This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Need some inspiration for a small plot
in Plants
Hello again!
I've recently cleared a part of my garden where I had a huge overgrown and neglected buddleja. I've popped a shed up and I'm left with approx 3m X 2m space to plant something. It's in dappled shade under a small tree, but gets maybe 1-2 hours of sun almost direct in the morning.
I'm looking for inspiration. Maybe a shrub and some other suitable flowering below to brighten it all up. Soil is free draining and sandy.
Love to hear any ideas. I think I've neglected my imagination for too long

I've recently cleared a part of my garden where I had a huge overgrown and neglected buddleja. I've popped a shed up and I'm left with approx 3m X 2m space to plant something. It's in dappled shade under a small tree, but gets maybe 1-2 hours of sun almost direct in the morning.
I'm looking for inspiration. Maybe a shrub and some other suitable flowering below to brighten it all up. Soil is free draining and sandy.
Love to hear any ideas. I think I've neglected my imagination for too long



0
Posts
I don't have free draining sandy soil, so it's a bit harder to make suggestions, but there are lots of shrubs which aren't too fussy - Potentillas, Spireas and Weigelas for example. All are happy with a mix of sun and shade. White flowering ones are particularly good. I grow white varieties of all those. Philadelphus could be ok if there's enough moisture for them, although they're fairly adaptable too.
As for underplanting, you can't go wrong with hardy geraniums and spring bulbs. Then you can add some other summer flowering plants - verticals like Liatris will be fine. Jap. Anemones for late summer into autumn would also be good, and things like Crocosmia and foxgloves. Some Campanulas will also be fine once established, as long as they have adequate moisture to get going. Thalictrum might be fine as well.
If you want some evergreen ground cover, there are plenty of plants which will be fine - Iberis certainly is, and again - the white flowers are good for that kind of semi shaded site. You could try Hellebore niger, as it doesn't like being too wet. Ajuga will be fine.
The grass Hakonechloa is also fine for that aspect. Not evergreen, but should cope with lighter soil once established.
If you like Euphorbias, they would also be fine in that situation, especially the better behaved evergreen ones. Ferns of various types will also work.
I'm sure others will have a few more ideas
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Appreciate your input as it gives me a great place to start my thinking from!
You may also find that flowering times will vary - our season is a bit shorter than the south, and plants don't start into growth in spring as early as they would there.
All the shrubs I mentioned can be pruned too, so they're very easy to maintain.
It'll give you a starting point anyway. I particularly love my white Spireas [loathe the pink summer ones!] as they're the early argutas, and if given room, they make a very nice fountain of flowers in spring - perfect for lightening shady spots.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I went for a Spiraea as I loved the white flowers. In going to look in to ferns too for the darker part - good call!
Thanks for all your help!
I realised yesterday when out in the lovely sun - Aquilegias are another good plant. They tolerate all sorts and aren't fussy. Very easy, and good verticals to contrast with anything more rounded. They seed around too.
As @Plantminded says - Phormiums are always touted as needing lots of sun, and there's no doubt they enjoy that, But they grow very well in a bit of shade. I should have clarified about the Hakonechloa - I did mean the variegated ones! They're also easy to split when bigger, so more free plants. Any variegated foliage is good for shade, in the same way that white or pale flowers are.
I'm wondering what your tree is. I thought it could be a Ceanothus, which can certainly get large, but I'm not sure any of those are deciduous. Certainly a possibility.
Good luck with it though - look forward to seeing what you do with it all.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Plantminded and @Fairygirl
Got some fantastic ideas to work with here. Will keep me busy for a few days!
Will post results as they develop!