Top 7+ cascading plants that thrive in shady spots
Bring color to your front porch.
Your hair isn’t the only thing wilting in a heatwave. Your garden plants and blooms probably aren’t as perky as they used to be. It can be a lot of work sometimes to help them survive the heat. If watering daily—or even more—has you rethinking next year’s plantings, consider shade plants that are anything but boring. Add cascading foliage and blooms to give shady porches, entryways, patios, and wooded areas a lift without the extra work. Your watering deserves a break. Check out these cascading plants that thrive in the shade.
01 of 07
Wishbone Flower
- Botanical Name: Torenia hybrida
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade, full shade
- Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)
Look for trailing types of wishbone flowers like 'Summer Wave' or 'Catalina'. They feature cascading blooms from spring until the first frost, tolerate heat, and don’t require deadheading. Purple, blue, and white trumpet-shaped blooms hide wishbone-shaped stamens, and hummingbirds love them. Pots and hanging baskets dry out quickly, so check soil moisture regularly and keep them well-watered.
02 of 07
Begonia
- Botanical Name: Begonia spp.
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0)
Not all begonia varieties trail as they grow. Look for Dragon Wing begonias that cascade up to 30 inches or pendulous begonias, which produce single or double blooms that hang over container edges due to their weight. Bright red, orange, yellow, pink, and white blooms appear from mid-summer to the first frost. Avoid midday sun since the leaves can scorch, and plant in a well-draining pot to prevent tubers from rotting.
03 of 07
Fuchsia
- Botanical Name: Fuchsia hybrida
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Type: Fertile, moist, well-drained
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
Many varieties of fuchsia cascade out of containers, but if you want more drama, look for trailing varieties like F. procumbens, which will overflow out of containers and hanging baskets. Some sun is good for flower production, but keep fuchsia out of the hot afternoon light. Teardrop-shaped blooms appear continuously from spring through fall.
04 of 07
Creeping Jenny
- Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-drained, loam, sandy, clay
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0)
To keep this trailing plant looking its best and brightest, plant it in some shade, where it will take on a lime-green or chartreuse color. More sunlight can bleach the leaves. Creeping Jenny is often used as a spiller plant because it cascades beautifully and its bright color is a nice contrast against bold flower colors and dark foliage. It adapts well to many soil types, making it suitable for a variety of plant pairings.
05 of 07
English Ivy
- Botanical Name: Hedera helix
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade, full shade
- Soil Type: Fertile, moist, well-drained, loam
- Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.0)
English ivy is a classic cascading plant that makes your arrangements look lush and full. Use it to spill over walls, hanging baskets, or containers. Since English ivy grows quickly, it’s perfect in pots where it won’t spread and take over your flower beds. This vine thrives in low light, so it’s perfect for dark porches and patios that don’t get a lot of sun.
06 of 07
Spider Plant
- Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum
- Sun Exposure: Filtered
- Soil Type: Well-drained
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
If you want a cascading plant to add interest to your porch, turn to this classic houseplant. Spider plants have long, slender leaves that arch and spill over container edges. Baby spiderettes dangle from the ends of the stems as the plant grows. Spider plants thrive in bright, indirect light and shade and don’t tolerate afternoon sun, so a covered porch is ideal. Fluoridated water from the tap is toxic to spider plants and can cause chemical burns, so any rainwater they get while outdoors is good for them. Move spider plants back indoors when temperatures drop to 55ºF since they can’t tolerate frost.
07 of 07
Streptocarpella
- Botanical Name: Streptocarpus saxorum
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)
Delicate purple blooms resemble violets and dangle from thick, fuzzy foliage that makes this plant stand out from other spillers. Bright, indirect light or part shade is best, and shade helps it bloom nonstop. Just make sure to protect this trailing plant from hot afternoon sun or its leaves may suffer. You don’t need to deadhead the blooms, and overwintering will ensure the plant will last until next season.
