What (if anything) will be happy under a leylandii?

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My neighbour has a hugely high leylandii just the other side of my south-west facing bed. I've got a medium sized shrub at the front and am looking for a tall shrub to go at the back f my bed against a fence, probably higher than hip height. Soil very poor and minimal moisture.

A choisya is growing very slowly and a fuchsia comes up each year. Have just planted a phormium to see if that thrives too as I think the previous owners had one there. Open to suggestions- it is a small cottage garden so most styles of plant would suit.

Thanks in advance.

I have found that hardy geraniums grow in most places and most soil types.

Can you cut back the tree at all? I would be sorely tempted.

Thanks goosey- I was hoping for something taller ideally. Have loads of hardy geraniums around too. I could cut the horizontal branches back slightly but it's probably 20 feet tall so will have to nag my neighbour to trim it but frankly you never really notice the difference .

What about something like Alstroemeria - I have found that that is quite forgiving (never tried growing it under leylandii though). Also find that Leptospermum grows most places. Good luck.

My mum moved into a house with a huge leylandii hedge (gone now, yay!) and there was a kerria coming up right in the middle of it.