Cool and shady

There’s a plethora of candidates for difficult growing locations, for instance under the shade of trees or beside walls and buildings.

Snaking clematis

Not just any variety, but a large flowered form called ‘Grandiflora’ which flaunts pure white flowers with yellow anthers from May to June. Plant it to light up a north facing wall. If it outgrows its position, prune it.

Winning camellia

Great for training against a wall or fence, there are many freeflowering forms. It can have up to eight flushes of soft pink blooms from early January to mid April.

Cold roses

Rosa ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ is bred by David Austin and is ideal if you want a scented, repeatflowering English climbing rose. The voluptuous peach-cream flowers exude a strong fragrance of citrus and myrrh.

Flower heads

Given a sheltered position, Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris AGM will cling with aerial roots, forming a woody framework. In summer, the attractive, deciduous leaves are paired with lacy white flower heads.