Author Topic: its a bit shady! (Read 4120 times)

sea chelles · « **on:** March 23, 2007, 20:29:26 »

hi all i was wondering if anyone could help me please? i have long but narrow (30cm) border at the bottom of my garden it was full of nettles which i have now cleared but as it is in complete shade i have no idea of what i can put there other than ferns(?) any ideas perleeeasee?
chelles xx

bumble-dee · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2007, 20:34:33 »

hi sea chelles, i like the plant called Brunnera macrophylla as its a frothy, light plant with tiny blue flowers and is spring flowering too! :)
it also likes any kind of damp or dry shade so what more could you ask for? ;D
im sure everyone else will have some other ideas for you to try!
Dee x

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2007, 21:42:28 »

Cyclamen, any shade-loving bulb. If there's enough light for nettles, there's enough for anything really that likes shade.

sea chelles · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2007, 16:12:10 »

thank you soooo much ;D ;D ;D
chelles xx

ACE · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2007, 09:00:18 »

Ferns and variagated hostas look good together, with a splash of colour from geraniums, also when b&q knock down all their pots of lilies, they have grown well in the shade for me.

sawfish · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2007, 01:34:20 »

A chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) would grow in a shady spot.

Keep an eye on it spreading too much though.

fluffygrue · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2007, 10:36:33 »

If it's a north wall, you might be able to grow a Morello cherry against it. If nettles are there, it sounds like it'll be decent soil.

But Brunnera, seconded, lovely plant. Could also consider heuchera, primroses, dicentra. I also have a couple of Loropetalum shrubs in a similar situation, which are doing fine.. Some hardy geraniums will do okay in that spot, too. There's loads of lovely shade plants out there. :)

norfolklass · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2007, 13:13:06 »

I would try things that are woodland plants, like bluebells or lily of the valley for a bit of spring colour.
I think hellebores can cope with shade too (please someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

Tee Gee · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2007, 14:07:49 »

You might get some ideas here; http://tinyurl.com/ylmj3z

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2007, 16:53:12 »

Hellebores do fine in shade.

sawfish · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2007, 20:54:32 »

Yes of course hellebores too and what about some Ramsons (wild garlic).

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2007, 22:49:21 »

Ramsons is really invasive. It's nice, but it'll take over.

sawfish · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2007, 23:12:10 »

Slowly invasive though and easily removed. The good thing is they dissappear by May just in time for other stuff to take their place.

froglets · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2007, 09:36:17 »

Bugle? There are soem nice varieties about now - good blues & I've seen apink which looks good witht he dark foliage.

emmy1978 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2007, 10:43:10 »

if it's dry try lily of the valley, i think the one i used to have was called something like convallaria rosea, also corydalis, cyclamen, dicentra, euphorbia 'chameleon' has fantastic foliage which changes from purple to orange red and gold through the year. Also Honesty, which i think is called Lunaria. V. pretty.
If its damp, Camellia, rue anemone, mouse plant ( arisaema candidissimum) aquilegia, hardy orchid : dactylorhiza foliosa, winter aconite, eranthis, willow gentian, hellebore, hosta (SLUGS!) also lots of primulas like vialii, florindae, japonica (i love these) and scilla peruviana (blue) and s.peruviana 'alba' (white)
I think shade lovers are really beautiful and often overlooked. :'(

fluffygrue · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2007, 10:50:44 »

Good point - wild primroses are lovely in the shade. Also Primula denticulata, the drumstick one.

It annoys me when people consider shade a problem - there's so many gorgeous shade plants out there. One of my favourite borders is my woodland-ish border which runs against a north wall. Looks very blue at this time of year!

Froglegs · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:18:25 »

Ok for now :) but in a month or too what will look good then ???

froglets · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:46:40 »

Japanese anemonies?

emmy1978 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:50:36 »

Quote from: froglegs on March 27, 2007, 11:18:25

Ok for now :) but in a month or too what will look good then ???

Good point. The camellia is evergreen, a japanese aralia would look good if you got the variegata which has green and cream leaves. Spurge laurel is also evergreen and doesn't flower till nov/dec, then gets cool little black berrries. As i said the euphorbia is great for a bit of year round interest. Also just found this : Elaeagnus x Ebbingei 'Gilt Edge'. Very pretty foliage, small fragrant flowers in autumn.
I also like to put bulbs in everywhere there's a gap so you could put in snowdrops, hyacinth etc for spring! Amazing what you can fit in a tiny space!!

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2007, 17:44:28 »

Quote from: emmy1978 on March 27, 2007, 10:43:10

if it's dry try lily of the valley, i think the one i used to have was called something like convallaria rosea,

Were those the pink ones? If so, they're not easy to find, and given my luck with lily of the valley, I've never dared try them.

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Author Topic: its a bit shady! (Read 4120 times)