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Planting Plan for a Shady Border

© Jane Hollis

Many people find shady borders to be problematical to plant. Indeed the shade beneath a dense evergreen tree may only allow the planting of real toughies such as ivy (Hedera) and dead nettle (Lamium), although this is often more the result of the dense tree roots than the shade itself. However, if you have dappled or partial shade, or a north-facing border then you may be surprised by the range of plants you can grow. (For a detailed description of shade types see Marge Talt's article on Types of Shade).

The planting plan below gives a scheme for a north-facing border, with no direct sunlight in autumn, winter and spring, but plenty of reflected light. In summer, it receives one or two hours of sunlight at the end of the day. It is backed by a 6' high panel fence, which is covered with climbers. The colour scheme is mixture of green, golden and variegated foliage with yellow and white flowers with the odd splash of magenta. It might look rather garish in full sunlight, but is great for brightening a dull, shady area. Variegated or golden foliage is alternated with plain green for contrast. All the plants are hardy in the majority of Britain, zone 8.

1 Eleagnus pungens 'Maculata', 2 Lonicera 'Graham Thomas' (honeysuckle), 3 Choisya ternata, 4 Hedera colchica dentata 'Variegata' (ivy), 5 Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'(golden mock orange), 6 Mahonia 'Lionel Fortescue', 7 Clematis montana 'Alba', 8 Skimmia japonica 'Rubella', 9 Skimmia japonica 'Foremanii', 10 Hebe 'White Gem', 11 Digitalis purpurea 'Alba'(white foxglove), 12 Anemone 'Honorine Jobert', 13 Bergenia 'Sissinghurst White' (elephants ears), 14 Lamium maculatum 'Aureum' (golden dead nettle), 15 Geranium 'Ann Folkard' (pictured top left), 16 Campanula lactiflora 'Alba'(bellflower), 17 Pulmonaria saccharata (lungwort), 18 Dicentra formosa

The scheme is underplanted by bulbs such as Narcissus (daffodils), Cyclamen and Anemone nemorosa (wood anemone).

Breakdown of seasonal interest

Winter: evergreen foliage from Eleagnus, Choisya, Hedera, Mahonia, Skimmia, Hebe and Bergenia. Flowers from Mahonia and Cyclamen coum and flowers and berries from Skimmias.

Spring: Flowers from Clematis, Bergenia, Lamium, Pulmonaria, Dicentra, Narcissus and Anemone nemorosa.

Summer: Flowers from Lonicera, Choisya, Philadelphus, Hebe, Digitalis, Geranium and Campanula.

Autumn: Flowers from Anemone 'Honorine Jobert', Cyclamen hederifolium, plus berries from Skimmia.

It is always worth experimenting with the plants that will grow in your patch of shade. Reference books often play safe with their recommendations, but I have found that you can stretch the limits quite a lot. Obviously, don't spend a lot of money on a plant that is recommended for full sun and plant it in dense shade, but if you have surplus plants (from seed, cuttings, divisions or from friends), then place a few in shade and see how