From: M.A.Hearnden@lut.ac.uk (MAHearnden)
Subject: Re: Need for shade-lovers that any fool can grow
Date: 10 Mar 92 16:49:04 GMT

Try also euphorbia robbiae: evergreen spurge with yellow
'inflorescences' in the spring.  These last a long time, its a tidy
plant, and spreads well.  Definitely prefers shade!

Species crocus - like Whitwell Purple' flowers & seeds well & is happy
in most situations.

I find hostas tend to dislike dry shade.  Lily of the valley can be
dreadfully invasive once it settles down.  On the other hand, some
people find it NEVER settles down!

Another favourite standby is Corsican Hellebore.  In fact most
hellebores are happiest in shade, but I shouldn't bother too much with
helleborus niger.  Helleborus foetidus is good, though.  Both this &
the corsican (I dont know whether its correct name is corsicus or
argutifolius) seed well & are reliable.

For wall shrubs, try pyracanthus.  And variagated ivy.  The latter
looks good behind the former.  Also winter jasmine.

For later in the year, foxgloves, perennial geranium (the endressi
variety.).  Campanula glomerata, which has short stubby blue flowers.

I nearly forgot one of my favourite evegreen shrubs : euonymus Silver
Queen (?), which is green with white edges.  No flowers, no berries,
but a good grower and a beacon in the shade.

All these are, of course, related to English conditions, but I garden
in the midlands, in a fairly cold spot, and these are my standby
plants for difficult places.