Shady corner ideas?

Well just been out to trim lawn, pop some sunflowers in. I gave my ill rhodedendron a gentle tug and it came out with no roots at all so it's gone leaving me a shady corner which is not really damp nor that dry. The ground is fairly rough though I've been putting down manure over the years and it's quite stony. Just gave it a dig over and quite a few worms which is good.

I want a nice feature plant that will thrive in shade but doesn't need damp conditions. Before the failed rhodey I had a californian lilac but it grew tall and unstable in search of the sun.

All ideas welcome

The foxgloves love it in this particular bed.

 

OK OK. shady corners are a bit boring right!

I think I am going to go for an Acer.... And try and get foxgloves and hellebore to spread underneath. And a few paving slabs for my nosey kids. In the meantime my cat is loving the dug over soil....

 

Here're some plants we've got in our shady areas:

Acer, Laurel, Soloman's Seal, Asiatic Lilly, Navelwort, ferns (I've got a Male fern and a Soft-Shield fern), Pieris (would make a nice 'feature plant'), Hostas, Periwinkle, Monkshood (although one of them seems to be dying...), Lungwort and a Hydrangea.

All seem to be doing well! :D

 

Compost Bin

 

Thanks everyone!! Lovely ideas.

I have a few Acers and they do quite well as we live in the balmy South West! Though we do get a lot of soft scale on them which is a pain..... Hmm not so balmy today as it's cold and wet. But I may drag my preschooler over to our favourite city garden centre to have a wee look. Not sure the bank balance can take a big plant foray though! :WINK1:

 

MY Acer has been in a north-facing border with no direct sun for a year now and seems to be thriving.

 

I'm curious as to which variety you have

 

Hi Jane, it's an Acer palmatum dissectum 'Garnet'.

Although it gets no direct sun, it is in 'bright shade' if you know what I mean.

 

do some anenomies grow in shady areas? we planted a 'windflower', a cowslip, helebore and something else I can't remember the name of. These get no sun whatsoever. I have a Sedum that is growing happily in shade too - though it does get a little bit of sun at the end of the day. A violas seem to grow anywhere too!