Tall beautiful plant for shade

[Borris]

Hi. I’m new to gardening and just planted up my first garden. I planted a magnolia in a rather shady corner hoping it would grow tall and beautiful. But it doesn’t look to have grown at all and I’m thinking maybe I should move it to a sunnier spot. Can anyone suggest an alternative that would be happy there but still be a focal point.

the soil is clay and we’re southwest so few frosts etc.

thanks

An acer. Or a Cornus, if I had the room I'd have one of those, the ones that have the flowery bracts. Or a hydrangea, I believe they can do well in those conditions. Or a rhododendron.

Buddleia will grow in shade. It can be trained on a single stem to create more of a tree specimen, or grown as a large shrub.
Choose the variety carefully as some of the hybrids don’t produce much nectar so of little value to wild life. A white variety might look striking in shade.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2407071/amp/Its-time-bit-butterflies-Buddleia-grow-just-good-news-wildlife-says-gardening-expert-Monty-Don.html

Agree with acer.

Will it always be in full shade? Or will it get some sun once it reaches a certain size?

How long has the magnolia been there? Don't give up on it if it's only a couple of years.

Trees often take a few years to 'find their feet' Also, depending on the reason for the shade, shade is often quite dry so your magnolia may be thirsty rather than light-deprived. So watering (by the bucketful) and mulching may help it grow.

On the other hand, moving it will undoubtedly set it back.

How tall are you expecting, and over what time period? Things can take a while to grow in the shade.

Fatsia Japonica Spiders Web will grow to around 5ft but it's evergreen and very striking.

If you go for an Acer, choose one with interesting coloured stems. I've got Sango Kaku which has coral stems, and goes through the most wonderful fiery colours in Autumn.

I've planted a white Fairy Magnolia in a fairly shaded position (it does get a bit of dappled light for a couple of hours). It's evergreen and I'm hoping for flowers throughout the season when it is a bit more established.

Mahonia has striking, spiky evergreen foliage and yellow flowers in winter.

Sambucus Black Lace grows in shade, and I imagine some of the golden cultivars do too. Philadelphus Aureus is supposed to as well