Plants for a north-facing border

Not sure what aspect your garden is? Find out in our handy guide to the types of garden shade.

Discover five plants for a north-facing border, below.

Snowdrops

Snowdrops are a cheery sight in winter as the fresh foliage and flowers emerge from dormancy. The flowers don't last as long in sunny areas, so grow these winter bulbs in a north-facing border for the best display.

• Buy snowdrops from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

Snake's head fritillaries

These pretty, native wildflowers are unmistakable. They're also trouble-free and easy to grow. Try combining snake's head fritillaries with wood anemones and snowdrops, that enjoy growing in similar conditions.

• Buy Snake's head fritillary from Secret Gardening Club and Hayloft

Lily of the valley

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is well-known for its richly scented flowers. It thrives in full shade and will gradually spread to form a carpet of foliage and flowers. Makes a great cut flower.

• Buy lilies of the valley from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

Erythroniums

Dog's tooth violets (Erythronium dens-canis) are pretty spring-flowering bulbs. Erythroniums don't grow to a great height, so are ideally planted towards the front of borders. Here's how to plant dog's tooth violets in autumn.

• Buy Erythroniums from Crocus and Suttons

Hostas

North-facing borders will receive a bit of morning sun, which for hostas helps to bring out the colour of the leaves. Here it's planted with Gillenia trifoliata and Geranium phaeum 'Album', both of which can be grown in a north-facing border.

• Buy hostas from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

Rhododendrons

Try growing rhododendrons if you're gardening on acid soil. They provide evergreen colour, plus colourful, often scented blooms in spring. Not all cultivars can be grown in shade, so be sure to check this before buying.

• Buy rhododendrons from Suttons, Crocus, Thompson and Morgan

Hydrangea vine

Hydrangea vines (Schizophragma) are deciduous climbers producing panicles of summer flowers similar to those of hydrangeas. Ideal for covering north-facing walls and fences. Take care when pruning hydrangeas, as each type is pruned in a different way.

• Buy hydrangea vines from Thompson and Morgan and Gardening Express

Astilbes

Astilbes are moisture-loving herbaceous perennials that are often used in boggy planting schemes. The fluffy flower plumes are perfect for adding colour to borders. 'Deutschland' has white flowers and 'Rheinland' has ice-pink blooms.

• Buy astilbes from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

Ferns

There are lots of ferns you could grow in the shady conditions of a north-facing border. Large ferns include the royal fern (Osmunda regalis) and shuttlecock fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). For the front of the border, consider small ferns like the common polypody (Polypodium vulgare).

• Buy ferns from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

Sarcococca

Sweet, or Christmas box (Sarcococca confusa) is an evergreen shrub, with sweet-smelling blooms that appear from December to March. Plant near a path or doorway to make the most of the fragrance.

• Buy sarcococca from Suttons and Thompson and Morgan

Improving the soil before planting

Before you plant, make sure you improve the soil you'll be planting in by incorporating plenty of organic matter, such as leaf mould. Here's our full advice on how to improve your soil.

This article was last updated in February 2022. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.