Shade is one of the hardest conditions to cope with in a garden, so the woodland plants are the ones to go for. However, for a surprisingly hardy and exotic look, ferns make a wonderful addition. Check your catalogue for specialists, like Fernatix, who can advise which ferns would be right for you.
Photography by RHS/Sarah Cuttle
Moist shade: Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizalliae' AGM (Fernatix FM1), or Lady fern, is well suited for planting along sheltered stream or pond edges and will form a lovely shuttlecock of fresh green in the spring. Unfussy of soil type and tough, it is said to grow equally well in acid or alkaline conditions.
Photography by RHS/Sarah Cuttle
Bog garden: New for 2012, the thick leaves of Hosta 'Lemon Juice' (Bowden Hostas FM6) have a narrow cream splash down the centre. The plant is perfect for either containers, a moisture-retentive site or even a bog garden. Pot up using John Innes No3 with 20% added sharp grit.
Photography by RHS/Sarah Cuttle
Sunny and dry: Lavenders are mostly hardy, smell gorgeous and come in an amazing range of colours, as you can see from displays such as Best in Show Downderry Nursery (FM7). This is a wonderful plant for anyone wanting to create a Mediterranean feel or even the archetypal English border.
Photography by RHS/Sarah Cuttle
Full sun: Fragrant lilies give a succession of beautiful flowers which will fill your garden with delicious scent. Try Lilium regale ‘Album’, one of the most famously perfect and tall lilies. The Lilium colour range is ever-growing, and includes whites, bi-colours (pictured on Madrona Nursery FM19 stand), and highly fragrant ‘Pink Heaven’.
Photography by RHS/Sarah Cuttle
Rare treat: The Japanese Bamboo Fern (Coniogramme japonica) is one of those plants you come across at shows and instantly want in your garden. Commonly seen as single clumps in wet forests, C. japonica is evergreen. And have you ever seen leaf markings like it? Rarities like this can only be found in RHS plant marquees!
Photography by RHS/Sarah Cuttle