[mumofstig]

Any recommendations for hardy cottage garden style plants ( preferably perennial or annuals that will self seed) that will happily grow in poor soil at the base of a conifer hedge?
Forgot to say they are for the sunny side, so it's a very dry spot as well .........difficult I know

[arugula]

Wallflowers, not perennial I know , zinnia, cerinthe? Heathers but they're not cottagey... Any good?

[mumofstig]

Will try a few wallflowers does cerinthe self seed, cos I do like them

[Kleftiwallah]

Grape hyascinths ?  how about cowslips and primroses.   .   Cheers,   Tony.

[Aunt Sally]

Cosmos likes it dry as do geraniums (Pelargoniums).

[RichardA]

conifers not only rob the soil of water and nutrients but also leave the soil very acidic. I have never done well in getting things to grow under my conifers except daffs and snowdrops, odd holly bush, berberis etc. I will watch this thread with interest and hope to learn
R

[arugula]

does cerinthe self seed, cos I do like them

We planted loads from seed last year, I'm told it does and I hope so.

[arugula]

Snapdragons too.

[snowdrops]

How about love in the mist?

[sion01]

If got sweet woodruff in a similar situation and  is doing well(even though it is supposed to like a moist situation) and it releaces a lovely newly mown hay smell when you tread on it while cutting the headge but being a tough little thing it doesnt mind at all Latin name galium odoratum

[mumofstig]

Lots of things for me to try 

[viettaclark]

Honesty has leaf now, then lovely flowers, then the silver seedheads. I know they don't mind acid but don't know about full sun.
Would the hedge shade at all?

[mumofstig]

The only shade is early in the morning.

[viettaclark]

I planted seed last Spring and bunged in the plants in Autumn in front of my Laurel hedge. They've bushed out a treat!
I've seen Honesty on verges in sunshine so if you fancy it it's only a packet of seeds (or maybe someone's got some going?.....mine won't flower for a while....)
Or you might find plants growing wild that you could "thin out"!!!!
I've always loved it....real cottage garden and the seedheads make brilliant Christmas arrangements.