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help with a difficult border

adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
in Problem solving

HI can anyone suggest what I can plant in this border.  It is looking v sad at the moment as I was away for the summer and it was v neglected, but it's a little raised bed in a tiny courtyard.  In the spring and early summer  it gets lovely morning light, but this time of the year because of nearby buildings it gets very little, although it is always 'bright'

I currently have a rose and a honeysuckle, neither of which are thrilled with the situation, although I am inclined to keep them, and am still trying to kill off the bay which keeps sprouting despite my best efforts - any advice with that welcome! - but what to plant along the bottom?  In truth I would like something compact like lavender but I dont think it's sunny enough there for it to thrive properly, unless anyone can recommend a variety that might?  All suggestions welcomeimage

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    I'd plant pulmonaria, ferns and foxgloves there.  image


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





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I don't think any lavender would be happy there I'm afraid.

    I remember Monty had some suggestions for dry shady planting and found the clip here - 

    http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plant-up-a-dry-shady-border/

    it may give you some food for thought


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Clematis, ferns and heuchera for me.  All of those are happy in shade and the latter will give year round colour.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    You get some beautifully coloured heucheras now that would brighten it up and give year round colour. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
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  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278

    Thank you, everyone!  Such great suggestions, and as ferns came out on top I think I'll start with some of those and then fill in with other suggestions as I see the need.  I may also take your advice Tetley about planting a clematis there - the honeysuckle has never been entirely happy, it is stunning in the spring when the growth is young, but it does sprawl horribly later in the year and get blackfly and mould.  

    Again thank you forum-ers, I am grateful 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Hostas too. image

    I grow the dwarf Gaultherias in shady areas. They have little white flowers  followed by berries, and the foliage gets reddish at this time of year. Evergreen. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134

    I would be brave and take them both out. There are amazing things you could plant which would be happy in this situation and look nice all year. It partly depends whether you feel a need for lots of colour or would be interested in textures. In addition to suggestions like heuchera, fuchsia and pulmonaria, I'd suggest to go up the wall Pileostegia viburnioides--an unaccountably rare climber with evergreen leaves, red spring growth and puffs of lime-green flowers in late spring. You could grow a clematis too; the spring-flowering forms like Clematis macropetala would be great there, check them out on http://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/Clematis-species-macropetala/.

    Then for your space around it, how about some amazing hellebores for a bit of early colour, perhaps Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' for a long flowering period later? You could try a grass as well for texture. Good things for mid spring would be hardy geraniums--I recommend 'Lily Lovell' which flowers for ages with purple flowers. There are lots of other possibilities, one of my favourite places is Longacre Plants which specialises in shade plants: http://plantsforshade.co.uk

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    They grow well in my neutral soil Tetley. I have the bigger ones too. 

    I'd echo geraniums -  loads of choice. I have renardii which is white with purple veining, but also has beautiful foliage - thick and velvety. image

    Whites are great for your shady spot Adam. Grasses like Hackenochloa will also lighten the space.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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