The lower east end of our garden in King's Heath in Birmingham is in the shade, low-lying and occasionally floods for a few days. Over the past thirty years or so we have noticed some plants thrive and others struggle or die. This has prompted me to come up with a list of plants that from observations should be reliable in similar situations.
Aspect is east facing, with neighbours trees to the south providing shade most of the day.
Soil is medium to heavy with some clay 30 cm (122) down, and floods from neighbours gardens to the north that are higher than mine. Soil is acid, varying between 5.4 and 5.8ph.
Shade can be from trees or buildings or hard landscape features, it is important to assess the level of shade and the hours of shade, some areas maybe in permanent shade.
Below are my two lists, they will grow as my experiences of new plants thriving in damp shade grows.
Types of Shade
Light shade
Could be caused by framework of a structure that offers a small amount of shade overa larger area.
Partial shade
This is an area that is shaded for part of the day and changes as the sun moves round.
Dappled shade
A good example is under a tree with small leaves that lets through some light such as most of the Betulas (Silver Birches)
Moderate shade
This is best described as under a tree with larger leaves or a more dense canopy of leaves.
Heavy shade
This area is in continuous shade most of the day from very large leaved trees, evergreen trees or large buildings. Temperatures here tend to be cooler than the others mentioned above.
Plants For Damp Soil And Partial Shade
Small trees for damp soil and partial shade
Acer palmatum (many cultivars0 the more unusual the colouring, usually the more shade they require.
Cornus mas (fragrant yellow flowers, February onwards)
Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel)
Pyrus salicifolia (willow leaved pear)
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' (upright Irish yew)
American Cornus or flowering Dogwoods thrive in some shade and protection from winds.
Shade loving shrubs for partial shade
Camellias (most cultivars)
Choisya ternata
Hamamelis (many named cultivars, all provide scent from their flowers in late winter and spring)
Hydrangea including many species benefit from light shade.
Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ AGM
Mahonia many of the dwarfer, ground cover types
Mahonia oiwakensis subsp. lomariifolia AGM
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ AGM
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Skimmia confusa 'Kew Green'
Viburnum × hilleri 'Winton' AGM
Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' AGM
Climbers for damp soil and partial shade
Clematis (many, especially the pale coloured and white flowering cultivars)
Crinodendron hookerianum (Chinese lantern tree, freestanding shrub, but best against a wall or fence)
Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing hydrangea)
Lonicera (most honeysuckles prefers roots and lower growths in the shade and flower in the sum)
Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) needs a sheltered site)
Climbing roses will tolerate light to dappled shade
Herbaceous plants for damp soil and partial shade
Aconitum x bicolor
Aconitum carmichaelii
Aconitum vulparia
Anemone x hybrida
Aquilegia formosa truncata
Aquilegia, most long spurred hybrids
Arum italicum 'Pictum'
Aruncus dioicus
Cardocrinum giganteum
Carex morrowii 'Variegata'
Dactlorrhiza elata (orchis)
Dicentra spectabilis
Digitalis grandiflora
Digitalis purpurea
Doronicum most hybrids
Euohorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'
Euphorbia robbiae
Gentiana asclepiadea (willow gentian)
Geranium maculatum
Geranium phaeum
Geranium sylvaticum
Geranium wallichianum
Heuchera (many)
Hosta including many variegated forms from small to large in size
Lamium orvala
Lilium most species
Alpine and low growing plants for damp soil and partial shade
Ajuga reptans, many
Arisarum probboscideum
Corydalis lutea
Haquetia epipactis
Lamium maculatum
Lithodspermum
Omphalodes cappadocia, O. verna
Shortia (choice and rare)
Viola species
Waldsteinia ternata
Grasses for damp soil in partial shade
Acorus
Carex
Milium
Molinia Variegata
Luzula
Luzula Nivea
Ferns for damp soil and partial shade
Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica
Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata The King’
Corms and bulbs for damp soil and partial shade
Convallaria majis
Eranthus hymenalis
Erythronium dens canis
Erythronium californicum
Narcissus
Plants For Damp Soil and Full Shade
Small trees for moist shady situations
Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum)
Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood)
Taxodium distichum (bald cypress, southern-cypress, white-cypress, tidewater red-cypress)
Shade loving Shrubs for moist or damp soils
Daphne laureola. Subsp. Philippi
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Mahonia japonica
Paeonia lutea var ludlowii (tree paeony)
Pieris Formosa var forrestii ‘wakehurst’
Prunus laurocerasus
Rhododendrons
Sarcococca humilis
Skimmia japonica
Viburnum
Vinca minor
Herbaceous plants for damp shade
Anemone x hybrid
Anemone leveillei
Aruncus Dioircus (Goats Beard - like a giant Astilbe)
Arum italicum
Astilbe
Brunnera macrophylla
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Sirius' AGM
Bergenia
Caltha palustris var. alba
Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
Darmera Peltata (umbrella plant)
Geranium macrorrhizum
Hostas - some
Helleborus hybridus
Ligularia (various varieties to choose from)
Polygonatum x hybridum
Primulas – many
Pulmonaria saccharata
Pulmonaria ‘Majesté’, Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’,
Rodgersia Aesculifolia (lovely leaves and I've found fragrant flowers)
Symphytum grandiflorum
Tradescantia fluminensis
Tricyrtis formosana 'Dark Beauty'Alchemilla mollis
Trillium grandiflorum
Digitalis mertonensis
Tiarella cordifolia
Tolmiea Taffs gold
Ferns for shade
Most varieties
Blechnum chilense, B. spicant,
Polypodium vulgare
Polystichum setiferum
Corms and Tubers
Galanthus nivalis
Leucojum Aestivum
Narcissus cyclamineus
Grasses for damp shade
Acorus
Carex
Milium
Molinia Variegata
Luzula
Luzula Nivea
Climbers for damp shady corners
Clematis with pale or white coloured flowers as they stand out well in lower light levels
Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ Golden foliaged hop
Hrdrangea petiolaris Climbing hydrangea
Hedera colchica ‘Dentata’
Trachelospermum jasminoides Needs a warn sheltered position to thrive, delicious scent from flowers
The information given in this Fact Sheet is provided in good faith. It is however of necessity general information and advice on the topic. Howard Drury will not be under any liability in respect of the provision of such advice and information, and you are strongly advised to seek independent advice on any particular gardening problems or queries you may have, preferably from experts who can (when appropriate) inspect the problem before providing advice.
© 2022. This material has been produced by Howard Drury and must not be reproduced in part or full without the written consent of Howard Drury, Kings Heath, Birmingham B13 0SJ.
JHD/08/04/2022
