What can I grow in a shady or north-facing garden?

A shady garden is a different garden, not a worse one. The mistake is trying to grow sun-lovers in it. Plants adapted to woodland conditions thrive in shade and look better there than they ever would in full sun.

What you'll need

• A day to observe the light (optional)
• Compost or leaf mould (optional)

Step by step

1. Observe the light across a full day.Note when and where sun reaches. Under three hours of direct sun is full shade; three to six is partial shade. This determines everything else.
2. Distinguish dry shade from damp shade.Under a tree or against a wall is dry shade and much harder. Open shade with moisture supports far more plants.
3. Improve the soil, particularly in dry shade.Leaf mould and compost. Dry shade under trees is depleted and root-filled, and organic matter is what makes anything possible there.
4. Choose plants that prefer shade rather than tolerate it.Ferns, hostas, hellebores, epimedium, hydrangea, Japanese anemone, brunnera, pulmonaria. They look their best in these conditions.
5. Use foliage as the main interest.Shade gardens work through leaf shape, texture and colour rather than continuous flowering. That is a strength rather than a compromise.
6. Use light colours to brighten the space.White, cream and pale variegated foliage reflect light and make shade feel considerably less gloomy.
7. Take advantage of spring.Before deciduous trees leaf out, shady ground gets good light. Woodland bulbs and early perennials exploit exactly this window.
8. Grow shade-tolerant edibles.Salad leaves, spinach, chard, mint, parsley and rhubarb all crop acceptably in partial shade. Fruiting crops such as tomatoes will not.

Tips

• Painting a shaded wall or fence a pale colour reflects a surprising amount of light and changes how the whole space feels.
• Mirrors and pale paving both bounce light into dark corners, though mirrors need positioning carefully so birds do not fly into them.
• North-facing does not mean no sun. Many north-facing gardens get good evening light in summer, which is worth observing before deciding.

Common mistakes

• Trying to grow sun-lovers in shade — They become leggy, flower poorly and are prone to mildew. Choosing plants that prefer shade gives a far better result with less effort.
• Not distinguishing dry shade from damp shade — They support quite different plants. Dry shade under trees is the hardest condition in any garden and needs specific choices.
• Assuming shade means nothing will grow — Some of the best foliage plants and many woodland species need shade. It is a different palette, not an absence of one.

Questions people ask