Woodland plants are suited to planting into shade beneath deciduous trees and lightly foliaged evergreens. Choose the plants for their foliage rather than for the flowers which are typically in muted, soft hues. Keep the area well mulched with leaf litter and create a sense of enclosure by using shade tolerant shrubs such as camellias. Meandering mulched pathways and mossy logs will add to the effect. These plants are best suited to cooler climate gardens.

Woodland Plants

Hydrangeas petiolaris - Japanese climbing hydrangea that attaches itself with aerial roots; white lacecap flower heads in summer; deciduous foliage; tolerates alkaline soil; excellent cover for a shaded fence or wall.

Polygonatum x hybridum (Soloman's Seal) - British perennial in the Liliaceae family to 60cm; handsome leaves on arching stems; elegant pendant white and green tubular flowers in clusters of two or three from the leaf axils.

Pulmonaria officinalis (Lungwort) - European herbaceous perennial to 30cm; highly attractive green and white spotted leaves; spring flowers open from hairy buds, pink at first and maturing to true blue; needs ample water to do well.

Helleborus orientalis (Hellebore or Lenten Rose) - perennial from southern Europe and western Asia to 30cm; stiff, attractive, evergreen palmate leaves; open-cup, pendant flowers in muted shades of pink; deceptively tough.

Helleborus lividus - evergreen perennial to 40cm; very attractive marbled leaves; fragrant greenish-apricot flowers in winter/spring; tolerates dry conditions.

Heuchera sanguinea - evergreen perennial from Mexico & southern USA; fresh green leaves form a dense mound; tall flowers stems of coral flowers in spring and summer to about 60cm; needs some sun.

Heuchera hybrids eg 'Cathedral Windows', 'Plum Pudding' (elaborately marbled foliage) 'Autumn Waves' (unusual greenish-tan foliage); all need some sun.

Dicentra 'Alba' - herbaceous perennial to 20cm; grey-green fern-like soft leaves; white to cream pendant flowers in summer; self seeds readily.

Campanula poscharskyana (Serbian Bellflower) - Dalmatian ground cover to 15cm; fresh green succulent leaves; lavender starry flowers for many months; self-seeds readily.

Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-Valley) - European bulbous pant to 20cm; large deep green leaves; waxy pendant urn-shaped flowers are white and highly fragrant.

Cyclamen neopolitanum - Italian plant that grows from a corm to 10cm tall; attractive marbled foliage; miniature flowers with reflexed petals in shades of white, pink, lavender and red in winter/spring; summer dormant.

Trillium grandiflorum (Wood Lily) - North American woodland plant to 45cm; lush foliage; three-petalled white flowers in spring; need moist, acid soil; suits cool climates only.

Scilla hispanica (Bluebell or Wood Hyacinth) - Spanish bulb to 30cm tall; strappy leaves; stiff stems of pendant, waxy, lavender-blue flowers in spring; summer dormant; need some sun.

Illustrations from top to bottom:
1. Pulmonaria officinalis (Lungwort) has blue flowers and spotted leaves.
2. Muted colours of Helleborus orientalis.
3. Heuchera  'Autumn Waves' has unusual greenish-tan foliage.
4. Heuchera 'Cathedral Windows' has elaborately marbled foliage.
5. Campanula poscharskyana (Serbian Bellflower) bears lavender starry flowers.
6. Trillium grandiflorum (Wood Lily) has three-petalled white flowers in spring.
7. Scilla hispanica (Bluebell or Wood Hyacinth)