Shady plants

• Dark areas that don’t receive any direct sunlight or only during certain times of day or times of year
• Numerous trees and large shrubs casting shade
• North-facing aspects

Shade is an integral part of many gardens. It’s also an integral part of the countryside and many plants have adapted to succeed in it. Some plants will only thrive in cooler, shady positions.

In some parts of the garden, the presence of shade, or the degree of shade, can vary depending on the time of day and the time of year, as the sun moves through the sky.
There are several types and severities of shade, each with its own characteristics.
In some circumstances, it isn’t the shade itself that causes problems with plant growth.

The soil next to brick walls can be very dry, especially house walls with overhanging eaves, so plants are also growing inside the rain line.

While dappled shade is a less severe degree of shade than permanent shade, the main problem from lack of plant success usually comes from competition from the tree’s roots for water and nutrients, creating a very dry, impoverished soil. Also, less rain falls on the soil, so plants go short of water. The presence of excessive tree root growth may make it difficult to dig planting holes in the first place.

Permanent shade

This never receives any sunlight. It could be a dark corner, such as that created by buildings, walls, fences or even a tall, thick hedge. Alleys, basements and other enclosed areas are a common problem. This type of shade is the most demanding for plants, and few will thrive here.

A north-facing border with constant, permanent shade but open to the sky, is the next degree of shade.

Dappled shade

This type of shade exists under the canopy of trees whose branches and leaves filter the light. Some trees have a denser canopy than others, producing more, deeper shade. While others are shallow rooted, their roots being nearer the soil makes it more difficult to dig planting holes and the soil is drier.

You can improve growing conditions and reduce the degree of shade by lifting and thinning the tree’s crown. The timing of the tree coming into leaf can create different conditions and longer or shorter periods of shade.

Thorough soil preparation is essential, digging in lots of bulky organic matter to conserve soil moisture levels and nutrients. Mulching the soil is also important.

Partial shade

In these positions, the amount and degree of shade varies at different times of day and year. They will be in shadow for part of the day, as the sun moves across the sky.

A shade-less garden would, in fact, be quite dull. Shade gives subtle effects and the contrast between light and dark, and allows some plants to produce luxurious foliage. Plants in shade generally go on for longer, as the sun doesn’t literally burn them out. Shade also provides somewhere for you to sit and relax and produces a sense of tranquillity.

Not only does shade give a cooler feel to a garden, making it more pleasant to sit and work in during hot weather, it gives respite to plants. Many plants, especially those with large or fleshy leaves can shrivel up in full sun. As plants need less water when they’re not in full sun, you spend less time watering.

It reduces the number of plants you can grow – those that need a warm, sunny position won’t thrive.

You may also need to water plants growing close to brick walls and growing under trees.

The following are particularly suitable for the different types of shade.

Permanent deep shade

Shrubs
Aucuba
Buxus
Choisya
Fatshedera
Hedera
Ilex
Lonicera pileata
Mahonia
Pachysandra terminalis
Prunus laurocerasus
Rubus tricolor
Sambucus nigra
Skimmia
Viburnum tinus
Vinca

Perennials
Asplenium ferns
Convallaria
Dryopteris ferns
Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae
Iris foetidissima
Saxifraga urbium
Symphytum grandiflorum
Waldsteinia ternata

North-facing border

All the plants listed above, plus the following:

Shrubs
Camellia
Chaenomeles
Clematis
Cotoneaster
Euonymus fortunei
Garrya elliptica
Hydrangea anomola petiolaris
Jasminum nudiflorum
Osmanthus
Paeonia
Parthenocissus
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’
Pieris
Prunus lusitanica
Pyracantha
Ribes alpinum
Ribes sanguineum
Salix
Sarcococca
Viburnum davidii

Perennials
Aconitum
Anemone
Bergenia
Helleborus
Hosta
Houttuynia
Paeonia officinalis
Phlox

Dappled shade

All the plants listed above, plus the following:

Shrubs
Cornus canadensis
Daphne laureola
Daphne pontica
Elaeagnus
Gaultheria
Rhododendron
Stranvaesia
Vaccinium vitis idaea

Perennials
Ajuga
Aruncus
Blechnum ferns
Brunnera
Cyclamen
Dicentra
Epimedium
Lamium
Liriope
Meconopsis
Oxalis
Polygonatum
Polygonum
Primula
Pulmonaria
Tellima
Tiarella
Trillium

Many bulbs including daffodils, snowdrops, crocus, bluebells. And lilies L. martagon, L. auratum and L. tigrinum

Partial shade

All the plants listed above, plus the following:

Perennials
Actaea rubra
Alchemilla
Aquilegia
Astrantia
Campanula latifolia
Campanula glomerata
Cimicifuga
Gentiana asclepiadea
GeraniumViola

Annuals and bedding plants
Begonia
Fuchsia
Impatiens
Lobelia
Primula
Viola/pansy

Damp shade

Shrubs
Cornus
Salix
Perennials
Ajuga
Aruncus
Astilbe
Brunnera
Cimicifuga
Gentiana asclepiadea
Hosta
Houttuynia
Matteucia ferns
Onoclea ferns
Osmunda ferns
Podophyllum
Polygonum
Primula
Pulmonaria
Rodgersia