Low-growing shade lover for alongside hedge - pref cheap!

[LakieLady]

I have a 12' stretch of lonicera nitida hedge alongside one of my beds. It's pretty shady, I'm on the north side of the hedge. I want to plant that side with shade lovers, ideally no more than 18" at max, but really want something that will cover the ground.

I originally thought of pulmonaria, but I've blown my plant budget (actually, it's so blown it's gone into orbit) and I can't seem to find pulmonaria for much under £8 or £9.

Anyone got any suggestions for what I can plant there? Must be blue, white, pink or mauve, to fit in with my planting scheme.

My ideal would be something I can grow from seed, for reasons of economy, but I don't have a greenhouse or anywhere I can start them off (plus I'm crap at remembering to water them and once killed a whole tray of kniphofia by neglect).

Soil is alkaline (chalk) free draining, but not especially dry along that edge.

Many thanks.

Do you have a local gardening club/local friends who garden. Pulmonaria is v prolific. I bet if you found someone local with some they would happily split theirs and give you s8.

I could have written your post! Over the last couple of days I’ve been sorting out a neglected strip under the privet hedge next to the pavement. My soil is clay and stone, over the past 100 years people have put gravel down and obviously planted it, so it was a big mess!
Euphorbia and coral bells grow there already, with the odd daffodil and Scilla.
I’ve tried to fork it over and removed weeds, I’ve planted some creeping crainsbill geraniums, moved from elsewhere, and bought some Vinca and primroses. I also am on the hunt for Pulmonaria and Persicaria,the latter a very tolerant plant.
I would add that my plants might get the odd squash as the area is the turning circle for my car.

My garden is full of bloody pulmonaria, I hate it soooo much. I throw so much of it away every year.

If you want some it is probably worth a social media post- if i saw someone on Facebook wanting some they could come and help themselves.

Wild garlic, lily of the valley and sweet woodruff would be lovely for white.

I always have a pulmonaria or two sat in a pot for giving away. I bloody love it!

I love pulmonaria.
It grows where not many things do, is a very colourful addition for shade when it flowers, and has such beautiful foliage.
Another suggestion is bluebells, liriope and latium for blues/ mauve.

lamium

Oh and ajuga and campanula.

Alchemilla mollis

Also comfrey. Will grow pretty much anywhere, is a spreader, and bees love it.

I have a similar spot. Hardy Geranium does surprisingly well there, also hellebores. I have pulmonaria which I weed out but is very persistent.
Gardeners love to share plants. Do you have a local FB group?

Astilbe, Lily of the Valley.

@User63

My garden is full of bloody pulmonaria, I hate it soooo much. I throw so much of it away every year.

If you want some it is probably worth a social media post- if i saw someone on Facebook wanting some they could come and help themselves.

Don't suppose you're in Sussex are you, @User63?

If pulmonaria is so prolific and easy to grow, how come they charge so much for it?

Bunch of CFs if you ask me!

Vinca minor has taken over my shade, along with other wild violets. I've a couple of Pulmonaria too, and several strawberry plants which have the bonus of fruits after the white flowers

Maybe get someone's cuttings of Ice plant? It takes easily, it's the colour you want and not fussy about shade or anything else (Monty Don said full sun, fertile soil, ample water but free draining, and he was probably going to add it prefers gentle violin music too.) It astonished me as I've never known it anywhere but in any old miserable soil and drought and shade and generally needing to put it's own effort into things, in return for which it thrives like a sturdy weed.