What would you put in this corner ?

[MalvaMoschata]

Novice gardener, trying to make something of this rather blocky bed against a north-west facing fence. It's the only place we've got to plant anything other than in containers. I've been enjoying planting, though we need some edging to curb the mess. It lacks height in general at the moment, though I hope to have some taller plants in future if I plan the summer better, and I might put a small bird bath in the middle of it. The question of what to do with the back corner is what's holding me up I like the way that a sense of destination can open up small spaces, so I was wondering about a very small stone bench to give a feeling of a 'place to go' even nobody ever sits on it there are already a couple of stepping stones in the bed. Alternatively I could put a corner shaped planter there, something like this, but with what in it? And would it end up just filling up the space in a way we don't really need, and visually crowding the fig tree? I was wondering about another hosta in a bright colour, e.g. Orange Marmalade, but there is a short burst of direct sun mid-morning at this time of year which they might not like. I would also have loved to have some grasses in there somewhere, but again sunshine is a problem. I'm in two minds about whether ferns are the feel I want.

I'm keen to hear any thoughts!

[MalvaMoschata]

Sorry, I now realise I wrote an essay... No need to read it all, the thread title says it all really!

[SpeckleDust]

I would bring your hosta closer to the grass part of the bed it is quite a low plant. And add some taller planting along the fence (I'm sure someone with better knowledge than me will be able to suggest something).

[SpeckleDust]

Patio edge, not grass edge!

[JT05]

I'd put a climbing rose to grow along the fence and a clematis to wind through it.

[GingerKitCat]

I've been trying to track down a Mme Alfred Carriere rose (I'm on a strict budget) which is suitable for shade and very vigorous. Or a climbing hydrangea? The white blooms will brighten up the fence.

If you're not opposed I'd add a couple of regular hydrangeas and some big ferns and move some of the smaller plants to the front.

Is that definitely a fig tree? It looks like a fatsia japonica (castor oil plant) from here but I'm having trouble zooming on my phone.

The birdbath sounds like a good centrepiece

[MalvaMoschata]

Oh thanks so much for answering! Ginger I think you are quite right, it's not a fig tree at all, fatsia looks much more like it. I feel strangely ambivalent about hydrangeas, somehow they don't uplift me particularly but I could reconsider.

Speckle, yes -- I think I put the hosta in the wrong place, on the basis that it was taller than my other plants. But that's only because they are all relatively microscopic at the moment!

JT, I would love a rose and clematis, I've been investigating both but got a bit stalled by cost and lack of technical knownhow, such as trying to understand the different clematis groups. But that just requires more reading, which is no problem. Would I need to put up trellis, or wires?

[GingerKitCat]

I understand hydrangeas are a bit marmite round these parts

There was a convo on here recently about pruning fatsias. I wonder if you could reduce the height of yours to reinvigorate it. I've gone a bit mad with mine as I love them so much, I reckon you could fit another in if you wanted
I remove some of the lower leaves from mine so I can underplant.

I have skimmia and acers doing well in my north facing bed.

I'm still learning with clematis! Mine haven't been very productive this year despite correct pruning. I have wires on all my fences at 2ft intervals and fashion fan-shaped frames from canes to start them off.

[JT05]

RHS website had good information on roses, ( as does David Austin, a rose specialist ) and clematis. For the rose, I'd look at a climbing rose that is scented and repeat flowering, in a light colour. Plenty will grow well in the aspect that you have.
The clematis can roughly be divided into two types - the Montana variety which flower in the spring and are pretty rampant. They can grow many feet high. Probably not what you want, and the summer flowering variety, of which there are many that will wind through your rose.
I'd wait until the end of the summer and see if I could pick them up in the end of season sale. Homebase and most garden centres sell off decent plants cheaply. But supermarket, little cheapies do take longer to establish and flower.
I'd also put up trellis, as it's stronger, easier and safer for the plants.

[Polly99]

Not for the back corner, but have a look at mellitis mellissophyllum (possibly mis-spelled). It's a beautiful plant with soft green leaves and orchid-like flowers in white or pink and white which brightens up darker areas of the garden. It thrives in shade, flowers late April-May and in autumn disappears underground before popping back up in spring.

[gruuumbleweec]

I would not advice a Clematis for north west corner as I think it is too gloomy. A Rose suitable for shade like Albertine or the fairy would work.
How about a tree or some Acers?

[littlem133]

Heucheras, hostas, ferns for the really shady bit. Lots of greenery and repetition.

