Best plants for shade and north-facing gardens

Newly emerging fronds have rich purple bronze tones that become greener with a silver dusting as they mature. Athyrium riponicum 'Ursula's Red' Painted Lady Fern will brighten up a shady spot beautifully. If you have a tricky shady spot in your plot where no plant dares to grow, start your own collection of these lush undemanding fronds. This fern will benefit from a good dose of compost and in the winter use dry mulch or straw to protect the crown of the plant. Being deciduous the fronds will die back in autumn.

Customer review: "Need to see how well it does in second year after a hard winter - seems good in shade."

For wow-factor, you really must include this Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'. It's an easy-grow shrub with its masses of pom-pom blooms. Additionally, hydrangeas make excellent cut flowers. Displaying a large lone bloom by itself in a vase makes the most of ornamental qualities, once it has faded, dispose of the water, trim the stem and it'll dry in situ to last all year. Make the most of their long flowering seasons from July to September. Hydrangeas are fairly low maintenance too, requiring only a thorough deadheading and pruning.

Customer review: "They are growing beautifully in my garden it looks like it could be In the Chelsea Flower Show."

You can plant these Begonias 'Nonstop Mixed' in containers, hanging baskets or even in the ground, if you plant them in partial shade. They're weather-resistant blooms, so they will withstand rain and shine. They'll flower into autumn so you can enjoy them well beyond the height of the summer growing season. Begonias will benefit from an occasional feed and take care not to overwater them. Once the flowers have faded deadhead the plant, which encourages more blooms to develop.

Customer review: "Begonias gorgeous. Well packed and healthy plants."

A perfect mix of colours and hardy too. We have picked Foxglove Digitalis 'Mixed', which has tall flower spikes with pretty purple, pink and white flowers. According to the RPSB, many are ‘biennials’ which means they "germinate in year one, form a rosette of leaves and then flower and die in year two. Don’t be alarmed though - you can scatter the thousands of tiny seeds that are left". Enjoy a riot of colour from May to July.

For a burst of vibrant colour, you can’t beat a two-tone fuchsia. Fuchsia ‘Trailing Mixed’ produces huge, double blooms in both soft and bright pinks, purples, and crimsons from June-October. For wow-factor, you really must include this easy-grow shrub with its masses of pom-pom blooms. Let your garden dance with these brilliantly bright beauties. They're a top pick for hassle-free flowers.

With masses of elegant, cup-shaped, white flowers on tall, wiry stems, this charming Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' bloom will brighten up your garden in late summer right through to October. They provide a pleasing contrast when planted against dark rocks or under trees. This anemone is a perennial that will die back in autumn, with new growth appearing in spring.

Customer review: "It's an attractive tall plant ideal for the back of a border and it continues flowering well into the autumn. It was very late to put on any growth but despite the very poor growing conditions this year it has burst into full bloom and is thriving."

Euphorbia Griffithii Fireglow will thrive in a lightly shaded spot and produce vibrant, orange flowers from June to September. They can spread into large clumps and create striking tropical-themed borders. This perennial dies back in autumn and flower again in spring. Wear gloves when cutting back the dead blooms as the sap is a poisonous irritant.

Happy under deciduous trees, the five-leaved cuckoo flower or Cardamine pratensis kickstarts spring with lilac blooms, then melts away to let summer plants shine. The young leaves are edible and have a peppery taste like cress. Ideal for a bog garden or damp and dark spot, Cardamine pratensis flowers into late summer when it then goes dormant.

Customer review: "Nice plants with hood root systems. Very satisfied with purchase."

Flowering for weeks on end this is a cheerful daisy that really packs a punch. This Doronicum caucasicum 'Little Leo' is a type of leopard's bane. Expect a display of sunny side up flowers throughout May and June, attracting pollinators to your garden. A hardy perennial, that thrives in partial and dappled shade, the flowers of this leopard's bane can also be cut to create a cheery vase of blooms of form part of a bouquet.

Customer review: "Just so easy to plant on such quality plants I can't wait to see the splash of colour they will provide."

Bring a burst of colour to a shaded spot with this blazing dogwood. Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' is a hardy shrub with green leaves that turn bright orange-yellow in the autumn. It's a deciduous shrub and the leaves drop to reveal bare red and yellow stems that provide vivid colour in the duller months.

Customer review: "Lovely plant, brightens up an area even in winter."

Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic, quickly and easily, with hundreds of simple ideas, designer tricks, affordable products and expert advice with a Modern Gardens Membership. Find out more about the benefits of being a Member now.