Any recommendations for a new north-facing bed against my house?

[zog]

It's a small semi-circular bed which, at its deepest, is 3 ft wide (is about 5 ft long). Ideally, I'd like something quite compact but with some interest e.g. flowers, berries etc. Was looking at a Skimmia but don't know what to team it with. Amy suggestions?

Periwinkle (vinca minor) for ground cover.

Heucheras and tiarellas do well in shade.

Thanks, I'll look those up - haven't heard of either of them!

Any other ideas?

Have looked them up & like them a lot!

I think one would look good on one side (with maybe periwinkle on the other) but I'm still after a taller, "showier" shrub for the middle.

ooh, i was wondering this. i have couple of mini beds/planters at the bottom of curved brick walls by front gates. north facing, so im guessing they dont get much sun. at the bottom of a hill so prone to loooots of water. oh, and clay soil (which i guess i could dig out and replace if needed)

wtf would grow there?? i was thinking something tall too...

aucuba..can get a variegated one too or christmas box (sarcococca)

pachysandra terminalis will grow as ground cover

chaenomoles

cyclamen coum maybe

garrya elliptica

cornus

which of those are tall(er) zippi?

garrya aucuba sarcococca cornus chaenomeles are all shrubs

wow zippi i just looked all those up on the bbc gardening webpages.. and they all look great - the forst one the easiest of all! thanks.
you really know your plants!

tis one of my pet subjects

perhaps unexpectedly given the others rofl

why, what else are you into?

do you know about veg growing too btw? i now have you firmly noted as the person to ask gardening questions of [novice]

i don't know anything about vegetables

bugger

except that as a general rule they want lots of organic material like manure dug in every year

yeah, i know that bit. ta

so, with these shrubs... how do i get specific shrubs then? do i just ask at the garden centre and hope they have it? or can you mail order them?

crocus is good site not the cheapest but shoul be quality

cheers. nice site

Ooh more suggestions, thanks zippi!

Have a look at greentfingers.com too.
Ferns are good for shade, as are Busy Lizzies, some geraniums.
Have a look here too
www.longacreplants.co.uk/

sorry Greenfingers.com (up at 5.45 to v tired)

I have a v.shady north facing bed with appalling soil - if you're after flowers:

Geraniums - brilliant, long flowering (and pretty child resistant!)

Anenome Japonica (white or pink flowers)

Primulas excellent!!!

For shrub/evergreen:

Pyracantha - white flowers in summer, berries in autumn(you can get diff varieties with diff colour berries) - but prickly and you will need to keep size in check