Since most annuals prefer a sunny spot, perennial plants are essential to the shade gardener. These are wonderful plants that generously return year after year, often bigger and better.” If you’re planting them in the ground, make sure they’re around 50cm away from any walls or fences, so they’re not in a rain shadow and can receive rain. I also think, if you really want something to grow, just try it – because with all gardening, you’ve just got to try it. If it dies, it dies, and you’ve just got to think, ‘OK, that didn’t work’. You just never know. If you’ve got your heart set on having loads of agapanthus in your garden and you don’t get much sun, I would give it a go and try one.”

Star jasmine thrives in both full sun and partial shade, offering flexibility in terms of placement and sun exposure,' says Robin Phelps. 'It has an abundance of small, star-shaped, white flowers with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. The scent adds a delightful sensory experience to your outdoor space.' Rather than a gardener's "problem", an area of shade can open up a whole new world of plantsto explore, from delicate flowers and interesting foliage, to handsome trees and vibrant bulbs.Interestingly, Grant says she thinks all gardening is trial and error, and what you often find is things can change shape in different settings. Photography courtesy of Susanna Grant. Above: The view from Susanna’s kitchen to her corridor garden between buildings.

Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ‘var.petiolaris’) is one of the most sought-after climbers for its beautiful flowering cover and ability to climb up to 40 feet on vertical structures and trees,' says Rich Christakes, founder of the plant-based marketplace Ship My Plants. 'This hydrangea can thrive in areas with full sun, partial shade, and shade, making it a versatile choice for any landscape.'Rather than a gardener's "problem", an area of shade can open up a whole new world of plants to explore, from delicate flowers and interesting foliage, to handsome trees and vibrant bulbs. April is a perfect time to sow some seeds and set yourself up for a flowery summer! Join Wolves Lane Flower Company for a shot of flowery inspiration and some top tips on easy wins for growing cut flowers at home, no matter how small your space. Spring Seeds: Microgreens Cooking Demo

The na_sr cookie is used to recognize the visitor upon re-entry. It allows to record details on user behaviour and facilitate the social sharing function provided by Addthis.com. Three of Grant’s favourite ferns are adiantum venustum (evergreen maidenhair), dryopteris erythrosora (copper shield fern), and niponicum var. pictum (Japanese painted fern). 4. Grasses Luzula nivea/snowy wood-rush (Aloha Bonser-Shaw) The photography throughout is stunning, showing projects Grant has done herself and also detailed photos to go along with the text to help explain what to do in your own garden. Grant’s top three perennials to pretty up your place are begonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba (white hardy begonia), thalictrum delavayi ‘Splendide White’ (Meadow rue) and lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Alba’ (white bleeding heart). (Francis Lincoln/PA)) You might grow, say, a viburnum, which is a really lovely scented shrub. You might grow that in full sun and it can be a big bushy thing. And then I grow them in shade, and they tend to be much more airy, and they're not nearly as bushy," she explains. "But I actually prefer the shape because it's a really lovely structural shape, not sort of chunky, because they're stretching for the light and become more graceful.

You might grow, say, a viburnum, which is a really lovely scented shrub. You might grow that in full sun and it can be a big bushy thing. And then I grow them in shade, and they tend to be much more airy, and they’re not nearly as bushy,” she explains. “But I actually prefer the shape because it’s a really lovely structural shape, not sort of chunky, because they’re stretching for the light and become more graceful. If you think a dank, high-walled urban yard means you can’t have a garden, think again. Whether your whole garden, courtyard or balcony is cast in shade, or you just have a north-facing window box,Shadewill inspire you.