Most of us have an area in the garden that’s in the shade for some or all of the day but these areas can look stunning with the right plants. You can even have all kinds of coloured flowers! Here are my top seven shady plants for brightening up even the darkest corner.
I call them the Magnificent Seven!
ALAN IS USING:
Shade Loving Plants from Blue Diamond Garden Centers – https://rb.gy/xsfvf1
Table and Bench Dining set from Forest Garden – https://rb.gy/v4je34
Composted Fine Bark and Soil Improver from Melcourt – https://rb.gy/l3sizj
Tools from Spear and Jackson – https://rb.gy/6wl4lh
Here’s what made my hit list – what would be on yours!
7. Mahonia – great structural plant and yellow flowers too!
6. Lacecap Hydrangea – brings vibrant pink to a shady spot
5. Heuchera ‘Paris’ – lovely foliage and spikes of dark red
4. Pachysandra – a fantastic ‘doer’ great ground cover and pale green
3. Epimedium – fabulous dense perennial with bishop hat shaped leaves
2. Alchemilla Mollis – known as ‘lady’s mantle’ this is a great plant when it rains – the droplets look like quicksilver on the acid green leaves.
1.Geranium Phaeum – pink flowers, fantastic ground cover, little maintenance. What’s not to like!
ALAN’S GARDENING BOOKS:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/search-results?tab=books&q=Alan+Titchmarsh&x9=author&q9=Alan+Titchmarsh&categoryLabel=PW-200000
My name’s Alan Titchmarsh, and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome you to my YouTube channel! I’ve been a gardener for over 60 years and I can safely say that gardening is one of life’s greatest joys, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
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23 Comments
Big Trees 🤪😂😂
Great advice Alan! In a rather dry shady corner in chalky soil I got a marvellous display with heuchera "caramel" backed by aquilegia canadensis – perfect colour harmony.
love "our Alan" always fab advice.
liriope is fabulous in shade.
All of them, they're gorgeous x
Here in the USA midwest, I try to focus on natives but I love and keep several varieties of Epimedium, Heuchera (our native Heuchera is a sunny prairie species, interestingly enough), ferns (especially maidenhair and Christmas ferns!), sedges, native Geranium maculatum, and the dainty Asian Polygonatum humile 'Fred Case'. My columbines will take a bit of shade, as will Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium reptans).
I’ve killed heucera multiple times. I always went for sun
We live in SouthWest Australia and can grow all these plants! I love your program.
The cow was watching so intently. Adorable!
That cow finds this really interesting
I would definitely include Brunnera and Pulmonarias and although I like Alan’s choice I wish he’d include those that can be invasive as Alchemilla mollis spreads everywhere in my garden in some areas where it’s not wanted.
Epimedium does it for me. And I’m so looking forward to planting my shady areas ❤
I love a good fern, and if you have a sheltered spot, a favourite is Jungle Brake, Pteris Umbrosa which is very attractive through the winter. I cut mine back in March so I can enjoy the new young foliage. It doesn’t like high wind. The best flowering perennial for shade imo is Corydalis calycosa. It has gorgeous lime green foliage which is emerging now in Feb. The flowers are about a foot tall and bright blue…true blue, not purple or violet. They last for weeks, And the scent…wow, very sweet and fills my garden! Oh, and that also reminds me…blue Himalayan mountain poppies. If you live in a cooler spot, especially in Scotland, they are a joy! Rhododendrons of course as well. Shade can make a beautiful garden.
I love all of these and have had them in all 3 of our properties but must give a shout out to the Epimedium for its happy ground covering and delicate flowers.
I have a Berberis outside my shady back door – evergreen with egg yolk orangey-yellow April blooms that the bees like.
What about begonias?
I prefer the soft caress non spiky Mohonia, very nice and no pain
I love heucheras. Such a great variety of coloured foliage.
Thank you. I am wondering whether there could there be some kind of abbreviation on all plant recommendations for our gardens which denote whether they are non toxic to cats & dogs?
Alchemilla is a voracious self seeder…. beware!!!
Pink Astilbe
The main disadvantage of shade plants is more times than not you're talking about no vibrant color (hydrangea being the exception)
The herb basket. Hanging baskets dont do as well in South Africa as in the UK.