Lavender-like blooms for a shady plot

[jonahjonah]

Hi all,

I'm doing some research on the ol' interconnected webs, but I was hoping you might drop by with some suggestions based on experience and favorites.

Much of my growing space at home and on the allotment gets a fair bit of shade during the day and it's ALL on heavy clay soil. So, of course, I pine for lavender. But the small sensible section of my brain says that the conditions are pretty much the opposite of what lavender prefers and that I should not to give over any prime space that's saved for vegetable growing.

Do you have suggestions for what might fill a similar scented, bee-friendly, potentially edible niche?

Thanks!

[Mitzi]

You're right that heavy clay and shade is not the most promising conditions for lavender. Nepeta (catmint) might be a possibility? When I was on London Clay I found Bergamot (Monarda) did OK. It's not really the same growth habit but might work? Monarda citriodora (lemon bee balm) might be worth a try.

Nothing else smells like lavender.

[jonahjonah]

Thanks so much. Lovely suggestions. They all like better conditions than I can offer, it seems (what doesn't?!), but if they're less fussed than lavender, I have some good candidates.

[Babru]

I'll have more of a think, but blue flowered plants that do well in shade in my garden include: brunnera (silvery leaf too), pulmonaria, corydalis which is a favourite and some are scented, viola laboradorica which will grow absolutely anywhere and is pretty, vinca which can be a thug but ok if you put it where it can't spread anywhere nice.

I'll try to think of others for later in the year.

[nickdub]

borage and gooseberries :-)

[veggiechicken]

The "You'll never know unless you try it" bit of my brain says "You want lavender, then try growing lavender". You may be surprised. Books/interweb doesn't know everything.

[annie8]

Can you grow borage in partial shade? Would like to try growing that if you can.

[nickdub]

"The culinary herb prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade and rich, moist soil."

source :-

https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-borage/

[Babru]

Borage is good in shade, (as is it's cousin comfrey). Other blue suggestions might be aquilegia, many of the hardy geraniums, fuchsias (heading towards purple here), forget-me-not and many spring bulbs such as crocus and anemone blanda.

Sorry, not many of my suggestions are perfumed, just the corydalis if you get the right one, plus there is an aquilegia called Perfumed Garden that you can grow from seed https://www.plant-world-seeds.com/st..._seed_item/136 but in more colours than just blue.

My last garden was north facing so a lot in shade, and over the years tried out many plants. You can have a lovely flowering border in shade, and in fact many flowers last much longer in a more shady spot, so it can be a great opportunity.