What should I underplant a Forest Pansy shrub with?

[Pannacotta]

DH gave me a lovely Forest Pansy shrub/tree for my birthday and I can't decide what to underplant it with.
Something which would set off the dark leaves would be good but am dithering a bit...
Any suggestions?
TIA

Usual suspect would be crocuses/primroses and cyclamen for spring & autumn, and maybe an epimedium of some sort, on the basis the it's probably going to be a bit dry & difficult underneath.

Thanks, I do like epimediums but was hoping to plant something for summer colour as well (will be mulching the ground soon to stop it getting too dry)...

I was originally thinking geraniums, actaully. One with that glowy blue that really shows up in the shade, something like Johnson's blue?

Also what about brunnera macrophylla?

I just like bright little flowers under trees!

Thanks cat, both nice suggestions.
The F Pansy is more of a shrub than a tree at the mo though, and won't create any shade for a while so I could get away with planting something more suited to a sunny border, though Johnsons Blue would look good there.

If you like Johnson's Blue - try Rozanne - repeat flowering.

Ooh, lovely present!

What's the general colour of your garden? Am I right in remembering that it's blues, purples and pinks? i.e. rather than purples, reds and orange etc.

Handy tip re. Rozanne - thanks Porridge! I'll remember that when next choosing geraniums.

Hello again G'sMum!
Yes a lovely present - though have to admit I frog marched him the to nursery and showed him the exact one I wanted!
And yes you are spot on re the colours, am not keen on hot colours and the general colours are just as you say, with some deep pinks, rich ruby and silver too.

Rozanne looks good Porridge, but I quite fancy something a bit more unusual (not fussy, me!).

Did think this looked really gorgeous
www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Atrantia_gill_richardson.html

I was thinking about this when I couldn't sleep last night!

Would it be interesting to 'echo' the colour of the leaves with a ribbon of dark or silvery heucheras leading away from the plant itself, mixed in with other plants? That would give you some winter colour, and you could combine it with crocuses / primroses etc. You could have Autumn Wave, for example, or Obsidian, and it might look stunning.

The astrantia is gorgeous, but is it going to be too tall in the short term? You could combine it with alliums though (not necessarily the showiest, but some of the species), and perhaps erisymum 'Bowles' Mauve' for their lovely evergreen shape and flowers?
Also, what about penstemon 'Sour Grapes', if you think that it's not too tall?

lol @ Grendel. Sign of a TRUE gardener! Like the plants suggested. Was thinking last night that best plantings are simple IMO. 2/3 plants. Don't compete with the Forest Pansy - needs to be the STAR of the planting. Something dark and low level to echo colour - heucheras as GM says or ophigon nigrescens or anthriscus "ravens wing"? Bulbs thru that crocus, snowdrop and allium would be lovely.

Oooh thanks, lovely suggestions.
Purple heucharas would look great and am keen on winter cover and yes am going to put Alliums in through the whole border (plus snowdrops/crocus etc), fancy a nice scattering of the various kinds.
And Penstemon was on my list, had made of note of Raven but will look at Sour Grapes too.
Also like the look of Anthriscus, lovely foilage...

That sounds like an absolutely lovely planting! Don't go too mad on allium 'Purple Sensation' - I once visited a garden which was absolutely full of the things, and the effect was actually like being in a ball pool where every ball was bright purple.

You're right P sensation is very bright, I was thinking of Allium christophii and perhaps one of the later ones, the one which is a bit redder with the odd name
www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/allium-sphaerocephalon-/classid.2453/

Maybe some Nectaroscordum as well
www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/nectaroscordum-siculum-/classid.2000002937/

God I mustn't order any alliums from Crocus they are silly prices! Must rememeber to paltn some bulbs in the autumn....

Sphaercephalon is one of my favourites. Bulks up really well.

Ooh, that's very attractive. I shall go for some of those myself, I think.

De Jager is very good for bulbs - they bulk up very quickly.

Thanks for the tip, will look them up.