Shady border planting plan
A shady border can be one of the most restful parts of a garden. We'll choose plants that are happy with little direct sun: ferns, hellebores, spring bulbs and leaves that light up dark corners.
What you'll get in this style
Plants that suit a shady border
Shade doesn't mean dull. Your plan might use evergreen shrubs such as Christmas box, skimmia and Japanese aralia for structure; ferns such as hart's tongue fern, soft shield fern and male fern; flowering perennials such as Lenten roses, lungwort, Siberian bugloss and barrenwort; and low groundcover such as spotted deadnettle and bugle to fill gaps and keep weeds down. Snowdrops and autumn cyclamen add flowers at the quiet ends of the year, and climbing hydrangea can cover a shady fence.
Tips for a shady border
- Work out what kind of shade you have. Dry shade under trees and damp shade by a north-facing wall need different plants, so the questions ask about both.
- Use pale flowers and bright leaves. White flowers and silver, gold or variegated leaves stand out in low light.
- Improve the soil before planting. Dig in compost, especially under trees, where roots take most of the water.
- Expect spring to be the main show. Many shade plants flower from late winter to early summer, then rely on leaves for interest.
A real example
A 3 metre shady woodland border on clay soil, facing north.
- 1Bugle
- 2Spotted deadnettle
- 3Stinking iris
- 4Knotted cranesbill
- 5Skimmia
- 6Christmas box
- 7Blue hosta
- 8Shuttlecock fern
- 9Snowdrop
- 10Autumn cyclamen
- 11Climbing hydrangea
| Plant | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Bugle | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 2. Spotted deadnettle | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 3. Stinking iris | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 4. Knotted cranesbill | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 5. Skimmia | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 6. Christmas box | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower |
| 7. Blue hosta | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 8. Shuttlecock fern | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 9. Snowdrop | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 10. Autumn cyclamen | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 11. Climbing hydrangea | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
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