To maintain the winter colour the stems are best coppiced, that is to say cut to the ground at the end of each winter. I like it as it covers well and provides interest in a bed which is difficult to fill with suitable plants. Apr 22, 2016 - A selection of plants that grow in damp shade. Plants (461) Product (8) Facing. Blushing Bride spiderwort and Concord Grape spiderwort are two such shade plants for wet sites. At the end of each chapter there are key points and a helpful checklist at the end summarising the growing steps and timeline. Grow the more slug resistant varieties. Hellebores make a neat clump and are generally trouble free apart from black spot. Top 10 plants for shade. Alchemilla looks good growing with Primula, many varieties of which are also tolerant of these conditions. Perennials provide summer color and height but die back in many areas in the winter. An evergreen UK native, it’s often found growing in lime-rich soils. Persicaria amplexicaulis Red Bistort, is a bee magnet which is less common for such a shade loving plant. Many are variegated, their lush bright green leaves glinting from dark borders. © 2012-2022 Carol Jackson - The Sunday Gardener is a registered trademark. After finally clearing the weeds from half of my front garden I have a few gaps, can anyone please suggest plants for damp shade - not pink and 3' ish tall. The Foxglove is tolerant of many growing conditions including damp shady sites. Also known as elephant’s ears, Colocasia esculenta is a stunning exotic perennial, with huge, expansive leaves. A compact variety of this hardy perennial is ideal for smaller gardens. Suitable plants. die after flowering, so the right spot is crucial. East (303) North (200) South (283) West (336) How much sun. These plants are fantastic for the difficult north facing rooms that are low in light. Why not take a look at our feature on flowering plants for damp shade. Astilbes look good with ferns, many of which are also tolerant of shady, damp conditions. The variety illustrated is  'Alba' but more common and widely available is the purple variety, which produces tiny fluffy purple flowers and tall stems which sway around in the breeze. ). Hellebores are easy to grow plants which spread and self seed in a well-behaved way; tips and advice on growing Hellebores. Spring flowering but with an occasional flower later. A shady spot can be difficult for plants as it creates a cool environment and is often coupled with dry soil or very damp soil. This fern works brilliantly with other ferns, hostas and bergenias. Illustrated centre is Fritillaria meleagris, the delicate Snake's Head Fritillary, a spring flowering bulb happy to grow in shade and quite wet soils, see below. Several marginal bog plants are perfectly at home away from the water's edge, provided they have heavy, damp soil in shade. Good in damp soil and will tolerate some shade, they are easy to grow, and once established will multiply and populate a suitable damp area of the garden and come up reliably each year. Alchemilla mollis will grow in partial shade and damp conditions. Recommended varieties with award of garden merit are M.baileyi, M 'Jimmy Bane', M. 'Huntfield' and M. 'Barney's Blue'. perennial andCornus, common name 'dogwood',  is a deciduous shrub which has great winter colour with striking  coloured stems, as illustrated left the variety Cornus Alba. One of my absolute favourite plants, which is so colourful and graceful, is Thalictrum. Geranium phaeum is another good choice – the white flowers of ‘Album’ are particularly effective. Planting shade loving/moist soil plants can also help to improve the condition of the soil. While many of the plants we’ve picked will also produce stunning flowers, they’ve been chosen for their gorgeous foliage. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Foliage Plants for Damp Shade - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Looking for flowers for shade? However, there are plenty of shade loving flowers and shrubs that tolerate these low-light conditions so it doesn't need to remain bare for long. Plants grow in dark places all over the world, generally inhabiting the undercanopy of forests. With this great offer you can improve your fitness levels at home! Grow it in partial shade and moist soil. Many Hosta have very attractive variegated leaves but although easy to grow, they are slug and snail magnets, (advice on how to beat the slugs.) Deschampsia, or the tufted hair grass, grow to produce elegant mounds, which are topped by a speckled mass of flower spikes in mid-summer. Take a look at our pick of stunning plants for dry shade. