A perennial garden challenge is that of ‘what to grow under the shade of a mature tree or the north side of a house.’
Many people struggle trying to grow grass in these tough spots. I discourage the idea as grass likes to grow where it is exposed to a minimum of six hours of sunlight a day.
Here are my top recommendations for growing in dry shade:
- Lamium. I love this stuff where almost nothing else will grow. Lamium (or ‘Dead Nettle’ - who comes up with these names?) is aggressive, does not require a lot of water, has colourful foliage, grows to about 15 cm. high, has attractive red/blue or white flowers in mid spring and is insect and disease resistant. Sound easier to grow than a lawn under, say, your Norway Maple? I’ll say.
- Lily of the Valley. Another aggressive plant that takes a beating and comes back each season. A perennial perennial (no, this is not a typo). Truth is, you can’t kill it. grows to about 12 cm high, flowers early to mid June with a lovely white stem of fragrant bells. Fairies live here. Beware.
- Periwinkle. Or ‘perennial Vinca’. A gorgeous blue flower in late May, lays low (about 10 cm) and travels all over the place once it is established (which may take 2 or 3 years).
Other perennial ground covers that thrive in the shade include Bronze Ajuga, dwarf hosta, perennial Geranium, pachysandra, thorndale ivy and English ivy.
Go to www.markcullen.com to learn more.
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