What shall i plant in my flower pots this year for a partly shades and fully shades areas

[biglips]

as i havemt got a clue!!

bump

well ive got a fern (in a plantpot) in my bathroom atm... can i take that outside and plant it in the spring??

busy lizzies will grow anywhere, cheapish and easy to look after. can grow all one colour too looks very striking.

oh yes, busy lizzies as they are lovely and ferns too

anymore?

bumpity bump!!

Give me a hint on size of pots and location: dark back yard, or under trees or what? Shade varies a lot, and quite a few things will grow well. Most annuals really need full sun, so if your pots are big enough I would go for permanent planting, which means you just top up the top inch or so with fresh compost every year and feed in summer.This would give you a wider range of plants to choose from. The fern in your bathroom is probably a maidenhair fern and best kept in steamy warmth.

really good website for this is crocus.co.uk

primulas flower very well in a shady area but will only provide flowers for the spring. I struggle with my shady areas. I have lots of ferns but they do not flower. Lots of plants I have tried (even ones of shady areas) grow quite straggly. I have some good variegatded foliage plants but again NO FLOWERS.

Greenbean, there are many varieties of hostas, all of which will thrive in shade as long as it isn't too dry. To avoid slugs, mulch heavily with gravel, or grow in the biggest pots you can, underplanted with bulbs such as narcissi, which will flower and die back early. Many hostas produce striking flowers of cream or lavender, and have a wonderful vaariety of leaves, some of which are huge.

Do have some hostas in damp shade areas but have a large oak tree under which they would not grow. Hadn't thought about under planting with bulbs though - will have to give it a try.