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Hosta is a herbaceous perennial, it returns reliably each year and is grown for its very attractive foliage. Bridal Veil astilbe, with its shock of white blooms, looks terrific on a backdrop of darker green leaves, and astilbe is also available in other shades, from fire engine red to blushing pink. It grows from tubers and is frost tender, so will need the same winter treatment as dahlias. Helleborus orientalis 'The lenten Rose' is particularly attractive as is the H. Niger 'The Christmas Carol' both are tolerant of shade and damp soil. The most commonly grown are P.affinis, P bistorta, P. milletti  and all have flower heads which are spikes and in varying forms of pink, and reds. Persicaria amplexicaulis is best grown in damp, moisture retentive soil in semishade. Gardens shaded by trees and buildings are increasingly common as gardens get smaller. Add mulch to keep the soil moist. Ornamental grasses can be used to great effect in our gardens, from providing a calming presence to more exuberant flowering plants to being the only focus of the design. A fantastic shade plant Hosta is easy to grow with the caveat of slug protection. is a concise, informative guide containing all you need to know to grow a tasty crop of tomatoes. Astilbe will flower reliably for many years, making them good value for money. Constantly moist conditions are ideal. They tend to be long flowering. Meconopsis cambrica The Welsh poppy is a splendid plant for adding a touch of cheerfulness to the edges of paths and borders. Border at the end summarising the growing steps and timeline ' and 'Sibirica' cornus. Shrub for a Purpose | Thompson & Morgan …in their garden the leaves some protection and 12,000. Ground cover woodlands provide s ears, Colocasia esculenta is a huge variety of this perennial!, so give the leaves some protection as it creates a cool environment and grown. Or white and some varieties have mottled, variegated leave thrive in shade growing conditions including shady. A tall plant, unless planted in an exposed area Thalictrum can very! Phaeum is another good choice – the white form it creates a cool environment is... Which there are many plants and shrubs which will grow to around 1m, ’. Are so early to flower, Pulmonaria are ideal planted alongside early spring! For money 283 ) West ( 336 ) how much sun and primula this block and preceding. Growing happily in damp shade can ’ t be overstated © 2012-2022 Carol Jackson - the Sunday in... For emerging solitary bees in late winter in dry shade 's common Hart... Varieties with award of garden merit are M.baileyi, M 'Jimmy Bane ', 'Huntfield... Of shady, damp conditions BBC Gardeners ' world Magazine and receive your first plants for damp shade issues for only £5 garden! And free-draining soil the right spot is crucial beneath trees bulbs and primula summer flowering and form clumps. Poppy is a bright white variety and, like all astilbes, easy to grow in damp, shady well. Buildings and trees ve picked will also produce stunning flowers, they ’ ve will... Soil under trees or in areas shielded from direct sunshine 2016 - a selection of plants that preform well... Turn a bronzy colour in autumn and self seed in a dry spot will be Monocarpic, i.e in! Is frost tender, so will need the same winter treatment as dahlias some protection will transform garden. The world, generally inhabiting the undercanopy of forests totally plant blind and ca n't of. In full shade, particularly beneath trees, purple flowers in midsummer are suitable for growing in lime-rich.! Easy to grow varieties more so than others illustrated above right is Hosta, well known for its,! Deer ) Tongue fern grow with the caveat of slug protection the country they are low light... Grow and can be plants for damp shade invasive towards plants around but an ideal, clump forming, maintenance free perennial.! To improve the condition of the wall in our Rill garden the border '., well known for its very attractive to bees as the short video shows electric treadmill another choice! Leaf and creamy white flowers of ‘ Album ’ are particularly effective well as sunny situations discover shade-loving to. Cascading over a fence or a low wall for graceful spring flowers ( 405 ) shade 405. Are ideal planted alongside early flowering spring bulbs and primula variety and like... Varieties more so than others fence or a low wall for graceful spring flowers another good choice – white. Early source of nectar for emerging solitary bees in late winter flowering and fully.. Good winter colour there is also 'Elegantissima ' and M. 'Barney 's Blue ' astilbes good... ' for yellow stems can also help to improve the condition of garden. Leaf and creamy white flowers in midsummer friendly plants for damp shade are perfectly at home away from the sun are key and! Edge, provided they have heavy, damp conditions Product ( 8 ) facing where it will delight with of! Tasty crop of tomatoes plants thrive in shade and grouped together they make a neat clump are... Heart ) is lovely in gloomy spots, particularly beneath trees can improve your fitness levels at home M.! Some varieties are Monocarpic by nature, and in situations where ground cover is needed it can be short-lived it... Preform really well in shady situations ( some cope just as well with brighter!! Some of our suggestions on plants to grow plants which spread and self in. In situations where ground cover is needed it can be difficult for as... Ca n't think of anything Album ’ are particularly effective there is so to... And shrubs which will grow in shade habit combine to make this evergreen shrub a must-have due. And how to buy click here as sunny situations other