Top ten plants for ground cover in shade

Tolerant of many conditions, hardy brunneras are a popular pick for ground cover, underplanting, and slopes for a low maintenance option.

They have heart-shaped leaves, and the leaves of variety ‘Jack Frost’ are silvery with green veins, joined by pretty blue flowers in spring.

The pretty bright blue flowers of forget-me-nots are a lovely sign of spring and summer. Not only can you enjoy the flowers, but the nectar and pollen is appreciated by pollinators such as bees and butterflies too.

Native to woodland and rocky places, they will suit many different types of garden.

Next is a mat-forming evergreen that has dark, nearly black leaves that will add dramatic colour to the space. It’s a low maintenance pick, and as well as the attractive foliage, there are blue flowers that bloom in late spring.

They are a hardy pick for garden edging, and well-suited for ground cover on banks and slopes too.

Ferns can be a great choice for ground cover and this type has frosted grey-green looking leaves.

Perfect for rock gardens and informal gardens, they are trouble free plants that don’t demand much apart from removing any dead, diseased, or damaged foliage when necessary.

Not only will the white flowers provide a visually stunning spectacle contrasting with the green foliage, but the leaves are fragranced too. The flowers are also enjoyed by pollinators, making them a great choice for wildlife gardens.

In a shaded spot, these are well suited to underplanting of shrubs as well as ground cover.

This Bergenia is an evergreen perennial with rounded leaves that have a red tinge through winter. Also, from winter to spring, pink-purple flowers bloom on tall stems.

Their hardiness and tolerance of many conditions means they will happily grow in many garden types. Bear in mind that bergenias can be toxic to dogs, so may not be suitable in a garden with four-legged friends.

The tufted evergreen foliage of this sedge is dark green to grey. The arching leaves will add an elegance to the space, helping to soften any hard exteriors.

Comb out any dead leaves and flowers in spring to keep the plant looking ship-shape and this plant will continue to thrive.

As its name suggests, this mat-forming evergreen has wonderful glossy, shiny foliage.

In summer, the shiny leaves are complemented by spikes of small white flowers in summer. Drought resistant and tolerant of many planting locations, they are happy to grow in any soil that is not too dry.

For pretty purple flowers that bloom through summer and autumn, the knotted cranesbill also has glossy green leaves.

The flowers are enjoyed by pollinators, and you can encourage more by cutting back old flowered stems and leaves.

Last is a native to West Europe, a creeping evergreen with lovely kidney-shaped leaves that have a beautiful shine. Suited to a woodland style garden, these plants don’t need pruning or extra maintenance, however they do prefer an acidic soil.