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Perennials in the shade

patricia58patricia58 Posts: 4
in The potting shed
Can anyone recommend compact perennials that will flower in a north-west shade border?

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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited January 2022
    Japanese anemones do well but be careful which one you get. some find them invasive. I haven't, though. 
    Oops. Just noticed compact. They're not.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    Google is your friend.

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/the-best-shade-loving-plants/
  • patricia58patricia58 Posts: 4
    Thank you, I do have a couple of these and as they're rather tall they are at the back.  They do flower OK though.  I need something towards the front of the border, not too tall or invasive really.  My penstemons refuse to flower though, so they will have to be moved.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Hardy geraniums (Cranesbills) - not Pelargoniums!  Lots to choose from, many long flowering and easy to multiply by division.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I like Hostas and Brunneras for the shape and colour of their leaves, but they flower too. There are several perennial geraniums that do well in shade.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    edited January 2022
    B3 said:
    Japanese anemones do well but be careful which one you get. some find them invasive. I haven't, though. 
    Oops. Just noticed compact. They're not.
    I've got a couple of compact ones in north west shade, they seem tame so far:
    • 'Fantasy Jasmine' (also have a look at 'Fantasy Cinderella')
    • 'Pink Kiss' — shorter than the Fantasy series 
    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2022
    There's loads depending on how big an area you're talking about. It'll also depend on your soil/climate etc   :)
    Pachysandra, Heucheras, Hellebores, prostrate Gaultherias, Ajuga, Epimediums, Campanulas,  Iberis [perennial candytuft]  Liatris, Pasqueflowers, and many Saxifrages - urbium for example, as well as the ones already mentioned. 
    Loads of bulbs  are happy in shade too, and are good interspersed with the perennials.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    As said, lots of geraniums would be happy, I would try Geranium 'Anne Thompson', especially if you like perennials with a long flowering period. Eurybia divaricata and Eurybia x herveyi are really good compact 'asters', they start a bit earlier than most asters and go on and on. No mildew, shade tolerant and modest in size.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I have Lythrum salicaria 'Blush' in a North facing border which bloomed reliably for a second year last year.  Also Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna', digitalis grandiflora and digitalis mertonensis.  And I have Brunnera macrophylla Betty Bowring there too (though the leaves do get very big). 
    In another N-E facing corner I have Persicaria Red Dragon (for its foliage rather than flowers).  None of these are evergreen.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
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