Monty's favourite plants for shade

If you have shade in the garden that is created by trees you can be fairly certain it'll be dry, with tree roots sucking away a lot of the moisture, particularly in summer. Improve this by incorporating plenty of organic matter into the soil and by growing plants for dry shade.

When choosing plants for shade, do include plenty of flowering plants. Pale-flowered plants are particularly useful at brightening up the darkest spots.

Want to see more of Monty's favourites? Check out his favourite fruit plants for sun.

Read on to discover Monty's favourite plants for shade.

Rosa canina

Rosa canina grows in light shade and can tolerate heavy, clay soil. Other roses that will grow in light shade include Rosa glauca, Rosa moyesii, Rosa californica, Rosa 'Coryana' and Rosa 'Dupontii'.

Hellebores

Hellebores enjoy the rich soil at Longmeadow. This includes natives like the stinking hellebore, Helleborus foetidus, as well as the lenten rose, Helleborus orientalis. Find out how to plant hellebores.

Meconopsis

Himalayan poppies, Meconopsis, have exquisite papery flowers and are suited to growing in rich, moist, slightly acidic soil. Meconopsis betonicifolia has true blue flowers, but you can also find types with red, white and purple blooms.

Geranium phaeum 'Album'

This dainty variety of the dusky cranesbill, Geranium phaeum, has white flowers that glow bright in dim light. For planting ideas, check out six plants to grow with hardy geraniums.

More shade-lovers grown at Longmeadow

• Cyclamen hederifolium
• Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'
• Euphorbia amygdaloides
• Shuttlecock ferns
• Galium odoratum
• Tellima grandiflora
• Epimediums
• Aquilegias
• Brunnera