[AmandaLouise]

Hi there

I am looking for advice on an ideal shrub or perennial I could get for my garden.  When I say full shade, I mean it is under a treehouse which is a metre high, and does not get a glimpse of light.  It cant be too tall either so I am looking for a low maintenance evergreen, that if poss does have a flowering season.  The soil is dry, so it wont get a lot of water, but just enough I guess being in Manchester!  I have a eunoymous and a lavender that is next to the treehouse but always shaded, and they grow fine, but I need something directly under it...... I currently have bare soil here which if possible I would really like to grow something, as it looks so boring.  Here are what I found:

(I say low maintenance because its difficult getting under the treehouse and gives you a rotten backache!)  the area is 2 metres wide so a ground cover would be fine.

Choiysa
Hosta.... (I really dont want this, I tried and it kept getting demolished by slugs)
Skimmia japonica
Lily of the valley mahonia
Bishops Hat - Epimedium × rubrum
Common Solomon's Seal - Polygonatum 'Striatum'
Red Stonecrop - Sedum spurium 'Schorbuser Blut'

I really like the red stonecrop, but what I have to bear in mind, it is a hard area to access.  the above are the only ones I really found. 

Many thanks
Amanda x

I have

[viettaclark]

I rely on the Bergenia for shady, dry areas. You can get lots of different types, they spread well, no upkeep, foliage all year and flowers for ages from early Spring.

[Scotch Thistle]

How about Pyracantha (Firethorn), will stand full shade and looks good with evergreen foliage and bright berries

[sunshineband]

It is just  a csae of covering the soil you could try periwinkle. There are several forms but the dwarf ones gives denser ground cover, and all have pretty flowers

[AmandaLouise]

Your suggestions are great, so I will have a look at those as none of them were on my list! 

Amanda

[Yorkie]

For simple variegation there is euonymus, although it doesn't flower.

[viettaclark]

Pyracantha is very prickly and probably not suitable for under a kids' tree house. I have a huge one that the birds love.

[Yorkie]

Pyracantha is very prickly and probably not suitable for under a kids' tree house. I have a huge one that the birds love.

Good point! 

[AmandaLouise]

This is the area I was talking about by the way! Grasped how to shrink pictures

[Yorkie]

I agree with periwinkle.  There are different types, some of which are more invasive than others ... also variegated and non-variegated forms.

[viettaclark]

Pink Bergenia and mauve Periwinkle with their contrasting flower type, leaf colour and shape would look smashing! Bung in a few white narcissi at the edges in the Autumn and it will look lovely when they all flower next Spring ......And the leaves are tough and evergreen so interest and cover all year.

[AmandaLouise]

Duly noted, thankyou!