ASK DIARMUID
Q
I have a south-facing garden but two side borders are mainly in the shade. Do you have a list of some plants that will give me some colour?
Chris, via email
A There are many colourful shadeloving plants. At this time of year, astilbes with their feathery plumes in white, pink or purple, look superb and Japanese anemones, in white and pink, are a lovely herbaceous plant for the shade.
Heucheras are grown mainly for their colourful foliage – cultivars range from deep purples to limey greens and many unusual shades in between. They do well in the shade and many are semi-evergreen.
Solomon’s seal is a graceful herbaceous with attractive foliage and bells of creamy white flowers.
For early spring, lots of bulbs will light up this area and try some hellebores, which can flower for many months from January to May.