[MalvaMoschata]

Thanks so much everyone! I've been reading and really appreciating the answers, I'll write more when I have more than a tiny phone screen.

[MalvaMoschata]

OK great littlem I have just acquired a couple more heucheras, because I really like those and they do seem happy. Another hosta the same, or even two, would bring repetition and I sort of forgot about that in my wish to try everything... it would definitely create the kind of look I'm aiming for. I think I was overoptimistic about what sorts of perennials would be happy in this spot it's not in total shade by any means, but the shade-lovers are definitely the happiest things I've got so far. The foxgloves were lovely but have been smashed by torrential rain, alas.

I'll think carefully about the clematis issue and do some research on the rose. I'd really love something pale and preferably scented.GingerKit U am not actually anti-hydrangea, it's just that we have so little space that I feel like I need to save it for stuff I really love and which I want to properly gaze at with a cup of tea.

I've never done any gardening before so all your advice has been fab, thank you.

[gruuumbleweec]

What about erecting a wooden arch across the corner and pruning and trading the tree accross one side and an evergreen Jasmine accross the other. You could put a small seat or a chair to create an arbour and then plant herbs, like thyme and camomile to bathe your feet when you sit on it.

The pale Banksii roses don't mind shade. They smell wonderful, grow a mile a minute, are thornless and disease free. I have Banksii Lutea which has masses of flowers in April. If you do go for that I should tell you that they usually don't flower until the second year after planting.

[GloriaV]

You probably need to stain the fence first.
I have some hostas and crocosmia under a shady tree. The crocosmia don't really flower much but they introduce some tall, bright green, spiky leaves which makes a nice contrast to the hostas.
I have tall daisies in a dry and shady spot and the white flowers stand out really well. They flower at this time of year probably they are Shasta Daisies.
And geraniums are pretty tough. Geranium Oxonium Wargrave Pink is a good one. There are lots of geraniums but some flower once then not again until the end of the summer, others, like Wargrave Pink flower most of the summer. The blue one Roxanne flowers for long too.

[friskybivalves]

Annabelle hydrangeas would look lovely at the back. They grow tall, as do hollyhocks.

Verbena is beautiful - tall and sways in the breeze without being too blocky so goes well with other plants. Some lupins might do OK.

Astrantias are also a decent height. Aquilegia and achillea also dependable and pretty colours. Agapanthus will live thru most conditions and will spread - come in white and pale lilac as well as dark purply blue. Agree that heucheras keep going and look lovely. Phlox stunning. All these are perennials so will keep coming back.

A great clump of alliums would be v striking and the bees love them. Salvias too - beautiful pinks and purples. Good old lavender will love through anything - French tufty topped stuff looks good but is less hardy than trad english variety. Mix it all up with tall grasses and you will have a stunning bed.

I find that if you slosh tomorite around liberally and use decent compost, everything grows no matter which direction they face in.

[GloriaV]

I agree with frisky, most things will flower all be it a bit late if the garden is shady. I didn't want risk listing things that might be a disappointment.

[MalvaMoschata]

gruuuumble that arch set up is exactly what i've been dreaming of squeezing in there (though I hadn't thought of the herbal foot bath), so I'm glad to have someone else suggest it! That will definitely be my long term goal I think.

Gloria you are quite right about the fence, I like its cool greyishness but it probably does need some love before I start planting stuff against it. Thanks so much for the list of plants suggestions, I am noting all of these. I am certainly interested in foliage contrasts as well as flowers. My photo is rubbish but there actually is a Wargrave Pink geranium in there now, and since I took the picture there's a Rozanne too. I bought the Margrave one half dead for 50p and it's perked up loads, but no flower. I'm optimistic for these two in the long term.

Frisky there is one solitary verbena bonariensis in there at the moment and I love it! In my list of notes for next year it's one of the first things on my list to have more of. And there is a Salvia in Trelissick creamy yellow, but I think it needs some Tomorite. I have some but hadn't thought of putting it on anything except tomatoes . I do like the look of the Annabelle hydrangeas, that might tip me back into hydrangea territory. Though I'm wondering if it would be too big.

Thanks again everyone!

[user1498911589]

you could grow a virginia creeper up the fence, or some jasmine. Maybe have a buddleia?

[MalvaMoschata]

Thanks user, I never answered you. I am not keen on buddleias, unfortunately. I've always assumed it's too shady a spot for anything but winter jasmine, and I'm avoiding yellow, but virginia creeper might be nice. The fence definitely needs something!

[paradoxicalInterruption]

I'd plant a tree. Like a sorbus. Give height and interest.