North facing garden - suggestions?

[tournesol]

Our house faces north. On either side of the front elevation is a small bed. These are in perpetual shade since the sun is permanently blocked by the house. I want to replant both beds. Whatever goes in needs to be happy in shade and tough enough to deal with northerly exposure.

One bed has a mature camellia which does well - too well - because it blocks the living room window if I let it get too tall. It's currently recovering from an over rigourous haircut, but the rest of the bed is empty now.

The other bed has several things in but none of them look really happy and none of them seem to thrive except for a pulmonaria which is unstoppable and a sarcococca which tends to get too spindly so I have to keep pruning it back.

Any suggestions for plants would be much appreciated.

[TheMotorcycleBoy]

Actually - in all seriousness, what about one of those "Zen Garden" things?

Matt

[tikunetih]

If your camellia is fine then rhododendrons should probably be too.

[Nimrod103]

I didn't really get what size of plant you had in mind. I find hydrangeas (big lace cap varieties) are good in shade. Hypericums of all varieties will grow anywhere. Japanese anemonies and foxgloves are also supposed to handle shade OK.
Pulmonarias are great at this time of year, because the bumble bees love them.

[kempiejon]

I've a north facing rear garden Fatsia japonica thrives so does my bamboo, the periwinkle Vinca Major did OK on my rockery, as did the spreading Japonica horizontalis but that area would get a few hours in the summer. I've changed the rockery for a shed base, soon to be a shed I hope.

Oh honeysuckle does OK too.

[tjh290633]

I've a north facing rear garden Fatsia japonica thrives so does my bamboo, the periwinkle Vinca Major did OK on my rockery, as did the spreading Japonica horizontalis but that area would get a few hours in the summer. I've changed the rockery for a shed base, soon to be a shed I hope.

Oh honeysuckle does OK too.

On the north side of our house, Vinca Minor is well established. I think it is minor, BICBW. Ivy seems to thrive everywhere. Clematis Montana is doing well on the north side of our garden fence.

TJH

[panamagold]

Remember Google is your friend.

[tournesol]

"Remember Google is your friend."

That's a good idea, perhaps we could do away with discussion forums like LemonFool altogether and just google everything instead of going to the bother of collaborative exchange with like minded people.

Why didn't I think of that?

[Charlottesquare]

Hostas were my father's go to for shaded areas, they are easy to grow, love shade, give some interesting shapes/foliage, main drawback is lack of bright colours; certainly worth considering alongside something else more colourful.

[panamagold]

"Remember Google is your friend."

That's a good idea, perhaps we could do away with discussion forums like LemonFool altogether and just google everything instead of going to the bother of collaborative exchange with like minded people.

Why didn't I think of that?

Let me offer my humblest apologies for having the audacity to make the suggestion. I didn't realise you'd never considered combining a Google search alongside indulging in collaborative exchange with like minded people.
Oh, and good luck overcoming your north facing issues.

[HarryCat]

I've have a collection of ferns at the end of or garden that is in permanent shade.
The centrepiece is a large (evergreen) tree fern.

[mike]

Hostas were my father's go to for shaded areas, they are easy to grow, love shade, give some interesting shapes/foliage, main drawback is lack of bright colours; certainly worth considering alongside something else more colourful.

If you have a slug problem, best leave the Hostas - they'll have them for breakfast, dinner and tea. And probably supper as well !

[kempiejon]

If you have a slug problem, best leave the Hostas - they'll have them for breakfast, dinner and tea. And probably supper as well !

I remember hearing that you could plant sacrificial hostas to keep the gastropods off your veg. I think it just encourages them and gives them snacks while waiting for you to plant your seedlings out.
What are those other green foliagy ones... Solomon’s seal, Polygonatum x hybridum, and cyclamon too.

[bungeejumper]

Hellebores, hellebores, hellebores. And endless variety of amazing styles these days. Cotoneasters, dogwoods, you name it. My wife's collection of alliums does all right on a north facing wall too. Many of them spectacularly so.

BJ

[kiloran]

How about Hebe? Just need a wee clipping now and again to keep them tidy.
I think the small-leafed ones tend to be the most hardy.

--kiloran

[88V8]

Hmm, hebe needs sun to flower.

Ferns, hellebore yes indeed.

Train a free-standing hydrangea petiolaris for something different.

Is the site dry or damp?

V8