There’s no doubt that many of the impressive and colourful plants are sun lovers. However, not everyone has a garden with lots of light. If you have lots of shady spots or your garden faces north, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on interesting flowers.
1. Impatiens
Known generically as Busy Lizzie, this plant loves to hang out in the shade. They flower in shades of orange, red, yellow, pink, purple and white so you can still inject colour into your darker corners. It is best to use well-draining soil and keep it moist without overwatering.
2. Deadnettle
This is a low-lying, quick-spreading plant. It has silvery foliage and flowers in the summer in shades of white, pink, red and purple. It is very drought tolerant after the first two years of growth and thrives in the shade although will tolerate a little sun. Deadnettle is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t need a lot of looking after.
3. Bleeding heart
These plants have long, arching stems with heart-shaped flowers along their length. As they arc and droop, they would also work well in a hanging basket on a shady side of the house or in a porch.
4. Lily of the valley
With its wonderful smell and bell-like flowers that hang from draping stalks among darker green foliage, the lily of the valley spreads rapidly, especially in cool, shady areas like under trees, so prune it back to stop it getting out of control. Bear in mind as well, that while it looks innocent, the white flowers and red berries are poisonous, so perhaps steer clear if you have pets or children.
