What can I plant under this tree?

[Miljah]

Hampshire, clay subsoil, pictures taken looking to the SE.

The tree is a flowering crab.

Currently, the successful plants beneath are hellebore, ferns and cyclamen. To the front (on the bricks) are oregano, sweet woodruff (I know!) and - um, what's the middle one? Tumble of purple flowers around now, if in full sun. This needs to be relocated out of the shade. It grows well but the flowers are lacklustre.

I want some 'interest' in the foreground, the blank barked bit.

I don't really do frowzy, blowsy blooms, but foliage, or white/purple/blue flowers are all okay.

I also generally don't mess around with annuals except in pots, either.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Beebumble2]

How about Erysimum, perennial wallflower. Mine flower for virtually 12 months. Erysimum Bowles has purple flowers, but you can get orange, yellow and red. I’ve just got a fantastic red variety, it looks great alongside a plant with silver foliage.

[Imicola]

Hardy geraniums are good to give ground cover, plus some colour.

[Beebumble2]

Ooh yes I’d second hardy geraniums, loads of varieties.

[Miljah]

Thanks. Do you think silver foliage would be okay in shade? The plant I was trying to name was campanula!

Am going to look up your suggestions now.

[everywhichway]

Maybe also consider Erythroniums or Epimediums, both of which have white varieties as well as other colours. Or perhaps Heuchera.

[peridito]

I feel such a bore always suggesting the same things but

forget me knots

lamium - white nancy and beacon silver

are good ground cover and containable