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What to grow in full shade- 0 hours sun

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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If there's weeds growing there, it's possible to grow something,I suppose. What weeds grow there?
    Have you tried hardy geraniums or ferns?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    What sort of plants do you want to grow in the shade? What sort of soil do you have? Is it dry or moist? Have you dug the bed and added compost? I can't tell, too dark.

    If you would like perennials there are quite a few that grow in shade, mostly on the green side but with good leaf shapes eg ferns, hostas, epimediums, brunnera, heucheras, cyclamen, astilbes (if moist). Daffodils should be OK with shade. 

    Annuals are more limited but they provide colour, Busy Lizzies and Begonias.


    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Sarcococca will be very happy in deep shade.
    Very fragrant flowers in winter followed by black berries, and evergreen.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • jazexpress43sMxwMejazexpress43sMxwMe Posts: 19
    Ive added lots organic matter, grass clippings and compost, its a clay soil. Will add more fertile soil also to level up. Ideally want evergreen shrubs. But dont want to put all the effort in then nothing grows!! Lol.  Standard weeds some weed grass and moss seems to grow.  Haven’t really planted anything in the past there. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Skimmias are evergreen and grow in shade. Hydrangeas and viburnums aren't evergreen but they grow in shade. Something with white or pale flowers will shine out and lighten it up.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2023
    Open to the sky with no sun is not full shade.  Your grass obviously growths there quite healthily.  You may need to reinforse with a recognised "shade" grass, and reduce the moss.

    I have a area under a Cedar.  What could be darker?  With root competition and needle acumulation.  I grows a light green ivy - Curly Locks (aka Mander's Crested) - very satisfactorlly.

    Why grow anyhting?  Another bench, prhaps white; a sculpture or object d'art?
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Try looking at Plants for Shade, a very good company selling plants that do well in shade.
    There is plenty that will grow in your site.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    We have a lovely Viburnum x burkwoodii "Park Farm Hybrid".
    The big balls of flowers in spring are fantastically scented, and well set off by the leaves.

    I would say it is evergreen.
    Ours stays green all year round, it gets a very little little early morning sun but is shaded throughout the day by the house, and over shadowed by trees.

    As mentioned your shade appears to have open sky above, so it may do better.

    It has nice leaves which sets off the beautiful flowers, but some may find it a bit dull for the rest of the year. Although the shape of the shrub in itself is nice.
    I keep meaning to grow a clematis through it.

    Another vote for sarcoccoca.

  • jazexpress43sMxwMejazexpress43sMxwMe Posts: 19
    Thanks for all the advice.  Yes is open sky above, no trees. Just full shade from the fence right upto the grass edge. Literally zero hours of direct sunlight.
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    If it is moist enough, hydrangeas like that sort of shade with nothing overhanging.   For evergreen ground cover, try waldstenia ternata - a lovely plant that hugs the ground and spreads out evenly, but is easy to control.  Or little variegated carex grasses, which will brighten the space.  Ferns are a good choice and come in all sizes. 

    In the summer, white impatiens would shine out and draw the eye. 
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