It feels very gratuitous to say so, especially as I’ve spent so many years in a flat with zero outdoor space, but I have a very annoying garden… especially when it comes to permanent shady spots.
Much of it sits in bright sunlight all day, which seems ideal until our increasingly hot summers roll around and everything starts to look a little scorcher. Then there’s a section pressed up against a neighboring fence that never sees the sun (that much K A type of garden shade), plus a giant magnolia tree in the background that creates a patchwork of shade under its sprawling canopy.
It could easily be a planting nightmare, but luckily, I live with a professional gardener. While this has its downsides (our garden often looks like a busman’s holiday), it does mean I have access to expert advice on where, what and when. Shade-loving perennial A little more… well, call them Unique Alternatives and, as a result, our shady spots have become some of my favorite parts of the garden.
1. Fern
(Image credit: Future plc / Lizzie Orme Photography Ltd)
If there’s one plant I associate with a permanent shade garden, it’s beautiful Low maintenance fern. We have them scattered throughout the darkest part of the garden, where they seem perfectly happy despite receiving very little direct sunlight.
I love what they bring to the border. Their feathery fronds soften hard edges and create a lush, forest feel that makes even the most awkward corners feel intentional. Better still, they require very little fuss once installed.
Shop Fern:
Crocus
Polystichum satiferum
This large, evergreen fern is native to Britain, making it an easy win for planting schemes.
Crocus
Highlight the Shady Corner Mini-Border Collection
This curated collection combines attractive foxglove cultivars with silver foliage and delicate, textured ferns.
With its attractive, dark green fronds, this evergreen fern provides year-round interest in shady, moist areas.
2. Wild garlic
(Image credit: Getty)
My husband recently planted wild garlic in the permanently shady spots of our garden (with two young children, we have to be mindful of the fact that they can and often will try to eat most of what we plant). While many gardeners know it as a woodland plant, I never realized how well it would perform in a shady garden until we planted it ourselves.
In spring, it creates a carpet of fresh green leaves and delicate white flowers that brighten up an otherwise bleak area. It’s also edible, which seems like a bonus when garden space is limited. you can buy chives ‘garlic’ from crocus.
Warning: Be careful not to make a mistake Aggressive three-cornered garlic For the real deal.
3. Spring bulb
(Image credit: Polly Altes Photography/Future plc)
As already mentioned, the area under our magnolia is shaded most of the year, making it a perfect home. Spring bulbs.
Before magnolias are completely out, bulbs like snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils can take advantage of the extra light available. They provide a welcome splash of color in late winter and make great use of space that might otherwise feel empty.
Personally, I love the deep jewel-like tones of crocus the best (don’t tell others), so I recommend buying something like this Bumper Bag of Crocus Bulbs from Amazon.
4. Ivy
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Perhaps the most controversial planting choice in our permanent shade garden spots Ivy. At the very back of the garden, where the giant trees outside our fence provide deep shade, we’ve allowed this useful evergreen to invade some of the less attractive areas.
Now, I know he’s not universally loved, but I think he’s unfairly maligned; It’s just not great for WildlifeBut it covers ugly spots beautifully, provides year-round greenery, and creates a romantic, secret-garden atmosphere that would be hard to achieve with many other plants. In the right place, I think ivy can be a real asset.
Try something like Hedera Helix ‘Glacier’ from Crocus If you are keen to give it to yourself.
More plants that thrive in shade
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you are looking for additional ideas, Maurice Hankinson, Managing Director Hops Grove NurseryThat said, there are plenty of plants that grow happily in shady conditions.
‘Shady areas in the garden can feel like a challenge, but that’s not a problem because there are so many plants that thrive in the shade,’ he says. ‘With the right plants, a shady border can be one of the most beautiful parts of your garden.’
Morris is the founder and managing director of Hankinson Hops Grove Nursery Ltd., is the UK’s only specialist manufacturer-retailer of hedging plants. Shortly after graduating with a degree in commercial horticulture from Rittle College, Essex, he established a thriving business in 1992.
For foliage with different textures, colors and shades of green, consider planting hostas and ferns. These are shade-loving and reliable and will provide year-round interest,’ continues Morris (personally, I tend to stick to ferns because slugs apply to hostas whenever I dare to plant them).
‘For plants with colorful flowers, try planting Foxgloves which you can pick up One liter of Excelsior Hybrids in Gardening ExpressAstilbes, like this deep rose pink variety ‘Easterly Rose’ from Thompson & Morganand hardy geraniums like a hard violet-blue ‘Roseanne’ variety, from £9.99 at Thompson & MorganWhich grows well in partial to full shade and will provide plenty of color. And year-round structure can be achieved by planting shade-loving evergreen shrubs such as Schimia and Sarcococca. Sarcococca, often called sweet box, is especially valued for its highly fragrant winter flowers, which are delightful at a time of year when there is little else in the garden.’
Morris adds that you should ‘be sure to add plenty of organic matter to the soil to help plants establish successfully’.
FAQs
What plants like permanent shade?
Many plants are well adapted to permanent shade and can thrive in areas that receive little or no direct sunlight. According to RHS guidance, woodland-style plants including ferns, hostas, hellebores, epimediums and wild garlic are often the best choice.
Why? Well, these plants evolved to grow under tree canopies, so they’re comfortable with low light levels and appreciate the cool, moisture-retaining conditions often provided by shady spots.
Evergreen shrubs such as sarcococca (sweet box) and skimmia can also perform well, adding year-round structure and, in the case of sarcococca, highly fragrant winter flowers.
What will grow in 100% shade?
While very few plants thrive in complete darkness, plenty grow successfully in deep shade areas that don’t get direct sunlight. RHS recommendations include ferns, ivy, vinca (periwinkle), Japanese forest grass, wild garlic and shade-tolerant ground cover plants that grow naturally on the woodland floor.
Hellebores are another reliable option, producing flowers even in surprisingly low light conditions. In deep shade, foliage thrives more than flowering plants, so focusing on interesting leaf shapes, textures and shades of green can help create a lush, attractive planting scheme where sun-loving plants would struggle.
For all my complaints about our awkward garden, the permanently shady areas have become some of my favorites. The ferns look lush for months, the ivy keeps the songbirds humming, and the bulbs under the magnolias never fail to lift my spirits after winter.
Throw in the promise of wild garlic still to come, and it just goes to show that lack of sunshine doesn’t mean lack of interest!
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