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  T & S Plants August 13, 2010 at 7:40pm

  Fatsia japonica, easy to look after, and flowers in the Autumn.
  
  If you need to, underplant with purple foliaged Heuchera.
  
  No fuss, clean and simple.
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  Dan Frazer Gardening August 13, 2010 at 9:41pm

  I planted some hardy fuscias, hosta and Ligularia 'The Rocket' in May beside a north facing wall and they have done superbly, especially the fuscia and Ligularia. highly recommend trying these unusual and colourful plants in shady spots.
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  Claire Brown August 13, 2010 at 10:38pm

  why do you want to plant shrubs? - I only ask as these are often perceived as low maintenance when a lot of them arn't because of final sizes, is it dry shade, or is the soil damp?- is it under trees, or in the shade of a fence? - I would suggest a mix of shrubs and perennials, - there is a blog post coming about this, but my suggestions are
  Dry shade - Brunnera Jack Frost, Epimedium- lots of different varieties, Vinca minor, fuchsia, geranium macchorizum
  damp shade - Hellebores, sarcoccoca confusa, ferns, Astilbles, hostas, astilbes
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  David Benjamin Ridley August 13, 2010 at 11:03pm

  Really appreciate all the replies! I'm gonna have a good look when I go round next, and maybe test the soil. My girlfriend, being very supportive of my gardening venture, bought me four of the Expert books: the 'green' garden expert, the lawn one, trees and shrubs and flower one. I've learned so much from them already (basically treating them as Bible testaments!). I've already impressed clients with my talk of pricking the lawn, leaving cuttings in dry spells, the tasks for the various months etc. Brilliant!
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  Geoff Norfolk August 14, 2010 at 11:09am

  I often just type in the requirements into Google like "shade dry evergreen shrub" and you get loads of ideas...... sometimes plants I've forgotten about for years.
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  Michèle Martin October 5, 2010 at 3:22pm

  Larger specimen shrubs = Holly (Choose female varieties if you want berries e.g. 'Golden King'), Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun' for yellow scented winter flowers and some of the white Hydrangeas e.g. 'Paniculata' or 'Quincifolia'.
  For smaller ones how about Sarcococca - the winter box for evergreen foliage and scented winter flowers, and if it's not too shady potentilla which comes in lots of different flower colours.
  Underneath the shrubs you might like to look at ground cover plants such as Pachsandra terminalis, variagated Lamium (deadnettle) or Ajuga reptans.
  Don't forget bulbs too - snowdrops, then crocus then daffs (mini ones are great and less messy when they die) also muscari anemones.... I could go on but I won't.
  Enjoy!