I have an area of soil under a 3 foot eave (Not Eve!), it's North
facing, and I'm in North Cumbria. Weeds germinate in it, so it's not
hopeless, and I can water it easily with a buried pipe from a butt. We
don't do droughts here! The soil is acid/neutral.

I'd like to grow something here as it's near the entrance to the
house. Hostas and Impatiens, maybe, but what else?

R.