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

full shade

Genevieve82Genevieve82 Posts: 13
in Problem solving

hi.

I have a bed at the back of my small garden that is in constant shade from the big shed and the house. 

I want to plant some girly colourful flowers in it but have no real idea on where to start... I want to be able to sow seeds straight out if that is possible?

before we start i should let you know that i really don't like bagonias or impatiens.

look forward to hearing your ideas. 

 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    I can quite understand about begonias and impatiens as I find them unattractive, plasticky looking things.  However, what you can grow depends on soil, exposure and moisture levels as much as shade or sun so please tell us if you have light sandy soil, heavy clay soil, something in between like loam; is it shallow or deep, moist or dry, alkaline, neutral or acid?   Is it sheltered or exposed to strong winds, heavy frosts and so on.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Genevieve82Genevieve82 Posts: 13

    i am new to all this, i dug up the back last week and bumped 200 litres of all purpose compost on it... its about 6 inches deep on compost then its quite clayey... its surrounded by three fences and if its dry i will water it. i live in north yorkshire, havent had a hard frost in at least two weeks.

    hope that helps

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    You are going to have a very limited choice of things you can sow direct and I can't find any annual plants that will cope with full shade.   Annuals germinate, grow, flower and set seed in one season and need sunlight to fuel it all.

    However, there are shrubs, biennials and perennials that will be quite happy there and can give you a  long season of interest through the year from foliage, flowers and /or stem colour.

    Mahonia is a shrub with glossy, evergreen foliage and scented yellow flowers in late winter to early spring with dark purple berries later on -  https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98703/Oregon-grape-Charity/Details is a good form and widely available.

    Angelica gigas is a tall plant that would provide height and foliage interest as well as flowers in late summer - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/1275/Angelica-gigas/Details?returnurl=%2fplants%2fsearch-results%3fform-mode%3dtrue%26context%3dl%253den%2526q%253dAngelica%252bgigas%2526sl%253dplantForm%26query%3dAngelica%2bgigas%26aliaspath%3d%252fplants%252fsearch-results 

    Foxgloves are usually biennial so flower, set seed and die in their second year.  They are easy to grow from seed and come in shades of white, apricot, cream with purple speckles and the common pinky purple form.   There are also perennial forms but these can be tricky in my experience and the biennial forms set seed freely so you'll always have some new stock flowering every year if you don't hoe up all the seedlings.

    Tiarellas are low growing and make good ground cover.   They have pretty lobed leaves and produce frothy, creamy flowers in spring.

    Hostas should do well.  They come in a huge variety of leaf size and colour from green through gold, glaucous blue and variegated and they produce spikes of white or lilac flowers in summer.

    Saxifrage 'London Pride' should be fine too and will produce rosettes of glossy green foliage with 30cm spikes of tiny flowers.

    You can look up all of these on the RHS website or google to find cultivation details then go to your local garden centre or nursery to see what they have that fits your wish list.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    I have grown geraniums in the shade( also hosta ,)but I keep them in pots also I have two hanging basket brackets on the garage wall so I plant the trailing geranium with fuchsia.Ferns are good but have a go with any light or silver leaf shrub it will work for one season then if it's not happy move it out and another in.A small variety bamboo will survive but again a pot is essential. Good luck with the new bed.(Just a suggestion lettuce don't mind shade???, light green or red leaves and you can eat themimage)

  • Genevieve82Genevieve82 Posts: 13

    i have gone for a honeysuckle and a forsythia image

    the man on the market suggested them to me. 

    only cost £5, so if they fail then its not the end of the world. 

    i will bare your advice and suggestions for when i plant more

     

    thank you 

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066

    Check out plantsforshade.com

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • wrighttwrightt Posts: 234

    Look at www.plantsforshade.co.uk Long Acre

  • David The Potting Shed PotterDavid The Potting Shed Potter Posts: 16
    Foxgloves foxgloves and more foxgloves! image
  • Messi JessiMessi Jessi Posts: 5

    I went for fuchsias in a very shady spot in my garden next to my garage wall and they are thriving, beautiful flowers that lasted well into winter. Can highly recommend.

    I've also had hostas in that spot before that did well, they also flower but the leaves can be very beautiful too. 

Sign In or Register to comment.