Re: Plants for difficult site

I've successfully grown Jasmine and Honeysuckle in containers about 1ft deep by 1ft diameter, both in a shady spot. They needed lots of feeding though, and the compost would dry out quickly so they needed plenty of watering. They climbed about 6ft. They were just left in-situ for about 3 or 4 years before I moved house. Now the honeysuckle, having been cut right back for transport, is tooked away in a shady corner of my new garden while I sort it a better home. It is growing back nicely.

My dad grows sweet peas in containers. They look and smell great, and grow quite tall and bushy, so maybe that's another option, although the downside is they are, I believe, annuals so you need to start again every year.

Another possibility instead of climbers, is trailing plants in hanging baskets. Nasturtium (the wonder plant as far as I'm concerned) works in this environment. Again an annual in the UK, but it grows very fast and tolerates shade. It has the added bonus that you can use the trimmings in the kitchen in a range of different ways (most websites just tell you about the young leaves and flowers going into salads, a bit boring if like me you're not a salad fan), I use the stems in stir fries and soup, always adding at the very last minute because they very quickly loose their flavour and texture when cooked.

 

Thanks everyone,

I've taken everything on board, some good ideas. I'll let you know what I decide to do and give you a progress report on whatever I plant there.