A shady border under a tree, is often a place that i'm told by my clients "nothing grows there". There is a more limited range of plants that can cope with and thrive in a dry shady place, but in this garden we've been developing this border for the last 5 years, and it is now looking great, and proving there are some hardy varieties.
This is how it looked in March 2006
The daffodils flowered wonderfully in spring, but then it was just empty for the rest of the year.
The beech tree, shades most of the border in summer, and at the far end, the fig and lilac between them, create a really shady patch.
With so little light, plus very well drained soil, the flower colours are not going to be very bold, but with careful planning, we do have something flowering every month of the year.
Spring is still the best
After cyclamen and snowdrops to start the year, the Hellebores, Epimediums and daffodils take over. plus some fantastic Dicentra (although we had to plant them in groups to get them to show off like this)
By late spring, even last year when we'd had 10 weeks with hardly any rain, (the lawn is parched) the Alchemilla, Alliums and geraniums had taken over to give colour
Acanthus spinosus, which can take over on better fertilised soils, gives us wonderful plumes of flowers in this border, and hasn't spread out of control.
Summer is the hardest in a dry border, so we've added some fuchsias to give some interest when the sun is at it's highest.
and by the autumn, the Asters are doing their thing, and sedums are giving a touch of pink.
With lots of lush foliage, this border proves, that although more difficult, there is plenty, not "nothing" that will grow in a dry shady border.
Brilliant and inspirational. As so often your advice is clear, concise and well illustrated.
Posted by: Laura @ PatioPatch | February 17, 2011 at 06:44 AM
I wish that all gardening books covered the issue of difficult borders as well as this article does. Really useful to see how the border has developed over a couple of years
Posted by: Kidsandgardens | February 17, 2011 at 07:24 AM
That's my border! - well how it was before you got your 'magic mits' on it. Thanks Claire. Also wanted to say that my winter hanging basket is looking gorgeous. Now just have to pass it all off as my handiwork and not yours! Melanie xxx
Posted by: Melanie | February 17, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Laura - thanks, glad you find it inspirational, I need to take even more pictures this year, - never got a snap of the bit I want
Kids&gardens - I've used lots of shade gardening books, and they're never as good as actually trying it out. Luckily I have clients gardens to experiment in
Melanie - no magic mitts, but just trial and error, we won't tell them about the leucothoe and the vinca that didn't make it!
Posted by: Claire, Plantpassion | February 17, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Thank you for that inspiration. I,ve been struggling with a similar area for ages but that has given me the confidence to believe it can be improved. And it looks absolutely stunning.
Posted by: Sara Venn | February 17, 2011 at 02:04 PM