Low light window planter ideas

Thanks Goldenlily26, it was very random I must admit. Literally just picked up 3 plants that looked like they had some potential and thought that Heathers being heath and Sedums being rockery plants they'd be ok with less watering, the Thyme was a bit of a risk I felt watering wise?

 

It doesn't matter what a plant prefers in terms of soil and water, if it's in a container @mp78. That's totally different from being grown in the ground. They're completely dependent on you for their needs

If it had been earlier in the season, a couple of nasturtium seeds popped into the centre instead of the thyme, might have been a better solution for the rest of the summer/early autumn. They wouldn't have needed much help, and wouldn't have prevented the other plants from establishing. The thyme could then have been potted up and grown on, to see if it recovered well, and put in next year as a permanent plant. It's really too late for anything like that though.
The plants mentioned by @Ergates aren't evergreen, as they're annuals or half hardy perennials, so it really depends on whether you definitely want that, or would consider a mix.

 

Thanks fairygirl, definitely some good things to consider. I did feel the Thyme was likely to be drowned out by the others but thought it might have spread as like a mat as such. I liked the idea of something low growing that would cover a lot of the bare compost.

Still up for some potential revision

 

There are things like Ajuga which will grow in any aspect @mp78 , and will spread and also trail over the edge a bit, but that can be quite vigorous - to put it mildly! It means you risk other plants being crowded out, and you lose the effect you want. That heather, over time, could easily fill a trough, depending on how happy it is, and what variety.
Most trough planters are best with annuals, but that sedum you have is another plant which will work well as it doesn't need so much attention. There are other similar plants of that type [not the big Sedums [ie spectabile- which are now called Hylotelephium] as that wouldn't work for the site, but it's hard to get smaller, perennial/evergreen plants that will all work together over a long period of time. Some will eventually do better, and will take over.
Many Saxifrages are easy, but don't do so well with a lot of shade. I use one called Saxifraga urbium, commonly known as London Pride, and it grows in any site here, but I know some people find it doesn't do well long term in very dry, sunny conditions. It might be worth trying as it's a north facing site you have, but you'd have to ensure moisture levels were good, because dry feet won't be good for it long term. It's evergreen, and has spikes of pale pink/white flowers in spring. Easy to pull out if it gets a bit full of itself.
You could stick some crocus in there for spring too- they won't mind the aspect, although they won't open up so readily. It would give a bit of colour without taking over. You'll start seeing them everywhere soon- DIY places, cheapo shops [B&M etc] as well as GCs, and they're often pretty inexpensive, so not much outlay for that bit of colour.
Whatever you ultimately decide on - it will need checked and assesed regularly, and the soil mix will need refreshed every so often.

 

Thanks @fairygirl that's a nice looking Saxifraga sp, definitely considering things like Crocus as well.

So far the Sedum seems happy and the Thyme too. I thought the Heather was coming into flower but that doesn't seem quite as healthy as the other two, possibly may like a bit less watering.

 

Don't skimp on the watering for the heather. The problem might be that it isn't getting enough. They like good drainage, but a container isn't the same as being in the ground, as I said earlier. They'll cope with loads of water [ they wouldn't be happy up here if they didn't !] as long as the drainage is ok, but the root system is deeper than the other plants, and it would prefer a heftier growing medium than thyme and sedum too.
The main difficulty will be getting it well established without drowning the other two plants. It may not be easy to keep all three happy together in the trough long term.
At least if it fails, there are other plants you can replace it with.

 

Wood violets / dog violets grow in intense shade in the woods here and are lovely. they are the sole food source of fritillaries.
ground ivy is common also. wood and water avens too.

 

@Adam I Pure coincidence, but Farming Today (Radio 4) had a piece this morning on conservation grazing of bracken to encourage the dog violet and Pearl Bordered Fritillaries. They were using Belted Galloways with GPS collars on them.
More info here:https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2021-12/BrackenforButterfliesLeaflet.pdf