After adding onto our house, we ended up with this little shady spot between the new porch and the main house; it's only about 4 ft x 5 or 6 ft, and is shaded most of the day, even though it faces south. And as you can see from the roof line, it's going to get BURIED in snow in the winter. Anyone got ideas for what might survive there? Preferably something with flowers?

Woffie, the addition looks great!!! Are you thinking of perennials or annuals????

I was hoping to put in perennials. Anyone have any experience with Toad Lilies? They're supposed to like moist and be hardy, I think? And they're really pretty.

Astilbe? Foxglove? Bleeding hearts? Heucherella?

Also, Woofie, close to the house like that you can likely grow things that are a little less hardy than what you would plant out in the open yard somewhere.

There are many different Campanula, Monkshoods does well for me, Jacobs Ladder, Columbine, Hostas are great and have beautiful blooms, they come in many sizes so you wound want to consider which cultivar you choose.

Hmmm, Bleeding heart is a thought....and I have some seeds coming.

Oh, I hadn't thought of using Campanula there! And I do like Campanula. Worth a try!

I've always wanted to try Monkshood -- thanks for reminding me, Margaret!

Sandy, they are lovely plants, I have 2 cultivars, a dark purple and a bi-color white and light purple, both were given to me by a neighbor about 12 years ago so they are long lived. They prefer a mostly sunny location but do fairly well in light shade too, and the bees love them.

That spot might be great for Blue poppies? Meconopsis?
Or try Lady Bells? Adenophora lillifolia?

If I could get my hands on Meconopsis plants, I'd love to try them there. I have some seeds (probably too old ) that I am going to try wintersowing in that corner. Haven't had any luck getting the seeds to germinate so far, tho. I've tried several times.

Well, I have a few plants for my spot so far. I had a leftover blue Campanula pyramidalis so I'm going to put that at the back. Thanks for that suggestion, I would not have thought of using it there. And, I also had a leftover monarda, so I'm going to put it next to the campanula (what the heck, it might get enough sun there).
I think toad lilies will do well there, so I have some ordered that should arrive today, along with a couple of small anemones. For ferns, I ordered some lady ferns and a Japanese painted fern. Also included a hellebore I've been drooling over.
Couldn't find any bleeding heart this time of year, but I'm going to try the seeds over the winter and if they don't work out, I should be able to find plants come spring. AND, in researching ferns, I discovered that my very favorite fern, Maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillis-veneris) is hardy to zone 5b, so I just might be able to include one of those in this spot.
I appreciate the suggestions, and I AM going to try those Meconopsis seeds again. Does anyone know if it's possible to order Meconopsis plants anywhere?

Here's a snap of my new toad lilies, that came complete with a couple of blooms!

Woofie, those are lovey, pretty color.

They're really tiny, only about an inch across. But they're so cute and I think they'll look really nice peeking out of a mass of ferns.

I think that will look nice. I love ferns, I have had 3 wood ferns for several years and the other day I found a baby about 4 inches tall, it was so cute, but it was growing between a rock and cement so I moved it, I don't know if it will survive as the small roots broke off.

I just came upon this thread and have a question if you don't mind. Is Monkshood and monkscap the same or am I calling my monkshood a monkscap? Here is a picture of it.

Monkshood and Monkscap are both common names for Aconitum which is what is in your picture.

I thought they were the same thing but wanted to be sure.

Woofie,

If you need a small bush there, Kerria would probably work:

http://www.gardensinthewood.co...