Hardy plants that don't need a lot of water

We have a large conifer in our large, well-established garden. There is a space underneath that we cleared by cutting a load of sideshoots off the conifer. We now find it almost impossible to grow anything there. The tree itself shelters this area so it doesn't ever get any rain on it and the roots drain any little bit of moisture that reaches the soil.
Can anyone suggest what we could grow there?
It is a space about 5 foot square.

 

Hmmm. Dry impoverished shade. Not easy.

You could try Geranium macrorrhizum. It is pretty obliging and will grow in most places. I have it in an area which never gets any sun and where it has lots of competition from roots. It would be worth giving it the best possible start by digging lots of compost and keeping it watered until established, however.

Here's a link to some images:-

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=e...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQsAQwAA

 

There are some nice ideas here, too:-

http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Plants_for_Dry_Shade.html

 

Dry shade under conifers is particularly tough, I have found. They're greedy blighters and the gloom they produce is constant. Of the plants listed above, Geranium phaem is another tough customer which would probably cope and the Vincas always seem to survive, although I'm afraid I see them as a last resort.

 

Thanks for all those suggestions.
The area does get some sun though. It is only water it is short of. It faces South so it gets sun most of the day.
I'm going to have a look at your suggestions and maybe give some of them a try.

 

I've just looked at your suggestions and we already have loads of Alchemilla mollis growing in our front garden. They also grow through the path at the side of the house and in our front drive!!!
I could easily dig some of those up and replant under the tree. That's definitely worth a try.

 

Well, in that case you have a wider choice of plants - the main thing is to get plants which can cope with dry conditions. In my opinion (you can tell I'm not a conifer fan) conifers are particularly good at leaching every last bit of goodness out of the soil so it would be worth taking some trouble to prepare the soil by adding lots of compost.

Claire Austin has a nice list of plants which will do well in dry areas - including those close to the dreaded Leylandii hedging!

http://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/right frame menu/situations/1 dry shade.html

 

ps Just seen your post on Alchemilla. I think it looks really pretty and it is certainly trouble free, something I am all for. My Mum always says she enjoys gardening but has no interest in nursing invalids.