The end of my long, narrow garden is shady – which plants can I grow there?
Kristina, Bristol
AHUMAIRA SAYS Focus on plants from woodland areas, as they’re adapted to low light. There is so much to choose from, including native wood sage
(Teucrium scorodonia) and wood anenomes (Anenome nemorosa) for early spring flowers and ground cover, as well as sweet woodruff
(Galium odoratum), which I ate in a panna cotta recently! There are many ferns with wonderful foliage and foxgloves (Digitalis) – my favourite variety is ‘Pam’s Choice’.
Non-native shade-lovers include hostas, liriopes, tiarellas, heucheras and dicentras (Lamprocapnos).
For something a bit different, try Tricyrtis with exotically speckled flowers and Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’, which looks rather like an alien, with spectacular leaves.