Shady spot

One of the borders that I'm working on is in the shade of the neighbours ash tree so can anyone suggest any plants that would like a spot like this, it gets a bit of sun first thing but none in the afternoon. I'd prefer evergreen if theres any that would suit? Ta x

 

If you have space a Rhododendron is excellent. I have Pink, Purple and Apricot colours.
After 6-7 years they are still only about 6' max. and look brilliant in the Spring when in bloom. The rest of the year they are a deep green.
I also have a Red Robin next to the Pink one and they blend nicely.

Hellibores, Dicentra, Aquiligia and Crocosmia will work in shade, but ar not evergreen.

Alsromeria will provide colour well into summer

 

there are loads of plants that do well in a shady spot ... this is what I normally plant ... not all are evergreen though, but hopefully you will get some ideas, and with carefull planning, the space will look good for much of the year
large leaved hostas (these are the ones with the huge leaves) ... need a bit of maintenance such as slug pellets and garlic concentrate sprayed on the leaves but worth the effort ... some of these large hostas grow to 1,5 meters tall with a spread of 1,5m ... I normally buy a collection of 10 varieties from a guy on ebay for £25 ... if the space you need to fill is small, you can look at medium sized or small leaved hostsas
10 large leaf mixed variety hosta perennial selection | eBay


heuchera ... one of my favourite shade loving plants which give colour all year and are easy to grow ... lately, I have been planting a combination of 2 colours (Berry smoothie with Electra) ... here is a site that has loads that explains and shows the varieties ... I planted 2 lots today in a sunier position in a border (Georgia peach and solar power) ... both are new and the solar power is a heucherella and from what I have read, both do well in a sunier position .... you need to mulch in autumn with a thick layer of manure or they heave (thats what I read, but have never had a problem with heaving yet)
Terra Nova Nurseries - Home Gardeners - Heuchera

ferns ... these look superb with the hostas ... lots of varieties, but the one I like the most is dryopteris affinis (evergreen) for the larger, and japanese painted fern for the smaller (also won perennial plant of the year a few years back)... there is a japanese painted fern that has redder leaves aswell, but I have never seen one yet ... plant the 2 together and it may look good?
http://www.honeysomeaquaticnursery.co.uk/shop/images/Dryopteris Affinis.jpg

http://www.daytonnursery.com/encyclopedia/Images/Ferns/Athyrium nip 'Pictum'.jpg

http://www.floraselect.co.uk/library/images/Athyrium_regalred.jpg


and for the edging, hakonechloa macra aureola (japanese forest grass/Hakone grass) ... this is hard to find on ebay, but there is a guy who sells these in 9cm pots for under £4 and you will find them cheap on the internet.... (costs nearely £10 a plant at my garden centre) ... this won the perennial plant of the year in 2009 and is a 'must have ' in any garden ... I normally plant them 350mm apart but they look very good as a stand alone plant aswell ... I have seen that there are several versions including one with red stripes
http://www.finegardening.com/CMS/up...ng/Plants/hakonechloamacraaureola_mg_1_lg.jpg


Brunnera Jack frost ... won the perennial plant of the year this year ... another 'must have' and looks good with the hostas ... Brunnera Looking glass is also a very unusual plant
Terra Nova Nurseries - Home Gardeners - Brunnera 'Jack Frost'

Terra Nova Nurseries - Home Gardeners - Brunnera 'Looking Glass'


if you need to fill a large space quickly, and are looking for evergreen, also look at a Fatsia planted in the back corner

there are loads more such as small ornamental banana plants, and depending on your budget and time you wish to spend in the garden, you could even iclude a tree fern (or 2) ...however, these are what I have been planting of late and have gone for the 'tropical type' feel which seems to getting favour from my clients

 

Not evergreen obviously, but I like digitalis (foxglove) in shady spots.

 

Rhododendrons are nice, but they need acid soil to thrive.

Another shade tolerant acid soil plant is Pieris. In spring it has rather boring white flowers that look more like berries than flowers. In autumn, when it comes into its own, the foliage turns a crimson red and remains that way until spring.