Welcome to my guide to shade loving plants! I wish I had this post before I started gardening! Most gardens have some shade, I happen to have a lot of it, but it can be really difficult to find plants that do well in that environment. And to make things slightly more challenging, you have to be aware of different types of conditions and their impact on shade too! So, my plan is to give you a guide to my favourite shade loving plants, the time of year they will be at their best and what combinations to plant them with. Therefore, you can have a shady bed which looks fabulous all year round.
“To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment”
Jane Austin
Introduction to shade loving plants
Wouldn’t it be easy if we didn’t have to worry about where to put our plants? That we could just plant them wherever we liked and they would flourish. But I suppose, some of the fun of gardening and getting better at it, is the trial and error of what looks good and what doesn’t. Of course, the only problem with this is that it wastes time effort and money. However, don’t worry! Because I am here to give you the benefits of my mistakes and to provide you with all the tools you need to get the right plant in the right plant in the right place.
Before we do that, I would recommend you read my post on gardening terminology so If you are completely new to gardening you won’t be baffled by some of the terms I may use, and you will understand what I am on about. Equally, if you click on any of the words underlined in this post you will get an instant definition. Clever huh?
Types of shade
Before I give you planting tips and ideas, I am going to talk a bit about different types of shade. This is because if you really want your plants to excel, giving them the conditions they love is the key. However, I am a pretty relaxed gardener so as much as I know what I should be planting where and why, sometimes I just put things where I want and see how well they do. I know – such a rebel 😆. The reason I am telling you this, is because gardening should be fun and we don’t all know everything at once therefore, if you don’t know and can’t find out, just give it a go anyway!
Full shade
Let’s start with full shade. This really is what it says on the tin, and is a position in the garden where there is no direct sunshine. This doesn’t mean that the space doesn’t get light, but it does mean that no direct sunlight hits the spot. An example of this is the very bottom of a North facing fence.
Semi-shade
Semi-shade (or partial shade) is where the sunlight does hit the spot for a period of time, normally between 4-6 hours of sunlight a day. You will find a lot of plants that like full sun to semi shade. What this really means, is that the plant prefers full on sun burn but will accept a break of a few hours 😂. However, when a plant label says it prefers semi shade, then it most likely prefers the lesser amount of sunlight.
Shade and soil
Of course, sun or shade is only half the story. So, the other thing you need to know about is the soil conditions because some plants like to keep their leaves out of the sun and their feet moist (damp shade), whereas others get a bit chilly with no sun so like to be warm and dry in their soil beds (dry shade). There are plenty of plants that are happy in either of these conditions so again, if you are unsure read the label or just give it a go.
My Favourite shade loving plants
I have made a nice little presentation for you (you’re welcome 😬) which highlights my favourite shade loving plants. However, I have not gone full on horticulturalist and given their biominal names. I have given you just the plant’s genus, i.e. their surnames, and in some cases their common names (think of nickname). For example, my favourite hydrangea is hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ which has flower heads that are over 10” in diameter, but I have just mentioned hydrangeas in general. And I have talked about the Australian tree fern which is actually called Dicksonia Antarctica, but because most people know it as the former, I have just used that name.
My favourite three combinations of shade loving plants
So now you know my 21 favourite shade loving plants, but the trick to really make them shine is in the planting combinations. Therefore, I am going to give you a few combinations to consider planting in your own gardens. Before I go into the detail I want to give you a few design tips for any plants that you want in your garden.
- Plant in odd numbers because this looks better, probably because it looks a bit more natural. I like 3’s and 5’s
- Use a small selection of plants to give you maximum impact for each plant, i.e. 3 – 5 different plants
- Consider using different types of foliage to showcase each plant – contrasting foliage is interesting and makes the plants stand out more.
- Perhaps use the same plant, but different variations of it. There are many variations of most plants with different colour flowers and leaves.
- Think about repeating your planting pattern because the brain likes to find patterns in things and it draws the eye.
Tree fern woodland
This a fabulous example of planting with some of my favourite shade loving plants. I can’t remember where I took this photo, but there is so much inspiriation to be got from it. Firstly, I LOVE tree ferns, they are so statuesque and they make a shady corner come alive. Here, they are underplanted here with hydrangeas, fuscias and hostas. In fact, underplanting taller plants with smaller ones that like shade is a really good way of making your boarders look full and it stops weeds!
Japanese anemones block planting
The below is a lovely example of block planting, where you use a few plants but plant them all together to create a visually stunning effect. The flowers are Japanese anemone and if you look closely under them at the front of the picture, you will see some carex (grass) poking out. I can’t see the back flowers that clearly but they look like astilbe which is also another good shade place (but not one of my favourites).
My two favourites – Hostas and ferns
Now to my second favourite plants – hostas. These plants are so lush in foliage, and they come in all different shapes and shades of green. Some have really big leaves, whilst others can be miniature. And these plants also flower! There is one slight drawback to hostas though, slugs and snails love them too. As a result they do get munched on quite a lot. Now I have a little tip for you – in order to prevent this, use something called Strulch. I have tried all sorts over the years; copper tape, shells and growing in pots, all with varying success. But Strulch is the one I have found that works the best.
The below bed is another great example of both planting, and using a focal point. This is because the hostas and the ferns have been used in such a way that their different foliage and sizes complement each other. Also, the white edges of the hosta leaves, picks up the white of the central statue.
Conclusion
So, now you know my favourite shade loving plants, and the design tips I use to make them look really fab. As a result, you can make your garden look lush and verdant even it you don’t have much light.
Futhermore, if you want additional garden planning ideas then have a ready of my ultimate guide to garden planning, and follow me on instagram or Facebook to get daily gardening tips.
Happy gardening!
JT x
