Very steep slope under tall trees

[CruCru]

Hi all

I have a very steep slope with a load of trees (sycamore and black pine) at the top and sleepers at the bottom. It is North facing.

I have planted heucheras, heucherellas and tiarella at the bottom just above the sleepers. Do any of you have any suggestions for what to plant on the slope?

At the moment it is all weeds and doesn't look very nice. I really need to cut back the brambles and do something about those sticky weeds that are everywhere.

We have alkali soil and the drainage should be okay on the slope. We are on the Isle of Wight so it rains a lot and can get very windy. It doesn't get very cold though.

How about vinca (periwinkle)? I have seen it used to cover slopes; because it's very low maintenance it will just get on with colonising the ground and not need much upkeep. It's also very pretty when in flower.

I remember Carol Klein planting up a steep shady bank on GW a couple of years ago. Sadly because I don't have one I don't remember much detail, but I do remember she planted some self seeders at the top of the bank so they would seed down. Not sure if somebody else might remember the segment better, or know of any way to get old episodes online? I think it was 2012 (found a blog referencing it, but sadly the blog itself isn't that useful!)

Ferns. Hydrangea. Prostrate cotoneaster or berberis.

Ah that's lovely, thanks! I'd never heard of periwinkle.

I have just bought six periwinkles (2 each of 3 varieties) in a very cheap deal from Thompson & Morgan. They arrived this morning and look like good little plants.

Yes Carol planted primroses at the top so that they would seed down the slope. Underneath the deciduous trees you can plant snowdrops crocuses hellebores bluebells because there will be light in the spring before the trees come into leaf.
Underneath the pines and conifers you can plant acid loving plants like azaleas because the pine needles make the soil beneath acid.