Plants for a shady border

[feargal 21]

Could anyone recommend any plants for a recently-dug shady border please? The soil is reasonably well drained, and not boggy or clay. The border ranges from about 18 inches to 2 ft deep, and edges a path, so nothing with too much spread. Height isn't an issue, as there is a wire fence behind it.

 

Ideally we'd like plenty of year round colour. All suggestions very gratefully received!

[40summat 10]

Hostas are good for shady areas, some lovely foliage variations, and easy to grow.

[francypants 445]

Looking at your thread title...... you need a beer and lemonade plant for a shandy border !!

[feargal 21]

Oops! I think that might be a little wishful thinking.. .

 

I never thought of hostas, I usually avoid them due to them being slug favourites. Might be worth another try though!

[Mayfly182 10]

If you're going to grow hostas and you care about wildlife, please do be aware that Iron Phosphate / Ferrous Phosphate slug pellets which are being marketed as 'wildlife friendly' may be no such thing - see here for details if you're interested.

 

I'm not a fan of hostas, particularly. There are a lot of great plants for shade which give a lot more interest and don't need protecting. Long Acre Plants nursery do mail order and specialise in plants for shade. I'm planning a garden mostly in shade and these are some of my favourite plants:

 

Winter -

Cyclamen Coum. Easy, pretty, seeds about gently if you start with more than one. Pretty much essential.

Hellebore (Christmas Rose / Lenten Rose). Our native Hellebore niger needs shade and the hybrids can cope with pretty heavy shade. Buy them in flower to be sure of getting the best ones as they're extremely variable - try New Leaf nursery, Coal Aston in February or March, or alternatively go for a named variety like 'Emma'

Sarcococca humilis (Christmas Box). Very low growing shrub with a very strong scent.

 

Spring and summer -

Anenome nemrosa & Anenome blanda.

Aconitum (Monkshood)

Digitalis (Foxglove). The white form of Digitalis purpurea is my favourite.

Primulas. Primula seiboldii is great, but many species (not so much the brightly coloured hybrids available from all garden centres) love shade.

Actaea. The purple leafed forms are very tall and dramatic.

Geranium. There are so many species and varieties which are good in shade, but Geranium phaeum is best for the very darkest areas. Some geraniums, particularly the pink flowered ones, can turn into weeds.

Aquilegia vulgaris or hybrids.

Epimediuim.

Tiarella and x Heucherella. Look for Tiarella 'Iron Butterfly' but there are many lovely forms available.

 

Autumn -

Autumn flowering anenomes. Anenome x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' is my favourite. There are also new much longer flowering hybrids 'Wild Swan', 'Dreaming Swan' and 'Ruffled Swan' bred by Binny Plants in Scotland - they are top of my list for new plants to try.

Cyclamen Hederifolium. Also pretty much essential.

 

That should be way more than enough plants for your border (I know I'm going to have to thin out my plant list for my shady garden)

[feargal 21]

Brilliant, thank you! It is a very long border, so I might be able to squeeze a fair few of those in.

 

My uncle has a greenhouse full of helebores, so I might go on the scrounge for some of those.

[craigmason 10]

try this website

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=100