English Garden Plants to use in the shade

Guest Author - Hellie T.

Even if you have a shady yard you can use this selection of perennials to create an English Garden. Or try growing them in pots and containers.

Aquilegia vulgaris or Grannies bonnets - flowers in late spring

Lily of the Valley – Convallaria majalis - a real traditional English flower - has delightfully fragrant white bell flowers in late spring

Solomon’s seal or Polygonatum hybridum has greeny white flowers in late spring

Mourning widow or Geranium phaeum – has dainty purple flowers in late spring

Elephants ears or Bergenia cordifolia purpurea has purple coloured leaves and pink flowers in early spring

Primroses - Primula vulgaris – an English Garden favourite - blooms in spring with beautiful yellow flowers

Wake Robin or Trillium grandiflorum has white flowers in spring

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea - tall spikes of purple red blooms in June

Lady’s mantle or Alchemilla mollis has lemon yellow frothy flowers in summer
Polygonatum campanulatum has pink flowers from summer to early autumn
Day Lily or Hemerocallis citrine has fragrant bright yellow blooms in summer – Golden Chimes has golden flowers
Satin poppy or Meconopsis napaulensis has pink or red flowers in early summer as does the Blue Poppy or Meconopsis betonicifolia.
Doll’s Eyes or Actaea pachypoda has white flowers in summer
Hostas make useful dramatic accents though are best grown in pots as they are such a favourite of slugs and snails!

Buzy Lizzies (Impatiens) are colourful annuals that are very easy to grow and are ideal for pots or places which receive very little or no sun. Evergreens such as ivy and ferns can be used to add background, box too will grow in the shade.

Enjoy your English Garden