Plants for Dappled Shade
Euonymus alatus – Winged Spindle Tree or Fire Bush
from £34.99
As its common name suggests, this deciduous shrub is famous for its leaf colour. The dark green leaves turn brilliant shades of strawberry red in autumn. Also named after the large, corky wings that are revealed on its stems after it has shed its leaves. Best planted in an area where the sun catches the spectacular autumn foliage, it makes an excellent hero plant for the garden or woodland edge.
Asplenium scolopendrium - Hart's Tongue Ferns
from £6.99
A lovely, evergreen fern that is both eye-catching and easy to grow. Fresh new tongue-like fronds unfurl in the spring. Great for creating all year round interest in those troublesome shaded areas. Also in the garden Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustifolia'.
Alchemilla erythropoda - Ladies Mantle
from £5.99
Neat, compact clumps of soft, glauca-green leaves, The lime-green dainty flowers appear in small clusters from early summer and take on russet tones as they age. Versitle and easy to grow, providing a long period of interest at the front of a shady border.
A more compact version of Alchemilla mollis which is also in the garden with Alchemilla Irish Silk.
Astilbe ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ - False Goat's Beard
from £12.99
Astilbe 'Dark Side of the Moon' sings out with its stunning, dark chocolate-purple foliage, complemented by mauve buds that open into dense, rosy-purple flowers on dark red stems. Astilbes’ thrives in damp soil, making it an perfect choice for cool, shady areas or near water. Also in the garden, ‘Happy Spirit’ and ‘Ellie’ white varieties and ‘Peach Blossom’.
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Ursula's Red'- 'Painted Lady Fern'
from £12.99
This stunning great all-rounder fern has rich purple-bronze newly emerging fronds which look like they have been sprinkled with silver dust. This eye catching, two-tone effect creates a striking feature for low planting in a mixed border, in a pot on a shady patio or woodland gardens. It also works well when used as low planting in a large pot and placed on a shady terrace.
Also in the garden is Athyrium okanum. Which has light, yellow-green fronds, on deep purple-red stalks and 'Lady in Red' with its light green fronds on striking bright red stems.
Cercis chinensis 'Avondale' - Chinese red bud
from £19.99
In early spring, before the leaves appear, the branches are covered in small clusters of deep pink, pea-like flowers, giving an early eye catching display. In late spring, the rich green, glossy leaves emerge, providing an attractive canopy throughout summer, turning golden yellow shades before being dropping in autumn. Position in full sun or dappled shade in moist but well drained soil.
Epimedium × perralchicum 'Fröhnleiten' – Barrenwort
from £10.99
Pretty and dainty variety with distinctive, heart-shaped leaves, flushed with bronze in spring and autumn. In spring, it produces tiny, bright yellow star-shaped flowers held on delicate, wiry stems. A semi-evergreen epimedium, it has a spreading habit, a great ground cover for planting under trees in dappled shade. Also in the garden is Epimedium × warleyense with its orange and yellow coloured flowers.
Geranium sanguineum 'Album' - Bloody Cranesbill
from £12.99
This dainty variety is covered in pure white, cup shaped flowers from May though to June.
Loving full sun or partial shade, its perfect for a cottage garden theme or the front of a mixed border.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Centenary winner and well deserved. Stunning lavender-blue flowers with a white eye and purple veining, from June to Oct.
Also in the garden, Pink 'Blushing Turtle', ‘New Dimension’ with its bronze foliage and single, lavender-blue flowers. 'Midnight Ghost' white single flowers with darkest purple foliage. 'Storm Cloud' semi-double, saucer-shaped, vibrant purple flowers.
Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' - Plantain lily
from £5.99
A miniature hosta with blue-green leaves and spikes of soft purple bell-shaped flowers. A neat and compact plant, that works well in pots, shadier rockeries, or can be used to line the edges of a woodland path.
Also in the garden, Hosta 'Devon Green', its bigger brother.
Ligularia dentata 'Pandora' - Golden groundsel
from £12.99
Eye catching, tall-stemmed spikes of orange-yellow daisy-like flowers, from June – Aug, rising high above a mound of shiny, rounded purple leaves. Perfect for dappled and shady position.
Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Crowborough' - Arum Lily
from £24.99
Heavenly, pure white hood-shaped flowers that are up to 10-15cm long from late spring to mid-summer. A stunning architectural plant with lovely arrow-shaped, glossy dark green leaves. It looks great grown beside water as a marginal plant or as a statement in a pot in dappled shade.