Plants for damp shade with seasonal variety

Plenty of plants, of a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, thrive in damp shade, so a full and attractive border with year-round interest can be created even in these sometimes challenging conditions

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Many ferns are suited to damp shade
Many ferns are suited to damp shade

Quick facts

  • Best results are achieved by using plants that are naturally suited to damp shade
  • Damp soil can be more common on heavy clay soils and in soils close to natural water bodies
  • Choosing plants with a variety of seasonal flowers and foliage promotes longer periods of interest

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The planting plan

James Lawrence, RHS Principal Horticultural Advisor, has designed this simple, attractive, and most importantly, sustainable border design for you to try at home with plants that are easy to grow, widely available and look good together.

This seasonal variety planting design provides a range of plants that, once established, will thrive in damp shade while still providing a variety of interest throughout the year. 

Damp shade with seasonal variety

© James Lawrence

Choosing plants for damp shade

These plants have been selected because their preferred conditions are damp soil in partial shade. By using plants that are naturally adapted to these conditions, we can reduce the potential problems that are more likely to occur when using plants that are not so well suited.

The Dryopteris and Primula will provide some ground cover and prevent erosion of bare soil. The ground cover can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and suppress weed growth.

Additional organic mulching, ideally with homemade compost, assists with soil moisture retention and weed suppression.

1 – Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’
2 – Dryopteris crassirhizoma
3 – Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’
4 – Astilbe ‘Deutschland’
5 – Primula beesiana 
1 – Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ is a deciduous shrub with green leaves which flush orange-red, and bright orange-red stems through winter.
2 – Dryopteris crassirhizoma is a semi-evergreen fern with a thick, brown crown, from which slightly arching fronds arise to form a vase-shaped clump.
3 – Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’ is a herbaceous perennial with whorled purple-green leaves and nodding, star-shaped bright yellow flowers.
4 – Astilbe ‘Deutschland’ is a herbaceous perennial with glossy green foliage and open, slightly arching sprays of white flowers in late spring or early summer. 
5 – Primula beesiana is a semi-evergreen perennial with upright stems bearing tiers of yellow-eyed purple flowers above rosettes of light green, crinkly leaves in late spring and early summer.

About damp shade

Damp shade can be common on heavy clay, soils with naturally high-water tables or soils close to streams or ponds. By choosing plants that are adapted to damp shade you can keep your border looking good and growing well, and reduce the costs of unsuitable plants that may struggle or fail. Plants not adapted to shade may lack flowers or fruit and be more prone to diseases, disorders and other issues. A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.

The challenge of growing in damp shade

Too much moisture in the soil can have a detrimental effect on plant roots, leading to damage and poor growth and development. Shade can deprive some plants of enough light if they are not suited to the conditions. This will often mean they lack flowers, have pale leaves and may grow sideways to ‘seek’ the light.

Why choose a sustainable planting combination?

Using the ethos of ‘right plant, right place’ to create a sustainable planting combination is great for the environment. It helps avoid waste and the use of products and practices needed to try and help ailing plants, such as the application of fertiliser. It also creates robust, long-lived planting that benefits soil health and garden biodiversity. For more information about sustainable gardening, please see the RHS Sustainability Strategy.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.