Plants for partial shade with winter interest
Plenty of plants, of a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, thrive in shade, so it’s perfectly possible to create a full and attractive border with year-round interest in these sometimes challenging conditions
Quick facts
- Winter colour and flower helps to extend the border’s interest further into the year
- Yellow and white can help to brighten slightly shady areas
- Many winter interest plants also provide valuable wildlife resources
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The planting plan
This design includes plants that, once established, will thrive in partial shade to provide interest throughout the year, but especially in winter.
Plants for partial shade with winter interest
Choosing plants for partial shade with winter interest
The Mahonia, Cornus, Sarcococca and Cotoneaster are good for attracting pollinators and other wildlife into the garden helping to increase natural biodiversity.
Once established, the spreading Cotoneaster and Cryptomeria will provide groundcover. This will reduce soil erosion and evaporation of moisture from the soil surface, as well as making it harder for weed seeds to grow.
Until the plants have filled out, an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, can help to lock in soil moisture and suppress weeds. Mulches should be spread when the soil is already moist to help trap some of that moisture before it dries out in summer.
1 - Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’
2 - Mahonia x media ‘Lionel Fortescue’
3 - Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’
5 - Cryptomeria japonica ‘Vilmoriniana’
5 - Cotoneaster procumbens ‘Queen of Carpets'
2 - Mahonia x media ‘Lionel Fortescue’ is an evergreen shrub with structural spiny leaves. It has bright yellow, scented flowers, held in starburst-shaped clusters in late autumn and winter, followed by blue-black berries.
3 - Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’ is an evergreen shrub with glossy leaves on purple stems. Delicate light red and white flowers with a sweet scent appear in the leaf axils in winter.
4 - Cryptomeria japonica ‘Vilmoriniana’ is a dwarf slow-growing conifer with short, grey-green needles that turn reddish-purple in winter.
5 - Cotoneaster procumbens ‘Queen of Carpets’ is a low-growing evergreen shrub with small, glossy green leaves and many pinkish white flowers that are attractive to bees. These develop into bright red berries, which are enjoyed by birds.
About shade gardening
A simple planting plan helps to create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
The challenge of growing in partial shade
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?
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