White magic

Beautiful - I do like that foxglove. I bet its made a real difference to your shady area.

I've been trying to brighten my shady area too but am still at the 'Should I put this in...or that?' I love what you've done. What is the last flower shown?

Hi Tuesdaybear - it is a Camssia, but it gets more sun, its spot is a bit more open! Likes clay though.

Very nice Sarah - good idea. I love those white aquilegia.

Nice to hear of a plant that likes clay soil. Could we have a list of them ?
I only know Patio Roses love it, grow furiously.

They're really nice. White flowers certainly brighten up a shady spot :o)

Hi Diane- these are the plants I am trying out on clay soil: For a grass which is quite tricky for this soil type I am trying Deschampia Cesptosa, camassia likes heavy moist soil, crocosmia lucifer (would also like to try star of the east), Turtlehead Chelone Obliqua, Hemerocalis day lily, Climbing Roses are growing fast, Ajuga/Bugle for ground cover, Philadelphus Mock Orange.

Delphiniums I think are meant to be good on clay but mine are not good at all - under too much attack by slugs & snails and never quite get going.

With more room, I'd also like to try Fritillaries, Kirengeshoma Palmata , Eupatorium, Foxtail lily, Winter Aconite, Anemone Honirine Jabert, Michaelmas Daisy, Eucryphia Nymansay, Spiraea Japonica Anthony Waterer. Good luck with that you try growing, let me know what works for you!

Hope my spellings of these plant names are close enough for you find them on google!

I thought it was a camassia but needed confirmation as my blue ones flowered way back when. I put white ones in too but they've never flowered.
As for growing in clay ( which I have), most hardy geraniums seem to grow anywhere, aquilegias, geums, potentillas, candelabra primulas all do well. Euphorbias seem to like it, as does lythrum and lysimachia, which will grow in sun or shade. Alchemilla mollis grows anywhere and I have about 25 clematis and roses - mostly climbing - growing happily here too. Lastly, I have just planted Sambucus nigra which, I read, will grow in just about any soil - so we'll see! I should add that I do add lots of organic matter to my soil on a fairly regular basis. Forgot, and just added, astilbes.

HI TuesB, that so funny as I also have Astilbes, geranium, auiligias, guem, euphorbia, clematis , roses and have just got a Sambucus Nigra!

:))

I have written all these plant names down for future
reference. My clay top soil was removed by the builders
when these flats were built, so its really clay subsoil I have. Years of digging in horse
manure, chicken manure and humus were of no effect.
Iris are quite happy, and Aquilegias.
I found it easier to have a container garden, using bark chippings on the pot surfaces to retain moisture, and all the plants in their own best compost, feeding every
6 weeks.
Thank you all for your help.