Gardenseeker.com






 


Google+ Button

Plants for Shaded Areas in the garden 

Many plants will grow in shady areas of the garden - some with quite spectacular flowers. Shaded areas can be bought to life - if you use the right plants.

  

Finding Plants for shaded areas  is not the  problem as it might seem. Very often, plants do not grow in shade, because of the actual cause of the ‘permanent’ shade i.e. an overhanging tree which (a) prevents the rain getting at the area in question and (b) uses up any soil moisture that is available.

So, assuming that you can keep the area reasonably moist, you have a much better chance of success with a wider range of plants in the shade areas.

There are varying degrees of shade of course - and different types of shade. For instance, simply mentioning 'under tree canopies' can mean dense dry shade - as under large conifers or dense trees, whereas the shade afforded by the likes of Betula - Silver Birch - and Robinia, is normally quite different - more dappled than dense!

Shade from house walls can mean either dry or damp, depending upon which aspect of the wall. North facing will be cold and often damp, whereas the South facing wall will normally be dry - for summer at least.   

For summer bedding plants, you cannot beat the ordinary Busy Lizzie (Impatiens) for shaded areas - and they don’t come much prettier than that.

Helleborus orientalis
Where I used to live, there is a mature Cedar tree - under which is ‘permanent shade’- but lightened up with a lovely selection of Helleborus orientalis. The flowers start from February into March - just when you need a bit of colour, after a long winter.

For dry shaded areas you can also try some of the Epimediums - especially Epimedium perraldianum and also some of the Lamiums , (with these you get the benefit of pretty flowers and also pretty leaves).

 

 

 

Pulmonarias (L) are also suitable for a good flower show in the spring - followed by spectacular foliage on some varieties. Liriope muscari and the Bergenias will also do well.

Rhododendrons (M) and Azaleas will also flourish if allowed just a little dappled light. Azalea mollis is a fine deciduous Azalea for woodland and shaded areas.

Eythronium - the Dogs Tooth Violet - has a number of varieties which are suitable for dry shaded areas. The image above shows Erythronium grandiflorum (R)                           

For damp shade areas, The King Cup (Calatha palustris) makes a good show in the early spring - so do some of the primulas such as the new ‘Wanda’ types. Hostas of course - but do watch out for slugs. Monardas (Bergamots) are also worthy of a place. If it is not too damp, then the Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia) is also a must. This will also do quite well in a dry situation. For something quite spectacular in early spring, treat yourself to one of the many Camellias .

Tiarella cordifolia                    Camellia Debbie                       Hosta Honeybells

Best Bedding Plants for Shaded Areas

Perennial Plants for Shade

The herbaceous and other Perennials are the best range of plants for shaded places in the garden. For many of them, it is their natural habitat. Some will do equally well in full sun or quite heavy shade.  All of the hardy garden ferns are also suited to varying degrees of shade.

 In this group we will also list the few biennials that regularly re-seed themselves, so for practical purposes can be classed as perennials - even if not right botanically. The best example of which being digitalis - Foxgloves.

Shrubs for growing in shade conditions.

Other Areas of specific interest |  Plants for Damp Soil | Plants for Dry Banks | Plants with Yellow Flowers | Plants with Pink Flowers | Plants for Shaded Gardens |