Sometimes thought of as the most difficult of areas, deep shade can be a wonderful planting area. If you have an area that never gets the sun, such as the back corner of the house, it can be filled with plants that thrive in this kind of environment. The choice is wide and very good.

Shrubs that will tolerate these conditions include Berberis, Boxus (Box), Ilex (Holly), Mahonia, Viburnum and of course Vinca (Periwinkle). Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) and some evergreens such as Choisya ternata and most golden foliated plants will find shade ideal.

For perennials the choice is also quite good, Hostas are often the first choice, but there are also Brunnera (Forget-me-not), Pulmonaria, Viola (Violet), and Ajuga (Bugle). Many varieties of Fuschias and Tradescantia can appreciate shady spots.

All shade plants, need to be carefully checked to ensure they are not allowed to become too dry. Plants in the garden in shady areas under trees can have the water taken away by the tree roots, and plants in the shelter of houses can be screened from the rain by the buildings themselves.

Bedding plants such as Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) and Nicotiana (Tobacco Plant) thrive in these conditions as long as they are kept moist.

Also try:-

Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Camellia' (Tuberous Begonia)
Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Fimbriata' (Tuberous Begonia)
Caladium x hortulanum 'Candidum' (Fancy-Leaved Caladium)
Clivia miniata (Kaffir Lily)
Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-Valley)
Cyclamen persicum
Fuchsia hybrida 'Island Sunset' (Hybrid Fuschia)
Hosta x 'Royal Standard' (Plantain Lily)
Hosta crispula (Plantain Lily)
Impatiens wallerana 'Accent Mix' (Busy Lizzie)
Lamiastrum (Golden Deadnettle)
Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' (Spotted Nettle)
Lobelia erinus 'Riviera Blue Splash' (Annual Lobelia)
Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob's Ladder)
Thalictrum delavayi (Yunnan Meadow Rue)
Trillium grandiflorum (Snow Trillium)
Vinca major (Large Periwinkle)
Vinca minor 'Bowles' (Dwarf Periwinkle)

Ground Cover.

For a quick way to fill space, or if you need to have a bank that needs support you should think of ground cover plants. The green carpet of foliage under trees and shrubs, the weed suppressing qualities; whatever the reason ground cover plants comes in all shapes and sizes.

It is really important when planting ground cover to ensure that you are aware of the final size of the plant. How tall and wide the planting will become has to be visualised at the time that you see the small specimen in the garden centre pot.

The following list may be of some help to you, but again remember to check the final dimensions. Ajuga (Bugle), low growing Cotoneaster, low growing Euphorbia, perennial Geraniums, Nepeta (Catmint), ground cover Roses, Saxifraga umbrosa (London Pride), the periwinkle Vinca Major and Minor but these can be a but invasive, and (a personal favourite) low growing Campanula carpatica.

Also try:-

Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' (Carpet Bugle)
Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' (Carpet Bugle)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle)
Asarum europaeum (European Wild Ginger)
Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)
Campanula poscharskyana (Cup and Saucer)
Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Dwarf Plumbago)
Chrysanthemum pacificum (Gold and Silver Chrysanthemum)
Cotoneaster apiculatus (Cranberry Cotoneaster)
Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' (Dwarf Deutzia)
Gazania rigens (Treasure Flower)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine)
Gypsophila repens 'Rosea' (Pink Creeping Baby's Breath)
Helianthemum (Sun Rose)
Hosta x 'Royal Standard' (Plantain Lily)
Hosta crispula (Plantain Lily)
Hypericum calycinum (St. John's Wort)
Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)
Phlox divaricata (Wild Sweet William)
Rosa 'Sea Foam' (Landscape Roses)
Rosa 'The Fairy' (Landscape Roses)
Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood' (Stonecrop)
Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple' (Creeping Vervain)
Vinca major (Large Periwinkle)
Vinca minor (Dwarf Periwinkle)