On Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:18:45 +0100, Roger Tonkin
wrote:

My local mobile post office man threw this one at me today.

He has a wooded area, mainly of cob nuts, with a carpet of bluebells
underneath. He would like to plant some contrasting flowers (red and
yellow/white) to flower with the bluebells. In spring, the canopy is
quite thin, but gets thicker during the summer, but still has light
coming through. At least 6" of the soil is just leaf mould.

What would anyone suggest?

Natives would be best, but it's a free country. Primroses, though they
may flower too early for his purpose. Or try cowslips, which are a bit
later: they probably won't find it too shady in a hazel plantation.
Celandine spreads like mad when it's happy, but disappears for most of
the year; wild garlic (ramsons) if it's on the damp side. If he
doesn't mind spending money, there are white forms of the English and
Welsh bluebell (best not to add Spanish bluebells, in spite of what
some members of the group say: Brit ones are definitely more
graceful). Too cold for Allium triquetrum: I tried them in West Wales,
and they died of cold even there.

--
Mike.