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Perennials For A Shady Border From Seed.

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Creating a beautiful shady border in your garden can be easy with the right perennials, many of which can be grown from seed. Here are some great options:

  1. Aquilegia (Columbine) and Digitalis (Foxglove): Both are easy to grow from seed and do well in shady areas.
  2. Hellebores: These take a bit longer to grow, but they are worth the wait. They bloom in February and March and can produce over 40 flowers per plant once established.
  3. Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle), Astrantia, Astilbe, and Cimicifuga: These are also good choices for shady spots and are available from seed.
  4. Forget-me-not: Although it’s a biennial, it grows well in shade and can be started from seed. You can find seeds for all these plants in Thompson and Morgan’s catalogue.

For those who prefer to buy plants rather than grow from seed, there are several options that can quickly establish in a shady border:

  • Ajuga ‘Catlin’s Giant’
  • Euphorbia robbiae
  • Geranium macrorrhizum
  • Hemerocallis (Daylily): These plants do well in light shade and grow quickly.

Other great choices for shade include:

  • Heucheras: These have a variety of leaf colors and provide year-round interest.
  • Hostas: Ideal for shade; blue-leaved varieties are more resistant to slugs.
  • Lamiums: A good ground cover with flowers that bloom in May.
  • Primulas: Worth trying in shady areas.
  • London Pride: Thrives in dappled shade and spreads quickly if it likes the conditions.
  • Epimediums: Provide early-season color.
  • Hardy fuchsias: Easy to grow from cuttings and provide late-season interest.

For the sunny parts of your garden, consider plants that love the sun:

  • Echinacea, Rudbeckia, and Erigeron ‘Profusion’: These are part of the daisy family and thrive in sunny conditions.
  • Other sun-loving perennials available from seed include Eryngium, Gaura, Geranium ‘Reflections’, Geum, Knautia, Lavender, Penstemon, Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy), Scabiosa ‘House’s Novelty Mixed’, and Sedum.

While you wait for your perennials to mature and fill in, use annuals to fill any gaps:

  • Nicotiana: Great for shaded areas.
  • Nemesia: Perfect for sunny spots.

By choosing the right plants for both shady and sunny areas, you can create a garden that is vibrant and full of life all year round.