Advanced Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture

A comprehensive guide to successful planting in the shade

A shaded area not only looks better with the right plants, but is also easier to maintain. Pants have varying degrees of tolerance to sun and shade, and information about what will grow best in your shaded area is hard to give, because there are so many variables involved.

The plants on the following lists are a good starting point. All have some degree of shade tolerance, and many will grow across a wide range of different climates. Before making your final choice, try to find somewhere where you can see the plants you choose, growing in your locality – perhaps in a botanic garden or a nursery. This will help you get a better idea of just how much shade the plant will tolerate in your part of the country.

SHRUBS (medium-large)

• Abutilon Hybrids

• Aucuba japonica Variegata (Gold Dust plant)

• Baeckea crenatifolia

• Berberis darwinii

• Brachyglottis repanda

• Buxus sempervirens

• Camellia japonica

• Cordyline stricta

• Cotoneaster spp.

• Elaeagnus pungens variegata

• Euonymus japonicus

• Fatsia japonica

• Feijoa sellowiana

• Forsythia spp.

• Homalanthus populifolius

• Howea forsyeriana

• Hydrangea macrophylla

• Ilex aquifolium

• Leucothoe fontanesiana

• Leycesteria Formosa

• Luculia gratissiuma

• Olearia spp.

• Mackaya bella

• Mahonia aquifolium

• Myrtus communis

• Nandina domestica

• Omalanthus populifolius

• Osmanthus spp.

• Philadelphus mexicanus

• Pittosporum crassifolium

• Pittosporum eugenioides ‘variegata’

• Plectranthus ecklonii

• Plectranthus fruiticosus

• Prunus laurocerasus

• Prunus lusitanica

• Rhododendron ponticum varieties

• Vibumum tinus

• Yucca spp.

SHRUBS  (small)

• Buxus sempervirens Marginata

• Cotoneaster horizontalis

• Daphne odora

• Dichorisandra thyrsiflora

• Euphorbia wulfenii

• Fatshedera lizei varieties

• Fuchsia varieties

• Hydrangea spp.

• Hypericum chinense

• Jacobinia carnea

• Paeonia spp. (Paeony)

• Philadelphus spp.

• Pieris japonica

• Plectranthus saccatus

• Potentilla spp.

• Rhododendron (Azaleas)

• Ruscus spp.

• Sarcococca ruscifolia

• Skimmia japonica

• Strobilanthes anisophyllus

• Syringa (Lilac)

GROUNDCOVERS & SMALL PLANTS

• Acanthus

• Acorus

• Agaphanthus

• Ajuga pyramidalis

• Aquilegia

• Anemone hupehensis

• Arabis

• Arenaria montana (Sandwort)

• Astilbe (Goat’s Beard)

• Begonia

• Bellis (English daisy)

• Bergenia

• Calathea spp.

• Campanula (Bellflowers)

• Chlorophytum

• Cineraria

• Clivia

• Coleus

• Crocus

• Cymbalaria

• Dicentra

• Erigeron

• Fritillaria (Crown Imperial)

• Hemetocallis

• Hosta

• Houstonia

• Hymenocallis

• Impatiens

• Iris Louisiana

• Leucojum (Snowflake)

• Ligularia

• Lirope

• Lobelia

• Lupins

• Maurandia

• Nandina domestica ‘Nana’

• Narcissus hybrids

• Ophiopogon japonicus

• Pilea

• Polyanthus

• Primula

• Rehmannia angulata

• Schizocentron

• Tradescantia

• Vinca major

• Virgina Stock

PLANTS FOR DEEP SHADE

There always seems to be one spot in the garden that is so deeply shaded that nothing will grow. What is needed are plants that are known to survive and even thrive in such positions.

• Aucuba, shrub to 2m tall, toothed, dark green leaves, red berries.

• Buxus semperverens, shrub to 4.5m, glossy green foliage, used as a hedge.

• Brunnera macrophylla, perennial 45cm, hardy, self seeds, attractive flowers and leaves.

• Convallaria majalis, perennial 20cm, broad bright green leaves, fragrant white bell flowers.

• Euphorbia robbiae, perennial 60cm, leathery green leaves, yellow/green flowers.

• Fatsia japonica, small shrub, large leaves, creamy flowers in autumn.

• Gaultheria shallon, shrub 2m, very hardy, pink/white bell flowers, purple berries, can become invasive.

• Haberlea rhodopensis, groundcover, glossy green leaves, lilac flowers in spring, full to semi-shade.

• Hedera helix (Ivy), climber/groundcover, very adaptable, variable in foliage.

• Helleborus orientalis, perennial 60cm, purple to white flowers, full to semi-shade.

• Helleborus niger, perennial 45cm, white flowers winter/early spring, full to semi-shade.

• Helleborus lividus corsicus, perennial 60cm, pale green flowers, winter/spring, good to stoney poor soils, full to semi-shade.

• Hosta spp., perennial 50cm, variable in foliage pattern, tall flower spikes in summer.

• Hydrangea macrophylla, shrub 1.5m, large showy flower heads, colours vary according to soil conditions.

• Hypericum calycinum, small shrub, open yellow flowers summer/autumn.

• Iris foetidissima, clumb perennial, dark arching foliage, yellow/lilar flowers, orange/red berries.

