Planting under a sycamore

We've just had our sycamore pruned - there was considerable debate beforehand whether to have it pruned or felled, but as it's a healthy tree I just couldn't bring myself to fell it. There is a patch of ground to the left of it about 4 x 4 feet, currently there's a small holly bush growing at the back of the area, otherwise it's pretty bare and the rambling rose I put in to the side, whilst it did well initailly and produced some lovely flowers, is now not looking very happy so I think I'm going to have to move it.

Would I be completely daft to try to put a small ornamental tree in this area? Not only does anything that I would put in there have the current tree roots to compete with, but its on the north facing side of the garden so has only short spurts of sun through the day.

Is there anything that will grow there (other than holly ) or should I just forget plants for that area and stick a storage cupboard there instead?!

Couple of before and after photos attached to give you a bit of an idea.

 

if the wall is not south facing, you could try a fatsia japonica ... hardy, and grows anywhere ... can be regulary pruned if it gets out of hand ... there are several varieties of this shrub

can grow in sun, but prefers a shadier position as in full sun, the leaves go a paler green

 

Helleboris niger or other variety has to be a winner for this site.
They are an evergreen perennial type plant that would be perfect in those conditions.
LIke shade
LIke dry area's under tree roots without much water
Flower in winter.

plant a few together and you should have a wonderful winter display!

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Thanks for the suggestions - I'll look into them tonight.

 

Hi Chiaroscuro,

couldn't resist this as i've just been planting up a similar area myself under a Sweet Chestnut. If you like perennials then Geranium phaeum and Epimedium would go there. You could also try Cyclamen coum which will seed themselves around the roots of a tree...

 

Hi Chan

Thanks for the recommendations.

The previous owner planted bluebells and grape hyacinths which were pretty in spring and I did have a fuchsia planted slightly to the left which was doing OK, but I transferred it to a pot to save it from damage on the day of the prune.

It's funny, even though the foliage didn't block out the houses across the way from our ground level view, now it's all gone I do feel exposed. That's why I was thinking of an ornamental tree, but I'm also toying with have a shed in that area as it's so shady and where the shed is currently is a lovely sunny spot, so not only do we have a ragingly hot shed on sunny days, but we're missing out on good proportion of good plant growing space.