North East facing border - perennial ideas

Posts

• Ceres Posts: 2,698

  May 2019

  I think you are going to have to concentrate on semi- shade loving plants but that can include things like fuchsias which don't like to be in blazing sunshine all day and a lot of grasses will tolerate shade. If it's grasses you are after then this site could be of help as you can select for shade to find the best plants. https://www.knollgardens.co.uk/

  
  

  
  

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• Rubytoo Posts: 1,630

  May 2019 edited May 2019

  I like Ceres site I spend way too long looking sometimes.
  
  What kind of soil do you have?
  
  A nice plant that is easy is Astrantia, it comes in various shades from white through pinks and some deep red, claret colours.
  Some Verbascums don't mind partial shade.
  

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• Busy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043

  May 2019

  These plants should be OK. Thalictrum, Japanese anemones, Euphorbia Robbiae, Astrantia, Campanula Pyramidalis, Liriope, Foxgloves.
  

  Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.

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• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  May 2019

  There's a nursery just round the corner from me that also specialises in plants for shade - https://mooreandmooreplants.co.uk/
  I'll have a similar border to plant up soon, and like Busy Lizzie's suggestion of thalictrum and Japanese anemones and some grasses

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

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• yorkshirerose Posts: 574

  May 2019

  For early in the year add Hellebores, Doronicum, Epimedium, Erythronium, Pulmonaria, Geranium 'Phaeum' to name just a few. Also add some early Spring bulbs - snowdrops, aconites, white narcissus ( many varieties available in verying sizes N. Thalia is brilliant in shade)

  A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)

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• BernieEarnie13 Posts: 36

  May 2019

  Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I'll get googling and checking out these websites.
  
  @Rubytoo I'm not too sure what soil we have but it looks very loamy. 

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• Rubytoo Posts: 1,630

  May 2019

  Your soil sounds nice then. I just mentioned it in case it made a difference to what people suggest you plant.
  There is a link somewhere in a post that someone found, it is a map of the country to give you an idea of underlying soil , like acid or clay base etc.
  
  Or you could get a little testing kit. Though if your garden already has a lot of plants in, it will give you an idea of what to grow anyway. What does well there will give you a clue...don't say just brambles
  
  I am rubbish at searching here hope someone will notice or you can find it.
  
  Here in this post is a link Pete8 posted.
  https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2053649#Comment_2053649
  
  

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• BernieEarnie13 Posts: 36

  May 2019

  Thanks! The link says clay / loam in my area in Cambridgeshire. 
  
  We currently have three fig trees and various rose bushes growing well.  Also vast amounts of rhubarb and brambles - lots of brambles!! Not forgetting too many nettles and docks!  
  
  I went out today and bought some foxgloves and campanula. Going to look for astrantia this weekend, just to start me off.  I've got some grasses which I brought with me from the old courtyard garden so will divide and plant up. 
  
  Many thanks for your suggestions, I think I'll get a testing kit.
  

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• B3 Posts: 27,505

  May 2019

  If your soil is slightly acidic, some acers will do well.

  In London. Keen but lazy.

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• Nana Pat Posts: 26

  May 2019

  I also have a northeast facing border comprising three raised beds - with a high fence behind it so it gets only a little morning sun in the spring/summer/autumn and none in the winter! These plants have all been fine: astrantia Roma and Ruby Wedding, purple heucheras, hellebore Niger, painted-lady ferns, snakeshead fritillary bulbs, lily-of-the-valley, campanula portenschlagiana, saxifrage fortunei (for late colour), Comtesse de Bouchard clematis and a small-flowered clematis (of unknown variety as it was given to me) - both climbing up the fence. I also have three small (half-standard?) bay trees which are trimmed into lollipop shapes, for some evergreen interest and height. I tried Liriope which I planted when in glorious flower but they didn't flower again for the next two years even though the leaves looked lush, so I donated them to a community garden to see if they like it better there. The whole border is only about 10' long so I can't afford space for plants that don't perform. I have limited the colour palette to white, purple and pink too, due to my garden being tiny (7m x 5m) so I've no suggestions for other flower colours!

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