Anne Swithinbank
A keen fruit, vegetable and house-plant grower, Anne was formerly the glasshouse supervisor at RHS Garden Wisley.
Ashley Edwards
As a head gardener with charity Horatio’s Garden, Ashley enjoys sharing his passion for plants.
Pippa Greenwood
Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods.
Q What evergreens can I grow in shaded pots?
Neil, Dorset
A ASHLEY SAYS I suggest Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’. Unlike its spiny cousin, Mahonia x media, this variety has delicately divided leaves that you can’t help but stroke as you pass by. It also grows slowly, in a compact form, making it ideal for a pot.
It’s very simple to prune this plant: as the stems become woody and tall, simply cut them to the base and the plant will produce new, bushy shoots. Do this in early spring. This is an autumn-flowering shrub and will produce yellow flowers that brighten the dullest of grey autumn days. It’s a fantastic food source for pollinators emerging from hibernation, when there is little else in the garden for them.
Fill the pots with a good peat-free compost, with added John Innes, and protect the drainage hole with a large piece of broken terracotta to keep it clear.
Q&A
TEAM ANSWER Plants for shaded pots
Q&A
TEAM ANSWER Plants for shaded pots
The compact form of Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ is perfect for pots
Keep Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ roots happy by growing in deep pots