Need plants for shade? First, define shade
23.02.12
It is important to choose plants that are well adapted to the conditions in your garden and that will fulfill your design objectives. In other words, focus on choosing the right plant for your particular site. The plants will perform better, have fewer pest problems and require less maintenance.
This discipline will serve you well when you see a special plant that grows best in full sun. Planting sun-loving plants in a shady site such as your Evanston garden usually results in plants with spindly growth and few, if any, flowers.
The amount of sun and the exposure in your garden is a good place to start for eliminating plants that are not options. A more subtle consideration is the amount of shade in your garden: Is it light, filtered shade such as that under a honey locust tree, or deep shade such as that in a heavily wooded area?
"A half day of sun" may not always be enough information. The west side of your house will be hotter than the east side; some hostas will perform well on the east side of the house with morning sun and afternoon shade, but on the west side, the hot afternoon sun will burn the foliage.
Source: Chicago Tribune