Best Plants for Shade in UK Gardens

The best plants for shade in UK gardens include ferns, hostas, hellebores, epimediums, hydrangeas and aucuba. What matters most is the kind of shade you have: deep, partial, dappled, or dry shade under big trees.

A hosta that loves damp, dappled shade may give up in dry soil under a mature tree. The RHS shade-gardening guide explains how light and thirsty roots change a spot. This guide sorts plants by conditions, with ideas for ground cover and year-round shape. For more woody plants, see our best shrubs for shade.

Understanding shade types

Not all shade is the same, so work out what you’ve got before you buy. A plant that loves dappled woodland may fail in the dry, dark ground under a thick evergreen hedge. Spring perennials such as bleeding hearts are happiest in dappled woodland shade.

Full shade

Full shade gets less than 2 hours of direct sun a day. Think of the north side of a house, under dense evergreens or a courtyard between tall buildings. It’s the trickiest spot, but some plants handle it well.

Partial shade

Partial shade gets a few hours of direct sun, usually early morning or late afternoon. It’s the most common shade in UK gardens, and most shade plants are happy here. North-facing gardens often fall into this group, as they catch some morning and evening light.

Dappled shade

Dappled shade is light filtering through the leaves of a deciduous tree, making shifting patches of sun and shade. It’s just like a woodland, and it suits the widest range of shade plants. Woodland bulbs like erythronium, the dog’s tooth violet, flower before the trees leaf up. The cool, soft light also suits trickier treasures like the Himalayan blue poppy, which scorches in sun.

Dry shade vs moist shade

How damp the soil is matters as much as the light. Dry shade is found under big trees and along walls and fences that keep the rain off. Moist shade is found in sheltered hollows, north-facing borders with good soil and beside ponds or streams. Most shade plants prefer it moist. Dry shade is the hardest spot of all.

Best perennials for shade

Hostas

Hostas are the classic shade plant. They make big clumps of gorgeous leaves in green, blue, gold and variegated patterns. They flower on tall stems in summer, but most people grow them for the leaves.

Good hostas for UK shade gardens:

Gardener’s tip: hostas die right back in winter and pop up again in April. Mark where they are with small canes so you don’t dig into them by mistake.

A collection of hostas in a shady border. Blue-leaved types like ‘Halcyon’ (left) cope with deeper shade than gold ones.

Ferns

Hardy ferns cope with deeper shade than any other garden plant. They bring lovely texture and movement to dark corners where little else grows.

The best UK garden ferns:

• Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas): native, tough and grows almost anywhere. Semi-evergreen. The first fern to try in any shade garden.
• Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum): elegant, finely cut fronds. Evergreen. Copes with dry shade once settled.
• Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina): delicate, pale green fronds. Dies back in winter. Likes moist shade.
• Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium): glossy, strap-shaped fronds. Evergreen. Grows in wall cracks and rocky shade.
• Tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica): a dramatic feature for sheltered gardens. Needs winter protection in colder areas. Grows slowly to about 3m.

Astilbes

Astilbes have feathery plumes in pink, red, white and purple from June to August. They need moist shade, and their leaf edges go brown and crispy if it’s too dry. Plant them by a pond, in raised beds with moisture-holding soil, or in borders that stay damp.

Good varieties: ‘Fanal’ (deep red), ‘Bridal Veil’ (white) and ‘Amethyst’ (lilac-purple).

Brunnera macrophylla

Brunnera has clouds of tiny blue forget-me-not flowers in April and May. ‘Jack Frost’ has silver-veined leaves that light up dark borders all summer. It copes with dry shade once settled, so it’s really handy under trees.

‘Jack Frost’ lights up dark corners long after its spring flowers fade. Once settled, it copes with dry shade under trees.

Hellebores

Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) flower from February to April, when little else in the shade is out. Colours run from white through pink to deep purple, often speckled. The leaves stay green all year. They’re happy in dappled or part shade and seed themselves gently. Hellebores are toxic to cats if eaten, so cat owners should check our guide to plants toxic to cats for safer choices.

Japanese anemones

Japanese anemones fill the late summer gap, flowering from August to October. Pink or white flowers on tall, wiry stems. They spread steadily once settled. ‘Honorine Jobert’, with its white single flowers, is a real beauty.

A woodland border with ferns, brunnera and hellebores under the dappled shade of a birch.

