Very shade-tolerant plants (for pots)

[shockedballoon]

We moved nearly 3 years ago and our new(ish) front door is pretty much north facing and only gets a tiny bit of sun from the side, early evening. Going from a back to back terrace that was south-facing to this meant all the plants I used to have on the front step/yard have either perished or been transferred to the back patio.
What can I put in pots round my front door that'll thrive? Would like an occasional splash of colour if possible, but just healthy lush greenery would be OK.

They used to have a naff reputation, but how about a hydrangea? There are some lovely varieties now, and as long as you keep them well watered they'll like the shade.

Op

I asked the same question last week, got some links and recommendations on the thread. It's called.

Potted flowers or trees for a shaded area

Brilliant - thanks 😊

@ComeBackIntoTheGardenMaud - I actually think hydrangeas are kind of lovely, will have a research of them in more detail- unless you or anyone knows a variety that'd be best suited...?

@nancybotwinbloom I have found and bookmarked your thread - thank you.

I’m growing alpine strawberries which are doing pretty well in my shady garden!

Azaleas are lovely.

Hostas. Especially the sort with variegated leaves with a light/dark contrast. Hellebores - they flower in winter too which is nice.

Hyrandgeas - I have a white Annabelle and its stunning. Huge balls of white that brighten up a dark corner.

Did hydrangeas have a naff reputation?

I have this one in a pot in my porch. It's just beginning to bloom now. It gets very little sun, but does so well. The flowers are just spectacular.
I wish I could remember the name.

The only issue is that it will be bare in winter, if that bothers you ..

I second hostas. I have a very shady corner in my garden that I have just filled with pots of hostas. Slugs and snails love hostas so you will have to take preventative action.

In addition to the excellent suggestions so far, ferns of various sorts. Some types of begonia. Some fuschias, I think?

Of course, with pots you can move them seasonally- maybe have some large pots with real shade-lovers (which may be mostly green) and then have smaller pots of brightly coloured flowers you can bring on in the back garden and easily swap in. I move my pots around quite often.

Japanese Acer

You can get some lovely varieties of ferns.

Love a fern!

I like hydrangeas , but the 'new' varieties are difficult. I had one type when we moved here 15 years ago that still come up happily every year, but the new ones are a pain in the axxx

I do remember DM saying she thought they were tasteless in the 60s. (everyone had them in their front gardens then) I wondered why she said it.
They are lovely.

Ferns, I adore my ferns, they are so beautiful and hellebores, I cut all the leaves off when the flowers appear in around December to show the flowers off and prevent leaf mould and they flower for at least 6 months in winter.
Sarococca, lush scent, evergreen and sweet little flowers, lots of winter interest.
Most shade plants are winter/spring flowerers.

There are evergreen hydrangeas. I’m surprised that they are seen as difficult, I make a point of rescuing neglected ones from garden centres, 12 in all.
A small selection of Them

Gorgeous @Bee

I didn't know that they can evergreen

*be evergreen

Hydrangeas (like dahlias at the time) used to be derided because they were a bit "municipal planting" and were probably what your grandad used to grow and so weren't cool. In both cases, I think, the arrival of new varieties and their popularisation by a new generation of garden designers has done a lot to rehabilitate them (and it has to be said, in my view anyway, that the new varieties are prettier and more interesting than the pink and blue mopheads of yore).

I have hydrangea quercifolia going great guns in a very shady bed, which has also been hugely improved by the addition of an unknown white hydrangea bought for 50p at a coffee morning. I'm hoping that newer varieties aren't too difficult, as I've just been given Vanille Fraise as a gift.

And yes to sarcococca for year-round interest. Or how about a daphne?

I use pinterest for garden ideas (as well as other stuff) and there are some gorgeous planting schemes for pots.

Vanilla Fraise sounds yummy! I have hydrangea macrophylla 'Doppio Nuvola' that has recently been planted and I have high hopes for it - such pretty colours!

I've got a fatsia japonica in a pot in a completely shaded area of my garden and it's doing brilliantly. Lovely glossy leaves.

Another vote for hostas. I live in an Edwardian terrace and have pots of hostas in my north-facing side return which gets zero sun and they are incredibly lush with beautiful variegated foliage.

Euonymus - healthy greenery all year, fine in shade, very easy. Not any flowers (that I know of), but you can get variegated ones with white or bright yellow bits. I'm no good at gardening but I love them because they thrive wherever I put them.

Acers, Bergenia, ferns