Stu's post got me thinking about plants. The front of our house gets no direct sunlight facing north. We had a largely failed attempt at growing plants at the front last year, they never fully established I don't think, although most did flower at some point.
Can you get any colourful plants that would grow in planters / troughs without any direct sunlight?
My limited understanding of biology says don't be so daft but I figured id ask all the green fingered experts here in case there is something.
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Moss? It grows well enough in my shady lawn.
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Rhododendron grows well in shade in my back garden.
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You need acid soil for rhododendrons. Do a soil a Ph test before you plant.
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Nastursions!!! they wll grow virtually anywhere and actually thrive better in poorer soil!
You can get the "tall" variety that will either climb or trail, or you can get "Tom Thumb" which blanket cover ground. You can buy them in plain colours or in mixed for a good display. They are so easy to grow from seed, just drop-em and cover them. Advantages are that you can also eat every part of them, leaves. flowers and seeds, they brighten up any salad. there are actually recipes on the net for pickling the seeds for storage! - next year you will probably not even have the bother of replacing them, they are great self-seeders! and cross-pollinators, next year you will get some unique and lovely variations.
Tip:
If you grow Brassicas like Cabbages,Cauli`s, sprouts for example, use Nastursions as a "companion" plant, - butterflies love them! and will murder them before they even think about touching your veg.
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Hosta loves shade and has some very striking leaf marking bringing a splash of colour.
Cotoneaster and Skimmia are small shrubs suitable for a tub that will flower and thrive also you could plant a Mahonia with it's striking yellow flowers.
All of these will be kept small by the restricted root run of planting in tubs.
For summer try some Begonias and Lilies or for a perennial display Aquilegia and perennial geranium interspersed with ferns will look brilliant.
None of the above need any special soil requirements and are easy to look after.
Pat
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Cotoneasters are quite fast growing and some give good ground cover.
Might Stu for his front lawn.
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Plants in the shade - bathtub tom
