Total Novice - plants that like clay and shade

[whiteonesugar]

Hi all
I have recently moved into a new build house and the garden is on clay. The top soil used under the turf is very good but the clay holds the water. The builders came back and added drainage at one end but the other end is at the bottom of a very slight slope and water holds there for days. My plan is to patio over most of that section and dig out the borders to plant - well, something! The garden is South West Facing and the corner in question gets sun at the beginning of the day but by about 10am is in shade the rest of the day. What can i plant that will look nice and enjoy being in a shady damp spot?

Thanks in advance :)

There are lots of things you can plant in that situation; have a look at www.plantsforshade.co.uk
(I had a delivery from them a couple of weeks ago, and was pleased with the plants)

I have a similar area and I have planted Ferns and miniature conifers. Then for colour Astilbe, Japanese anenome, Brunerra, cowslips, erythronium and sweet cicely.

If you want a good tree , Amalanchier loves the wet.

Thanks @Knittedfairies i will have a look thats helpful.

@Izzywigs I will look at these thanks! I would love a tree but its right in the corner of a wall and a fence and i dont want the roots to go into the wall, so any trees would need to go in massive pots i think.

Periwinkle, cyclamens, ferns, lily of the valley

I’m on clay and I have white Dicentra currently looking stunning with some hardy ferns.
There’s lots that will do well on clay as it’s so fertile.
I dump loads of manure on my borders every autumn and let the worms take it down over winter.
It’s really helped loosen up my soil.

I've got some quite shady damp clay. Thriving plants include dogwoods, astilbe, purple loosestrife, hydrangea, candelabra primula, bluebells. Also a couple of rhododendrons, though these need a yearly dose of iron sulphate as our soil is neutral not acid.

Our dogwood thrives along with azeleas (sp) and this year we are trying geraniums and a rose bush as both apparently love clay soil.

I do love Hydrangea I might try one of those and perhaps some fern types. thanks everyone you've really helped me out!