My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Gardening

Any advice on very shady planting?

8 replies

lazysummer · 17/08/2014 18:56

I would like to plant under a big beech tree at the end of the garden: it's a real mess with 2 ferns, a few geraniums and laurel, though loads of snowdrops in the spring. So I want something to lighten it/ provide interest. My current thinking is ornamental grass, but I have never planted grasses. Are they very invasive? Will they survive? Is there anything better? I don't do hosts, as the slugs demolish them. Thanks in anticipation.

OP posts:
Report
BPrincess · 18/08/2014 12:55

Hello!
Most grasses are happier in sun, so I'd go for Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'. It's a lovely plant with handsome big heart shaped leaves, with silver markings and pretty pale blue spring flowers. It really brightens up a dark corner.

Report
BlueBrightBlue · 18/08/2014 13:19

Hosta's, Japanese anemonies, Ferns, Hypericums, Ladies Mantle, snow drops.

Report
CruCru · 02/10/2014 22:14

White foxgloves?

Report
CuttedUpPear · 04/10/2014 21:00

This nursery is brilliant and full of advice www.plantsforshade.co.uk/

Report
sunbathe · 04/10/2014 21:14

You could just double/triple what you've already got happily growing there. More of a mass planting will look more thought out than randomly dotting in another different type of plant.

Report
blanketyblank100 · 05/10/2014 12:05

Dahlias and anemone japonica and giant primulas all tolerate shade.

Report
digger123 · 05/10/2014 12:16

Geranium phaeum - does really well in dry shade. Ferns are good but pick the right ones. I also had a Brunnera which is a lovely plant but doesn't like it too dry/shady together and won't grow that big so you need a few. Japanese anemones - lovely but can get invasive

Report
RoganJosh · 16/10/2014 14:23

Our shady spot is more of a problem because it's so dry. You may find that keeping an eye on how dried out its getting really helps whatever you plant. Sorry if that's obvious, it's a revelation to me in our new garden!
I'm not sure about grasses, so I won't coment on that.
I'm planning Ammi magus for under our trees, which are big, light and hopefully not too fussy!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.