Plants for Shade & Woodland

What plants grow well in shade?

Shade is often treated as a garden problem to solve, but many of the most elegant hardy plants prefer it. Tree ferns and hardy ferns thrive in the cool damp conditions of a north-facing bed. Fatsia japonica gives bold, glossy foliage in dry shade. Brunnera, hostas, hardy Begonia grandis and the shade-tolerant Fargesia bamboos all handle real shade well. The key is understanding whether you have moist shade (usually easier) or dry shade (trickier but manageable). Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

Care essentials for shade plants

• Position: Partial to full shade. Note whether the shade is dry (under mature trees) or moist (north-facing corner) and choose species accordingly.
• Soil: Humus-rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained. Mulch generously each spring with leafmould or garden compost. Water in dry shade through summer.
• Hardiness: Most shade-tolerant plants stocked here are RHS H5 to H7 (fully hardy across the UK).
• Watering: Dry shade is the hardest condition in the garden. Water deeply once a week through the first two summers to establish, then rely on mulch to hold moisture.
• Spring tidy: Cut back tired old fronds and leaves in early spring before new growth pushes through. Do not prune otherwise.

Explore the shade range

Combine shade plants with hardy ferns and tree ferns for a woodland effect, or with hardy perennials for seasonal colour. See the full Hardy Exotics range for shade-tolerant companions.