Shade plants for Surrey gardens
Four kinds of shade, and the plants that thrive in each
Shade is not one condition
“Shade-tolerant” on a plant label covers a lot of ground. A damp corner under an Acer, a dust-dry strip beneath a Fagus sylvatica hedge and the narrow passage beside a north-facing wall are all shade, but very little grows well in all three. Most of the tired shade borders we are asked to rescue in Kingston, Surbiton and Richmond had perfectly good plants in the wrong kind of shade.
Before choosing a single plant, work out two things: how much direct sun the bed gets, and how wet the soil stays. Those two questions sort almost every shady spot into one of four types, and each has its own guide below.
Find your type of shade
Plants for partial shade
Two to six hours of direct sun, or bright dappled light under a high, open canopy. The most generous of the four, and where woodland-edge plants come into their own.
Astrantia major, Brunnera macrophylla, Tiarella cordifolia and Digitalis purpurea give a long season, with Galanthus nivalis, Eranthis hyemalis and Cyclamen coum lighting up the bare months.
Plants for full shade
Less than two hours of direct sun, typically against a north-facing wall or under dense evergreens. Flowers are fewer, so leaf shape, texture and scent do the heavy lifting.
Sarcococca confusa and Skimmia japonica bring winter scent, Mahonia aquifolium and Aucuba japonica give structure, and ferns such as Polystichum setiferum and Asplenium scolopendrium cover the ground.
Plants for dry shade
The hardest of the four: low light plus roots that drink the soil dry. Typical under mature Fagus sylvatica, conifers and large hedges, and in the rain shadow at the foot of a wall.
A short list of tough plants copes, led by Geranium macrorrhizum, Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae, Iris foetidissima and Cyclamen hederifolium. Ground preparation and a first-summer watering plan matter as much as the plant list.
Plants for wet shade
Shade on soil that stays damp all year, common on heavy clay and low-lying ground near the Thames and the Hogsmill. Plants that sulk anywhere drier thrive here.
Matteuccia struthiopteris, Osmunda regalis, Iris sibirica, Primula denticulata and Carex elata ‘Aurea’ make a lush, layered scheme with very little watering.
Working out which shade you have
Watch the bed on a sunny day in late spring and note when direct sun arrives and leaves. Under deciduous trees, check again in midsummer once the canopy has filled in. Then dig a spade-deep hole a few days after rain: dust-dry soil points to dry shade, standing water or grey, sticky clay points to wet shade.
Our free garden sun planner shows how the sun moves across your plot through the year, and the garden orientation guide explains what each aspect means for planting.
Shade on Surrey clay
Much of Kingston, Surbiton and the surrounding area sits on London Clay. In shade it dries slowly, so the same bed can behave as wet shade in winter and, under trees, dry shade by August. Working in well-rotted organic matter before planting helps in both directions. Our guide to improving clay soil explains how.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Sarcococca confusa is the most reliable choice. Glossy evergreen foliage, fragrant winter flowers, tolerant of clay soil. For groundcover, Pachysandra terminalis. For taller structure, Mahonia aquifolium or Aucuba japonica.
Yes, provided soil moisture is adequate. Hostas tolerate full shade but require moisture-retentive conditions. They fail in dry full shade beneath trees. Ensure good organic matter content and mulch annually.
Yes, beneath deciduous trees. Spring bulbs exploit pre-leaf light when canopy is bare. Snowdrops, winter aconites, Cyclamen coum perform well. Beneath evergreens or in year-round deep shade, performance is poor.
Variegated and silver-leaved plants reflect light. White-variegated more effective than yellow in deep shade. Glossy foliage reflects light better than matte. Pale paths and walls also brighten the overall impression.
Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris is deciduous but the most reliable shade-tolerant climber. For evergreen coverage, Hedera helix tolerates full shade. Pyracantha can be trained against north walls.
