What plants would grow best in my small shady east facing rear garden in the uk?

The garden is only small and part of a terraced unit and doesn't really get much sun after 3p.m. Most of the sunlight is between 9 and 12a.m. I'd like lots of greenery with some flowering shrubs. Generally though I'd like low maintenance plants. Can you help?

What plants would grow best in my small shady east facing rear garden in the uk?
Hosta plants.
Reply:I have a similar area in my garden which only gets sun in the mornings. I have planted small slow growing conifers in there for all year round shades of green, very low maintenance, all I do is water if it's been dry for a while (don't wait until they show signs of brown as chances are they will not recover).

I also have a Boston Ivy growing up the garage wall in the shady area which does well and looks fabulous in the autumn when the leaves turn bright red - you only need to trim this if it gets too carried away with itself, otherwise leave it to its own devices.

For flowering shrubs you could try choisia (not "sundance" as you won't get enough light to it) as you will get a lovely scent with it and again you only need trim it if it gets too big, otherwise no maintenance required.

For a burst of summer colour you could always plant dahlias - yes you will need to dead head them when they are flowering, but it's only 5-10 minutes every three or four days, so not much work for a fabulous display of colour. As your garden is shaded you won't need to mess about lifting the tubers over winter as they won't get frosted. (I never lift mine %26amp; they are not shaded from the frosts.)
Reply:Ferns, tradescantia, hardy fuschia, hydrangea, heuchera, hosta,pachysandra,forgetmenots,hakonechl... violas, violets, fatsia, and small evergreens like sarcococca,pieris,aucuba.... to name a few. Go to the library and find some books to identify these and see what you like.
Reply:Roses
Reply:go for safe plants that grow anywhere cottoneaster, spirea genista, vincas etc, cornus,