In a similar situation I grow epimediums (lots of nice ones to choose from) and ajuga (which soon spreads) .... together with lots of little tete a tete bulbs. Takes very little work from me and looks good for most of the year.
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
What about Brunnera? In my experience it's indestructible, spreads fairly quickly (but isn't suckering, yay!), has pretty flowers and when it gets leggy, I gather mine up like a ponytail, take a pair of scissors to it, cut it about six inches out the ground and two weeks later have thriving new growth. I know this is probably heresy, but it works Also, what about wild ginger (asarum europaeum)? It's super pretty, evergreen and lovely ground cover. Mine took a season to think about growing but is now up and away. Native bluebells? Some really lovely Daphne's are shade loving (slow growing, but beautiful), Solomon's Seal? Also Choisya Ternata Sundance is quite happy in shade (mine are!) and glows, has pretty white flowers, smells nice, is evergreen and requires absolutely no maintenance whatsoever.
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In a similar situation I grow epimediums (lots of nice ones to choose from) and ajuga (which soon spreads) .... together with lots of little tete a tete bulbs.
Takes very little work from me and looks good for most of the year.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime