Patio garden, shady. What to plant in pots??

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I have a tiny, north facing mid-terrace patio garden, with a large shrub in the corner (that we we mistook for a small tree).

What low effort things can I grow in patio pots in a small shady garden?

Hostas, ferns (there is a wide variety of each available to vary the colours).

Oh, I’m watching because I have similar, and all my efforts so far have failed.

This year I am trying to grow a “Rozanne” geranium because they are bomb proof go-getters and the bees love them. I think it might not mind the shade, but I will find out.

It’s not the most sophisticated choice though so hopefully some with actual knowledge will pop in soon!

Hydrangeas do well in our shady garden.

Hostas, ferns, bleeding heart, acers (they keep their bright colours well in shade and like a pot) fatsia japonica spiderweb (variegated), Jack Frost Brunera, tree fern if you have the cash, Rex begonias as house plants do well outside in shade in summer, in fact a lot of houseplants do.

japanese painted fern.

choose big pots so you don’t have to water as much or put in troughs instead.

I'm also watching with interest! Similar position, keep trying and failing!

Persicaria red dragon does well as does astilbes.

Plant bulbs as well for the spring.

Busy Lizzies are very colourful and do well in pots in the shade

I have had great success with growing acers in pots in deep shade. The two I have were both grown from very small plants (one bought in IKEA if I remember correctly!) and one is now about 10 foot. They need huge pots and ericaceous compost.
I've also got masses of ferns - as per the previous poster the best areplanted one per big pot.
I had some lovely tulips this year. I found some on Sarah Raven which said they were for shade and, to my surprise, they flowered!
Also, in the ground, but with it's roots in deep shade, there is a climbing hydrangea. It took a while to get going but once it got to the top of the wall it really took off.
It you can get hold of a copy, Beth Chatto's book 'Gardening for Shade' is good.

I also second the persicaria. Wonderful plant.

Oh I must try an acer! I love them.

Do acers and hydrangeas grow quite big? I really don't have the space in such a tiny garden for anything big! We've already got a shrub we thought was a tree, it's about 12ft high and estimated about 30yr old. We are told it's a Euonymous something or other.

astilbes look nice!

Acer
Bleeding hearts
Tulips
Ferns

Euonymus respond well to pruning and trimming back to keep them in check with the limited space you have.

We have it pruned every year late September once the birds have moved on. It's grown ridiculously since we moved in 8 years ago.

Fuchsias don't mind a bit of shade. Brunnera, Tiarella, Tellima, Hakonechloa, Milium effusum off the top of my head.

Not if you keep them in pots.

I have a 30 year old Acer in a pot that is perhaps 4 ft in spread.

You need to take it out of the pot every few years and prune the roots. You can then put in back in the same pot with fresh soil.

Second fuchsias and begonias. If you want to 'brighten' the area white and maybe pale pinks are a traditional choice - otoh if you want vibrant colour begonias will do that for you too- wander wound the garden centre and see what appeals. I have a pot with a fern, a primrose and some lily-of-the valley which is coming back for a third year. The thing with a very small growing space is you may need to treat everything as annual - though bulbs in a pot with a fuchsia should work. Forget-me-nots like shade too.