Perennials suitable for permanent shade

Grandad99

South west corner beneath a large holly tree.

Looking for something 3-4 ft high to go against the fence and something lower to cover the rest of the ground, preferably both as bright as possible

Sapindus

I suggest thinning out the crown on the holly a bit.

KajiKita

Variegated vinca should do okay there, I have some on a north facing wall.

Not sure about a 3 to 4 foot high option.

KK

gwynlas

The rhs site lists quite a few of varying heights.

I have a variegated laurel that does quite well and you might consider that as bright.

I think you might need to buy from a proper nursery rather than garden centre who tend to go for more main stream plants

Dustyevsky

Something like a Cotoneaster lacteus against that fence would provide clusters of flowers for bees and bright red berries later. It's evergreen.

Dry shade? There must be plenty of tolerant Geraniums. Anything's better than Begonias! 🤣 (Sorry!)

Yes to small vincas, like 'Gertrude Jekyll.' Bigger ones will murder may out-compete the geraniums.

KittenChops

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82027102#Comment_82027102

I found this on the RHS website - for the fence perhaps? My only worry would be not letting it dry out
https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/clematis-terniflora-var-mandshurica/classid.2000018069/

Farway

Grandad - have you tried asking one of the AI bots? ChatGPT, free, for instance.

I have found them ideal for quickly listing your options.

Upload your pic & question, add any extra thoughts, like in UK, your county, available on line orders etc.

Suffolk_lass

For against the fence I would plant a n evergreen climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) as they are exceptional shade-tolerant climbers that thrive in partial to full shade. In front I would pop in some Japanese anenomies (probably the white ones, rather than the more common pink for colour consistency and as they glow in the dark a bit) and on the ground I would plant Pulmonaria (speckled green and cream leaves, with mauve flowers in spring), some Lily of the Valley for spring cream flowers, cyclamen and snowdrops for a bit more interest and some ajuga with bronze leaves and tiny purple/blue flowers. You then have interest all year round and the low-growing ground cover plants will spread with attractive foliage when not in flower

Glad

That looks like properr dry shade under that holly,

For the back against the fence, I'd look at one of the japanese anemones.

For ground cover, heucheras come in some lovely colours, they love the shade and help brighten things up.

The holly roots will compete for water, so whatever you choose will need lots of watering while it gets established.

Also, looking at your photo, I'd be tempted to add some spring bulbs too. Snowdrops, bluebells aoften do surprisingly well under trees and give colour early

RAS

This isn't entirely shade. It's dry because it's under an evergreen tree, so no overhead sunlight, but plainly receives sun for part of the day.

Does it face south, east or west?

Rosa_Damascena

Have you thoiught about transplanting the ?conifer bush from the lawn to the border? It will cast even more shade onto that spot as it grows.