Best plants for small, shady border

[LovingKent]

Have a newly created border 210cm long but width varies between 41 and 61cm. Apple tree partly overhangs it from left and there is a low wall with fence on top of this to the rear. It has dappled shade in the morning but then full shade all afternoon. Clay soil. What plants would do well there? Would like a mix so colour through the seasons. Am not a keen gardener so would prefer ones that require very little maintenance (I wouldn't want to put in annuals or bedding plants). Any suggestions?

ooooh shamelessly here for the answers.

I have one side of my garden walled and need the same.

One thing I am considering is vinca-pretty, flowers and likes shade...

Look forward to the experts piling on!

Hostas, definitely. You get different kinds. Also plant snowdrops for next year. I have loads under my apple trees and they’re so pretty.

Foxgloves grow in the shade in my garden

Ferns, euphorbia, foxgloves, brunnera all grow well in complete shade in my garden.

Hostas would too, I think, but … slugs.

Thank you.

I was wondering about a fern and certainly some snowdrops.

Just looked up euphorbia @WellTidy - I quite like the look of them and they aren't too big.

I like the look of hostas too but don't fancy fighting slugs and snails over them

Hardy geraniums (not like the non-hardy version).

Gardeners world this week did a feature on ferns. There's some lovely ones

Hydrangea macrophylla - the mop-headed variety grows well in partial shade.

There's a bed in my garden with crappy soil and mostly full shade - I've had a lot of success with nasturtiums. Only issue is they seed and they've grown through cracks in my patio etc. Butterflies love them though!

Not vinca, unless you want it to spread everywhere and completely take over!

Pulmonaria, very early flowers (Feb to April or May) and beautiful silver splashed leaves year round. Very valuable for bumble bees, as it flowers early enough for the queen's emerging in early spring.

Japanese anemone,
Aquilegia

Nasturtium is great and all parts are edible, perfect to mix into salads.
If you want to include another edible amongst flowers, mix in kale too. I'd take care if mixing edibles with foxgloves, which are very toxic though.
Hellebores as well?

I have tried quite a few things, quite a few of which have not been successful. Things that are thriving in the shady border in clay soil are bulbs, brunnera (Jack frost), saxifrage urbanium and heathers. The heathers are Erica darlyensis type but do cope with the shade in my garden because it's from trees so they get light over the winter. Depending on how dappled your shade is, roses also love clay soil. I do have hostas in a different border not planted by me, which do fine and don't seem troubled by slugs, whether because they are well established or because they have gravel in front of them I don't know.

Fuchsias. Potentilla will also cope with partial shade; as will choisya and hebe. All easy care plants.

Hellebores. My absolute favourite plant and winter flowers.

You'll need to improve the drainage a bit for hellebores but they are worth it!

Hellebores, heucheras, ferns, brunnera, some geraniums, tellima grandiflora, fox gloves, pulmonaria, snow drops. Hostas- agh- mine are eaten each year by slugs so I’ve given up

I have a very similar sounding corner (apple tree included!) I’ve improved the soil somewhat.

I’ve planted some hostas, viburnum, spotted laurel, euphorbia (purple leaf with green flowers, others like sun I believe). Fairly recent but seem to be doing well so far. I’ve scattered some woodland seeds I had knocking about, I’m not sure yet whether it’s weeds or seedlings coming through

I’m also planning to add a fatsia at the back, 2 or 3 ferns, bergenias and tiarellas for wispiness and colour.

I have some evergreen ferns in a similar spot, it’s nice for it not to be completely bare in winter.

Oh god don't plant Japanese anemone. Bloody nightmare and you'll ever get rid of them.

Epimedium does well in shade, as does jacobs ladder.

@Clymene

Oh god don't plant Japanese anemone. Bloody nightmare and you'll ever get rid of them.

Epimedium does well in shade, as does jacobs ladder.

I see people saying this but mine won’t bloody spread and they’ve been in for 8 years now 😂

OP I have a bed on clay in deep shade with astilbes, skimmia, Solomon’s seal, mahonia (the soft one), aucuba, fatsia and ferns.

Bleeding heart, coral bells, astilbe, aquilegia, clematis all grow well in mine

Wow thank you for all your suggestions. Lots to look up .

Oh god don't plant Japanese anemone. Bloody nightmare and you'll ever get rid of them

My dad has found Honorine Joubert very well behaved.

Dicentra! Lovely plant for shadier areas.