Perennials For A Shady Border From Seed.
Perennials for a shady border Aquilegia are easy from seed and will grow well there as will Digitalis (foxgloves).
Taking a bit longer but great, are Hellebores as they provide interest in February and March and when established will produce 40 plus flowers per plant. Alchemilla mollis, Astrantia, Astilbe and Cimicifuga Forget – Me – Not (a biennial) would also be good and are available from seed in Thompson and Morgan’s catalogue.
Other ones that can be obtained as plants and will bulk up quite fast are Ajuga Catlins Giant, Euphorbia robbiae,Geranium macrorrhizum and Hemerocallis (day lily) also good in light shade. Heucheras are are very varied in leaf colour and great at providing all year round interest. Hostas would be happy on your soil.The blue leaved ones tend to be more slug resistant.Lamiums are a good ground cover with flowers in May. Primulas would be worth a go as well.London Pride is also good in dappled shade and if happy will get going quite fast.Epimediums are also good providing colour early in the year.The hardy fuchsias are worth a go and are extremely easy from cuttings and will provide interest later in the season.
For the sunny area the daisy family like the sun so Echinacea, Rubeckia Erigeron k ‘Profusion’. Also available from seed from T and M are Eryngium, Gaura, Geranium ‘Reflections’, Geum, Knautia, Lavender, Penstemmon, Papaver orientale, Scabiosa ‘House’s Novelty Mixed’, Sedum. They would all enjoy your sunny area.
This season whilst waiting for the plants to reach full size fill in any gaps with annual Nicotiana (shade) and Nemesia (Sun).
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