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Happy, Healthy Plants Guaranteed
Expertly Grown In The UK
Carefully Hand Delivered
Happy, Healthy Plants Guaranteed
Expertly Grown In The UK
Carefully Hand Delivered

Plants for Shade

One of the most common questions we’re asked is “What plants can I grow in shade?” There are a surprising number of flowering plants, climbing plants and even container plants that thrive in the shadows, so we've put together this handy selection to help you choose.

Flowering Plants for Shade

To add colour to a shady border, you can’t beat these shade-loving flowers. Classic Foxgloves are a must, and to complete the cottage garden look just add Campanula and https://www.rootsplants.co.uk/products/6-aquilegia-spring-magic-collection-10-5cm-pot. Bleeding Heart adds a touch of drama and works equally well in containers or beds.

Climbing Plants for Shade

There is a huge choice of climbing plants for shady gardens. Of course Ivy is the classic backdrop to a shady border, but other shade loving climbers include the gorgeous scented Star Jasmine, Viticella Clematis and delicate Honeysuckle.

Container Plants for Shade

Bring colour and texture to neglected corners of the garden with these shade-loving container plants. Hostas and Heucheras fill a large space with vibrant foliage and also flower in Summer. Salvias are having a moment right now and for good reason - they look fabulous in patio pots. Can’t decide? Start with our specially selected 9 Perfect Plants for Shade collection, which includes Hostas, Heucheras, Foxgloves and more.

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Hosta 'White Feather'
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Hosta 'White Feather'

A miniature hosta - in white!

0 options from £8.00
  • Pointed foliage emerges ivory white before developing green streaks
  • Lilac purple flowers in June and July
  • A rarely seen hosta that's a must for your collection
  • Plant in a rock garden, in pots or as path edging
Soft Shield Fern | Polystichum Plumosum Densum
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Soft Shield Fern | Polystichum Plumosum Densum

Soft and lush, a textured delight

0 options from £8.00
  • Adds interest to shady borders, ponds or woodland gardens
  • Feathery fronds create a fluffy look
  • Bright green to boost shady spots
  • Tolerant of drier conditions
Rigid Shield Fern | Polystichum Rigens
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Rigid Shield Fern | Polystichum Rigens

Architectural form, rugged beauty

0 options from £8.00
  • Adds interest to shady borders, ponds or woodland gardens
  • Rigid, leathery foliage with overlapping leaflets
  • Bold, dark green fronds
  • Tolerant of drier conditions
Lady Fern | Athyrium filix femina
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Lady Fern | Athyrium filix femina

An elegant, lacy, native fern

0 options from £8.00
  • Adds interest to shady borders, ponds or woodland gardens
  • Feathery arching fronds
  • Soft green
  • Easy to grow deciduous fern
'Lisann' Helleborus x Lemperii | Hellebore Gold Collection®
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'Lisann' Helleborus x Lemperii | Hellebore Gold Collection®

Showy, bright white flowers

0 options from £18.40
  • Large, forward facing snow white flowers with a central ruff of stamens
  • Flowers from January to April
  • Excellent for underplanting trees and shrubs
  • Young flowers emerge creamy-green
Campanula 'Hirsch Blue'
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Campanula 'Hirsch Blue'

Arching sprays of emerald blue stars

0 options from £8.00
  • Indigo Blue bell-shaped flowers
  • Flowers throughout June and July
  • Perfect for woodland gardens or the front of borders
  • Makes a vibrant patio feature
Favourite Foxgloves Collection
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Favourite Foxgloves Collection

Essential for your cottage garden

0 options from £40.00
  • Everyone's favourite tall perennials in a range of eyecatching shades
  • Flowers throughout June and July
  • Attracts bees and butterflies to your borders
  • Grows to over 1m tall
Giant Rhubarb | Gunnera manicata
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Giant Rhubarb | Gunnera manicata

Perfect for the urban jungle

0 options from £25.00
  • Zone 1 - Pondside
  • Plant in full sun to partial shade
  • A spectacular architectural plant
  • Giant leaves up to 180cm!
Carex laxiculmis Bunny Blue | Ornamental Grass
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Carex laxiculmis Bunny Blue | Ornamental Grass

Small but mighty versatile grass

0 options from £8.00
  • Low growing clumps of blue-green leaves
  • Small creamy flowers from May to June
  • Perfect for pots, path edging or shady borders
  • A woodland plant that thrives in shade
Hosta 'Lakeside Little Tuft'
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Hosta 'Lakeside Little Tuft'

Honey, I shrunk the hostas....

