Plants for shade part six. Spring flowering bulbs are useful when planting shady areas. Woodland species like the Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) and the Wild Daffodil (Narcissu pseudonarcissus) are shade tolerant by nature. It's worth noting however that their period of growth takes place early in the year to take advantage of the available light before the tree canopy leafs up. This is generally referred to as "dappled shade".

 For deep shade the options are limited. Ramsons (Allium ursinum) are a good choice but they need a very moist soil to flourish. Forest gardeners and foragers are fond of Ramsons because they live up to their other common name: Wild Garlic. They can be prolific and pungent in damp woods. 

 Our native Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) will grow in a good deal of shade but I have found it rather tricky to establish in garden settings though it carpets many ancient woodlands. NB nearly all Bluebells sold by the bulb trade are actually a hybrid of H. non-scripta and the Spanish Bluebell (H. hispanica) though it doesn't say that on the packet. 

 As the shade closes in woodland bulbs become dormant but there is an exception. The Ivy-leaved Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) provides a lovely coda for the shade garden. It flowers in late summer/early autumn in even the deepest, driest shade. Strictly speaking it's a coum rather than a bulb but never mind. Reversing the usual order of things C. hederifolium flowers first then comes into leaf forming a good ground cover over the winter months.