If you have a tree in your garden what is growing under it?

[Swanhildapirouetting]

Want to plant some woodland shrubs under a whitebeam (which is quite large already) Flowerbed is west facing but slightly shaded due to urban garden shadows etc, so not that sunny in winter, a bit dry in summer.

Just thought I would find out what grows happily in other people's gardens. Because it is a town garden it needs to look good in the summer too, so I cannot just have the usual spring flowers like bluebells and pulmonarias foxgloves etc (although I have those too!)

So far I'm thinking, hydrangea, rhododendron, skimmia, foxglove, and a clematis on the back fence.

Any other exciting ideas or combinations? The whitebeam is silvery in spring then rather dull and heavy, and a bit rooty.

mexican orange blossom, philadelphus (bright light green leaves, sort that espec likes it under trees). camelia - if you have acidic soil, which people often do under trees. i like ferns as well and periwinkle (not too invasive types) is quite pretty as well as hostas

I have periwinkles, aquilegias, heucheras of various colours, hardy geraniums, lamium, and some bulbs. I have pretty good soil though (raised bed under the tree).

Heucheras are probably my favourite, and because it is the foliage that is pretty it looks good in summer too.

I've deliberately decided mine is a spring / winter shade border, so I've got foxgloves, hellebores of different varieties, cyclamen, pulmonaria, and lots of ferns.

However, to keep the interest going, I've also tried Beesia (not settling down brilliantly) and solomon's seal (complete fail). I'm about to try aconitum next, mainly because I've been given some. Mahonia is doing very nicely for winter, as is Clematis Armandii, and a lovely golden ivy.