I've got a lot of clay borders in shade. I'd recommend adding as much manure / compost as humanly possible - plants will cope with shade but not if the soil is poor as well. Be realistic about what will actually grow or you are letting yourself in for some heartache - it might be better to go for shades of green, rather than hoping for abundant flowers. My garden is full of slugs and snails, so I also only grow plants that they don't particularly like (ie, not hostas, I'm afraid). Plants that have, however, done well are: hellebores, ferns, clematis, hardy geraniums, acanthus mollis and some roses also cope, in particular my 'dance de feu' which is beautiful. Good luck!
Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. I've looked at them and there are certainly a lot of beautiful options.
With regard to mjd2000 comment about slugs and snails I've got a hedgehog that lives in the garden so don't like to use chemicals however I read somewhere that coffee grounds work so have used that this year just sprinkling them at the base of the plants and so far touch wood i have not had any issue at all so it seems to be working.
My border which is completely in the shade has Bergera, four different Hebe, three geraniums, lots of Astrantia, Polemoniun, couple of Fucshia, some Day Lilies and Monbretia, Astille, Geum, I'll go out and have a look later, see what else's is there.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Geranium nodosum is worth tracking down. I have a variety called 'Silverwood' which has nice white flowers, which are produced all summer. Foliage is good too. It survived incredibly dense and dry shade in my garden in Bristol. Soil was clay but I worked in lots of compost to the surface layer.
Luzula nivea is a wonderful white-flowered grass you could use. (I think white works really well in shade!)
Don't forget ferns, Hart's tongue fern is one of my favourites, I think of it as an evergreen slug-proof hosta.
Last edited: 12 May 2017 11:18:25
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
My border which is completely in the shade has Bergera, four different Hebe, three geraniums, lots of Astrantia, Polemoniun, couple of Fucshia, some Day Lilies and Monbretia, Astille, Geum, I'll go out and have a look later, see what else's is there.
Sorry that should have read Bergenia! There are some nice Geraniums that are happy in full shade. I forgot about ferns, I don't like them much so haven't got any,
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
This spot is between two houses, not really facing any direction but if it ever gets sun it's in the morning from the east when the sun is between the two houses so you could say North facing with a fence to the West. It is open to the sky. This Brunnera Jack Frost mentioned by Brickman is in its second year and loving it, it really brightens up that corner. Behind it to my surprise is a Lychnis coronaria which I thought would like more sun but it likes it there.
Love that brunnera Cloggie, I've just bought another one, Alexander's great, and have high hopes for it. Funny how some plants such as that lychnis thrive where they are'nt supposed to, I guess they don't read the rule books ?
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I've got a lot of clay borders in shade. I'd recommend adding as much manure / compost as humanly possible - plants will cope with shade but not if the soil is poor as well. Be realistic about what will actually grow or you are letting yourself in for some heartache - it might be better to go for shades of green, rather than hoping for abundant flowers. My garden is full of slugs and snails, so I also only grow plants that they don't particularly like (ie, not hostas, I'm afraid). Plants that have, however, done well are: hellebores, ferns, clematis, hardy geraniums, acanthus mollis and some roses also cope, in particular my 'dance de feu' which is beautiful. Good luck!
Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. I've looked at them and there are certainly a lot of beautiful options.
With regard to mjd2000 comment about slugs and snails I've got a hedgehog that lives in the garden so don't like to use chemicals however I read somewhere that coffee grounds work so have used that this year just sprinkling them at the base of the plants and so far touch wood i have not had any issue at all so it seems to be working.
Forgot Geranium macrorrhizum in my original post too, pinks and whites. Wool pellets are fantastic for slugs & snails.
Last edited: 12 May 2017 09:26:15
My border which is completely in the shade has Bergera, four different Hebe, three geraniums, lots of Astrantia, Polemoniun, couple of Fucshia, some Day Lilies and Monbretia, Astille, Geum, I'll go out and have a look later, see what else's is there.
Geranium nodosum is worth tracking down. I have a variety called 'Silverwood' which has nice white flowers, which are produced all summer. Foliage is good too. It survived incredibly dense and dry shade in my garden in Bristol. Soil was clay but I worked in lots of compost to the surface layer.
Luzula nivea is a wonderful white-flowered grass you could use. (I think white works really well in shade!)
Don't forget ferns, Hart's tongue fern is one of my favourites, I think of it as an evergreen slug-proof hosta.
Last edited: 12 May 2017 11:18:25
Sorry that should have read Bergenia! There are some nice Geraniums that are happy in full shade. I forgot about ferns, I don't like them much so haven't got any,
I didn't use to like ferns but now I'm learning to love them!
Love that brunnera Cloggie, I've just bought another one, Alexander's great, and have high hopes for it. Funny how some plants such as that lychnis thrive where they are'nt supposed to, I guess they don't read the rule books ?
primula veris and foxglove.