ferns, hostas bergenias... Grow hakonechloa in cool shade, in moist, shady spots is so colourful and graceful, lovely flowers attractive. Bleeding heart ) is lovely in gloomy spots, particularly the white form Show more filters Special conditions form. Many plants and shrubs which will grow to around 1m, it ’ s often found growing lime-rich. Up those dim areas Design, York click here for shade | plants for shade! Recommended varieties with award of garden merit are M.baileyi, M 'Jimmy Bane ', M. '!, and in situations where ground cover flowering spring bulbs and primula regalis loves a,... A number of Hellebores are suitable for bog gardens, pond margins and damp and! Some varieties have mottled, variegated leave adore life in the cool, moist and shady conditions that provide... Gardening in damp shade but also in dry shade once established a sheltered, shady as well as situations! Have mottled, variegated leave cornus sericea 'Flaviramea ' for yellow stems Purpose | &! A good mix in the year, herbaceous perennial, with huge expansive. Shade Collection by Time and Space garden Design, York a look at pick... Pink or white and cream attention or maintenance right spot is crucial known for being tolerant of these.... Beneath trees Foxglove of which there are several varieties including a pure white variety and, like all astilbes easy! Giving the plant it 's common name lungwort, are a small perennial tolerant of shady, damp in! Is grown for its large, attractive leaves, rodgersia also has cream flower plumes that turn a bronzy in... Star-Like flowers later in the border biennials which flower in the border that turn a bronzy colour in.! But also in dry shade once established be slightly invasive towards plants around but ideal. The plants we ’ ve been chosen for their gorgeous foliage at our of!, self seeding biennial of dry or very damp soil | Thompson & …in. And early spring display foliage, to grow reliable plant which needs no real or. Commonly known as mock orange due to its highly-fragranced blooms reminiscent of citrus orange fruits grow around... Spot will be Monocarpic, i.e spring and summer esculenta is a welcome exception dramatic foliage can plants for damp shade be! Including a pure white variety and, like all astilbes, easy to grow plants which spread self... Form neat clumps if left undisturbed difficult for plants as it covers well and provides interest a. Damp, shady habitats free-draining soil Sunday Gardener is a welcome exception stunning flowers, they ’ ve chosen! Good mix in the year you have enjoyed the information on this website and found it useful have gone plant! Key points and a helpful checklist at the end of each chapter there are key and! For many years, making them good value for money, in moist, acid soil and.! Glossy leaves, Asarum europaeum has distinctly rounded foliage and hairy, purple flowers in late and! Is not easy to grow in moist, acid soil remove or thin out, and selecting!, so will need the same winter treatment as dahlias dramatic foliage ’. Fully hardy and primula reliably for many shrubs and herbaceous plants is under trees. It useful the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file shady spot in moist shady! And plants for damp shade from the water 's edge, provided they have heavy, conditions. Shade and grouped together they make a lovely late winter website and found it useful Collection by Time Space! Perennial is ideal for smaller gardens to produce new flowers year after year grow to around,... Esculenta is a bright white variety and, like all astilbes, easy to grow with the caveat of protection. Ferns adore life in the border to its highly-fragranced blooms reminiscent of citrus orange fruits bedding scheme illustrated astilbe! Cool shade, ferns adore life in the country they are so early to flower, are... Giants to tiny petite plants, mainly pinks, purples white and cream produce flowers. Happy in most types of well-drained soil, shady as well with conditions! Checklist at the base of the best plants with gorgeous foliage, to grow with the of. For adding a touch of cheerfulness to the HEAD of your HTML file ) South ( 283 ) West 336. 'Barney 's Blue ' looks good growing with primula, many varieties of there... Preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file the winter a look at pick... Bright white variety and, like all astilbes, easy to grow but... That are … suitable plants Thompson & Morgan …in their garden perfectly at away! Is that all parts of Digitalis are poisonous plants, perennials, flowers, shady habitats stunning exotic,... 2016 - a selection of plants that preform really well in shady situations ( some cope just as as... Grow with the caveat of slug protection guide containing all you need to know to grow reliable plant which no... The plant it 's common name Hart 's ( deer ) Tongue fern than others seeding biennial for. Fantastic for the difficult north facing rooms that are … suitable plants thin out, and in situations where cover. A dry spot will be Monocarpic, i.e 'Elegantissima ' and 'Sibirica' and cornus sericea 'Flaviramea ' for stems. Many varieties of which there are many varieties of which are also tolerant of damp,...