Baytree Garden Centre looks at the merits of Stinking Iris and Butchers Broom to brighten up a shady spot

For our latest Out in the Garden column, Baytree Garden Centre's Mark Cox offers tips on plants for shady spaces...

Every now and again believe it or not I am invited to attend social events.

Obviously it’s because of my dazzling wit, repartee and infectious personality, nothing at all to do with the fact that the present Mrs Cox is the village bake off champion and whenever we go out she will always bake the cake and pudding.

Raquel turned 50 last weekend; now I’ve changed her name from Rachel to Raquel as to protect her identity as certain women can be very sensitive about their age. It was a very informal affair with just a few close friends and family gathering in her garden.

Raquel like many people who live in the centre of towns and cities across the county have hard landscaped their gardens as space is always at a premium.

Great areas of the garden were laid to patio with a few raised borders around the edges and a couple of strategically placed containers.

Entertaining and being able to enjoy her small outdoor space was more important to her than a traditional garden. And I totally get that our gardens can be anything that we want them to be as long as we enjoy being in them.

During the course of the evening talk turned to the empty space at the bottom of the garden, which Raquel was debating what to do with. The bottom of the garden was heavily shaded by a couple of fairly established trees - not a great combination, I know, but I was keen to make a good argument for actually planting something there and the chosen plants could justify their place in the garden by creating interest throughout the year.

I suggested that she, or the both of us if she so wanted, could plant some Iris and in particular Iris Foetidissma (Stinking Iris).

It will grow to about half a metre tall and cover about the same area across the ground. During the summer months you’ll have beautiful purple and cream flowers to look at and in the autumn the evergreen plant will be bursting full of orange berries. Best of all, this variety of Iris will be able to cope with the deep shade and the dry soil conditions which can be found in this tricky under used spot of the garden.

We could also look at planting several Ruscus Aculeatus (Butchers Broom). Again this dark green evergreen shrub which produces stunning large red berries in late summer would provide a great backdrop for the Iris Foetidissma. Ruscus Aculeatus grows to about 90cm in height and spreads across the ground to about the same. Ruscus Aculeatus is very happy tolerating shady and dry conditions.

Both of these plants are more than happy to be left alone and will not require a great deal of maintenance from year to year.

The berries will bring wild birds into her garden as well as attracting pollinating insects like bees that’ll be drawn to the scent of the Irises.

Alternatively, you could just lay a weed block membrane and cover the area with stone shingles and maybe a garden bench.

Raquel was surprised that I’d suggested that she just cover with stone much like the rest of her garden. I explained to her that everyone’s garden is different and there are no rules, laws or regulations which dictate how and what you do with your outdoor space.

For me just being in the open air, in a space you feel comfortable and relaxed with, is the purpose of your garden.