Browse the light requirements on any number of flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and other plants and you're more likely than not to see that they need full sunlight. This means that in order for them to fully thrive, they'll need about to six to eight hours of sunlight each day.

The preponderance of light-loving plants can be depressing to gardeners who have shaded areas they would like to incorporate into their landscaping. While you won't be able to include certain types of plants in these areas, they can still support a stunning array of flora and features.

Before you start setting out plants, determine how shady each part of your lawn is. The Penn State Extension says a site may have sunlight that is filtered through a tree canopy or reflected onto the area. Other areas may be shaded by a building, fence, or other feature for part of the day. Deborah L. Brown, writing for the University of Minnesota Extension, says these areas can still receive enough sunlight to grow a wider variety of plants.

Areas of deeper shade tend to be more challenging, since they'll receive little if any sun during a day. The shade is often cast by tree canopies, which can also block rainfall from reaching the ground; moreover, the roots of these trees are typically strong competitors for any available moisture and nutrients.

Although they can make gardening beneath them more difficult, trees offer a number of benefits on a property. The Missouri Botanical Garden says they can help block winds, shade a home on hot summer days, and muffle noise. Trees will also help lend the air of a natural woodland setting to any landscaping efforts.

Still, homeowners might consider thinning out a tree's canopy to improve growing conditions below. Removing some branches can convert the site to one of dappled sunlight rather than heavy shade. Julie Martens Forney, writing for HGTV, says there may be pockets of regular sunlight beneath trees where more light-dependent species can survive, although their blooms may not be as impressive as plants grown in full sunlight.

Testing the soil in a shady area will let you know what plants are likely to thrive there. In areas under trees, plants may need frequent waterings to ensure that the tree roots are not sucking up all the moisture. The Penn State Extension says drought tolerant species can also grow well alongside trees.

Be careful not to damage any trees when cultivating the soil to add plants. The Missouri Botanical Garden says rototilling or adding excessive soil at the site can damage or smother roots, causing a tree to weaken or die off. When gardening under trees, focus on adding plants to individual areas instead of tilling a wider area.

There are plenty of species to choose from when looking for shade garden plants. The Penn State Extension says you should consider the USDA hardiness zone of each species as well as the shade levels at the site. Heavy shade will limit the number of choices available, but can also support a variety of ground covers including periwinkle, foam flowers, and lily of the valley.

Native plants will grow best, since they are already attuned for the conditions in the region. However, the Missouri Botanical Garden says you can also explore more exotic options which can be supported in the garden.

You may have to be prepared for certain challenges in growing plants in areas with limited sunlight. Brown says annuals will be slow to reach maturity in a shade garden, so starting them indoors before transplanting them will give them a better chance at success. Bulbs that flower in the spring can bloom in the shade, but should be grown as annuals; they rely on their leaves to collect energy for the next season, and won't be successful if they don't receive adequate sunlight.

Even a few herbs can be grown in the shade, including basil, chives, and members of the mint family. Vegetables can also produce a harvest, although it is best to plant them in areas with morning sunlight and afternoon shade.

Moss can be a particularly vibrant feature for a shade garden. Danny Bonvissuto, also writing for HGTV, says moss works well as a border to a rock garden, water feature, or path. It is drought tolerant, easy to maintain, and provides a pop of stunning green color.

Container gardens can also be successful in shady areas. Lauren Dunec Hoang, writing for the real estate site Houzz, says these containers can sometimes be moved indoors at the end of the season to be tended as houseplants during the winter.

Since the area already has low light conditions, you'll want to avoid dark features. Forney recommends choosing plants with light tones such as white or gold to stand out in the shade. Similarly, hardscaping features such as pavers and sculptures shouldn't be too dark, or else they will blend in with their surroundings.