Medium shade

green_grass · October 2022

Shrubs for back boarder in mid shade .had a tree lift up in HOT weather, need to fill gap ,also ground cover.other than geraniums.

Fairygirl · October 2022

Depends on the dimensions of the space, and your conditions/climate. Some people have very dry soil all year round in that sort of aspect, some have the complete opposite.
If you mean you want to plant around the base of the tree, that's also more difficult. The tree roots will also have an impact, so the variety of that is a factor.

A photo will help too.

green_grass · October 2022

Tree completely up rooted, so nothing left in soil.
Soil has lots leaf mould in it and is fairly dry.

green_grass · October 2022

Ps: the space is about 6foot x8 foot,

Fairygirl · October 2022

Eleagnus will manage drier soil - there are various types. Potentillas will too - again, various varieties. You could also try Cotinus [reddish purple, or green] with good autumn colour, and Sambucus [Elder], but you'd really need to beef up the soil well enough to ensure it retains moisture well enough, if you're in a drier part of the country.
Spireas will also manage shade and a drier soil.
If the width of the space is only 6 feet, one specimen of most of those will fill it over time. Potentillas are smaller though, and some Spireas, depending on the variety.
For ground cover, you can add spring bulbs, but dry shade isn't something I have much experience of, so someone else may be able to suggest suitable plants. Crocosmia will manage, and even Sedum spectabile will take a fair bit of shade. [it has a new name - Hylotelephium] Those will give late summer into autumn colour. Some Centaureas [knapweeds ] will also cope with shade, but they can get mildew if too dry.
You could try ferns though -many like drier soil, and some of the Campanulas might be ok, although they tend to like decent moisture. The pink Japanese anemones will cope with drier soil better than the whites.

Busy-Lizzie · October 2022

Where does the mid shade come from? Are there other trees?

I have a shrub bed that is still quite young but the shrubs are doing fine. It is in partial shade from trees. I have Weigela, philadelphus, cotoneaster, viburnum, mini lilac, elder "Black Lace", some spireas, kolkwitzia, deutzia and a couple of others. My bed is a lot bigger than yours but it's quite dry in summer. Soil is quite heavy too, I dug in a lot of compost.

I have planted cyclamen hederofolium as ground cover in some of it. Ground cover plants that are OK with dry shade include Brunnera "Jack Frost", epimediums, dryopteris ferns, hellebores, aquilegias.

Medium shade

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