What about Johnny Jump-Ups (Viola Tricolor). It flowers all summer. If it=

becomes too high or stops flowering, you can cut it a bit and it restarts=
again.
I think you can seed it in the fall for next year flowers. It does really=
well
in partial shade.

Fran=E7oise.

Dave Gower wrote:

I have an area in front of my house that is surrounded by driveway, so =
any
plant would be confined no matter how invasive it is. Right now it is f=
ull
of lilies of the valley, which are certainly invasive but they don't li=
ke it
there and get ratty looking by mid-summer.

So I'm looking for suggestions. Something different, interesting and
bullet-proof, requiring zero maintenance once established. Won't be wal=
ked
on much by people, but dogs will use the area. It's raised and steeply
sloped so not easy to mow.

The area is 20 ft by 10 feet, east facing, partial sun, lots of water o=
ff a
porch roof. Zone 5 (Eastern Ontario). Sandy, well drained soil.

I saw a type of bamboo grass on a PBS gardening show, which is the kind=
of
thing that might work. It looked quite attractive.

Any ideas?