The yellow Crown Imperial (Fritillaria lutea) would do well, following on from your Mahonia, and Hosta 'Sum and Subtance' is large, has yellow leaves and covers a lot of ground. Yellow Thalictrum is tall and airy with attractive foliage and foxglove Digitalis lutea has yellow flowers although not as tall as the usual ones. Brunnera is a better choice for ground cover to avoid vine weevil problems; there are some with lovely foliage such as 'Looking Glass' and they are pretty tough. With four hours of sunshine you could grow most things apart from the obviously sun-loving grey and hairy-leaved plants so I would certainly experiment. I grow Achilleas and yellow Echinaceas in a north-facing border which gets a bit of sun later in the day and I agree that the 'Lemon Queen' Helianthus does well in shade even though its name suggests otherwise.
If we're including white, definitely plant Eurybia divaricata, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.
Great thread, TheGreenMan, I have been taking notes re my own shady border. Looks like a good haul you got there!
Loxely, can you expand a bit on Eurybia divaricata, why you like it, flowering, habit etc? I am looking for some more white stuff for part/dappled shade and the three varieties I can get are the straightforward ED, plus slightly more pricey varieties ‘Beth Chatto’ and ‘Eastern Star’. Any difference or is the original just as good?
Odd, the pertinent quote/sentence shows up in my draft but not my post..
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
As long as those are all hardy plants, don't cosset them inside for any length of time. Out during the day and in at night for a few days, then tucked in somewhere sheltered is all they need until potted on or planted. Minus 4 is really nothing serious for hardy plants, even small ones, once they're acclimatised. All my tiny plants have been outside in the frosts we've had - including several minus 4s, plus the rain, snow and ice etc. They just need a house wall, or some basic protection from other plants, or under a bench or table, if you don't have a cold frame or similar. Anything a bit iffy re hardiness will obviously need more protection for a couple of months.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As long as those are all hardy plants, don't cosset them inside for any length of time. Out during the day and in at night for a few days, then tucked in somewhere sheltered is all they need until potted on or planted. Minus 4 is really nothing serious for hardy plants, even small ones, once they're acclimatised. All my tiny plants have been outside in the frosts we've had - including several minus 4s, plus the rain, snow and ice etc. They just need a house wall, or some basic protection from other plants, or under a bench or table, if you don't have a cold frame or similar. Anything a bit iffy re hardiness will obviously need more protection for a couple of months.
It was mainly as I was out very early today to go to the office and the window cleaner was coming. My “safe space” is next to the french doors but they get cleaned. I was protecting them from the window cleaner more than the temps 😂
They’re all going in 2 litre pots tomorrow and will sit on the steps outside the door.
Slugs are my main worry while they’re so little…..
If we're including white, definitely plant Eurybia divaricata, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.
Great thread, TheGreenMan, I have been taking notes re my own shady border. Looks like a good haul you got there!
Loxely, can you expand a bit on Eurybia divaricata, why you like it, flowering, habit etc? I am looking for some more white stuff for part/dappled shade and the three varieties I can get are the straightforward ED, plus slightly more pricey varieties ‘Beth Chatto’ and ‘Eastern Star’. Any difference or is the original just as good?
Odd, the pertinent quote/sentence shows up in my draft but not my post..
Hi Nollie; it starts flowering in mid/late July, with lovely spangles of fresh looking white flowers until October. It's kind of unassuming but charming. The stems are dark and branch in an attractive zig-zagging fashion. The winter seedheads are nice. The plants are fairly low, gently spreading, foliage looks healthy with no mildew. They slot in very well with early flowering plants. I don't know about the named varieties, but the straight species is very nice as it is.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Thanks @Loxley, that sounds just perfect for my needs. There wasn’t any difference in the descriptions of the species and the named varieties so I did wonder. Think I’ll go just for the species then, means I can afford more plants!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
I’ve ordered some achillea and I’ll take a look at the Brunnera 👍🏼
Thanks again for all of the suggestions 👍🏼
Loxely, can you expand a bit on Eurybia divaricata, why you like it, flowering, habit etc? I am looking for some more white stuff for part/dappled shade and the three varieties I can get are the straightforward ED, plus slightly more pricey varieties ‘Beth Chatto’ and ‘Eastern Star’. Any difference or is the original just as good?
Odd, the pertinent quote/sentence shows up in my draft but not my post..
Out during the day and in at night for a few days, then tucked in somewhere sheltered is all they need until potted on or planted.
Minus 4 is really nothing serious for hardy plants, even small ones, once they're acclimatised. All my tiny plants have been outside in the frosts we've had - including several minus 4s, plus the rain, snow and ice etc. They just need a house wall, or some basic protection from other plants, or under a bench or table, if you don't have a cold frame or similar.
Anything a bit iffy re hardiness will obviously need more protection for a couple of months.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It was mainly as I was out very early today to go to the office and the window cleaner was coming. My “safe space” is next to the french doors but they get cleaned. I was protecting them from the window cleaner more than the temps 😂
They’re all going in 2 litre pots tomorrow and will sit on the steps outside the door.
I’ve asked the Beth Chatto site to let me know when they’re ready 👍🏼