14 Plants That Can Block Out Sunlight for Other Plants

This post may contain affiliate links.

Plants play important roles in the ecosystem. They give us food and oxygen and make the earth a much more beautiful place. To maintain these roles, they need various things, one of which is sunlight. However, different plants have varying needs for sunlight.

To help manage this conundrum, you can use plants that require a lot of sunlight as shades or sunblocks for plants that don’t need as much sunlight. Here are a few of such sun-blocking plants.

Hosta

Hostas are most commonly known for their massive leaves that get huge and fabulous colored in all sort of means. They have dense foliage which grows close to the ground making an excellent ground cover for other plants. As a plant that thrives in partial to full shade, hostas are great for a darker part of your garden.

Ferns

Another hugely popular option is ferns, which provide a sense of shade in gardens. Found growing in shady, moist environments, they blend very well with other leafy plants that require less sun as they block out much of the sunlight. There are many different types of ferns such as Boston fern or maidenhair fern, each charming with its beauty.

Canna Lily

Canna lilies, in addition to being gorgeous bloomers, can provide some serious shade coverage. At a height of up to 6 feet, these tall plants can easily serve as a low-maintenance canopy for groundcover and smaller plants.

Japanese Maple

The beautiful foliage and striking fall colors of Japanese maples are famous. They can reach up to 20 feet high, which is easy for them to give shade to other plants. Plant in well-drained soil and partial shade to full sun.

Coleus

Coleus is a versatile annual with colorful foliage. Since it can be grown in pots, you can move it in the garden or even indoors. It is perfect for shading small plants as a temporary solution.

Wisteria

Wisterias are famous for their blooms that look like they are cascading one after another and growing as a vine. They can reach up to 30 feet tall, which makes their shade work exceptionally good for other plants, as this article from Purdue University attests. They are a climbing plant and need a trellis or pergola to grow on.

Impatiens

Impatiens have good flowers if you are looking to add some shade in your flower beds or containers. By including them, you can add flowers and multiple colors in your garden. It grows best in partial to full shade and well-draining soil.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are another good option for adding shade to gardens. They are bushy shrubs with thick foliage and can provide sufficient type of cover for many other plants. According to GardenTech, gardeners must water these plants consistently for optimal growth.

Hellebores

Some hellebores are dark-leafed, while most have nice glossy green leaves that snuggle up close to the ground and provide a perfect stage for their wonderful spring bloom. It is low-growing and is an ideal candidate for a shade garden.

Bee Balm

Bee balm is a tall flowering plant which may even reach 4 feet in height. Needs well draining, moist soil. Ovate leaves are perfect for providing a canopy over other plants that like more shade which means this plant gets along well with lots of flowers and vegetables.

Bleeding Heart

According to Terrace Garden France, the bleeding heart is a perennial with arching stems and heart-shaped flowers. The plants can grow up to 4 feet tall, providing perfect coverage for smaller plants.

Astilbe

Astilbes bear feathery plumes of flowers and fern-like foliage. If you have a lot of shady, moist areas in your garden, they will reach well over 2 ft high and are right at home with other shade loving plants.

Coral Bells

Coral bell foliage comes in many colors ranging from dark purple to neon lime green. This lovely, fast-growing variety makes a great ground cover for smaller plants in gardens or containers. They do best in well -drained soil.

Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are evergreen trees that produce beautiful clusters of blossoms in different shades. Some of them can reach up to 8 feet in height and produce ample shade for other plants. They prefer well-drained soil.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.