Some excellent suggestions coming through! Thank you all so much.
@SueAtoo and @Busy-Lizzie The Liriope might not work for this location but would definitely work in another spot - another border in the dry shade of a huge ash tree - will definitely look more carefully at that.
@Ladybird4 & Perki - Love Japanese Anemones but I'm really struggling to get them going in another border. Been trying for 10 years - they're not dead but they're quite pathetic. I think it's just too dry for them. This particular border has richer soil and is not quite as dry so they might work. Certainly the right sort if height / feel / look - maybe a contender...
Aconitum Royal Flush is already here @Perki and doing very well (such a great colour!). Using a division of an established plant is a distinct possibility.
@Rubytoo - hadn't heard of Kirengoshoma and it looks like a great plant. Unfortunately I think my soil might be a bit on the alkaline side for it. Thank you for the suggestion though.
@Jenny_Aster - you got me thinking with the berberis suggestion. I have a few gaps after last year's drought and extended cold snap. I think a couple of those little berberis would be good between some box balls. Thank you for that idea.
Overall I'm still thinking a hardy fuchsia might be the best plant to try in this location. However, your various suggestions have given food for thought and some of them will be taken up elsewhere in the garden. Thank you all for your time and reminding me of plants / extending my knowledge.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
What about Germanium macrorrhizum White-ness, lovely scent to the foliage and keeps most of their leaves all winter
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
@punkdoc - have to give Steve the vet (remember him?) credit for the approach. He did it years ago and I liked his style.🙂
@coccinella - will do. Watch this space when I return from hols in a couple of weeks.
@Butterfly66 - I have G. white ness elsewhere in the garden and you're right that it would add to the spring colour in this area. Might pinch a bit to plant up along with some G. phaeums.
@LilyW - Rudbeckia and asters would be ideal for the time of year I need the colour but, unfortunately, this area is too shady for them to thrive.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I have Aster divariatica in two shady spots and it flowers very well. Lovely dark stems and masses of small white flowers. Doesn’t need any staking. Never gets mildew and ours is right next to a tree, so happy in dry soil. Think it’s now called Eurybia.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
Definitely worth knowing that some asters don't mind dry shade @Butterfly66 - very useful info thanks. I have rather too much of those conditions due to the number of trees.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Posts
@SueAtoo and @Busy-Lizzie The Liriope might not work for this location but would definitely work in another spot - another border in the dry shade of a huge ash tree - will definitely look more carefully at that.
@Ladybird4 & Perki - Love Japanese Anemones but I'm really struggling to get them going in another border. Been trying for 10 years - they're not dead but they're quite pathetic. I think it's just too dry for them. This particular border has richer soil and is not quite as dry so they might work. Certainly the right sort if height / feel / look - maybe a contender...
Aconitum Royal Flush is already here @Perki and doing very well (such a great colour!). Using a division of an established plant is a distinct possibility.
@Rubytoo - hadn't heard of Kirengoshoma and it looks like a great plant. Unfortunately I think my soil might be a bit on the alkaline side for it. Thank you for the suggestion though.
@Jenny_Aster - you got me thinking with the berberis suggestion. I have a few gaps after last year's drought and extended cold snap. I think a couple of those little berberis would be good between some box balls. Thank you for that idea.
Overall I'm still thinking a hardy fuchsia might be the best plant to try in this location. However, your various suggestions have given food for thought and some of them will be taken up elsewhere in the garden.
Thank you all for your time and reminding me of plants / extending my knowledge.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Luxembourg
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
@coccinella - will do. Watch this space when I return from hols in a couple of weeks.
@Butterfly66 - I have G. white ness elsewhere in the garden and you're right that it would add to the spring colour in this area. Might pinch a bit to plant up along with some G. phaeums.
@LilyW - Rudbeckia and asters would be ideal for the time of year I need the colour but, unfortunately, this area is too shady for them to thrive.
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham