I am a huge fan of the shade loving plants in the gardens I manage here in Milton Keynes. What might be seen as a difficult place to find things to survive in can be turned into a wonderful lush display of plants.
Here’s a list of a few of my favourites and reasons why I like them:
Epimedium
Epimediums are great perennials to have in a shady border. They are low growing perennials. They have attractive heart-shaped leaves, with red or brown veining. Flowering in spring to early summer, there’s a range of colours to choose from. Whites, purples, reds and most commonly seen, yellows. Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphereum’ is a great example of a classic yellow flowering Epimedium.
Liriope muscari
Liriope is a great plant for deep shade. This will do well where other things won’t, in my experience. As its name may suggest, its flowers look like Grape Hyacynths (Muscari), when they come out in the autumn. When it gets to a good size they are easily split to make more.
Fatsia japonica ‘Spiders Web’
Variegated form of Fatsia japonica. Does really well in shady positions, even in deep shade. It does flower, but its the large palmate leaves that are its biggest draw. Despite its tropical appearance its perfectly hardy in the UK.
Hosta ‘Big Daddy’
Whilst discussing lush shade planting you cannot miss the amazing large leaves of Hosta ‘Big Daddy’. It has less snail problems in my experience than other Hosta’s, but as with anything it is worth protecting with some slug pellets, or raising it off the ground’s, and it is just wonderful. A plant I wouldn’t be without.
Tiarella
Tiarella cordifolia is a spring flowering perennial that is absolutely essential for the shady or woodland garden. Its leaves are similar to Heuchera – also good in shady positions – and in fact there is a cross bred variety called Heucherella that has its place in the shady border. A recent favourite of mine.
