Plants for North-Facing Gardens

Shade-tolerant plants do best: ferns, big-leaved perennials and evergreens that cope with little direct sun. The cooler, moister conditions suit them well and often produce lusher foliage than a sunny spot would.

Not at all, it just suits different plants. Sun-lovers will struggle, but a wide range of shade-tolerant plants thrive there, and the cooler, damper conditions mean less watering in summer.

Some, especially in summer when the sun rises and sets further north, so the edges of the garden can catch early and late light. For most of the day, though, plan for shade and choose plants to match.

Ferns, ivies and shade-tolerant climbers all cope with a north wall, along with big-leaved perennials at its base. They give a cool, green, textured look without needing direct sun.