Designing a garden drenched with sunlight is easy work, but how do you guarantee planting success when you've got a shady plot?
"Shade in the garden is often seen as a challenge, but I like to think of it as an opportunity," garden and landscape designer, Zoe Claymore, who designed the British Rainforest Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, tells Country Living.
Shady gardens have long been considered tricky, with little thriving in them (there's a reason homes with south-facing gardens are in high demand and sell faster). But Zoe believes these shaded spaces are just as valuable.
"As summers become hotter, the cooling effect of shaded gardens and areas will become increasingly valuable – with trees reducing flooding by absorbing rainwater and helping cool homes nearby. Even the darkest corners of a garden can become vibrant and full of life."
Whether you have a sizeable space or a small garden, these shady garden ideas work for all. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of a shaded garden:
1. Embrace the shade
"Embrace the shade to create a beautiful garden that is in tune with the changing climate," says Zoe, who reminds gardeners that shade is no bad thing.
When working with shade, choose a design that naturally fits the conditions – and lean into what you have. "A desert-style or Mediterranean space will likely look out of place and require more work than a woodland vibe, which is naturally shady," says Zoe.
"Consider adding even more trees to your space – not madness I promise you – to create a peaceful haven. Small trees in cities can increase a sense of privacy and in the countryside can provide a sense of protection. I love blossom trees underplanted with hakonechloa macra grass [also known as Japenese forest grass] for a clean vibe."
2. Work out what shade you have
Not all gardens have the same shade; some have dry shade (found under trees or near walls), others have all-year-round shade (caused by buildings or under evergreen trees) and a handful boast wet shade (gardens with shade for most of the day resulting in damp and soggy areas).
"You'll need plants that can cope with limited moisture. My favourite plants for dry shade include Dryopteris ferns, Euphorbia amygdaloides, and Acanthus mollis 'Rue Ledan'. For wetter shady spaces – such as The Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforest Garden I designed for Chelsea – why not see the magic of moss and create your own woodland wonderland glade?"
3. Focus on texture and leaf colour
Once you've identified the shade type, focus on texture, bark, form, and leaf colour – rather than simply flowers that will fade.
"Leaves and bark last far longer than flowers, so incorporate a range of colours to brighten a shady space," suggests Zoe. "For a recent woodland garden in London, I used Athyrium 'Burgundy Lace', Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost', and Dryopteris erythrosora (copper shield fern) to create nearly year-round colour in the darker sections of the space."
British woodlands are dappled with shade, yet provide ample inspiration for shade-loving planting. "If you have the deciduous shade, go for bluebells, primulas, foxgloves, and cyclamen under native trees such as hazels for a national treasure corner.
By using these classic plants, you can bring the British countryside vibe into even the most urban of settings."
4. Choose shade-loving varieties
There are an abundance of plants and flowers that can thrive in a shady garden, from hardy shrubs to blooming perennials. The best ones to choose include:
- Wood spurge
- Ferns
- Hosta
- Foxgloves
- Hellebores
- Lily of the Valley
- Hydrangeas
- Climbers like jasmine, ivy and honeysuckle
5. Create an outdoor room
In sweltering summers, shaded gardens can be an oasis of cool and calm. Lean into it and make the most of a shady corner by creating an outdoor relaxation or dining zone. Try stringing a hammock between branches, or setting up a garden table and chairs under a bough.
Best plants for shade
Fern 'Fantastic Lady In Red'Athyrium niponicum
Foxglove 'Candy Mountain' Foxglove 'Candy Mountain'Digitalis purpurea
Jasminum x stephanense 'Starry Starry Summer Scent'Jasmine
Hosta 'Francee' Hosta 'Francee'Hosta fortuneiPlantain Lily
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
Cara is Commissioning Editor at Country Living, covering everything from style and interiors to sustainability, artisans and the great outdoors. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in Music from the University of Oxford. Follow Cara on Instagram @caralaskaris or Linkedin.
