Shady, damp corner

[HippyHippopotamus]

Hi, be gentle please, this is my first foray into the gardening corner!

There's a corner of our garden (about a metre squared) that is determined to be a patch of mud! It is meant to be part of the lawn but grass just doesn't want to grow there. It's pretty much always in shade and very damp. I'm thinking of increasing the size of the neighbouring bed. Bed currently has high evergreen shrubs so I'm looking for something low, colourful that likes the shade and damp! Does such a plant exist? Any help appreciated!

[ForHarry]

Astilbes have grown well in shady damp areas in 3 of my gardens so far. The slugs don't like them either. Have a Google, tbh I don't even particularly like the flower spikes but have chosen pale ones and as the foliage is lovely I think they are a great plant.

They will die back at the end of the season so maybe not what you are after?

[HippyHippopotamus]

Ooh, they're pretty, thanks for replying!

When you say they die back at the end, does that mean I'll have to replant something else next year?

[ForHarry]

No they are perennials which means they will come again in the spring with fresh foliage. They really take no looking after.

[MakingJudySmile]

What about ferns?

Such as this one

www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/25899/Dryopteris-erythrosora/Details

There are many others to choose from though!!

[Lucked]

Rhododendrons, I would go for a dwarf variety so it stays low. Also hostas do well in shade and damp.

[shovetheholly]

Have a look at the shade thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/2441728-Shady-characters-a-permanent-home-for-shade-garden-suggestions

I'd suggest going for something with white or cream foliage, as this will really sing out besides conifers in shade - brunnera 'Hadspen cream' (not evergreen), alongside cornus canadensis (semi-evergreen) and shuttlecock ferns might look nice and white hellebores will give you winter colour. Hostas too (though these are sometimes best in a pot in shade to avoid slug damage).

[GeorgeTheThird]

Ferns, hostas, alchemilla mollis

[HippyHippopotamus]

Oh my goodness, what an amazing bunch of people you are! Thank you!