plants for a shady bed

powershopper

I have just spent the last 2 fine days cutting back an overgrown flower bed, so that we can see the rest of the garden!
I dug into some of the space some tubs of bulbs that I grow just for the purpose of filling in empty spaces in the spring, so in a week or so we will at least have some daffys to cheer the space, but after that, zilch, nothing!!
Can anyone think of some easy plants that like the shade, without spending a fortune? Please no ferns hydrangea or honeysuckle, I know they'll grow there 'cos thats what I just spent 2 days grubbing out !!!

Optimisticpair

I just found this while looking for someone else about fruit.

http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/ProbPlac.php

Edible fuschia? That's a new one on me!

One_Day_Rodney

I have just ordered some Berberis Darwinii for the shady front wall of my house.



Love the shade and are evergreen and may flower twice a year. Will grow to about 8ft if not trimmed. I understand the berries are edible, so are safe if you have children.

Some more details here.........

RAS

Foxgloves, hellebores, lily of the valley.

If you want productive space, raspberries, gooseberries and some currants will do OK.

red-boxer

One_Day_Rodney wrote: »

I have just ordered some Berberis Darwinii for the shady front wall of my house.



Love the shade and are evergreen and may flower twice a year. Will grow to about 8ft if not trimmed. I understand the berries are edible, so are safe if you have children.

Some more details here.........

I have 1 of these in my garden, and although they look nice they are a nightmare to prune (i need to wear 2 pairs of really gardening gloves) because of the very spikey leaves , so maybe not very child/pet friendly

illusio

I've got a shady corner, and it's got hostas, rhododendrons, heathers, foxgloves, hellebores, primula, cyclamen, bluebells and, erm, stinging nettles....! I don't recommend the latter.

niksyg

hostas are lovely in the shade, and budliea don't seem to to do too badly - I have pulled 2 out that were growing inside a storage shed at work that's got a hole in the roof as the only light!! They are really lovely because of the butterflies they attract.

gazza975526570

In my experience Budlies grow absolutely everywhere and anywhere!!

Even seem to grow in little gaps in walls etc is there is an amount of soil.

Great for butterflies!

powershopper

Thanks to you all for the suggestions, as it happens all the plants mentioned are my favourites!
Last year I got 3 almost wrecked hellebores for 50p each, and yesterday found them, still in their pots, blooming away like mad:) guess where they're going?
I shall transplant some lilies of the valley from their overcrowded spot down the garden, and plant in that fantastic yellow leafed hosta I was given a coulpe of years ago. And of course do the 'magic wand' trick with a foxglove from the garden later in the summer.
The solution was right under my nose all the time.
Thanks to every body for your help.
ps. thatberberis looks a stunner, but might grow a bit big.