What can we plant in our north-facing front garden?

[squeaver]

...that will give us some colour if at all possible?

We don't have much room and thought we could stick just one big, bushy thing in (we're experts, can you tell?). Would a hydrangea work, do you think?

Oh and we're in London, so clay soil.

TIA, oh wise ones...

bump

How small is it?

I'd be tempted to go sophisticated with something that will give you evergreen varigated foliage.

I like the variegated Fatsia japonica (not as easy to find as the green variety). That's a nice big bushy thing.

Since Fatsia japonica has a rich tropical look to the leaves, you could pair it with Crocosmia 'Lucifer' to get the contrast of the sword-like foliage, and the bright red flowers. It won't flower as well in shade as it would in sun, but it's so dramatic normally that I think a reduced version would still look good. That will give you colour around the big bushy thing, so I think it will work well.

Thanks GM

Funnily enough, we have a fatsia japonica in the back garden. I like the look of the lucifer too.

Or you could go for Clerodendron trichotum grown as a small tree, underplanted with a grass or heucheras for evergreen colour. That might be rather swish.

I love Hydrangea Annabelle as a feature in front gardens, it looks amazing in flower, but its not very colourful.
www.timmackley.co.uk/formal_conservation_garden.html

You could try variegated Fatshedera which is a cross between Fatsia and Ivy and a bit smaller, looks exotic too but more elegant I think. Its best wall trained.

Camellias are another option if you want some flowers, you can plant them in large pots if you dont have acid soil.