Best shrubs for shade

Shrubs give shade gardens their year-round shape. They’re the frame that perennials and ground cover fill in around.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangea macrophylla is the most popular flowering shrub for shade in UK gardens. Mophead and lacecap types flower from July to September. The flower colour depends on your soil: blue on acid soil, pink on chalky soil and mauve in between.

Plant in part or dappled shade, as deep shade means fewer flowers. Prune in late March, taking off old flower heads down to the first strong pair of buds.

Fatsia japonica

Fatsia is the boldest plant for shade. Its glossy, deeply cut leaves are huge. It’s evergreen and tough, and copes with town pollution and seaside gardens. White flower clusters appear in autumn, which is unusual for a shade plant.

Fatsia’s bold leaves bring drama to the darkest courtyard. It even flowers in autumn, which is rare for a shade plant.

Aucuba japonica

Aucuba (spotted laurel) is almost indestructible. The gold-spotted ‘Crotonifolia’ brightens the darkest corners. It grows in full shade and copes with dry soil and pollution. Clip to shape in April. The one problem to watch for is aucuba blackening, when leaves go black after frost, cold winds or wet roots.

Mahonia

Mahonia x media varieties like ‘Charity’ and ‘Winter Sun’ have scented yellow flower spikes from late autumn into winter. Bold evergreen leaves. They grow in part to full shade. Brilliant for winter interest when little else is flowering.

Skimmia japonica

Skimmia is a compact evergreen for shade. Red buds through winter, scented white flowers in spring and red berries on female plants in autumn. It prefers acid soil. Plant a male and a female together if you want berries.

Ground cover for shade

Ground cover sorts out bare soil in shady spots. It smothers weeds, keeps moisture in and looks pretty at ground level.

The best shade ground covers

• Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor): evergreen with blue flowers and spreads steadily. The most reliable shade ground cover. Also comes in white and purple.
• Bugle (Ajuga reptans): blue flower spikes in May. Bronze-leaved types like ‘Atropurpurea’ add colour. Spreads by runners.
• Dead nettle (Lamium maculatum): silver-marked leaves and pink or white flowers. ‘Beacon Silver’ has striking silver leaves. Spreads well in moist shade.
• Geranium macrorrhizum: scented leaves and pink flowers in May and June. Copes with dry shade. One of the toughest ground covers around.
• Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca): native, with tiny tasty fruits. Spreads by runners. Charming rather than showy.
• Cyclamen hederifolium: autumn flowers and marbled leaves. Copes with dry shade under trees and seeds itself into big drifts over the years.
• Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum): try sweet woodruff for fragrant shade cover. It makes a low carpet with white spring flowers and leaves that smell of hay, and spreads happily in moist shade.

Vinca minor and lamium making a low carpet under trees. Both spread steadily to fill bare patches.

Climbers for shade

Hydrangea petiolaris

Climbing hydrangea is the best climber for shade in the UK. It clings to walls and fences by itself, has white lacecap flowers in June and grows big in time. Perfect for a north-facing wall. It’s slow for the first couple of years, then romps away.

Clematis

Several clematis grow well in shade, though they like their roots in shade and their heads in some light:

• Clematis montana: vigorous, with white or pink flowers in May. It covers big areas fast. See our guide to the best climbing plants for UK gardens for more ideas
• Clematis alpina: dainty nodding flowers in April, good on north walls
• Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’: pale pink with darker stripes. It actually looks best in shade, as strong sun fades the flowers

Hedera (ivy)

English ivy is the toughest shade climber, but keep it in check. It clings by itself, stays green all year and gives shelter to wildlife, including nesting birds. ‘Goldchild’ has gold-edged leaves that brighten dark walls. Trim it twice a year so it doesn’t swamp its support.

Planting for dry shade

Dry shade under big trees is the hardest spot to plant. Tree roots grab the water and food, and the leaves keep the rain off.

How to succeed in dry shade

1. Improve the soil: dig in plenty of garden compost before planting, and add more as a mulch each year.
2. Plant in autumn or early spring: the soil is naturally moist and rain is regular. See our March planting guide for spring timing.
3. Water well for the first two years: until the roots are settled. After that, most dry-shade plants manage on their own.
4. Mulch every year: a 5cm layer of compost or leaf mould in spring keeps moisture in through summer.
5. Choose the right plants: not every shade plant copes with dry soil.

