Plant idea for planters in shady area?

msqingxiao

Hi all, after removing some overgrowing grass, I found two brick planters on the sides of the few steps leading to my back garden. The area is quite shady, only gets sunlight till around mid-day at this time of the year. Any suggestion on what to put in them please? I'd like evergreen, hardy, preferably longer-flowering perennials that won't get too big. Next to them I'm thinking about planting some heucheras and foxgloves. Thanks!

Plantminded

Hi there, sun until midday is still a fair amount for many plants - many prefer this, like hardy geraniums (cranesbills).  There's a range of varieties to choose from, they will give you long lasting flowers, are perennial, but they are not evergreen.  If being evergreen is the most important feature, perhaps you could consider box or yew topiary which will provide substance to your garden entrance.  Check the depth of the planters, ensure there is adequate drainage and replace the soil with a good soil based compost, perhaps as a 50:50 mix with peat free compost.  Your foxgloves and heucheras will go well with these evergreens. Water well and you'll soon have a good focal point in your garden!

msqingxiao

Plantminded said:

Hi there, sun until midday is still a fair amount for many plants - many prefer this, like hardy geraniums (cranesbills).  There's a range of varieties to choose from, they will give you long lasting flowers, are perennial, but they are not evergreen.  If being evergreen is the most important feature, perhaps you could consider box or yew topiary which will provide substance to your garden entrance.  Check the depth of the planters, ensure there is adequate drainage and replace the soil with a good soil based compost, perhaps as a 50:50 mix with peat free compost.  Your foxgloves and heucheras will go well with these evergreens. Water well and you'll soon have a good focal point in your garden!

Thanks a lot for your advice! I need to check the drainage indeed, as the soil currently in there seems to be wetter than soil in the surrounding area. 

WildFlower_UK

I have two containers outside the front of my house, which are in the shade until around 2-3pm (in the summer - more shade in the winter). In each I've planted a fern (evergreen), a sarcoccocca (evergreen, flowers in winter) and a vinca minor (evergreen, flowers in spring although some flowers are coming back now!). I find them a nice variation of height, colour and leaf shape. 

msqingxiao

WildFlower_UK said:

I have two containers outside the front of my house, which are in the shade until around 2-3pm (in the summer - more shade in the winter). In each I've planted a fern (evergreen), a sarcoccocca (evergreen, flowers in winter) and a vinca minor (evergreen, flowers in spring although some flowers are coming back now!). I find them a nice variation of height, colour and leaf shape. 

Lots of lovely ideas! Thank you