Few gardens have constant sun, but this doesn't mean they have to be gloomy.Even the most shaded gardens can be full of colour and variety. From delicate,vibrant Dicentra spectabilis to large, lobed evergreen Fatsia japonic, 101 Shade-loving Plants is full of diverse ideas to suit all gardens. It's packed with expert instruction on planting and aftercare, and full-colour photography accompanying each flower idea. Banish the dark from shady places once and for all.

Having shade in the garden is often seen as a tricky issue, but if you've got it, think yourself lucky. This is, in fact, a huge opportunity because many of our most exciting plants actually prefer to be in subdued light. In fact, every garden has areas of lower light levels from a shady wall or a spot overshadowed by trees or hedges to a fully north-facing garden in the lee of neighbouring buildings. But fear not, all these can be brightened with the right plants; read on and we'll show you how to do this.

In this book you'll find 101 favourite plants that will all thrive in shade. There's a chapter on ground-covering plants, another that highlights plants when they're overshadowed by walls, and one covering each season to prove that you really can have a shady garden that looks good all year round.

Among the plants that we at Gardeners' World Magazine have chosen for this book are fail-safe favourites, such as ferns and hostas, as well as many new and unusual plants to provide extra inspiration. You could call them all shady characters - but in the best possible way！

Introduction

Shade plant tips

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

All year round

Walls

Ground cover

Index