Many gardens have shady areas, where sun-loving plants won’t thrive. The good news is that there are plenty of plants that can tolerate or even prefer a shaded position.

The most important thing is to understand the type of shade that you have – there are various kinds. Light shade means slight shade for all or most of the day; partial shade means plants are in sun for some of the day; dappled shade is blotchy shade created when the sun filters through overhead foliage. Plus, the soil in your shady spot could be damp or dry. All of these factors will determine what plants you can grow.

More advice on gardening in shade:

• Types of garden shade
• 20 plants for dry shade
• 10 best fruit crops for shade
• 10 best vegetables for shade
• Container plants for shade
• Climbers for a shady wall or fence
• 10 unusual perennials for shade
• Choose plants for shade

When choosing plants for shade, remember that too many dark greens can make a shady area look gloomy. Instead, use them for background structure and texture, then bring the area alive by making use of pale, pastel colours. White, cream, pale yellow, lilac, light mauve and pale pink show up best. Add variegated plants for splashes of cream, yellow and white.

We recommend 20 of the best plants for shade, below.