Louisiana Landscape Guide: Shade-Loving Plants for the Warm Season

Damon Abdi, Edwards, Ashley, Thiessen, Maureen, tmckeown, Stagg, Jason, Fields, Jeb S.

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Warm-season color plantings are some of the most iconic and eye-catching plantings that you can include in the landscape. Often thought of as annuals, the plant material in this category can in fact be of any herbaceous botanical group, with several capable of withstanding winters. However, these annuals and tender perennials are most often used for one season, as they are intended to be planted and enjoyed for only the warm portions of the year, typically spring through fall. Most of our warm-season color thrives in the full Louisiana sun; however, many of us would desire a splash of color in those shady areas where little light is available. As such, this list will highlight the best warm-season shade color plantings for Louisiana gardens and landscapes.

Landscaping featuring a cluster of bushes with white flowers.

Begonia: Begonia spp.

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Bush with pink leaves.

Caladium: Caladium bicolor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Exposure: Partial sun to shade
  • Soil: Well-drained

Cluster of landscaping with plants with red and green leaves.

Coleus: Coleus scutellarioides

Maintenance: Low

Form: Round

Zones: Annual

Exposure: Partial sun to shade

Soil: Well-drained

Green plants low to the ground.

Creeping Jenny: Lysimachia nummularia

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Exposure: Partial sun to shade
  • Soil: Well-drained to moist

Pink and red flowering bushes.

Impatiens: Impatiens spp.

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Partial sun to shade
  • Soil: Well-drained to moist

Pink and red flowering bushes.

Iresine: Iresine herbstii

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Closeup of green leaves with spotted white dots.

Polka Dot Plant: Hypoestes phyllostachya

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Red flowers on a bush.

Scarlet Salvia: Salvia splendens

Hummingbird attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Partial to full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Purple flowering bush.

Torenia: Torenia hybrid

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Partial to full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Bush with purple leaves and a pink flower.

Tradescantia: Tradescantia pallida

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: 7-11
  • Exposure: Partial to full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained to moist
8/3/2023 3:04:16 PM
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