Plants for shade with summer shades of pink

This sustainable planting combination provides inspiration for planting in shade conditions to enjoy summer flowers in a range of pinks, with foliage interest throughout the year

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Hydrangeas enjoy partial shade
Hydrangeas enjoy partial shade

Quick facts

  • Low light levels are often created by established trees and shrubs, so can go hand-in-hand with drier soil conditions
  • Choosing plants suitable for the conditions promotes good plant health
  • An effective planting plan can help to create depth, interest and environmental benefits

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 planting design provides a range of plants that, once established, will give summer flowers in a range of pinks, and interest throughout the year, in a shady location.

Plants for partial shade with a pink theme

Choosing plants for shade with summer interest

The plants have been selected because their preferred conditions is partial shade. By using plants that are naturally adapted to this setting, we can reduce the potential problems that are more likely to occur when using plants that are not so well suited.

Once established, the Bistorta, Geranium and Saxifraga act as groundcover and protect against soil surface erosion. They will also make it harder for weed seeds to germinate.

While waiting for the plants to fill out, an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, will help in the same way. Ideally, spread the mulch when the soil is moist as this will lock it in before drier summer weather.

The Hydrangea, Bistorta and Geranium are also good for attracting pollinators into the garden, helping to increase natural biodiversity. 

1 – Weigela florida ‘Foliis Purpureis’
2 - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Big Ben’
3 – Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’
4 – Bistorta amplexicaulis ‘Fat Domino’
5 – Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’
6 –  Saxifraga x urbium
1 – Weigela florida ‘Foliis Purpureis’ is a small, spreading deciduous shrub with purple-green leaves. In late spring and early summer it bears clusters of red buds that open to give funnel-shaped, rosy-pink flowers. 

2 – Hydrangea paniculata ‘Big Ben’ is a deciduous shrub with light green leaves and red-purple young stems. Flower heads are conical clusters of scented flowers that are a light green, paling to green-white, then maturing to deep pink.  

3 – Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’ is an herbaceous perennial with lacy foliage and upright, near-black stems bearing generous sprays of fluffy, bright mauve-pink flowers in mid- to late summer.  

4 – Bistorta amplexicaulis ‘Fat Domino’  is a semi-evergreen perennial forming a mound of oval leaves. Spikes of deep blood-red flowers open on branched stems from mid-summer to late autumn.  

5 – Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ is an herbaceous perennial with aromatic, deeply lobed green leaves. It has pale pink flowers with contrasting deeper pink centres, borne over a long period in early summer.  

6 – Saxifraga x urbium is a spreading evergreen making a carpet of bright green rosettes of leaves. Dainty, pink-flushed white flowers are borne on erect stems, from early summer.  

About shade gardening

By choosing plants that are adapted naturally to shade, we can help promote strong plants that are less likely to suffer from pest and diseases. In their preferred conditions, plants establish better and need fewer additional resources such as water and fertilisers.

A simple planting plan helps to create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
 

The challenge of growing in shade

Low light levels can make it hard for plants to grow and develop. Unless they’re adapted to such conditions, plants will grow weakly or fail to flower. 
Shady conditions might also be dry if the shade is created by surrounding trees or shrubs, and it can be hard to plant in root-filled ground. Dry conditions make it tough for plants to establish, so even plants that are naturally suited should be monitored and watered during their first spring and summer while they establish.
 

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 to avoid waste and the use of products and practices needed to try and help ailing plants, such as applying fertiliser. It also creates robust, long-lived planting that benefits soil health and garden biodiversity.

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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.