What time does a north-facing garden get sun?

It depends on the plot, but a north-facing garden is often shaded close to the house. The far end may receive summer sun, and some plots also catch morning or evening sun along their sides. Watch the garden through a day in June and note where the sun lands, because fences, trees and neighbouring roofs matter as much as the compass.

What are some good plants for a north-facing garden?

Ferns, hostas, hellebores, sweet box, Japanese anemone and hardy geraniums are on the plant list above, each with its RHS rating, light and soil. The table marks whether each one suits a north-facing aspect.

What flowers thrive in shade?

Japanese anemone, lungwort, hellebores and big-root cranesbill cope with partial shade, depending on the soil. Check the light column in the table, since some of them want brighter shade than a dark corner gives.

What plants grow in shade and no sun?

Many shade plants grow without direct sun, provided they get enough indirect daylight, while deep shade under dense trees is more demanding. Ferns such as hart's tongue and soft shield fern, and evergreens such as sweet box and Japanese spurge, are listed for part to full shade. In deep shade with dry soil, expect slow growth and plan for fewer plants.

Does clay soil work in a north-facing garden?

Often well, because clay can hold moisture that many shade plants like. Check for winter waterlogging. Organic matter can improve clay's structure, but persistent standing water needs further investigation, so choose plants suited to the drainage you have. The Fit column marks which plants are listed for clay.

Can a render show how a shady garden will look?

It can give an impression of the planting and style. It cannot show the real light in your garden, so use the render for ideas and check the light yourself before buying. Rendering is not open yet, so you can join the waitlist from this page.

North-facing garden plants that cope with shade

Ferns, sweet box and Japanese spurge suit many shaded north-facing borders, and hostas and brunnera suit moist, well-drained spots. The area near the house is often shaded while the far end may catch summer sun, so check each bed's light and soil. The table below shows each plant's RHS hardiness rating, light, soil and size, and marks whether it suits north-facing and clay.

By Garden Stylist AI. Last updated 17 October 2026

Before: a bare lawn in shadow in front of a tall panel fence with a small white shed. — AI generated examplePlants requested for this design: Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert', hart's tongue fern, Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost', Japanese sedge 'Evergold', Mexican orange blossom, male fern. The render is an impression of those plants, not a planting plan.

AI generated shade planting redesign of the same view: a bare lawn in shadow in front of a tall panel fence with a small white shed, replanted. — AI generated examplePlants requested for this design: Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert', hart's tongue fern, Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost', Japanese sedge 'Evergold', Mexican orange blossom, male fern. The render is an impression of those plants, not a planting plan.

Plants for a north-facing garden

Dryopteris filix-mas
male fern
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H7, AGM
US zone
4a to 9b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
1.5m x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Polystichum setiferum
soft shield fern
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H7, AGM
US zone
7a to 9a
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
1.5m x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Asplenium scolopendrium
hart's tongue fern
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H6, AGM
US zone
zone not published
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
50cm x 50cm
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Hosta 'June'
plantain lily 'June'
Light
Part shade
Hardiness
RHS H7, AGM
US zone
zone not published
Soil
clay, loam
Size
50cm x 50cm
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
plantain lily 'Sum and Substance'
Light
Part shade
Hardiness
RHS H7, AGM
US zone
zone not published
Soil
clay, loam
Size
1m x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H6, AGM
US zone
3a to 8b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
50cm x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Pulmonaria 'Sissinghurst White'
lungwort 'Sissinghurst White'
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H6, AGM
US zone
zone not published
Soil
chalk, clay, loam
Size
50cm x 50cm
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Geranium macrorrhizum
big-root cranesbill
Light
Sun to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H7
US zone
zone not published
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
50cm x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Geranium phaeum
dusky cranesbill
Light
Sun to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H7
US zone
zone not published
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
1m x 50cm
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Hakonechloa macra
Japanese forest grass
Light
Sun to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H7, AGM
US zone
5a to 9b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
50cm x 50cm
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Sarcococca confusa
sweet box
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H5, AGM
US zone
6b to 9b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
1.5m x 1.5m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Pachysandra terminalis
Japanese spurge
Light
Part to full shade
Hardiness
RHS H5
US zone
4a to 9b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
50cm x 1.5m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Bergenia cordifolia
heart-leaf bergenia
Light
Sun or part shade
Hardiness
RHS H7
US zone
3a to 8b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
1m x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Light
Sun or part shade
Hardiness
RHS H7, AGM
US zone
4a to 8b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
1.5m x 1m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Helleborus × hybridus
hybrid Lenten rose
Light
Sun or part shade
Hardiness
RHS H7
US zone
4a to 9b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam
Size
50cm x 50cm
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026
Mahonia × media 'Charity'
Oregon grape 'Charity'
Light
Sun or part shade
Hardiness
RHS H5
US zone
7a to 9b
Soil
chalk, clay, loam, sand
Size
4m x 4m
Suits north-facing
RHS page, checked Oct 2026

How much sun does a north-facing garden get?

The amount varies with the house, surrounding buildings, trees and the time of year. The house and the boundary fence throw shade over the bed nearest the building for much of the year.

The RHS describes north- and east-facing gardens as cool and shady for much of the year, and it gives a way to measure it. Partial shade is three to six hours of direct sun a day at midsummer. Moderate shade is two or three hours. Under two hours counts as heavy shade.

