Every garden has some form of shade. A shady space tucked in a corner is a useful spot to put utilities like the dustbins, tool shed or a compost heap. It is also a great place for a wildlife enticing log pile. A shady part of your garden can provide a cool oasis of calm in hot weather. As our climate changes we will be needing more shady places to retreat to. Shade-loving perennials in the garden create a lush understory often with bright pops of colour. Most are spring flowering but many will provide wonderful contrasting foliage through the summer months and make excellent ground cover.
What kind of shade do you have?
A plant that requires full sun needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Full / Deep Shade refers to areas that receive less than 3 hours direct sun per day in midsummer, such as against a north facing wall or under an evergreen tree. These plants often need to avoid sun during the hottest part of the day.
- Dappled shade is created by sun shining through the leaves and branches of a tree. Plants in dappled shade all day, may receive less than 3 hours of direct sunlight in summer. Others retain their leafy foliage until autumn.
- Partial Shade refers to areas that receive between 3 and 6 hours of direct sun per day in midsummer. It is created by being in the shadow of a structure as the sun moves through the day. Plants for partial shade like to avoid the midday sun in midsummer.
Plants for Deep Shade
- Acanthus mollis
- Alchemilla mollis
- Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
- Epimedium ‘Sulphureum’
- Geranium phaeum
- Iris foetidissima
- Liriope
- Polygonatum
- Pulmonaria
- Rodgersia
- Tiarella
- Tricyrtis
Plants for Dappled Shade
All the plants in the above category, plus:
- Actea
- Anemone nemorosa
- Brunnera
- Cyclamen
- Epimedium
- Eranthis hyemalis
- Erythronium
- Galanthus (snowdrops)
- Geranium macrorrhizum
- Helleborus
- Heuchera
- Hyacinthoides nonscripta (bluebells)
- Lamprocapnos (Dicentra) spectabilis
- Primula
Plants for Partial Shade
All the plants in the above two categories, plus:
- Ajuga
- Anemone hupehensis
- Astilbe
- Astrantia major
- Bergenia
- Campanula
- Digitalis (foxgloves)
- Eurybia divaricate (WhiteWood Aster)
- Gallium oderatum
- Hostas
- Lamium
- Liriope
- Myosotis (Forget-me-not)
All varieties of Hostas are classic shade loving plants. With such a variety of leaf colour, it is worth noting that the yellow leaf varieties like a little more sun than the blue leaf varietieslittle more sun than the blue leaf varieties.
Ferns are also classic shade loving plants. Most like a damp situation but there are some, like Dryopteris affinis and Polystichum setiferum, that will grow happily in dry shade once established.
With the right plants, even the shadiest corner of your garden can become a thriving space full of colour and texture throughout the seasons.
Continue your Gardening Journey
Need a little extra advice? Visit your local Tates of Sussex Garden Centre today, where our friendly knowledgeable, team will be happy to help you choose the right plants and offer expert guidance.
