Shady wildlife garden help

[GreenAdam]

I have a patch in my garden which I'd like to turn over to be haven for wildlife. Its a heavily shaded area with a large apple tree on one side and an over looking house on the other. The soil is clay not sure about the pH but fairly sure its acidic. can anyone reccomend some native plants that don't mind shade but also would encourage more wildlife into my garden.

Thanks

[Jez]

Hi Adam.

Here's a list of wild flowers that do well in shade with acidic soil!

Betony
Foxglove
Red Campion
Bluebell
Wood Avens
Hairy St.Johns wort
Catsear
Tormentil
Selfheal
Hedge woundwort
Wood sage
Upright hedge parsley

All beneficial to insects!

[GreenAdam]

Hi Jez

Thanks a lot for this and for the link you messaged me.

[animartco]

High Adam. It sounds like a very deep shade patch? is anything growing there at the moment? The deepest shade plants are Solomans seal, Lily of the valley, bluebells of course, windflowers, the little cyclimens, butchers broom, and of course ferns. Many of the other plants mentioned will grow, but not flower well.

[GreenAdam]

Hi Marco

Yeah its what I'd call deep shade, though it gets a certain amount of sun in the early morning. Currently there arfe a few nettles which i've left in and a forget-me-not. Thankyou for all these suggestions, how easy will it be to find these at my local garden centre?

[Hobjob]

If you can't et the pretty stuff growing, ivy works well as ground cover in shade. Periwinkle seems to come up every year in mine too.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by GreenAdam

Yeah its what I'd call deep shade, though it gets a certain amount of sun in the early morning. Currently there arfe a few nettles which i've left in and a forget-me-not. Thankyou for all these suggestions, how easy will it be to find these at my local garden centre?

There are several nurseries specialising in native plants, that take internet orders including plug plants and seeds - Naturescape is one I've used. A couple more plants to add to your list: Gallium odoratum and Meadowsweet which both thrive in total shade, also Bugle (Ajuga reptans) and Yellow archangle are worth a try. Not a native but a good garden plant - sweet cicely, which does attract some invertebrates.

CM

[GreenAdam]

Thanks for all your help, I've finaly got around to completing said garden, looks a little bare at the moment but i'm hoping the plants i've selected will fill in the gaps soon.