If you have a shaded corner in your garden where nothing seems to grow, thinking about the verdant greenery you see when you’re out and about on woodland walks suggests that there are viable options. Here are some suggestions for plants that thrive in shaded conditions.
Shrubs and larger plants
Ferns are perfectly happy without direct sunlight and provide masses of dark green foliage in shaded spots. A group of dryopteris wallichiana creates an impressive show, or try polystichum polybelpharum, also known at the golden tassel fern for a lovely, golden green. Hostas are another smart choice – plump, waxy leaves unfurl slowly to produce a ball of emerald shades. Hydrangeas are also lovers of shade, and it’s hard to imagine a prettier range of colours, from white to vivid pinks, strong lilacs and blues. All these plants fare well in the shade, and they are also prime candidates for splitting at the end of the flowering season.
Flowers and ground cover
For dramatic orange seed heads in winter, try stinking iris, which is much more attractive than its name suggests. Wood spurge does well in dry shade under trees, and winter aconites produce delightful yellow flowers in late winter, just when the garden is crying out for colour. Another early bloomer is the snowdrop, which looks wonderful when planted in large swathes. Later in the year, campanula’s rich blue flowers create a carpet of colour, and don’t forget aquilegias, which have masses of charming purple flowers.
Thoughtful planting could turn your bare, shaded spot into a cosy green oasis. When paired with some rattan garden furniture, a good book and a cup of tea, you’ll have a new favourite corner of your garden.
