Hardy plants for minimal sunlight

2ndcoming

Hi lads and ladies,

Going at the flower beds this weekend and wondering could anyone recommend me some hardy plants that will survive minimal direct sunlight (a couple of hours in the evening).

I put in two beds along the side walls of the back garden a few years ago. House is west facing so the north side wall gets loads of sun and I have a few rose bushes and fuscias thriving there but the opposite south wall has a couple of very mature apple trees blocking the morning sun and the sun only really gets a look at it from 6 pm or so in the summer. Anything I've tried there hasn't made it and ended up transplanted to the opposite wall to be saved.

I've a few bags of bark there so I'd be happy to cover the bed and then put a few large pot plants sitting on the bark, but these would still need to be hardy enough as well I'd imagine.

Anyone any recommendations? Thanks in advance from a complete garden novice!

macraignil

As a ground cover I find Ajuga does fine in shade. For something bigger maybe mahonia or Osmanthus burkwoodii might work but there are more shrub suggestions on this RHS page. They also suggest some other plants they advise work well in shade.