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Plants for Shade
Recommending plants for shade is not always straightforward. Total shade or dappled shade, dry or moist – we need to be more specific to make ideal suggestions. No plants like shade as they all need sunlight to grow – but some are more tolerant than others. The plants on this list should grow adequately but f you can increase the light, feed regularly and look after the plants well then they should do better still.
Aucubas ~ Spotted Laurels. A tough and adaptable as well as handsome glossy leafed shrub. The large leaves are boldly splashed with yellow. Berries in winter. Ht 6-12ft. Evergreen.
 Bergenias ~ Elephants Ears. Dark green rounded fleshy leaves show off the large heads of pink, white or red flowers which appear in spring. Good as a ground cover plant. 12” tall.
 Camellias ~ A wide range of pink, white, red and even yellow flowers on these robust evergreens in the spring. Must have lime free soil and require some light to encourage flower buds to develop. Ht varies from 5ft upwards.
Euonymus ~ All the euonymus will do well at the front of a shaded border. Hardy low growing evergreens. These may also be grown in a container. Ht 12”.
Euophorbias ~ A genus of perennials that thrive in dry shaded soils. Rosettes of dark leaves are carried on upright stems. Pale yellow green flowers are borne in 2-3” wide heads from June to July. Ht 18”.
 Fatsia ~ A medium sized to large shrub with polished green palmate leaves. A good architectural plant and can be grown equally well in a pot or the ground. Creamy white globular heads of flowers are carried on the end of the stems and appear in October. Ht 6-12ft.
 Hederas ~ Ivy. Ivy is an effective ground cover as it is a self clinging climbing plant. Many distinctive colours and leaf shapes are available. Evergreen
 Hostas ~ A useful perennial for moist shaded sites. Many different combinations of leaf colour are available. Spikes of blue or white flowers in summer. Good in pots.
 Ilex ~ Holly. The colourful variegated leaves brighten up the darkest of corners. In winter berries are produced on female varieties if the flowers have been pollinated, so often best to plant in pairs. Ht to 15ft+.
 Jasmine Nudiflorum ~ Winter Jasmine. The bright yellow flowers are carried on the bare winter stems during December to March. Fresh green foliage appears in early spring. An ideal shrub for a north facing wall.
Hydrangea Petiolaris ~ The best choice for a climber for a north facing wall. White flowers during the summer. Ht to 15ft.
 Lonicera Halliana ~ Evergreen Honeysuckle. Quick growing climber. Fragrant white and yellow flowers appear through the summer and black berries may follow. Ht to 12ft.
 Mahonias ~ A hardy evergreen shrub with panicles of spiky leaves. Wonderful fragrant yellow flowers appear in long heads on the top of the shrub in winter. Ht to 8ft.
Sarcococca ~ Winter Box. Low growing in a neat habit this shrub flowers with fragrant cream coloured flowers in the winter months. Ht to 1-2ft.
 Viburnum Tinus ~ A plant for every garden. Rounded in habit this evergreen produces clusters of pink flower buds in autumn which open to white in spring. Ht to 8ft.
 Vinca Minor ~ Periwinkle. A great ground cover plant producing star shaped flowers in a range of blues, purples and white. Very reliable. Spread 3ft.
 Pulmonarias ~ Lungwort. A genus of pretty perennials. Spotted leaves are the foil for the flowers in a range of colours from pink, white and blue. Well suited to damp ground conditions.
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