Record how long each bed receives direct sun on a clear day in June, and check again in other seasons, as shadows change.

Is the whole garden shady?

Usually not. A long north-facing garden often has two different conditions in one plot.

The strip by the house. This stays in shade most of the day, so it suits ferns, hostas, sweet box and Japanese spurge.
The far end. With the house further away, it may catch direct sun for some hours in summer, so you can plant a wider mix, including the plants here that accept sun or part shade.

Match plants to the light in each bed. Plants that need full sun may grow weakly or flower poorly beside a shaded house wall.

Before: a dilapidated backyard with old brick outbuildings, a low wall, rubble, a discarded sink and weeds. — AI generated examplePlants requested for this design: Japanese spurge, Japanese skimmia, laurustinus, Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert', hart's tongue fern, Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'. The render is an impression of those plants, not a planting plan.

AI generated shade planting redesign of the same view: a dilapidated backyard with old brick outbuildings, a low wall, rubble, a discarded sink and weeds, replanted. — AI generated examplePlants requested for this design: Japanese spurge, Japanese skimmia, laurustinus, Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert', hart's tongue fern, Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'. The render is an impression of those plants, not a planting plan.

What are the best plants for a north-facing garden?

Start with the plants listed for a north aspect and for part or full shade. The table shows the light each one takes, because some accept sun as well as shade and some do not. For a dark, dry corner, choose plants specifically listed for dry shade, because ferns and evergreens vary in their moisture needs. For a brighter border, the anemone, lungwort, hellebores and cranesbills give flowers.

Plants listed for a north aspect and part or full shade
Plant	RHS hardiness	USDA zones	Light	Soil	Height x spread	Fit here
male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)	H7, AGM	4a to 9b	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	1.5m x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum)	H7, AGM	7a to 9a	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	1.5m x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)	H6, AGM	zone not published	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	50cm x 50cm	Suits north-facing, clay soil
plantain lily 'June' (Hosta 'June')	H7, AGM	zone not published	Part shade	Clay, Loam	50cm x 50cm	Suits north-facing, clay soil
plantain lily 'Sum and Substance' (Hosta 'Sum and Substance')	H7, AGM	zone not published	Part shade	Clay, Loam	1m x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost' (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost')	H6, AGM	3a to 8b	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	50cm x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
lungwort 'Sissinghurst White' (Pulmonaria 'Sissinghurst White')	H6, AGM	zone not published	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam	50cm x 50cm	Suits north-facing, clay soil
big-root cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum)	H7	zone not published	Sun to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	50cm x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
dusky cranesbill (Geranium phaeum)	H7	zone not published	Sun to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	1m x 50cm	Suits north-facing, clay soil
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra)	H7, AGM	5a to 9b	Sun to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	50cm x 50cm	Suits north-facing, clay soil
sweet box (Sarcococca confusa)	H5, AGM	6b to 9b	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	1.5m x 1.5m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)	H5	4a to 9b	Part to full shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	50cm x 1.5m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia)	H7	3a to 8b	Sun or part shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	1m x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert' (Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert')	H7, AGM	4a to 8b	Sun or part shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	1.5m x 1m	Suits north-facing, clay soil
hybrid Lenten rose (Helleborus × hybridus)	H7	4a to 9b	Sun or part shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam	50cm x 50cm	Suits north-facing, clay soil
Oregon grape 'Charity' (Mahonia × media 'Charity')	H5	7a to 9b	Sun or part shade	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand	4m x 4m	Suits north-facing, clay soil

Facts from each plant's RHS Find a Plant page and the NC State Extension plant toolbox (USDA zones), checked 16 October 2026. Each plant links to its source on the plant list page.

Where you want more choice, the plant index lists every plant with its source link.

What if the soil is clay?

Clay is common in UK gardens, and it can suit a shady bed. It can retain moisture, which many shade plants like, although it may dry hard in summer. Winter waterlogging can damage plants that need freely draining soil. The Fit column above says whether each plant is listed for clay. Big-root cranesbill, Japanese anemone, bergenia and Oregon grape carry the clay tag in our data.

Improve the bed with organic matter rather than adding small amounts of sand, and follow the planting-depth guidance for each plant.

What would a shade planting brief look like?

Use this example brief when discussing the garden with a designer or a design tool. Replace the illustrative dimensions, soil and layout with your own.

What does a shady border cost in the UK?

Costs depend on the border size, plant sizes and labour. These figures come from named UK cost guides read on 16 October 2026.

UK cost examples for border planting, timber raised beds and garden design
Job (UK, installed unless stated)	Typical rate	Sources
Planting a border (planting scheme, whole job)	£300 to £550 per job (size unspecified)	Fantastic Services
Timber raised bed 2m x 1m, built	£60 to £300 per bed (2m x 1m)	MyJobQuote
Garden designer, day rate	£400 to £900 per day	Fantastic Services, MyJobQuote

UK averages including labour, read from the named cost guides on 16 October 2026. London and the South East usually sit at the top of each range. Get at least three quotes.

Where next?

Rendering is not open yet, so the next step is to read on or join the waitlist.

See the other aspects, a small garden in shade, or style ideas. You can pick a photo and join the waitlist with Shade planting selected.