Dry shade specialists

• Epimedium: tough little perennials with dainty spring flowers. Cut off the old leaves in February so you can see the flowers. Spreads slowly.
• Cyclamen hederifolium: autumn flowers and marbled leaves, happy in dry shade under trees. Rests completely in summer.
• Geranium phaeum (mourning widow): deep purple flowers in May and June. Seeds itself around and copes with very dry, shady spots.
• Brunnera macrophylla: spring flowers and pretty leaves, and copes with dry shade once settled.
• Liriope muscari: grassy evergreen clumps with purple flower spikes in autumn. Tough and copes well with drought.

Top tip: don’t hack through tree roots to plant. Dig small pockets between the roots and fill them with good compost. Water new plants weekly for their first two summers, or even the toughest dry-shade plants will struggle.

Dry shade under oak trees, planted with epimedium, cyclamen and ferns that cope well once settled.

Shade plants for containers

Best shade container plants

• Hostas: great in pots, which lifts them away from slugs on the ground. Use a pot at least 30cm across and water often in summer.
• Fatsia japonica: a bold plant for a big pot, looking good all year.
• Ferns: soft shield fern and hart’s tongue fern do well in pots. Keep the compost moist.
• Heuchera: colourful leaves in burgundy, lime, silver and amber. Compact, so perfect for pots. Replace every few years when they get woody.
• Box (Buxus): clipped balls or cubes add a smart touch. Slow-growing, evergreen and happy in shade.

Use peat-free multipurpose compost with some perlite mixed in for drainage. Feed monthly with a balanced liquid feed from April to September. For shady rooms indoors, see our guide to the best low-light houseplants for UK homes.

Pots lift hostas away from slugs on the ground. Use one at least 30cm across and water often in summer.

Common mistakes with shade planting

Planting sun-lovers in shade

Roses, lavender and most Mediterranean herbs need at least 6 hours of direct sun. They won’t flower or thrive in shade however much you feed them. Check the label before you buy.

Ignoring soil moisture

Dry shade and moist shade need different plants. An astilbe in dry shade goes brown and crispy. A cyclamen in soggy ground rots. Check how damp your soil is before choosing.

Overcrowding

Shade plants need room for air to move. Crowded shade borders get damp and stuffy, which brings mildew and rot. Follow the spacing on the label rather than cramming plants in.

Forgetting winter interest

Lots of shade perennials die down in winter, leaving bare soil from November to March. Add evergreens like fatsia, aucuba and ferns to keep things interesting. Hellebores bring flowers from February.

Not feeding the soil

Soil in shade, especially under trees, is often poor. Mulch with compost or leaf mould every spring. Without it, even tough shade plants won’t look their best.

Why try epimedium for dry shade: once settled, it copes with thirsty tree roots and makes useful ground cover under deciduous trees. Water it while it settles in, and pick a variety that suits the size of the space.

Seasonal interest calendar for shade gardens

Lots of shade plants also suit damp ground, covered in our guide to the best plants for wet, boggy soil.

Frequently asked questions

What grows well in full shade UK?

Ferns, ivy and aucuba all cope with full shade. Hardy ferns like male fern and soft shield fern grow in the darkest corners. Add Cyclamen hederifolium for autumn flowers and Vinca minor for evergreen ground cover.

What is the best ground cover for shade?

Vinca minor is the most reliable ground cover for shade. It spreads steadily, stays green all year and has blue flowers in spring. Lamium, wild strawberry and bugle (Ajuga reptans) are good alternatives.

Do hostas grow in full shade?

Hostas prefer part or dappled shade, not full shade. They need some light for good leaf colour and flowers. Blue-leaved types like ‘Halcyon’ cope with more shade than gold or variegated ones, which like it brighter.

What shrubs grow in shade UK?

Hydrangeas, fatsia, aucuba and mahonia all do well in shade. Hydrangea macrophylla is the most popular, flowering from July to September. Fatsia japonica has big, bold evergreen leaves and copes with deep shade.

Can you grow flowers in a north-facing garden?

Yes, lots of flowers do well in north-facing gardens. Foxgloves, astilbes, hellebores and Japanese anemones all flower without direct sun. North-facing doesn’t mean full shade, as light bounces off walls and fences.