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Writer's pictureMarcus Bergin

Transforming Shade into Blooming Paradises: A Year-Long Journey with 52 Shade-Loving Plant

Updated: Nov 24, 2023

Introduction


Welcome to a botanical journey like no other! We're embarking on a year-long exploration of our gardens' tranquil pockets of shade, where 52 marvellous shade-loving plants take centre stage. We'll unveil a new plant each week, delving deep into its unique characteristics, benefits, and care tips.


A vibrant and lush shade garden showcasing a variety of shade-loving plants, creating a tranquil oasis of greenery and colours

Why Shade-Loving Plants?


You might wonder why we focus on shade-loving plants. The answer is simple: every corner of our garden has potential, even the shadiest spots! By showcasing these plants, we empower you to transform those often-overlooked areas into blooming paradises. But that's not all – there's another important reason.


Supporting Our Pollinator Friends


In our journey to embrace shade-loving plants, we create beautiful gardens and support our essential pollinator friends. These plants thrive in shaded areas, offering vital food sources and shelter for buzzing bees, flitting butterflies, and other crucial pollinators. It's a win-win for nature and us!


The vitality of a shaded garden teeming with pollinators, including bees and butterflies, amid a lush and colourful plant environment

Stay Tuned and Share the Green Love


Join us as we unveil the beauty of 52 shade-loving plants over a year. Share this journey with fellow greenthumbs and garden enthusiasts who, like you, are passionate about transforming shaded patches into flourishing, blooming paradises.


What's to come


  1. Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone)

  2. Aquilegia vulgaris (Granny's Bonnet or Columbine)

  3. Astrantia major (Masterwort)

  4. Bergenia (Elephant's ears)

  5. Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)

  6. Campanula lactiflora (Milky Bellflower)

  7. Corydalis flexuosa

  8. Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove)

  9. Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern)

  10. Epimedium (Barrenwort)

  11. Euphorbia amygdaloides (Wood Spurge)

  12. Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop)

  13. Geranium phaeum (Mourning Widow)

  14. Geranium macrorrhizum (Big Root Geranium)

  15. Hedera helix (Common Ivy) - Great late-season nectar source

  16. Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose)

  17. Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

  18. Heuchera (Coral Bells)

  19. Hosta (Plantain Lily)

  20. Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

  21. Lamium maculatum (Spotted Deadnettle)

  22. Lunaria annua (Honesty)

  23. Luzula nivea (Snowy Woodrush)

  24. Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)

  25. Melica uniflora (Wood Melick)

  26. Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)

  27. Omphalodes verna (Blue-eyed Mary)

  28. Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)

  29. Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob's Ladder)

  30. Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon's Seal)

  31. Primula vulgaris (Common Primrose)

  32. Pulmonaria officinalis (Common Lungwort)

  33. Rodgersia pinnata (Featherleaf Rodgersflower)

  34. Salvia nemorosa

  35. Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box)

  36. Symphytum officinale (Common Comfrey)

  37. Tellima grandiflora (Fringecups)

  38. Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower)

  39. Trillium erectum (Red Trillium)

  40. Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

  41. Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle)

  42. Aconitum napellus (Monkshood)

  43. Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)

  44. Astilbe (False Goat's Beard)

  45. Callicarpa bodinieri (Beautyberry)

  46. Dicentra formosa (Pacific Bleeding Heart)

  47. Erythronium dens-canis (Dog's Tooth Violet)

  48. Galeobdolon luteum (Yellow Archangel)

  49. Geum rivale (Water Avens)

  50. Iris foetidissima (Stinking Iris)

  51. Liriope muscari (Lilyturf)

  52. Polygonum bistorta (Bistort)

Conclusion


Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of shade-loving plants and discover the hidden treasures your garden's shadiest corners offer. Together, we'll embark on a transformation journey, one plant at a time, and create spaces that delight our eyes and nurture the incredible life that thrives in the shade.


Stay tuned for our first shade-loving plant feature, and let's make every corner of our gardens burst with beauty and life!

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