I have an area in my garden that hardly gets any sun and the soil is very heavy (not clay) and wet. I have a couple of plants (orange plant and lavateria) that grow well but I want to give it a bit of colour for the summer. Can someone recommend annuals that like these conditions
Hi SJ, don't think I've met you before so welcome from me. There are not any annuals that I can think of that like damp shade. A few perennial plants will like that situation though. See Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/ In the 'Advaned Search' bit select 'Perennial', 'Shade' and 'Heavy Clay' and it will come up with quite a lot. Good luck.
Hello and welcome from me as well, SJ, and hi to you, Blackthorn. I think you'll find that Bedding Begonias and Busy Lizzies (Impatiens) will settle into damp and shady situations. Sweet William and Fuchsia are also tolerant of both conditions. All of these will give great colour. Perhaps you could mix some peat into the soil to lighten it up somewhat?
Hi to you too Lady of Leisure, sorry but I don't know much about bedding plants as I don't grow them.
Hi, Blackthorn! I don't bother with them here either as we're too hot and dry through the summer. However, I had good luck with the above when I lived in Bucks where part of the garden was overshadowed by large trees and parts of it never saw the sun, plus it was a walled garden. Guess I've gone from one extreme to the other! :D
Thanks for all the info. I will try begonias and impatiens this year and see how they grow. If no success I'll try mixing some peat into the soil and try again
Why do they have to be anuals - there are so many interesting and colourful plants that love damp shade and much less work than having to renew them every year!
