Any ideas for fragrant plants/shrubs/anything that will grow in the shade?

[parachutes]

Hi, would be really grateful for any ideas on plants/shrubs, or anything at all really, that grow well in the shade. I'm looking for something fragrant to grow just outside our back door but it doesn't get any sun...any ideas?

Thanks

impatiens are shade loving and the white one is very fragrant

I could be wrong, but I think Mint does well in shade? And certainly fragrant. And grows like a weed.

lots of suggestions of scented shade lovers from the BBC Gardening website

bleeding hearts grow well in the shade too - really striking with their bell shaped flower spikes so good for colour. Not sure they smell much though. Hmm will keep thinking!

oooh lily of the valley are fab for shady spots and smell lovely!

Wow thanks! I will look at all the suggestions.

Thanks very much, I didn't expect so many responses so quickly!

Mahonia and Viburnum will both do in shade if you want shrubs that smell great at this time of year.

If you have mint by your back door it will stop flies coming in

Japanese honeyscukle is extremely fragrant (climber) and does well anywhere - but warning; it gets rampant pretty quickly and you'll be forever hacking it back.

You'll never get rid of mint either!

Nicotiana sylvestris - the species type rather than the bedding plants - are incredibly fragrant and happy in shade.

Don't go for skimmia - rubella - I had it by my front door and it smelt like dogsmuck!!

Nicotiana is supposed to be nice but personally I wouldnt have it as its poisenous (which I know lots of things are but I like to play it safe!)

Euonimous is a nice shrubby plant - does well everywhere - evergreen and can glow in winter when the leaves turn yellow.

A hardy fuschia will survive there - lovely flowers - slighlty dull in the winter though...

I'd say Christmas box might be a good one to go for - something nice in the winter, scented, easy looks good all year - plus of course there's the possibility of creating shapes with it!!

Message withdrawn

Christmas Box prefers the shade and smells fantastic.
Some Daphnes will do well too in shade and also smell wonderful
www.plantsforshade.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eplantsforshade%2eco%2euk%2f& WD=sarcococca&PN=Sarcoccoca%2ehtml%23a1326#a1326
and
www.plantsforshade.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eplantsforshade%2eco%2euk%2fc gi%2dbin%2fss000001%2epl%3fpage%3dsearch%26SS%3ddaphen%26PR%3d%2d1%26TB%3dA&WD=daphne&PN=Daphne%2eht ml%23a1435#a1435

Daphne berries are also poisonous, I see.

I think the decision on whether to use poisonous plants depends on how old your children are, where the plants will be (how accessible to little fingers) and the toxicity of the plant. Links on the BBC website and Safe Kids website here.

Message withdrawn

Yes, good point Pruners.

Hi everyone, thank you very much for all of these tips, particularly re poisonous plants as I hadn't thought of that at all.

Hi everyone, thank you very much for all of these tips, particularly re poisonous plants as I hadn't thought of that at all.

They were so good I needed to thank you all twice