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Inspiration needed for shade plant choice

WiltshireWildWiltshireWild Posts: 64
in Plants
I am struggling to decide on a good replacement plant for my large hebe topararia that died in the winter (see 1st photo). I also had a lycesteria (in the corner next to the fence) that also died. THe lycesteria was replaced with a fatsia that is more hardy, but what could i replace the hebe??  It is on a north facing wall aspect. Soil is quite fertile Ph 7.3 moist/well drained.  My ideas so far are:
small acer, another hebe, phaeum palmatum. 
I want to avoid, rodgersia as I am growing this already around the new fatsia. Any ideas welcome! 





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  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    I share your pain, also loosing a hebe last winter. If you are looking for something evergreen and about the same height, maybe a choisyia? They are far more hardy than they look and flower prolifically. I think they are better in shade, have one growing next to a fatsia and they set each other off well.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I'm a real acer fan and one of the mound/weeping types would look good there. I find the green are very vigorous compared to the darker red kind.
    I would also throw in sarcoccoca, sweet box, it's a nice dark leaved evergreen which fills the garden with scent in the winter and the bees like it. They can be pruned to size and would stay slightly smaller than your here is now, going by the one I have in my back garden.  
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I should have asked, is that a smaller hydrangea aspera cultivar like hot chocolate, or is it one of the normal types? They can grow into decent sized shrubs and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, they are lovely, but I'd factor in that it will take up a fair bit of that area, so perhaps something smaller would be a better choice and really let the aspera have room to show off.  
  • WiltshireWildWiltshireWild Posts: 64
    edited June 2023
    Poppypuss said:
    I share your pain, also loosing a hebe last winter. If you are looking for something evergreen and about the same height, maybe a choisyia? They are far more hardy than they look and flower prolifically. I think they are better in shade, have one growing next to a fatsia and they set each other off well.
    Thats an interesting suggestion. I have a choisiya ternata in another spot in my garden but that one is for full sun. Are there choisyas varieties for shade?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I doubt Acers would be very happy long term in that soil pH.
    Before doing anything, I'd beef up the soil and get it in better shape. That tree at the back [?] will be taking up a lot of moisture and nutrients.
    If it doesn't dry out completely through summer, Acteas would be fine, but they do get big, so you'd need to make the border deeper. A more defined edge will also set plants off better. 
    Dicentras, Astilbes, Polygonatums, Japanese anemones, Campanulas and Polemoniums are all ideal for shade, as long as it doesn't get too dry, and are not usually fussy about pH. Hardy geraniums of all types are fine too.
    Anything white will work particularly well in that aspect. Many early bulbs will also be fine - snowdrops, most daffs etc. Cyclamen for later in the year. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WiltshireWildWiltshireWild Posts: 64
    thevictorian said:
    I'm a real acer fan and one of the mound/weeping types would look good there. I find the green are very vigorous compared to the darker red kind.
    I would also throw in sarcoccoca, sweet box, it's a nice dark leaved evergreen which fills the garden with scent in the winter and the bees like it. They can be pruned to size and would stay slightly smaller than your here is now, going by the one I have in my back garden.  
    Yes I also love acers and have a garnet in another location. However, I cant seem to find another smallish variety for this spot. I agree, a green one would look better here especially if it changes colour. Is anyone aware of an acer that is green and fairly small?

    I hadn't thought of sarcococca. I also no experience of them but evergreen is a plus. 
  • WiltshireWildWiltshireWild Posts: 64
    Fairygirl said:
    I doubt Acers would be very happy long term in that soil pH.
    Before doing anything, I'd beef up the soil and get it in better shape. That tree at the back [?] will be taking up a lot of moisture and nutrients.
    If it doesn't dry out completely through summer, Acteas would be fine, but they do get big, so you'd need to make the border deeper. A more defined edge will also set plants off better. 
    Dicentras, Astilbes, Polygonatums, Japanese anemones, Campanulas and Polemoniums are all ideal for shade, as long as it doesn't get too dry, and are not usually fussy about pH. Hardy geraniums of all types are fine too.
    Anything white will work particularly well in that aspect. Many early bulbs will also be fine - snowdrops, most daffs etc. Cyclamen for later in the year. 
    Good point about the soil Ph wrt acers. The thuja tree is actually leaned over and rooted under my new shed to the left of the photo so the soil site is fairly moist. PLus the hygrangea aspera hot chocolate I planted this year seems fairly happy with the moisture situation. I have to say I am unsure of its longevity as it has been looking worse for wear over the last couple of years with a lot of brown foliage. Perhaps reacting to the shed I put on top its roots! That said I noticed in the last week it has some small new green leaves showing. The nutrient content should also be good as I have been using the back of the hebe as a compost heap for the past several years and the soil is quite full of organic matter.

    Great suggestions on the Dicentras, Astilbes, Polygonatums, Japanese anemones, Campanulas and Polemoniums. Did you have any thoughts on more shub/structural type plants?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It would depend on the amount of room available. You'd really need to make the border much deeper if you want more shrubs, especially as there's something else on that wall to the right of the thuja. 
    Spireas don't mind shade, or Potentillas. I only grow the whites of both - again because of the shade. They can be pruned easily too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    A Phormium would tolerate shade in that position.  As well as providing a contrasting foliage form, it would also help to hide the lower part of your Thuja.  I have both Phormium and Thuja growing together in a similar situation.  Choose one of the variegated varieties to add lightness to that space. My Phormiums did suffer some browning of leaves over winter but I removed the damaged leaves in spring and they have fully recovered.  One has recently flowered for the first time after previously being in a pot!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    My choisyia ternata is under a large sycamore so only gets about 3-4 hours sun in summer. The one next to the fatsia is a Sun dance type in an east facing border which only gets sun in the evening. Your space looks a bit small for an Acer but maybe Silver butterfly would be fine as it’s more compact and slow growing for me than other Acers. 
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