Winter shade, summer sun plants

Hi all,
I'm new to gardening so would be grateful for any advice.
I have recently moved house and there is a section of the garden that is full shade in the winter and almost full sun in the summer.
What kind of plants would be suitable for this area?
Is it true that perennials and deciduous shrubs wouldn't be bothered by the winter shade?

Many thanks!

 

Plants like sarcoccoca, hellebores, rudbeckias, euonymous, hypericums, kniphophias, dahlias, many ferns, persicarias, etc., etc.
I think you are right....winter shade for many .....even most....herbaceous perennials and deciduous shrubs should not adversely affect them.
A major consideration is soil drainage in winter........a wet cold soil in winter is not good.
Does the soil drain well there Yan? If so, your site could well be a good one

 

Thanks for the reply Verdun.
I haven't noticed the soil being waterlogged this winter, so I guess the drainage is ok. There is an azalea and a Mexican orange blossom nearby and they are both fine.

Would a rose bush survive in that location?

 

Yes, It would
Clearly you have an acid soil there so kalmias, camellias, rhodos would also thrive there.
Acers too.....if you can protect them from the hottest of the summer sun. Check out the painted japanese ferns......some wonderful leaf colours on these classy ferns.
Since your choisya is doing well it shows you have good drainage too

 

I am a little puzzled I think Mexican orange blossom is a common name given to Choisya ternata, and if this is the plant in question, it likes chalky soil. Of course, this is another case of Latin name being important.

 

Yes as a novice gardener I was told by a couple of gardening friends that it was a Mexican orange blossom and an azalea. Both are doing well and are currently flowering.
I haven't tested the ph of the soil though.

 

Maybe you could post a photo of your ''mexican orange blossom'' for us to have a look at

 

I noted that too Tetters....choisya for neutral/alkaline soil; azalea for acid! However, choisyas are very adaptable if soil drains well. Have grown it on acid soil. .it also suggested the extremes of winter and summer are not quite as suggested
Photo would clarify Yan

 

Ok, see the photos I have attached.

 

Yes, the white flowered shrub is Choisya aztec pearl. Aztec pearl is the first two of my clippings with the narrow leaves, and the third pic is ''ternata''

You don`t indicate whereabouts you live Yan. Maybe you have neutral soil

 

I am in Manchester. Does that make a difference?

 

Not really, but if you lived anywhere near here in Kent, I might know the area better for what kind of soil that`s all.

 

Yan, carry out a PH test. Always good to know your soil esp if alkaline, neutral or acid

 

Hi,
I've tested the ph of the soil and it appears to be neutral.

I've also done a few more observations in the garden, it's a north east facing garden but quite a big garden so it gets a lot of sun in the summer. The particular border that I'm having problems with faces East. In the winter due to the sun being lower in the sky the shadow of the house shades half of the garden and the border hardly gets any sun at all.

During the summer the border gets shade in the morning and from about 1.30pm onwards it's full sun.

Does that situation change any of the advice above?

 

Sounds good Yan
Yes, most plants will be fine there but I would not plant azaleas or rhododendrons then...they need acid soil. Camelias will do well there....some think they need acid soil but they are very tolerant
I enjoy your planting Yan