Very shade-tolerant plants (for pots)

[shockedballoon]

We moved nearly 3 years ago and our new(ish) front door is pretty much north facing and only gets a tiny bit of sun from the side, early evening. Going from a back to back terrace that was south-facing to this meant all the plants I used to have on the front step/yard have either perished or been transferred to the back patio.
What can I put in pots round my front door that'll thrive? Would like an occasional splash of colour if possible, but just healthy lush greenery would be OK.

Fatsia japonica, ferns, dwarf acers give a lovely lush, jungly vibe. My front garden is in deep shade but I move pots of spring bulbs there once in flower, then move them back to the sun when the flowers finish.

For a pot the fatsea would work and stays evergreen.There also now some roses that grow well on shady both facing walls.

Both=north facing.

I've just realised that when I said begonia upthread, I was actually thinking of Busy Lizzies.

Lush greenery with some smaller pots of busy Lizzies in front - white to stand out in the shadows, or bright reds and pinks would work well in summer.

I have a sarcococca which I move to beside the front door when it's in flower so I can inhale every time I go in or out. I potted up some Lilly of the valley for a bit later on, and in summer I swap in scented lilies as they come into bloom.

As well as busy Lizzie's, Fuchsias can be reasonably shade tolerant and you can get some gorgeous ones.

Dicentra and Solomon's seal are lovely in shade. Hellebores for very early spring loveliness.

@ComeBackIntoTheGardenMaud

Hydrangeas (like dahlias at the time) used to be derided because they were a bit "municipal planting" and were probably what your grandad used to grow and so weren't cool. In both cases, I think, the arrival of new varieties and their popularisation by a new generation of garden designers has done a lot to rehabilitate them (and it has to be said, in my view anyway, that the new varieties are prettier and more interesting than the pink and blue mopheads of yore).

I have hydrangea quercifolia going great guns in a very shady bed, which has also been hugely improved by the addition of an unknown white hydrangea bought for 50p at a coffee morning. I'm hoping that newer varieties aren't too difficult, as I've just been given Vanille Fraise as a gift.

I planted a vanilla frais about 3-4 weeks ago and it's growing so well at the moment- since the start of the week it's been covered in buds. It's in a spot that gets sun until 1pm ish and then is in shade for the rest of the day. I'm so excited about it that I check on it first thing every morning 😆

I love hydrangeas so much. I've also bought a Limelight which looks happy but no buds yet. Im quite tempted to buy a few more hydrangea and replace some of the less interesting plants in the garden with them.

Great stuff. Thanks everyone, this is a big help

That's good news about your Vanille Fraise, Muffey. I bought one a few years ago because I'd seen a mass planting of them in France - they seemed to be the go-to plant where we were on holiday - but it perished over winter. This one looked rather bedraggled when it was given to me, but has perked up and I have high hopes for it!

My shady spot

The plants either side are montbretia, which flower late summer.

I love that @Ginfordinner
So healthy, full and green

The other plant to the right is Pieris. I keep the hostas in pots because the slugs and snails would destroy them. I admit that I do use slug pellets, but as they are in the pots I know that other wildlife can't or won't eat them.

Heucheras too. Massive range of foliage colour and some flower for months.

@AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet

Did hydrangeas have a naff reputation?

I have this one in a pot in my porch. It's just beginning to bloom now. It gets very little sun, but does so well. The flowers are just spectacular.
I wish I could remember the name.

The only issue is that it will be bare in winter, if that bothers you ..

I'm sure that hydrangea is one of the Dark Angel series as it looks very similar to one of mine, which is flourishing in part shade. I love hydrangeas!

I have a hydrangea Little Lime by my front door. It’s bare for much of early spring, but that makes it ideal for combining with some spring bulbs. I grow mine with daffodils and crocuses.

Other plants I grow in the shade are ferns, again underplanted with daffodils, a clematis called Nelly Mosser and a dwarf buddleia. Buddleia’s are often thought of as plants for sun, but honestly they will grow and flower pretty much anywhere!

Hydrangeas - I have a stunning white one called Incredibal. It would need a large pot as the flowers are enormous & abundant.

@EnormousSexyCrimeUnit That does sound familiar!

And now I want a white one, too 😑

@AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet - ha!

My Dark Angel is in a raised bed which just happens to be next to a container with a white one in... it's a new Runaway Bride which I think will be very flouncy and romantic once it fully flowers. Will update enable you in due course 😊

Following.

Yes please

I have some v large hydrangea’Annabelle’. They are beautiful.

I love how this has morphed into a hydrangea fan thread!

My Annabelle lasted 2 \3 years Maybe it's because I'm away most summers and dh doesn't water the shrubs very efficiently. They do live up to their name., needing to be watered quite reliably in dry weather, and because their leaves are large, they create an umbrella, around their root even when it rains. Also they're much happier with rain water\nettle feed.