On 11 Jan, 11:38, "Jeff Layman" wrote:
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:
In message ,
Rusty_Hinge writes
The message
from rabc contains these words:

Shade loving low growing perennials required.......after paying pounds
out every year for bedding plants i have decided to take the plunge and
fill one border with perennials , the border in question is right
outside my window which gets very little sunshine any recommendations
appreciated.....Thanks

Winter aconites, most bulbs, wood anemones, various hellebores including
Christmas rose, wood spurge - to go on with.

More stuff that grows on woodland floors - bluebells, lesser celandine,
ramsoms (if you don't mind the smell), creeping dogwood

I thought that most plants which come up early on deciduous woodland floors
are actually rather shade-intolerant. *They appear early before the trees
get their leaves and shade those plants out. *I would guess that although
the OP might have success in the first year or so as the plants would be
living off stored food in their bulbs, corms, etc, they would slowly fail
without at least some sunlight. *Depends on the severity of the shading the
OP has, I guess.

You are right - these plants seek moisture and highly fertile soil,
not shade only. My thoughts entirely, hence asking about walls/fences
and situation. When it comes to a question like this I always think of
edibility and scent, then visual and height - bulbs and spring flowers
are additions to perennial beds, not the principal plants, and a bed
must be able to provide all year round interest too.