hedgehawg writes

I have a new build house with a tiny 20 foot by 16 foot north facing
garden. I`m currently planning to convert it into a beautiful courtyard
with decking, pergola and patio and have no lawn.

As I know nothing about gardening I really need some advice on the
types of plants I will be able to have in my garden when its done. It
doesn`t get much direct sunlight being on the north side.

I would love a climber to run up the pergola but whats the best kind
and after that I`m planning on having various plants in pots around the
garden but which should I go for, it seems when I look at the advice
labels on plants that they all need to be in the sunshine. I really
want to have lavendar and I like bamboo and grasses and I would like a
little herb garden but will this work?

I basically need to know plants that thrive in the shade.

Among herbs, marjoram will grow in the shade. I'd guess that mint and
parsley are probably OK too. Even things that want sunshine will often
grow in the shade, just not flower as much, may rot in a cold winter -
worth trying, but don't spend to much, eg start with one plant not half
a dozen.

There are plenty of grasses which will grow in the shade, they're just
different species from the ones that like sun. In particular, there's a
wood sedge (OK sedges aren't grasses, but in terms of garden effect
they're the same) which has quite improbably white flowers - very
attractive. If you can't find another source of information, try
Chilterns seeds - the descriptions tell you whether they're grasses for
sun or shade.
--
Kay