The best ways to use shade-tolerant plants in the garden

Working with shifting levels of light and selecting the right shade-tolerant plants will allow you to create pretty vignettes even in the darkest corners of your garden

November is a great time to assess your garden and plan new areas. Before winter sets in, there is still time for planting or jot ideas down ready for spring. One of the most challenging areas can be finding plants that thrive on the dark side. Shade is inevitably part of gardening, as trees, buildings or aspect create darker areas across your plot. Actually shady borders can be the most delightful areas of a garden, providing cool contrasts, and even where there are really dim spots don’t think of them as lifeless voids but instead embrace the possibilities. First of all you need to understand the type of shade you have by observing the space at different times of the day through the seasons, as it is seldom constant. The terms can be explained for light levels as ‘light shade’ when it is open to the sky but no direct sunlight, ‘semi-shade’ with three to six hours of direct sun in mid-summer, ‘dappled shade’ with diffused light from deciduous trees, ‘moderate shade’ with two to three hours of midsummer sunlight, to ‘deep shade’ under a dense evergreen tree canopy with less than two hours of sun.

Look for plants to carpet the dry shade under trees. (Image: Leigh Clapp) Next, decide if the soil is dry or wet. Dry shade areas tend to be under large trees that have shallow roots or against walls that face away from the wind and therefore are sheltered from the rain, and are particularly so if your soil is shallow, sandy or chalky. When planting beneath trees, remove any weeds and scratch the surface of the soil with a garden fork, as the soil can be very compacted, taking care not to damage any roots. Select shade-loving plants with compact root systems so they don’t compete with the tree for nutrients and pay attention to watering and fertilising as plants establish. Adding plenty of organic matter before planting and mulching will help the soil retain some moisture. Damp shade is found in cool, moist woodland areas, near water and with clay soil. Again helping your soil is important and this time use organic matter to improve drainage and mulching will break down and aid the soil structure.

Euphorbia and grasses can be used in dry shade under trees. (Image: Leigh Clapp) For both, dry and or wet shade, aim to add some light, colour and warmth to enliven the shadows. An advantage to keep in mind is that the structures that cast the shade also offer shelter. Plants need sunlight to manufacture the sugars for energy and for making their organic molecules so shade lowers these and reduces growth, unless plants are adapted to those conditions. You would have seen plants that are shade avoiders growing long, lanky stems as they try to reach for some extra sunlight so these are off your list. Accept that some plants may flower less and have fun with lush foliage textures and colours of shade-loving plants. As the shade gets darker your choices lessen to a limited selection of extremely tolerant plants, such as ivy, ferns and liriope. Take a wander around your local garden centre and gardens that open this month for autumn colour to also observe the underplanting. Look at websites such as the RHS and you’ll discover a wider array of options for the varying levels of shade in your garden than you may expect, from trees, shrubs and climbers to annuals and perennials.

A brightly coloured bird bath draws the eye among a sea of hellebores (Image: Leigh Clapp) Characteristics of many shade lovers are large leaves to enable photosynthesis, paler flowers to light up the shadows, and any fragrance is accentuated in the often more confined space. Include some evergreen fillers with gleaming foliage for a year round lustre, combine different forms and heights and then infill with more ephemeral highlights. You may like to make a focal point of plants with glossy reflective leaves or foliage and flowers that give the impression of light, such as gold, silver or variegated leaves and luminous white or pale flowers. The classic choice of layers of rich greens relieved by touches of white in seats, trellises, statues and flowers for the eye to light creates a cool summer oasis that also glimmers in twilight. You could also be more unexpected by placing a brightly coloured garden ornament in a dark tucked away area to balance the yin energy. There are even some fruit and veg that can be grown in the shade, such as leafy greens, mint and currants. Use some tricks to create impact, for instance moveable seasonal containers of shade tolerant plants for splashes of colour, with choices such as hydrangeas, fuchsias, impatiens, pansies or begonias. Create your own light and dramatic illusions with placement of sculptures, water or mirrors.

Shade loving hostas in pots allows a moveable display (Image: Leigh Clapp)

Local garden centres and nurseries

· Tates of Sussex

Centres - Mayberry, Portslade, BN41 1SP; Old Barn, Dial Post, RH13 8NR; Paradise Park, Newhaven, BN9 0DH; South Downs, Hassocks, BN6 9LY

Good selection shade-loving perennials

tatesofsussex.co.uk

· Architectural Plants, Pulborough, RH20 1DJ

Largest collection of architectural plants in the UK, wide variety of shrubs and trees for shade

· Sussex Country Gardener, Mark Cross, TN6 3PJ

Fine selection for shade areas

sussexcountrygardener.co.uk

Embrace the variety of possible plants (Image: Leigh Clapp)

Gardens to visit for inspiration

· Wakehurst – Kew gardens, Haywards Heath, RH17 6TN

Layered planting under canopies of autumn colour

Open daily

kew.org

· Nymans, Handcross, RH17 6EB

Open daily

Wonderful for ideas, from bulbs to trees

nationaltrust.org.uk

· Borde Hill, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

Take a wander in the dell with its lush planting

Open to 22 Dec

Adm £12, chd £8

bordehill.co.uk

White flowers are a classic choice (Image: Leigh Clapp) Get the look

· Prune low branches of trees to let in more light

· Thin out higher branches to lighten the canopy

· You can’t alter the orientation of your house to gain more light but there are some things tricks you can use, such as paint nearby walls, fences or sheds in white or light tones to reflect and diffuse light into the garden

· Use pale coloured paving, stones or gravel to reflect light and lighten the mood of a space

· Place reflective panels or mirrors to not only give the illusion of space but also to brighten a dark space or reflect light and warmth from the sun

· Water will also spread light in various ways, from trickling fountains catching in the light to flowing streams

· Plant some highlight choices in white flowers and variegated foliage to give an illusion of light, especially at dusk

· Glass or stainless steel sculptures can also be used to reflect light year round

· Illuminate containers, water features or tree trunks so you can also enjoy the scene at night

· Best shade plants – ferns, ajuga, hellebores, pulmonaria, primulas, primroses, polygonatum, hostas, alchemilla, bergenia, dicentra, brunnera, erythronium, astilbe, violets

Ferns and primulas are a pretty combination (Image: Leigh Clapp)