season.
2. Coleus: Foliage That Outshines Flowers
Leaf patterns ranging from splashed to veined to bordered make coleus the drama queen of shade gardens. My Seattle clients often gasp when seeing how these plants transform dark corners with virtually no direct sunlight.
Modern varieties have improved sun tolerance, but they still perform best in the filtered light typical under our region’s towering hemlocks and cedars. Their tropical appearance creates striking contrast against native ferns and woodland plants.
Easy to propagate from cuttings, I’ve expanded my collection each year without buying new plants. Pinch them regularly to encourage bushiness and prevent flowering, focusing energy on those spectacular leaves that hold color even in our grayest months.
3. Tuberous Begonias: Elegant Bloomers For Dappled Light
Pendulous double flowers looking like miniature roses make tuberous begonias true showstoppers. During our mild summers, these beauties produce nonstop blooms that seem to glow in woodland settings.
Unlike many flowering plants, begonias actually prefer our cool nights and moderate days. My hanging baskets of cascading varieties have survived light frosts that damaged other annuals, extending the season well into fall.
Pair them with native wood sorrel for a naturally Pacific Northwest look. Just watch the watering—while they love moisture, their tubers can rot if soil stays constantly soggy during our extended rainy periods.
4. Trailing Lobelia: Cascades Of Sky-Blue Blooms
Tiny star-shaped flowers create rivers of cool blue in shady spots where few other plants can match their intensity. The cascading habit makes lobelia perfect for hanging baskets and wall planters throughout western Washington and Oregon.
Despite their delicate appearance, these plants handle our occasional summer downpours remarkably well. I’ve watched mine bounce back after being completely flattened by rain—a resilience that’s essential for success in our climate.
Look for heat-tolerant varieties that won’t fade during August warm spells. Plant them where you can appreciate the details up close, as their diminutive size makes them less impactful from a distance in larger landscape settings.
5. Fuchsia: Dangling Jewels For Hummingbirds
Pendant blooms swinging like miniature ballerinas make fuchsias instantly recognizable. Their preference for cool temperatures and filtered light perfectly suits our maritime climate, especially in coastal gardens from Astoria to Port Angeles.
Hummingbirds absolutely adore these plants, making them ecological powerhouses. Last summer, a family of rufous hummingbirds visited my hanging fuchsia baskets from dawn until dusk, providing endless entertainment.
Upright varieties work beautifully in containers, while trailing types create dramatic cascades. Many gardeners don’t realize fuchsias actually prefer morning sun followed by afternoon shade—exactly what many Pacific Northwest gardens naturally provide.
6. Caladium: Tropical Drama For Woodland Settings
Heart-shaped leaves splashed with white, pink, and red create tropical vibes even in the coolest corners of the garden. The contrast between caladiums and our native sword ferns creates magical combinations in Portland and Seattle gardens.
Plant these tubers after soil has thoroughly warmed—usually late May in most parts of the Pacific Northwest. Their growth explodes during our warm summer nights, quickly filling spaces where spring bulbs have faded.
Dig and store tubers in fall before heavy rains saturate the soil. While technically not hardy here, with proper winter storage they’ll return year after year, growing larger and more impressive each season in our favorable summer conditions.
7. Torenia (Wishbone Flower): Snapdragon’s Shade-Loving Cousin
Nicknamed “summer pansy” for its similar face-like blooms, torenia thrives when true pansies melt in summer heat. The tubular flowers feature contrasting throats that seem to glow in the shadowy conditions common under our region’s mature trees.
Mounding varieties create tidy borders, while trailing forms spill beautifully from containers. I’ve had remarkable success using them in window boxes on the north side of my house, where they bloom continuously without deadheading.
Their ability to tolerate both wet soil and humid air makes them perfect for Pacific Northwest gardens. Unlike many annuals that struggle with our combination of cool nights and limited sun, torenia seems perfectly adapted to our regional growing conditions.
8. Viola: Cheerful Faces For Cooler Seasons
Smaller than their pansy cousins but equally colorful, violas excel during our cool springs and mild falls. Their ability to bloom in low light makes them perfect for underplanting spring-flowering trees and shrubs throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Heat-tolerant varieties will continue flowering through summer in coastal areas from Bellingham to Newport, where marine influences moderate temperatures. I’ve had self-seeding varieties naturalize in my garden, popping up in charming unexpected locations each year.
Plant violas where you can enjoy their intricate faces up close. Their sweet, subtle fragrance is an added bonus rarely found in other shade-tolerant annuals—catch their scent on those misty mornings so typical of our region.
9. Browallia: The Sapphire Star Of Shade
Star-shaped blue flowers seem to float above neat mounds of foliage, bringing the color of summer skies to even the darkest corners. This lesser-known annual deserves more attention in Pacific Northwest gardens for its exceptional shade tolerance.
Unlike many blue flowers that fade quickly, browallia maintains its intense color throughout the season. I’ve found it particularly effective in brightening the north sides of houses and fences where few other plants will bloom reliably.
The compact growth habit makes it perfect for edging woodland paths or filling gaps between hostas and ferns. Plant several in a group for maximum impact, as individual plants, while charming, can get lost in larger landscape settings.
