beautiful shade loving plant for a container under ivy

[SarfE4sticated]

I have an area at the end of my garden which is covered in ivy from next door (I may have mentioned it!). So I have cut it all back my side, but it will come back, so I have decided to just put pots there. Annoyingly it's the focal part of my garden so they need to be nice. At the moment I have put my Agapanthus pots down there, but I don't know it that's going to work long term.
I'm going to Hampton Court flower show next week, so will be able to get most plants, but not sure what to buy! The rest of my garden is english country garden style, so don't want the end of the garden to look out of place. Garden is only about 35ft long, so not a massive plot. Any thoughts? I just want some pots that I can water and feed and then leave ideally, so don't want to faff with lots of mixed containers.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I may have just answered my own question thanks to Mrs Google, apparently Hydrangeas like dry shade, and if I get a nice one it will fit in well with the rest of the garden. Might put a nice fern or two in another pot...

SO, (I know you're gripped) I went to Hampton Court, and the RHS expert recommended a hydrangea paniculata, which I bought a no small cost, and lugged home on the tube. I took it with me to meet a friend for a drink, put it down on the floor and then promptly dropped my handbag on it. One of the three main stems broke off.
I wonder if there is anyway I can get it to root, and make me a new plant?! What do you think?

Oooh! Hello! What a lovely suprise. Thanks so much for the plant recommendations GardenGeek I will start looking out for those plants. Weirdly I have never heard of ragged robin, but it looks really nice. I loved the white agrostemma that was everywhere at Hampton, so I might try for some of those too. RHS chap also suggested a white rose called WInchester Cathederal which would be lovely too.
This is all really exciting as I can plan my own tiny white garden. I might need to nip to Sissinghurst for inspiration.

In other news, my newly cleared garden is now full to the brim with beautiful new plants, and each morning I go out there hoping that they may have doubled in size and filled out their spaces. I don't like seeing bare earth.

Can you layer bulbs in the pots for spring colour before the shrubs start leafing? Hmmm is leafing a word but you know what I mean .

Hellebores for winter colour? And hostas are good for shade

Sarf, have you perchance moved into my garden? I too have a dry shady corner under the ivy that my neighbours have sent over the wall. Nothing will grow in the soil under it. I have to resort to pots as well. I was about to start a thread about my dilemma. Please let me know which plants you have success with!

If you have a fox currently lurking under your decking then maybe I have Whatthefoxgoingon!
My plan is go artfully arrange a selection of pots in the area, and hope for the best. I can helpfully report that nothing has died so far. The RHS expert suggested Hydrangea peniculata 'kyshu' (ok but actually a teeny bit dull so far) Digitalis, Rose Winchester Cathedral. If you could also add astrantia, euphorbia and hosta. If I had a huge amount of money, I might invest in a really attractive bath sized trough to plant them all in.

GardenGeek thank you so much for your great advice, I will certainly be trying what you’ve suggested! You’re a star ⭐️

By the way, we have good ole London clay soil

We have what looks like grey sand - possibly volcanic? - but seems to grow most plants tolerably well. I will certainly follow your advice too GG thanks!

Where have you gone @gardengeek?