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perennial shade plants

Perennial shade plants are essential for bringing beauty and life to the shadier corners of your garden or home. If you have areas where sunlight rarely reaches, these robust, low-maintenance plants can transform a dim spot into a lush, vibrant sanctuary year after year. Whether you’re looking to create a woodland border, fill in spaces under trees, or bring greenery indoors, perennial shade plants offer enduring interest and versatility for New Zealand gardeners. Their ability to return each season with minimal effort makes them a smart choice for sustainable planting in shaded environments.

Helleborus orientalis with colourful pink flowers.

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

Helleborus orientalis, commonly known as Lenten Rose, is a hardy perennial prized for its elegant winter and early spring blooms. Flowers appear in shades of white, pink, plum, and green, often with striking speckled centres, bringing colour when few other plants flower. Growing 40–60 cm tall, it thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 45 cm
Flowering time: Spring, Winter
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
clivia-yellow-

Clivia 'Yellow'

5 from 1 customers

Clivia 'Yellow' is a stunning evergreen perennial that produces elegant clusters of rich yellow flowers above deep green strap like foliage. Flowering through late winter and spring, it brings reliable colour to shaded gardens when many other plants are dormant.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 80 cm
Spread: 80 cm
Flowering time: Spring, Winter
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical
Heuchera 'Sugar Plum' plant with silver and purple foliage.
Heuchera 'Sugar Plum'

Heuchera 'Sugar Plum' is a beautiful perennial celebrated for its colourful foliage that blends silver, purple, and plum tones throughout the year...

From$20.63
hosta-blue-mouse-ears--5
Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is a compact perennial prized for its rounded blue green foliage and tidy growth habit. It is an excellent choice for adding...

From$24.77
Orange flowers on a lush Clivia miniata grandiflora plant.
Clivia miniata grandiflora

Clivia miniata grandiflora is a bold evergreen perennial admired for its large clusters of brilliant orange trumpet shaped flowers that rise above...

From$22.01
clivia-miniata-2
Clivia miniata (Natal Lily)

Clivia miniata (Natal Lily) is a striking evergreen perennial admired for its bold dark green strap like foliage and vibrant clusters of orange...

From$22.01
heuchera-northern-exposure-silver-
Heuchera 'Northern Exposure Silver'

Heuchera 'Northern Exposure Silver' is a stunning perennial prized for its large silver foliage accented with dark veining and its exceptional garden...

From$22.01
Heuchera 'Apple Crisp' plants with lush green foliage.
Heuchera 'Apple Crisp'

Heuchera 'Apple Crisp' is a compact evergreen perennial admired for its bright lime green ruffled foliage that adds year round colour and texture to...

From$22.01
Clivia miniata 'Red' plants with elegant, red flowers.
Clivia miniata 'Red'

Clivia miniata 'Red' is a striking evergreen perennial prized for its bold red trumpet shaped flowers that appear in late winter and spring. The...

From$20.01
Francoa 'Starry Eyes'

Francoa 'Starry Eyes' is an elegant perennial that produces graceful spikes of delicate flowers from late spring through summer. Its lush green...

From$17.95
Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven' plant in a garden with variegated leaves and blue flowers.
Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven'

Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven' is a stunning perennial admired for its finely divided variegated foliage and clusters of soft lavender blue bell...

From$30.29
Myosotidium hortensia (Chatham Island Forget Me Not) plant with lush green foliage and stunning blue flowers.
Myosotidium hortensia (Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not)

Myosotidium hortensia, commonly known as the Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not, is a distinctive and recognisable NZ native. The plants have large...

From$26.15
vinca-elizabeth-cran-1
Vinca 'Elizabeth Cran'

Vinca 'Elizabeth Cran' is an attractive evergreen perennial valued for its rich green foliage, spreading habit, and colourful seasonal flowers. Its...

From$20.01
campanula-resholdt's-variety--1
Campanula 'Resholdt's Variety'

Campanula 'Resholdt's Variety' (Bell Flower) is a charming perennial known for its masses of soft blue bell shaped flowers that create a beautiful...

From$22.01
Helleborus 'Isabella's Charm' plant with stunning purple flowers.
Helleborus 'Isabella's Charm'

Helleborus 'Isabella's Charm' is a winter-flowering perennial valued for elegant, long-lasting flowers and handsome evergreen foliage. It brings an...

From$29.95
Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga) plants in flower with lush green foliage in a border garden.
Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga Lily)

Arthropodium cirratum, commonly known as Rengarenga Lily or New Zealand Rock Lily, is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial native to New Zealand. It...

From$9.95
pachysandra-terminalis-5
Pachysandra terminalis

Pachysandra terminalis, commonly known as Japanese Spurge, is a hardy evergreen groundcover valued for its glossy dark green foliage and dense...

From$23.39
Saxifraga 'Starblush' plant in flower for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Saxifraga 'Starblush'

Saxifraga 'Starblush' is a delightful alpine perennial that produces masses of soft pink flowers above compact mounds of evergreen foliage. Its...

From$23.39
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant) bright red foliage.
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

Sedum rubrotinctum, commonly known as Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans Plant, is a compact, low-growing succulent reaching 15–20 cm tall and...

From$21.39
Ajuga 'Catlins Giant' plants with green foliage and blue flowers growing in a garden bed.
Ajuga 'Catlins Giant'

Ajuga 'Catlins Giant' (Bugleweed Plant) is a vigorous evergreen groundcover valued for its large glossy dark green leaves and striking blue flower...

