What can I plant ?

I've got a patch of rather poor soil which spends part of the day in the shade of a privet hedge.
I want to grow a drift of annuals there and was thinking of Osteospermum "Glistening White" which are coming up nicely from seed, but would these be suitable to grow in such a location?
Another idea I had was Nasturtium Empress of India.
Can anyone advise me on this or suggest some medium size annuals which might cheer up this spot?

 

I've found nasturtiums grow quite happily in those conditions, Jack, not so sure about the osteospermums, in my experience they've done better in full sun. I often sow nasturtiums directly at the base of my hedge, and although the current one is actually south facing, I've done the same with north facing ones.

As for other annuals..... the only things that are coming to mind are perennials, sorry! Must look up the RHS book.... just done that - and the list of plants that like dry shade doesn't have any annuals in it!

If you want to have a look at the RHS plant selector, follow this link here

And fill in details of what sort of plant and conditions you need. I find it very useful :D

 

Thanks dendrobium. I think you are right about osteospermum liking full sun; now I remember they only open fully in the light.
Looks like nasturtium it is then - I know they flower better in poor soil.
I will now have a look at the link you provided.

 

Why not try a perennial or two that will cope with that situation? Dicentra Formosa, the white, pink and purple forms, will flower from early spring right through the summer and spread quite quickly. The leaves are beautiful too.
See here http://www.nhbirdsnest.com/shady_pages/dicentra_formosa_alba.htm
and here
http://www.rainyside.com/archives/BleedingHeart.html

 

Yes, Dicentra is lovely! Nice ideas you have, Blackthorn! :D Only concern is that I thought it liked moist conditions. Need to check on that one...

 

Then there's geraniums (not pelergonium) and of course fuchsias.

 

My sister has a bleeding heart (common variety) that does very well in a rather poor spot, although it isn't dry. Geraniums I have next to a different hedge, and they come up faithfully year after year.
Until I get too creaky to do it I was keen on the idea of planting the spot with different annuals each year but there doesn't seem to be many that will thrive in these conditions.
I tried the link to the RHS website yesterday but it didn't want to respond to my query so I shall have another go later.

 

The site is a bit fussy - you have to click the GO button, rather than just using the enter key, or at least I do..... I've been told that AOL isn't as good as some other set-ups when it comes to their site...