What are your favourite shrubs for a shady border?

[Pannacotta]

I have some ideas but also have lots of space to fill...
So far am thinking of Holly (non prickly variety), Hydrangea Annabelle, Portuguese Laurel and that's about it.
Any other suggestions?
Some flowering shrubs would be nice...

Message withdrawn

I was looking at hellebores today. They looked gorgeous.

Not shrubby though. Sorry!

Kerria (flowering now in my garden in total shade) - yellow flowers. Viburnum tinus, sarococca - also both flowering now. Just posted elsewhere about shrubs for shade. Sounding like a stuck record...

Thanks.
We already have a Viburnum Tinus and am not that keen on yellow really so Kerria is not ideal.
Sarcocca is a good idea, as is Euonymus.

Have found a nice looking Camellia
www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/classid.629/
Has anyone got one of these? Not sure how easy they are to grow (we are on acid/neutral soil so pH shoudl be ok).

Hostas are the thing for shady areas, and hydrangeas also do quite well. I have a very shady front flower bed and all these do really well there.

Ladys mantel will grow ANYWHERE and love in a mist also does well in mine. Ornamental grasses seem to do quite well too

I have Ribes (flowering currant) which is doing well in a shady spot. Strong smell, which is fine if you like it, I do obviously. Lots of pinky red flowers in spring, also attracts butterflies. I've also got a couple of different fuschias which I think are supposed to prefer sunny areas, but mine are doing fine in the shade.

Thanks for those.
Am going to get a hydrangea and will look at Ribes, though I have heard it smells of cat piss!! The flowers do look lovely though.

climbing hydrangea and choisia do OK in our shady garden.

I have a white camelia in shade in my garden and it is doing very well. Gorgeous flowers and lovely glossy leaves.

I also have Fatsia Japonica and Choisya Ternata (mexican orange blossom) in shade. They've done very well.

This is the camellia I have it flowers in late Feb and is still flowering now when the rest of the garden in coming into bloom so is a lovely bit of early interest

Thanks Fig, I love the Camellia I have seen that one before but discounted it as being hard to grow. HAve you had any probs with it?
Not so keen on Fatsia but Choisyas are nice.

soil type?
inland or coastal?
city or country?
how cold/high/exposed is your garden

Min has been absolutely fine, no problems at all. No pests, no disease. It is very slow growing though

Kristina, its neutral pH, fairly sheltered town garden, not esp cold or frosty, good, free draining soil.

oh that's great, gives you lots of choice

i woudl go for at least a third evergreen to give you plenty year round interest and lots of contrast with foliage and from so you are not reliant on flowers for colour

Acubua Japonica does well in our very shady garden. Mostly about the foliage, nice paleish green variagated evergreen. Does have small purple flowers and pretty red berries (but only if there is another in proximity to fertilise it)

Actually it's Aucuba not Acubua

some of the acers do well in acid soil and shade?not flowering but interesting all year round beacuse of colour
hydrangea does v well in our shady bed also viburnum and fatsia (tho if you have v los not sure if fatsia berries are poisonous...)