From$18.63
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' plants in a cottage garden featuring orange flowers and lush green foliage.
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' (Hot Poker Plant)

Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' is a variety of the commonly known Red Hot Poker, and is grown for its colourful flowers. Stems rise above the foliage...

From$20.63
70-windbreak-2
Shadecloth - 70% Shade

This shade cloth for plants, which is also used as plant windbreaks, reduces light levels and windspeeds by 70%. Therefore, 30% of the wind or light...

From$499.80
clianthus-puniceus-
Clianthus puniceus (Parrot Beak Plant)

Clianthus puniceus (Kakabeak) is a spectacular New Zealand native shrub renowned for its striking clusters of brilliant red, beak shaped flowers that...

From$44.09
White flowers on a Cistus 'Snowmound' plant with green foliage.
Cistus 'Snowmound' (White Rock Rose Plant)

Cistus 'Snowmound' is a compact evergreen shrub that produces a breathtaking display of pure white flowers with golden-yellow centres from late...

From$24.77
agave-americana-variegata--1
Agave americana 'Variegata' (Variegated Century Plant)

Agave americana 'Variegata' is a striking evergreen succulent valued for its bold architectural form and strongly variegated foliage. It forms a...

From$15.95
zamioculcas-black-knight-
Zamioculcas 'Black Knight' (ZZ ZZ Plant)

Zamioculcas 'Black Knight' is a very popular indoor plant owing to its dark and showy foliage. It grows as a clump and produces upright fronds which...

From$41.33
rhaphidophora-decursiva-
Rhaphidophora decursiva

Rhaphidophora decursiva (Dragon Tail Plant) is a striking tropical climber known for its large, deeply split leaves that become more dramatic as the...

From$44.09
5-litre-plant-pots-
5 Litre Plant Pots

5 Litre Plant Pots are a practical choice for growing larger shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and young trees. They provide generous root space to...

From$79.20
3-litre-plant-pots-
3.5 Litre Plant Pots

3.5 Litre Plant Pots are a versatile choice for growing shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and other established plants. They provide generous root...

From$48.96
plant-pots-
2.5 Litre Plant Pots

2.5 Litre Plant Pots are a practical option for growing shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and other developing plants. They provide ample root...

From$37.44
50-windbreak-2
Shadecloth - 50% Shade

This shade cloth which is also used as garden windbreak, reduces light levels and windspeeds by 50%. Therefore, 50% of the wind or light will still...

From$428.40
A strong and studry planting spade.
Ace1 Planting Spade

The Ace 1 planting spade is a must for any gardener. This spade is designed so it can penetrate the ground easily without jarring the wrists in the...

From$225.86
Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

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You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Clivia, Francoa, and Helleborus, or related Categories - Perennials.

Search perennial shade plants

Top Perennial Shade Plants for New Zealand Gardens

Shade doesn’t have to limit your plant palette. You’ll find plenty of striking perennial shade plants that thrive in low-light conditions while adding colour, texture, and structure:

Spider Plants

An all-time favourite with indoor gardeners, the spider plant is renowned for thriving in indirect light and shaded corners. Options like Chlorophytum comosum variegatum (Spider Plant) boast attractive white-striped foliage, making them ideal for brightening up your shaded rooms. If you prefer a twist on the classic, the Chlorophytum Curly (Curly Spider Plant) features unique curly leaves, while the Chlorophytum Golden Glow (Chlorophytum comosum Spider Plant) offers vibrant golden tones that stand out beautifully in shadowy spots.

Geranium Stephanie

For outdoor beds and borders, Geranium Stephanie (Perennial Geranium Plants) is a superb shade-loving perennial. Its lush foliage and delicate blooms brighten up areas under trees or alongside shady walkways. Geraniums are also well-known for their resilience, returning reliably each spring and requiring little maintenance once established.

Clivia miniata 'Red' (Natal Lily)

The elegant Clivia miniata 'Red' (Natal Lily) is prized for its bold, trumpet-shaped flowers and dark green leaves. Ideal for planting beneath trees or in sheltered garden spots, Clivia can handle deep shade and dry conditions—perfect for those difficult, low-light corners. Its vivid blooms bring a touch of colour when many other plants may be sleeping.

Planting and Care Tips for Shade-Loving Perennials

When selecting perennial shade plants, consider soil moisture and drainage: most shade perennials prefer rich, well-drained soil. Regular mulching can help retain moisture and boost nutrients for your shade garden. While these plants are generally low-maintenance, occasional feeding will keep them performing at their best. Spider plants, geraniums, and Clivia benefit from dividing periodically to maintain their vigour and fullness.

Why Choose Perennial Shade Plants?

Choosing perennial shade plants means you’re investing in garden longevity, low maintenance, and sustainable beauty. These plants effortlessly fill spaces that might otherwise go bare, provide habitat for beneficial insects, and keep your garden green throughout the seasons. Whether for indoor decorating or refreshing a shady garden bed, perennial shade plants from our nursery can help you create inviting, enduring spaces.

Browse our range to discover the perfect fit for your shady spots—from the airy charm of spider plants to the floral richness of geraniums and the show-stopping Clivia. Embrace the potential of shade and turn your dim corners into thriving, beautiful displays with perennial shade plants.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

It’s easy to pick Lomandra 'Frosty Tops' and Coprosma 'Hawera' (Sand Coprosma), but garden variety is all about adding surprises like Rose 'Flower Carpet Scarlet', Rose 'Lavender Jewel', and Lime Bearss.
–The Plant Company

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