• Lamium galeobdolon, groundcover, silvery green foliage, can become invasive.

• Lamium maculatum, perennial 25cm, pinkish tinge to foliage and ‘Roseum’ flowers (spring/summer), less invasive than L. galeobdolon.

• Ligustrum japonicum, shrub, smooth green foliage, white flowers summer, fast growing.

• Mahonia aquifolium, shrub 1.2m, glossy dark green foliage, showy flowers spring, suckering habit.

• Pachysandra terminalis, small shrub, white flowers in spring, ground covering.

• Polygonatum x hybridum, perennial 90cm, arching stems, white/green flowers late spring.

• Ramonda myconi, low perennial, dark green leaves, lilac flowers in spring.

• Robus tricolor, groundcover, dark leaves, white flowers mid-summer.

• Saxifraga fortunei, low perennial, attractive foliage, feathery white flowers in autumn.

• Scrophularia aquatica ‘Variegata’, perennial 80cm, cream/green foliage.

• Symphytum grandiflorum, low perennial, creamy flowers in spring.

• Vinca major ‘Variegata’, groundcover, cream/green foliage, small blue flowers spring/summer, mat forming.

• Viola cornuta, perennial, mass of flowers in spring, colour varies.

PLANTS FOR TROPICAL SHADY POSITIONS

• Abelia grandiflora, 2-3m, caney habit, bronze/green foliage, white/pink flowers summer-autumn, part shade or sun.

• Acalypha hispida, 2m shrub with coloured leaves, part shade or sun.

• Antigonon leptopus, climber, pink or white flowers, semi-deciduous, semi-shade.

• Arrabidaea magnifica, climber, violet funnel shaped flower, shady spot.

• Clerodendrum thomsoniae, climber, clusters of red and white flowers in summer.

• Eupatorium megalophyllum, 2.5m, large lilac fluffy flower heads.

• Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’, 1m, fragrant white flowers, glossy green leaves, acid soils, shade.

• Hemigraphis alternata, 15cm, groundcover, greenish upper and purplish underside of foliage, invasive, shade or full sun.

• Ixora chinensis, 2m, bright orange to pink flowers, glossy green leaves, prefers semi-shade.

• Ixora coccinea, 1.5m shrub, shiny green leaves, cluster of red flowers in summer-autumn.

• Mandevilla ‘Red Riding Hood’, twiner, large deep pink flowers all year, shady site.

• Megaskepasma erthroclamys, 3m, screen plant, broad green leaves, cerise flower spikes in summer-autumn, shade.

• Murraya paniculate, 2-3m, evergreen glossy green leaves, white orange blossom scented flowers, semi-shade or sun.

• Mussaenda hybrids, 1-3m, coloured bracts, part shade.

• Mpetrea volubilis, climber, purple flowers spring-summer, coarse foliage, semi-shade or sun.

• Philodendron selloum, 1.5m, large shiny leaves, full or semi-shade.

• Phyllanthus sp., 50cm, spreading cover, small green leaves.

• Raphiolepis indica, 3m, small scented pink-white flowers in spring.

• Rhoeo spatha-cea, 40cm, groundcover, dark green above and purplish below foliage, full or semi-shade.

• Russellia equisetiformis, 1.5m, rambler, red cigarette flowers all year, shade-sun.

• Sansevieria trifasciata, 1.2m, stiff striped green/grey foliage, semi-shade or sun.

• Thunbergia mysorensis, climber, tubular orange/brown flowers that hang below foliage, deep green leaves, semi-shade.

AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SHADE TOLERANT PLANTS

• Actinotis minor, 20cm, straggling plant, white daisy flowers.

• Alpinia caerulea, 50cm, ginger-link plant, clump forming.

• Artanema fimbriata, 50cm, purple/blue flowers, dark leaves.

• Austromyrtus dulcis, 1m, small foliage, white flowers, speckled fruit.

• Bauera rubioides, 2m, straggly, pink rose flowers in spring.

• Boronia spp., up to 1.5m, colourful and perfumed flowers.

• Clerodendrum cunninghamii, 3m, dark veined leaves, white flowers.

• Cordyline spp., up to 3m, strappy leaves, small flowers.

• Crinum pedunculatum, 1m, large strappy leaves, large white flowers.

• Cycas armstrongii, up to 4m, feathery leaves to 1m, long, semi-shade.

• Dianella spp., up to 50cm, flax-like foliage, blue flowers.

• Eriostemon myoporoides, 2m, waxy foliage, white flowers.

• Goodenia hederacea, 1m, ivy-like foliage, small yellow flowers.

• Helmholtzia glaberrima, 1.5m, glossy dark leaves, pale pink flowers.

• Indigofera Australia, 2m, purple pea-like flowers in spring.

• Lomatia silaifolia, 1.5m, cream flowers in summer, feather leaves.

• Macrozamia communis, up to 2m, tough, long arching fronds.

• Melastoma affine, up to 3m, hairy oval leaves, mauve flowers.

• Olearia spp., up to 10m, variable, daisy white flowers.

• Rhododendron lochae, 80cm, straggly, bright red flowers, good container plant.

• Viola hederacea, 10cm, groundcover, green kidney-shaped leaves, blue/white flowers all year.