Shady character

This mahonia creates super architectural structure that sits well with the fern’s foliage and also provides scented flowers. The cyclamen helps to bring the senses alive, both with its flowers and heart-shaped foliage. This mix depends a lot on foliage shapes.

All these plants enjoy shade.

Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’

This plant won the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s Plant of the Year Award back in 2013. Compact and evergreen, it provides interest throughout the year. Its yellow flowers have a honey scent. Flowers August to October

H x S 1m x 1m

Ivy-leaved cyclamen

Low-growing Cyclamen hederifolium is great for the front of a container, with its dainty shuttlecock flowers and silver-patterned leaves. It thrives in dry shade.

Flowers July to October

H x S 10cm x 10cm

Soft shield fern

Native to Britain, Polystichum setiferum has feathery, textured fronds. It works well with the other plants growing up through it. I cut the foliage for the house at Christmas. H x S 1m x 90cm