Inspiration

15 Shade Loving Plants for UK Gardens: Ideas for Cool, Low-Light Corners

Shady spaces don’t have to feel forgotten. With the right shade loving plants, even north-facing borders, narrow side returns or the dry ground beneath trees can become cool, leafy corners full of texture and interest. Here are 15 reliable plants for shade in UK gardens that thrive where the sun is shy.

November 27, 2025
Author: Henry Kimber
Hellebore niger with white winter blooms growing in a shaded garden bed.

Make a Striking Shady Border

Mixing foliage shapes, textures and heights is the key to a striking shady border. Start with a few favourites from the list and let your shade garden evolve with the seasons.

1. Ferns (Dry & Damp Shade)

A staple of every shady garden. Ferns bring instant structure and lush greenery in both dry and damp shade. Combine several varieties for soft layers of foliage.

2. Heuchera (Containers & Beds)

Bright, colourful foliage — from peach to deep plum — makes heuchera ideal for shaded pots, balconies or the mid-border.

3. Hostas (Damp Shade)

Large, dramatic leaves in greens, blues and variegated tones. Best in cool, moisture-retentive soil.

4. Astrantia (Partial Shade)

Starry blooms that attract pollinators. A perfect perennial for dappled or partial shade.

Unfurling fern frond showing fresh green growth in spring shade.
01 Unfurling fern frond
Heuchera foliage in rich red and pink tones thriving in partial shade.
02 Heuchera
Hosta leaves with broad green and variegated foliage growing in moist shade.
03 Hosta
Astrantia flowers with star-shaped blooms in a dappled shade border.
04 Astrantia

5. Pulmonaria (Damp Shade)

Spotted foliage and early spring flowers loved by bees. Good groundcover.

6. Hardy Geraniums (Dry Shade)

Tough, long-flowering and able to handle tricky spots beneath trees.

7. Foxgloves (Light Shade)

Tall, airy stems thrive in dappled shade. Great for cottage-style corners.

Pulmonaria plant with spotted leaves and pink-blue spring flowers in shade.
Epimedium with delicate heart-shaped leaves and orange spring flowers in dry shade.
01 Epimedium
Euphorbia with chartreuse bracts and sculptural stems in a bright shade border.
02 Euphorbia
Trailing ivy with glossy green leaves climbing through shaded groundcover.
03 Ivy

8. Epimedium (Dry Shade)

One of the best plants for deep, dry shade. Delicate flowers with heart-shaped leaves.

9. Euphorbia (Dry Shade)

Architectural forms and lime-green bracts that brighten darker areas.

10. Ivy (Full Shade)

A classic evergreen climbing or trailing plant for walls, fences and containers.

11. Tiarella (Partial Shade)

Soft, foamy flowers in spring and attractive foliage through the year.

Tiarella plant with frothy white flower spikes and patterned leaves in shade.

12. Hakonechloa (Shade Pots)

A small ornamental grass that gently cascades in containers or borders.

13. Hellebores (Winter Shade)

Winter–spring flowers that lift cold, shady corners when everything else is dormant.

14. Brunnera (Damp Shade)

Heart-shaped leaves and forget-me-not-like flowers in early spring.

15. Mint, Chives & Shade Herbs (Containers)

Many hardy herbs tolerate shade well, especially in pots on north-facing balconies.

Spearmint leaves with fresh green foliage growing in moist, lightly shaded soil.
shade

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