BEST PLANTS FOR SHADE
Plants vary greatly as to how much shade they require or can tolerate, some plants are shade lovers, they actually require shade to grow well, other plants are tolerant, they grow fairly well in but actually prefer more light..
It also needs to be remembered that you can have dry, or damp shade, very different conditions that suit different plants. Plants such as Rodgersia and Astilbe require moisture, with Rodgersia preferring it decidedly on the damp side.
So what are the BEST plants for shade ?
This totally depends on the situation, very shady and very wet to part shade and dry. Look carefully at the conditions and read up on the different requirement for each plant, some plants will just not tolerate much sun at all, others are more adaptable. |
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Plants for Shade and Semi Shade
Plants that grow well in shaded positions in the garden fall into a number of categories including best plants for deep , dry and damp shade. It is essential when selecting plants for a shaded area of the garden to first look at the type of soil and conditions that exist. Plants selected for very deep shaded areas will differ to those selected for dappled or light shade. Moisture requirements must be considered as well.
Best Shade Loving Plants for the Garden
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Plants vary greatly in the amount of shade that they grow well in, however it is possible to find groundcovers, perennials, bulbs and flowering plants that are suitable.
Most plants that are listed here prefer dappled shade, very deep shaded positions can be a difficult area for all but the toughest plants. We provide a list of proven best shade plants for the garden.
Clivia Plants
Clivia are a valuable shade plant as they do well in dry shade. Clivia cope with both the shade and dryness that can occur beneath large trees with ease. Bright flowers are a bonus, and clivias are not invasive.-
Hellebores
Another perennial plant that does well beneath trees. With lots of new cultivars available including yellow and white flowering hellebores, hellebores are another tough shade plant.
Trillium woodlanders
Trillium are a favourite shade loving woodland plant and require a humus rich moist but well drained soil. Trillium flowers are very attractive, however the foliage also looks great.Ferns the ultimate shade plants
Ferns are a great standby for shaded corners of the garden, no flowers as such but a great variety of foliage in terms of both texture and color.Dicentra
The 'bleeding heart' flowers are fascinating and the ferny soft foliage is most attractive. Lots of different dicentras to try.
- Rhododendron for shade
One of our favorites for in cooler climate gardens, great flowers, some species have great textured foliage as well
Hydrangeas
Again an old favorite shade loving plant. With variations in flower form and foliage, hydrangea well worth investigating.Epimedium groundcover for shade
Tough, great foliage, and some with interesting flowers. Epimediums can withstand dry conditions. A great shade loving ground cover plant. Epimedium Plants- Hosta
Huge variety of foliage, flowers are an added bonus.
- Dodecatheon
These 'shooting stars' will do well in dappled shade.
- Aucuba japonica
Gold Dust Plant, a great splash of bright yellow and green in the dark part of the garden FIND AUCUBA JAPONICA
Trilliums are another shade loving plant, one of the best shade plants that do well in a woodland setting.
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Shade Loving Hostas are one of the best foliage plant for a cool shaded position
For foliage, hostas do well in the shade garden.
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Shade Plants by Mail Order
With so many specialist Nurseries selling a wide range of shade tolerant plants and perennials by mail order it is now fairly easy to establish a garden in a shaded position. Check out the range of plants available online.
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Shade Plants include ground covers, perennial plants, evergreen, deciduous and flowering plants for shade.
It is essential when choosing plants for these situations that you distinguish between dry and wet or damp shade. Some plants such as Rodgersia (Rodgersia 'Chocolate Wings' is an interesting cultivar) require moist conditions while others love dry spots including many clivia species.
Next we have the degree of shade, part, deep, dappled, or heavy?ΔΆ. they are all different and suit different plants.
Flowering plants are very desirable, they provide color and interest, however consider plants with variegated foliage for year round interest in shaded positions.
Plants with great foliage should also be considered, try arisaema candidisimum, it starts in late spring with very attractive foliage and follows with large leathery textured leaves that last through summer. Its not an evergreen but works well in a clump of 6-10 plants. Bergenia cordifolia is another, great foliage for most of the year with flowers in winter.
Plants For Dry Shade
Apridectra elatior
Bergenia
Brunnera
Clivia
Dryopteris
Epimedium
Euonymus
Francoa
Heuchera
Helleborus orientalis
Iris foetidissima
Mahonia
Stachys byzantia
Vinca Major
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Plants for Damp to Wet Shade
Astilbe
Bluebells
Cardiocrinum giganteun
Dicentra specabilis
Hostas
Rodgersia
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