Plants for shade part five. Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolan) and Oriental Borage (Trachystemon orientalis) are not deterred by shade, even dry shade. Their tendency to spread makes them good ground cover plants- a useful characteristic to cover bare soil where not much else will grow. Yellow Archangel has variegated foliage all year round. Oriental Borage has big coarse leaves through the spring and summer months. Both have masses of flowers early in spring and attract emerging bumblebees.

 It is sometimes said that bees do not forage in shade. Bees favour flowers in the sun but if there is nectar and pollen to be had in shade they will seek it out, particularly in spring when woodland flowers are at their peak. The aforementioned Comferys and Geraniums are also top bee plants.