Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Tall plants for Shady Garden

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Plants
Most of my small garden is in shade for a least half the day. Some for longer. I would like to plant some tall grasses and plants in a small area but because of space both must be tall and thin. I already have Karl Foerster grass and in the sunnier part  Bronze Fennel, Angelica Gigas  and Red Thunder Sanguissorba. Is there any way I can have something similar in the shadier parts which get about four hours of sun on a good day ?
«1

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Taller plants that like or at least tolerate some shade for me are foxgloves, Aconitum napellus, thalictrums (I have "Elin" and flavum glaucum). The aconite is very toxic so maybe not one to choose if you have a dog that chews anything and can't be supervised in the garden.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    As long as it gets some sun, another tall, columnar grass which will tolerate those conditions is Panicum Northwind. It may not flower well or get as tall as it does in full sun, but it will still make an impact. It will need well drained soil.  Fatsia japonica grown as a single stemmed plant will also work as it prefers shade and looks good with grasses. It's also evergreen.  
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • CrankyYankeeCrankyYankee Posts: 504
    edited April 2023
    I love Goatsbeard in a shady spot. 
    edit to add - cimicifuga is a good tall shade plant, too.
    New England, USA
    Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I've got (or had) Actaea 'Pink Spike', Sanguisorba tenuifolia 'Alba' and Selinum wallichanium in part shade, in the shade of the north side of a fence.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The dark-leaved cow parsley "Ravenswing" seeds itself in semi-shady places for me so that might work.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I have a tall Doronicum, D. pardalianches, does well in shade


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    We have a Miscanthus Malepartus which is in almost full shade. Grows and flowers well
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • Mrs_MigginsMrs_Miggins Posts: 60
    I love my acanthus mollis which live at the back of my 'shady' border. They have lovely big spires of dramatic flowers for most of summer. The leaves do spread a bit mind you (about 2 feet each way). But sometimes i cut the lower ones to let some light get to other plants. Wouldn't be without them. 
  • Mrs_MigginsMrs_Miggins Posts: 60
    JennyJ said:
    Taller plants that like or at least tolerate some shade for me are foxgloves, Aconitum napellus, thalictrums (I have "Elin" and flavum glaucum). The aconite is very toxic so maybe not one to choose if you have a dog that chews anything and can't be supervised in the garden.
    Which thalictrums do you have? It appears there are quite a few! 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Elin and flavum glaucum. The latter were originally grown from seed from the RHS seed scheme and are reasonably good self-seeders, and it's also one of the parents of Elin. Elin is a sterile hybrid so it doesn't spread around. Thalictrum delavayi doesn't do well here. I think it prefers more dampness in the soil.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Sign In or Register to comment.