From heuchera to bleeding hearts
Gardening in a plot with mixed light conditions can be tricky. Sunny spots seemingly grow flowers single-handedly, while those with limited light exposure often remain bare and lifeless, no matter what you do. Enter: shade-loving plants.
Many perennials thrive in cooler, more sheltered parts of the garden, adding lush foliage and colour to corners where the sun rarely reaches – and now is the perfect time to plant them.
'The soil is warming up but still full of moisture from winter,' Luke Newnes, gardening expert at Hillarys, tells us. 'Perennials establish so much better when they’re not battling heat or drought, so planting in early spring gives them time to settle their roots before summer.'
Read on to discover seven vibrant perennials that flourish in the shade, and where to plant them in your garden.
Astilbes produce big, feathery plumes of pink, white, purple or red flowers. According to Luke, this plant prefers partial shade and is perfect for spots that get 'pockets of morning sun and afternoon shade'. With their striking blooms, they brighten a dark spot without any light.
This pest-free plant offers both attractive blooms and foliage and is often used for low-maintenance ground cover. Brunneras love dappled to full shade and, in mild areas, are evergreen – although it usually disappears in winter and reemerges in spring, says gardening and greenhouse expert Lucie Bradley from Easy Garden Irrigation.
'You will need to keep the plant well watered for its first year, but after it's established all you need to do is to cut back dead foliage to provide a clear space for new shoots in spring,' she adds.
This shade-loving plant is much loved for its burgundy or lime green evergreen foliage, although it also produces delicate blossoms in summer.
'For care, you don’t need to overcomplicate things. I mulch around my shade perennials in early spring to lock in moisture and feed the soil,' Luke says. 'Heucheras benefit from a little tidy‑up and a top‑up of compost once a year.'
If you're looking for a timeless solution for your shady borders, this plant, which prefers partial to full shade, might be the answer. 'Hostas are brilliant for structure,' says Luke. 'I love them for their foliage as those big leaves make a shady bed feel instantly full and intentional.'
Few plants live up to their name quite like bleeding hearts. Their bright-pink, heart-shaped blossoms dangle from arching stems in spring and early summer. The plant may look delicate but it's actually a hardy, pest-resistant plant that prefers dappled to full shade but can tolerate full sun if kept well-watered.
'Planting in early spring allows this perennial to grow its roots deep into the moist, slowly warming soil so it is thriving by the time the hotter summer months arrive,' says Lucy. 'To rejuvenate older plants and prevent overcrowding, divide every three to five years in early spring.'
'Lungwort is one of the best early‑season plants for shade, with its speckled leaves and early spring flowers that pollinators adore,' says Luke.
Also known as pulmonaria, this weed-suppressing plant flourishes in full or partial shade and grows low and dense, which makes it an ideal choice for ground cover.
Greater Periwinkle, or vinca major, is a hardy, evergreen perennial that likes full or dappled shade but can also tolerate full sun.
'This versatile plant is very fast growing forming a dense ground cover of glossy, ovate leaves which form the backdrop to prominent, star-shaped violet-blue blooms, which start to appear in early spring, with more flowers appearing in summer into autumn,' says Lucy.
Once established, the only thing you need to keep in mind with this low-maintenance plant is its rapid and incessant growth. Keep it in check by hard pruning in early spring.
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