0 options from £8.00
  • Miniature hosta with creamy yellow and lime green leaves, with a dark green margin
  • Lilac purple flowers in July and August
  • Grows to just 15-20 x 20-25cm
  • Pointy tufts of foliage, perfect for pots
Hosta 'Raspberry Sundae'
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Hosta 'Raspberry Sundae'

The hosta with unique colour contrasts

0 options from £15.00
  • Creamy white leaves with green margins and a splash of raspberry red
  • Violet purple flowers on burgundy stems from August to September
  • Compact and perfect for pots
  • Fully hardy foliage plant with no pruning needed
Carex Morrowii Ice Dance | Ornamental Grass
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Carex Morrowii Ice Dance | Ornamental Grass

Shimmering grass for even the shadiest spot

0 options from £8.00
  • Narrow, arching deep green leaves with a white edge
  • Plant in partial shade for the best colour
  • Perfect for pots, rock gardens or shady borders
  • Low maintenance, pest and disease proof
'Cherry Girl' Floribunda Rose
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'Cherry Girl' Floribunda Rose

Cheerful red floribunda, best for pots

0 options from £30.00
  • Clusters of fully double, cherry red nostalgic roses
  • Lightly scented
  • So versatile - plant in pots, borders and beds
  • ADR award for strength and health
Festuca glauca
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Festuca glauca

True blue ornamental grass

0 options from £8.00
  • Compact tufts of blue foliage
  • Perfect for wildlife gardens and coastal locations
  • Unparelleled seed heads in autumn
  • Super hardy, pest and disease proof
Carex Oshimensis Goldwell | Ornamental Grass
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Carex Oshimensis Goldwell | Ornamental Grass

Compact and colourful grass

0 options from £8.00
  • Bright evergreen leaves narrowly edged in golden yellow
  • Thrives in partial or full shade
  • Ideal for mixed borders and underplanting trees
  • Hardy and low maintenance
Painted Lady Fern | Athyrium Niponicum 'Pictum'
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Painted Lady Fern | Athyrium Niponicum 'Pictum'

Award winning foliage, flushed with silver

0 options from £8.00
  • Grey-green fronds with a silver and purple shimmer
  • Ideal for a shady patio or woodland border
  • Long lasting, fully hardy foliage
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit
Carex oshimensis JS Everest
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Carex oshimensis JS Everest

A stylish sedge indeed

0 options from £8.00
  • Compact tufts of variegated foliage
  • Perfect for wildlife gardens and coastal locations
  • Attractive seed heads in autumn
  • Super hardy, pest and disease proof
Carex Petriei Milk Chocolate® | Ornamental Grass
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Carex Petriei Milk Chocolate® | Ornamental Grass

Deliciously different chocolate brown grass

0 options from £8.00
  • Cascades of hair-like chocolate brown grass
  • Perfect for pots, patios and gravel gardens
  • Brown flower spikes in summer
  • No pruning needed!
Common Polypody | Polypodium Vulgare
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Common Polypody | Polypodium Vulgare

Resilient greenery for any space

0 options from £10.00
  • Adds interest to shady borders, ponds or woodland gardens
  • Leathery fronds with lobed leaflets
  • Bright green to boost shady spots
  • Perfect for groundcover
Shade Loving Dicentra Collection
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Shade Loving Dicentra Collection

Brighten up the shadier corners of your garden

0 options from £40.00
  • The perfect collection of shade tolerant Dicentra for woodland gardens
  • Blooms for four to six weeks from May to June
  • Hardy, low maintenance and pest and disease proof
  • Great for cutting
'Glacier' Ivy | Hedera helix
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'Glacier' Ivy | Hedera helix

Grows anything but glacially

0 options from £30.00
  • Grows in all light conditions
  • Alluring variegated foliage
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
Alpine Wood Fern | Dryopteris Wallichiana 'Jurassic Gold'
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Alpine Wood Fern | Dryopteris Wallichiana 'Jurassic Gold'

Straight outta Dorset

0 options from £8.00
  • Fronds emerge golden orange and mature to green
  • Show off in patio pots or use to underplant trees
  • Fully hardy and disease resistant
  • Discovered on the Jurassic coast
Autumn Fern | Dryopteris Erythrosora 'Koidzumiana'
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Autumn Fern | Dryopteris Erythrosora 'Koidzumiana'

Autumnal shades all year round

0 options from £8.00
  • Fronds turn through red, orange, copper and gold before maturing to green
  • Grow in pots or a shady woodland border
  • Compact and neat form, growing to 50x50cm
  • Easy to grow, with no pruning needed
Common Polypody | Polypodium Vulgare
Sold out
Common Polypody | Polypodium Vulgare

Resilient greenery for any space

0 options from £15.00
  • Adds interest to shady borders, ponds or woodland gardens
  • Leathery fronds with lobed leaflets
  • Bright green to boost shady spots
  • Perfect for groundcover

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