10. Polka Dot Plant: Speckled Foliage For Colorful Contrast
Pink-speckled leaves create year-round interest without relying on flowers. The compact size makes polka dot plants perfect for tucking into shady containers alongside larger specimens throughout Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland gardens.
New varieties feature splashes of white, red, and even purple on their leaves. My favorites are the ones with deep burgundy backgrounds that echo the rich colors of our native understory plants like inside-out flower and baneberry.
Regular pinching encourages bushiness and prevents the legginess that can occur in deep shade. Their moderate water needs align well with typical Pacific Northwest rainfall patterns, making them relatively low-maintenance once established in partially shaded locations.
11. Sweet Alyssum: Fragrant Ground Cover For Partial Shade
Honey-scented blooms carpet the ground with tiny flowers that soften edges of shady beds and borders. While often considered a sun-lover, newer varieties perform surprisingly well in the dappled light common under deciduous trees in Pacific Northwest gardens.
The cascading habit makes sweet alyssum perfect for softening the edges of raised beds and retaining walls. During our cool summers, it continues flowering much longer than in hotter regions, often blooming well into October along the coast.
White varieties brighten shady areas most effectively, creating a moonlight garden effect. The plants self-seed readily in our climate, often establishing in cracks between pavers and along garden paths where they release their sweet scent when brushed against.
12. Oxalis: Clover-Like Leaves With Delicate Blooms
Purple-leaved varieties add rich contrast in shade gardens where green often dominates. The delicate flowers hover above the foliage like tiny butterflies, creating movement in still, shady corners of Eugene and Portland gardens.
Often mistaken for houseplants, annual oxalis varieties thrive outdoors in our mild climate. I’ve successfully used them as groundcover beneath taller shade perennials, where they fill in quickly and suppress weeds throughout the growing season.
Their ability to handle dry shade makes them valuable for those challenging spots beneath established trees. Plant them where afternoon sun won’t reach, as too much direct light can fade the rich purple coloration that makes them so distinctive in Pacific Northwest shade gardens.
13. Rex Begonia: Living Stained Glass For Shade
Metallic swirls and spirals on leaves that seem almost artificially painted make rex begonias true collector’s items. Their tropical appearance creates striking focal points in shaded containers throughout Vancouver and Olympia gardens.
Unlike their flowering cousins, these begonias are grown primarily for foliage. The leaves actually develop more intense coloration in our region’s filtered light than in deeper shade or bright sun, making them perfectly suited to Pacific Northwest conditions.
Pair them with silver-leaved plants for maximum contrast. Their moderate growth means they won’t overtake companions, and their tolerance for cool nights makes them reliable performers even in our most northern garden locations.
14. New Guinea Impatiens: Larger Blooms For Deeper Shade
Substantial flowers in saturated colors distinguish these from traditional impatiens. Their ability to bloom in deep shade makes them valuable for those north-facing spots where many other flowering annuals fail to thrive in our region.
Unlike regular impatiens, New Guinea varieties resist the downy mildew that has troubled Pacific Northwest gardeners in recent years. My plantings have remained disease-free even during our dampest seasons, making them a reliable choice for important landscape areas.
Their slightly larger water requirements align perfectly with typical rainfall patterns in western Washington and Oregon. Plant them where they’ll receive consistent moisture but not become waterlogged during our extended rainy periods.
15. Nemesia: Cool-Season Color For Filtered Light
Orchid-like blooms in pastel shades appear abundantly during our mild spring and fall seasons. While not suitable for deep shade, nemesia thrives in the dappled light beneath deciduous trees common throughout Seattle and Portland neighborhoods.
Their preference for cool temperatures makes them ideal for Pacific Northwest gardens, often outperforming in our climate compared to warmer regions. I’ve had success planting them in areas that receive morning sun but afternoon shade—a common condition in east-facing exposures.
Look for newer varieties bred specifically for heat tolerance, extending their blooming period through summer in our moderate climate. Their compact growth habit makes them perfect companions for shade perennials that might leave gaps in the garden design.
16. Persian Shield: Iridescent Purple Foliage
Metallic purple leaves with silver highlights create drama even without flowers. The upright growth habit makes Persian shield perfect for adding height to shade containers in protected Portland and Seattle garden spaces.
Though typically considered a houseplant in colder regions, this striking foliage plant performs beautifully as a summer annual in our climate. My specimens have reached nearly three feet tall during particularly warm summers, creating tropical effects in otherwise typical Northwest gardens.
Plant in locations protected from strong winds, as the large leaves can be damaged during our occasional summer storms. Their moderate water needs match well with our natural rainfall patterns, requiring supplemental irrigation only during the driest weeks of August.
17. Heliotrope: Vintage Charm With Vanilla Scent
Clusters of tiny purple flowers emit a vanilla-like fragrance that carries through garden air on warm evenings. While traditionally grown in sun, heliotrope performs surprisingly well in morning sun/afternoon shade situations throughout western Oregon and Washington.
The deep purple varieties show up beautifully against our region’s abundant greenery. I’ve found them particularly effective in containers near seating areas, where their sweet scent can be fully appreciated during our long summer twilights.
Their old-fashioned charm pairs beautifully with classic Northwest garden plants like hardy fuchsias and hydrangeas. Just ensure they have adequate air circulation, as our humid conditions can sometimes lead to powdery mildew on crowded plantings.