I have a garden bed that is in full shade in the winter, and in the summer gets full sun for about 5 hours a day. I would like to put some shrubs in, but cant think of anything that would suit that situation.

How do you think ferns would go in that situation, like a birds nest fern, and a cyathea ?

Other suggestions gratefully and eagerly waited for.

Many thanks

Correas - will get about 1- 1.5 meters high. I have a few of 'chefs cap' correa (pretty lime green flowers, glossy olive green foliage and burgandy stems) and Correa dusky bells with red/fushica flowers and dusky green foliage. These shrubs will flower prolifically even in winter in the full shade (well they do in my garden)

Also I recommend Westringa or Prostanthera, they will easily survive the winter shade and some of them flower in a breathtaking way esp Poorinda ballerina, a white form of Prostanthera (this is also hardy in the full summer sun - well mine is) These are from the mint bush family, so the foliage smells beautiful, especially if it rains or if you brush against it.

The westringa and correa can also survive on little water compared to a lot of other plants. The westringa love being pruned and come back form the hardest of cuts to form lovely bushy shrubs. The prostanthera and Westringa can grow up to 3 mtrs.

Check them out, most are available at nurseries.

Now, I've also some experience with a crows nest fern in this area. They were in this area when I moved in. but did suffer and burn in the spring/summer, but were under a deciduous tree so recovered when the leaves came to shade them, so I suppose in my opinion they wouldn't survive the sun in summer. Having said that, I suppose that depends on the sun, is the 5 hours morning or afternoon?

I hope this helps, these plants really perform for me and are very fast growing.

cheers

Andrea

Many thanks for your fantastic suggestions for my garden dilemma. You have been fantastically meticulous in your reply and I thank you for taking the time to do that.

I know Westringia and Prostanthera, I agree with you they are very delicate and graceful shrubs.

I was thinking about this garden bed this morning, and I have come to the conclusion that I will put some ferns in, and keep an eye on them in the summer. If I mulch I think they will be fine throughout the hot months.

All the best with your garden, Andrea.

Miss Popi

and lemon grass, a snow bush - agarve??(sp) tree ferns, bromeliads, elk horns, stag horns, palms

we've got them all in a similar spot - though they don't get much more sun in the summer.

there's also ground covers such as mint - even nasturtiums grow well in that sort of area. our strawberries grow well as a ground cover - we don't get much fruit but we do get plenty of runners for transplanting later on