Recommendations for a potted plant for a north facing patio in the UK?

dhokes

I'm a newbie when it comes to gardening. Can anyone recommend any plants to keep potted on a north facing patio in the UK? There isn't a huge amount of sunlight apart from around midday during the spring/summer months.

I was thinking of lavender or would that be a bad idea?

twopenny

Do you get any sun? Just thinking of dense shade from nearby houses or fencing.

I've had 2 North East gardens. The current one I've got a shaped Bay Tree which (doubles as a christmas tree in season) in a large pot, Hidcote Lavender in the ground the honey bees like, standard French lavenders but the hardy ones the bumble bees like, the perennial Wallflower all the bees like, a Magnolia Setllata in a pot, a Lilac tree in a very large pot, Sarcococa Confusa (Sweet Box flowers in winter) in a pot and I did have a scented winter flowering shrub but it's out of the pot now.

A Daphne would do well and lovely winter perfume. Camelias too.

Primulas, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips and Primroses will do ok. There's roses in the ground. Geraniums in the summer. My neighbour grows brightly coloured Begonias which look spectacular.

It does depend on how sheltered, how much frost and snow you get. But North light can be good that's why artists like it.

Apodemus

Yes, there's more to it than just which direction it faces.  I have a short section of garden to the north of my house.  It is completely shaded by the house from October to March, so frost and snow can lie there for days.  But in summer, it gets sun for up to 3 hours in the early morning and late evening and a couple of hours in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest.  I have a cherry tree, a rowan tree, a flowering currant, a rhododendron, a couple of roses, some lavender, a holly hedge and some grass.  There are also peonis and oriental poppies that grow as weeds in the grass, despite my best endeavours to get rid of them!

dhokes

Hmm, there's isn't a huge amount of sun as I'm looking for something to put on my patio so there's often shade from the house. Plus there's a fence either side of the house. However there's a couple of hours of sun during the summer months. I don't want anything to plant in the soil; only want to keep something in a pot.

twopenny

Whatever you choose to put in the pot make sure you have the right compost and growing conditions ie sand and tiny gravel in john innes no. 3 for lavender. Check for other types of plants.
If it gets so cold in winter put the main pot inside another pot with compost in between to stop it freezing its roots. Terracotta would be the best protection. You can put stone or slate on top to make it look nice and give more protection.
You could use some horticultural fleece over iit in the worst weather if it's lavender.
Remember to trim it autumn and late spring to stop it getting leggy in the shade. Don't cut into the woody part.

Apodemus

Would it be an option to plant up a couple of pots and rotate them in and out of the sun, to keep them performing?  That's what we do with the pots on our patio, where one side is in complete shade.

VeganLois

I have the same.  Heucheras love this environment and despite having no sun at all on my patio, they thrive.  Lots of different colours to choose from.  I also have a selection of ferns.  Lime green Carex gives a pop of colour as does the Jacob’s ladder which produces blue flowers.....all in complete shade.  I use brightly coloured pots to bring some light and colour into the area.  I was daunted when I first started with a north facing garden but now I love it.  

Working_Mum

I have a shady side of a fence in my east facing garden and I have started an area for potted ferns - my potted hostas thrived in this area last year too. 
I buy any size I can (am on a budget so currently car boots sales or there is a lady close to me who sells her plants for charity from a table top at her gate) and pop them into pots and arrange them like a little gang and it is starting to take shape nicely.