Yes, several ground cover full shade plants grow strong in the darkest corners of your yard. Wild Ginger, Pachysandra, Sweet Woodruff, and native ferns all handle spots that get almost no direct sun. You don't have to leave those dim areas bare or covered in mulch.
I grew up thinking nothing could live under our big spruce trees. The branches blocked every ray of light from hitting the ground below. When I finally tried Wild Ginger in that spot it shocked me. The plants spread eight inches per year without any extra care from me.
What counts as full shade anyway? The University of Maryland says full shade means less than 3 hours of direct sun each day. The University of Florida notes that shade plants do fine with fewer than 4 hours of light. Those dark spots under your trees or on the north side of your house count as full shade.
Full shade ground cover plants have adapted to grab every bit of light they can. Their leaves tend to be larger and darker green than sun plants. They grow slower but they grow steady. Wild Ginger spreads by underground stems that pop up new plants each spring. Pachysandra sends runners along the surface that root as they go.
Sweet Woodruff does best where some moisture stays in the soil. The whorled leaves catch dew and funnel water to the roots. This plant handles the deep shade ground cover job well under maples and oaks. Just make sure the spot doesn't dry out for weeks at a time.
Native ferns give you height and texture that flat ground covers lack. Christmas fern stays green through winter in most areas. Lady fern adds a soft feathery look to shaded beds. These plants have grown in forest floors for ages. They know how to make do with filtered light and leaf litter.
You can boost your success in full shade by fixing the soil before planting. Add two to three inches of compost and work it into the top six inches of dirt. This gives your new plants loose soil that roots can push through fast. Better soil holds water longer between rains too.
Water your new plants each week for the whole first growing season. Full shade spots often sit under trees with roots that soak up all the water. Your new ground cover has to compete with those big roots. Give it a head start with regular drinks until it settles in.
The payoff comes in year two and beyond. Your full shade spots that once looked sad and bare will fill with living green. You stop seeing that patch of dirt or mulch every time you look out the window. The plants do their thing while you just watch them spread.
Read the full article: 10 Top Ground Cover Shade Plants
