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A perennial for a shady, long and very narrow border

DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129
in Garden design

Along the path from the front to the back garden we have a very narrow border - it is 6" wide and 5 metres long (I know, I'm being ecumenical image).  

It faces North,north-west; half of it is against our neighbours' brick garage wall and the other half is against a 1m high brick wall.  

I'd like to have something climbing up there but I know the neighbours don't want that, so I just want some ideas for a plant or plants that will cover the narrow strip of soil with some colour and texture and look good. 

The soil is sandy loam.

The colours in the front garden are blues, plums, rusts and soft yellows. 

I've pulled up all the trailing campanula that was there 'cos it always got tall and flopped over onto the path before it flowered.

At the moment I'm thinking Ajuga, but I thought you lot might have some other suggestions? image


Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Euphorbia purpurea is ideal for dry shade, and the colour would fit

    Some grasses do well in shade; Bowles golden grass, Stipa arundicea[ good rust colours ] and Deschampsia are possibilities.

    Vincas a bit dull perhaps?

    Persicaria Red Dragon will take quite a lot of shade, and the leaf colour is good [ although white flowers late in the season ]

    Ageritina Chocolate has lovely foliage and grows well in shade in my garden [ again white flowers ]

    Maybe a fern such as the Dryopteruses [?dryopteri ] do well in dry shade.

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  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    The old stalwart of Alchemilla mollis will do well in dry shade as will Pachysandra, Epimedium, Francoa, and some of the saxifrages. Tiarella and Pulmonarias will also do ok. Are you intending to plant all of it using just the one type of plant? or a mixture?

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129

    We have lots of ferns, alchemilla, pulmonarias and vinca in other parts of the garden. 

    The euphorbia is something I hadn't thought of image

    Saxifrage is another idea.

    I had thought that keeping to one plant would probably give a bit of impact, as the bed's so narrow.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129

    I did wonder image  I wish - I'd love to find a place for C batt.  I have very fond memories of it in a lovely pub garden image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Mrs GMrs G Posts: 336

    I have a narrow pebbled area with just Ajuga in and it looks very effective.

  • rosemummyrosemummy Posts: 2,010

    Sarcacocca?daphne? I read of a daphne 100cm x 100cm sorry can?'t remember which one to is, those New Zealand busy lizzies that didn't succumb to disease?

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,058

    I would add as much well rotted manure as you can before planting anything so it helsp retain moisture and feeds your plants.

    Hardy geraniums such as macrorhizum would do well and provide form and colour all year form the changing foliage and then the flowers in spring.  Scented leaves too.   Pulmonaria Sissinghurst would be OK as long as you can give it enough moisture and the white flowers and spotty leaves would brighten things up.   Brunnera with silvery markings on the foliage.   You could try ferns in the dryopteris group if you want to break up the straight edge and get some height.  Maybe some taller Japanese anémones for later flowers and good foliage.    I'd have thought Persicaria virginiana 'Lance Corporal' would do well too.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129

    Not sure about tall - it's the pathway to the back garden and the wheelie bins have to go along there - in wind or rain they'd get bashed about. 

    And it is going to be difficult to dig any manure in - I think my only option is to dig out the top 6-8" of soil and mix it in a barrow with manure/compost and put as much back as will fit.  

    G. macrorhizum is a good idea - I know geraniums like it there as it was totally overgrown with crane's bill when we moved in.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Saxifrage would be evergreen and keep the weeds down at change of season.

    Cotoneaster horizontalis, as pansyface said, could be an option it will grow slighty up the wall but not cling and be a problem for your neighbours.  The bees could go there when they need cooling off in summerimage

  • DaisyheadcaseDaisyheadcase Posts: 315

    Lysimachia punctata?  Only trouble is it's not evergreen but it would brighten it up,

    or Carex pendula - that grows literally anywhere

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