Rosy Hardy talking Plants for Shade

Posted:27 March 2016

A few weeks ago we enjoyed another great talk by Rosy Hardy, founder in 1988 of the independent nursery Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants based in the beautiful Hampshire village of Freefolk near Whitchurch.

The nursery specializes in growing wide range of home produced herbaceous perennials and Rosy is also an excellent speaker who knows her plants inside out!  This time Rosy’s talk focussed on Plants for Shade, both dry and damp shade and below is her list of the best plants for these conditions.

 

Although Rosy and Rob Hardy are long time exhibitors at Chelsea Flower Show – with 20 RHS Chelsea Gold Medals to their names (!) – this year will surprisingly be the first time that Rosy has designed one of the main show gardens. Her garden ‘Forever Freefolk’ sponsored by Brewin Dolphin (investment planning firm) is inspired by endangered chalk streams, which provide a rich habitat for aquatic plants, insects and wildlife, but are slowly disappearing. With only 210 left in the world, 160 of which are in England. Rosy’s garden will track the path of a vanished chalk stream in north Hampshire as it passes through various transitional planting: from the arid stream bed through the chalk downland to the lush planting that fringes the beautiful clear waters of its source.

Book now Chelsea Flower Show 24-28 May 2016 – CLICK HERE

Dry shade:

Epimedium sulphereum related to Berberis and Mahohia. Cut off leaves first week in March to reveal flowers; makes great ground cover

Hellebores argutifolis – originally found in Mediterranean woodland; it has acid green flowers, and will tolerate deep shade

Begonia ciliata   hairy leaved and slug resistant

Geranium pyreatum

Geranium malviflorum good ground cover under trees

Geranium phaeum Sambor leaf markings are best when grown in poor soil – in good soil, the leaves are large but markings less distinct

Anemonella thalictroides suitable for alpine sinks and small gardens

Viola sorona – use to plant under hostas, adding interest when hostas are dormant

Tiarella – good ground cover, fast growing go for named clump-forming varieties such as Neon  lights that dont run so much its also scented

Damp shade

Pulmonaria Rosies mum and P. Opal two good cultivars. Plant at back of border to get moisture and shade they need split in August when dying off

Corydalis summer dormant from China

Lamprocapnos alba – Asian/Chinese variety, not related to Dicentra. It needs good soil – though the pink one is not so fussy – and can be cut down if they get the frost

Viola odorata Pamela Zambra used as scented nosegays in medieval times. It grows well under beech trees and will make runners

Doronicum excelsum Harper Crew – this is a good old-fashioned variety; lift and divide in autumn

Smyrnium perfoliatum – it is a wonderful zingy green, it’s common name Alexanders. Leave to set seed, then remove seedlings and pot up

Geum Bell Bank (Rivale type) is best for front of border and will tolerate half light

Rosy at The Garden House