Garden know-it-alls! This way, please!

[MaureenMLove]

That's not meant to be rude, I just need someone who knows!

I've got a small area of my garden, only about 2m x 1m, which is very damp and very dark. It's under a tree, on the side of the garden that doesn't get sun.

I tried to tuft it a few years back, but it just grows moss and not a lot of grass, so I've just ripped it all up. The soil is great. Loads of worms and smells fab, but what can I put in it? Hostas I suppose, but is there anything else, anyone can suggest, that might be a bit colourful?

Thanks.

Look at woodland flowers - bluebells, lily-of-the valley, lillies, wild garlic, sweet violets.

Ferns!

Oh.. Missed you said colourful

What Gnome said

The wonders of the internet! I just typed in 'woodland flowers'.

Actually, I do rather like ferns and think that a mix of leaves (ie hostas and ferns) plus a few flowers could look really wonderful.

A tip I have learnt over the years - use variegated plants, the mix of dark and light looks like dappled shade even when there is no light.

Some decorative aggregate eg slate could be useful to keep slugs off hostas.

I love Lily of the Valley, and the scent... How about some poppies too, they'd look fab in amongst the wild flowers.

Thanks people. Payday is Friday, so I shall take your ideas with me.

A further thought, OP - my experience of Lily of the Valley is that they take a long time (ie years) to establish. You will despair of them and then, lo! they have established and are then off in search world domination!