Colourful shade pot garden ideas

Colourful shade pot garden ideas

These colourful shade pot garden ideas will brighten up a shady spot in the garden, especially if you are wondering how to bring some colour to your garden with little sun. There are many plants with beautiful colours and textures for a shady area and despite them seemingly being tricky, if you choose the right plants for the right place, you can improve the space no end. These plants will grow in a shady border but also work well in pots meaning you can move them if needed, and even if you have a small garden or patio, they will brighten it up because they will grow in pots and containers as well.

Colourful shade pot garden ideas in green 

The colour of nature is, of course, green, so why not create a container full of different shades of green? When we think of colour in the garden, it’s often the brighter colours that we think of, but there are many different shades of green that can create beautiful displays. Euphorbia, Ivy, Ferns and Hostas will make up a container full of green interest for a shady corner. 

Think of textures to create colourful shade pot garden ideas 

When you plant your pots full of colour, think about the textures as well. Some of the most stunning displays focus intensely on texture. Not just to look at but to give you something to touch as you walk by.

  • Lambs ear (Stachys) will tolerate a little shade and has a velvety feel,
  • Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) has frothy green flowers and soft foliage.
  • Add a Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas), and you’ll have a pot of different textures. 

Surprisingly colourful shade pot garden ideas 

Just because the space you want to fill is shady doesn’t mean you can’t fill it with colour. It’s a common misconception that shade means boring, but that’s not the case at all. Fill a large container with good quality, peat-free compost and plant a Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) for its bright pink heart-shaped flowers. Think of a Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) for tiny blue flowers. What about a Cranesbill (such as Geranium phaem) for purple flowers? There are many options. 

Colourful shade pot garden ideas for a calm, cool look 

Suppose you’d prefer a pot of plants that gives a calm feeling go for greens, white and light colours. For a serene look, please try:

  • False goatsbeard (Astilbe) in white,
  • Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum x hybridum), 
  • Underplant with some bulbs such as Snowdrops (Galanthus) or white Muscari aucheri 'White Magic',
  • Add in a Heuchera or a Tiarella, and you’ll have created a cool, calm pot to make you smile every time you see it. 

Come and visit us for shade planting advice, plants, compost, and pots. 

You might also be interested in:

Wondering when to start planting your London garden? Our expert guide has you covered. Read today.

Read more...

UK gardening stats 2025: key planting trends, popular plants, and insights every gardener should know.

Read more...

Discover our horticultural expert’s top September gardening tips in this handy guide. Read now for top September garden jobs and more.

Read more...

If you've been scrolling through Instagram lately and noticed ferns – yes, those distinctive vascular plants – starting to appear in the coolest interiors, you're witnessing the beginning of something interesting. These prehistoric plants, with their beautiful foliage and fronds that are the envy of many ferns, once dominated Victorian drawing rooms, and are now quietly becoming the insider's choice before the mainstream catches on. 

...Read more...