Plant ideas please

Hello
I had bamboo against the fence in-between the two cherry trees but took it all out last year as I found it too much. Id like some colour here and a plant that grows to hide the fence. Any recommendations please. The sun is behind the fence and anything under the fence panel gets a small amount of sun in summer time and the top of the fence obviously gets full sun. The soil is mainly clay but over the years I've added lots and lots of manure if that makes any difference.

 

Hi @Danny1978

Looking at the photo, I don't think that you need anything significantly taller than the fence - so I feel it should either be something that doesn't grow too big naturally, or that can kept to a manageable size.

Considering the two cherry trees are deciduous, I think an evergreen plant would be a really nice bonus in Winter.

I really like Pyracanthas myself, and I keep recommending them (beautiful berries - I particularly like the golden ones, evergreen, good for wildlife, can take some shade) but the thorns aren't for everyone.

I suspect others will recommend a hydrangea. I am not a big fan of them personally, but it would definitely give you colour (they are deciduous though).

Another option for interesting foliage is a Fatsia. If you want something a bit showy, perhaps the "Spider's Web" one, but it wouldn't really give you the colour you are after.

Have you also considered the option of a climber growing on the wall, as well as behind the cherry trees? Star Jasmine is a good evergreen climber. It does like sun for best flowering but I think it still grows in shade, it just doesn't flower as much.

 

A climber might be best in that location @Danny1978, a shrub would compete with your Cherry trees which will fill the space above the fence as they mature. If you own the fence, you could consider painting it. A dark colour helps to make it fade into the background and make the plants in front stand out. A honeysuckle which can be easily controlled might work. I grow Lonicera American Beauty in a similar position. It flowers well and remains semi-evergreen over winter.