Would any of the tougher bromelliads suit? They don't all have spiky leaves and, if you're thinking of something alienlooking...

Would a birdbath sort of arrangement with succulents in tiers (no puns, please!) suit? Or a mosaicked planter and Sanseviera?

Thanks for the suggestion, vetivert8. Not sure if they wouldn't be too tender in winter, unfortunately, and they would probably be too out of keeping with the general look of the garden which has wildlife/herb/cottage garden tendencies.

One thing I forgot to add in the previous post is that I've currently got a tutsan, hypericum androsaemum, planted in that spot. I put it there earlier this year because I thought it would be a toughie, but so far it's looking limp at the edges particularly on hot days. Should it be OK there once given more time to establish, or should I definitely move elsewhere?

lori,

this plant may not appeal to you but I use Euphorbia Mellifera already in such a place. It is highly drought and wind tolerant, puts up with quite a bit of shade, has lovely leaves and scented flowers in late spring. Evergreen. Only drawback, not totally hardy up north or right out in the open and like other Euphorbias has the sap irritant, otherwise it's a beauty and easily replaced after 5 years or so if it gets leggy. Seeds around mildly so always a ready supply available.

Take a look at it and see if it's for you. I love it and grow it all over the place, pots, full sun, shade, dry area. It's a joy to grow here in the south.

I have a shady area under lilac trees near a fence so it's horribly dry. It's also overcrowded. It gets some sun, though not hot midday sun. I've got lemon balm, foxgloves, hostas, lysimachia punctata, ferns, (certain kinds only) comfrey, euphorbia, box, euonymus, eleagnus & ivy all in situ for years and doing fine, if not exactly flourishing. I would say most of these would also take as much sun as you could throw at them, also.I would avoid things like ligularias, polygonums and lysimachia ciliata which wilt in the midday sun, though seem to struggle on regardless, otherwise.

I suspect it is the dryness which makes this site difficult rather than the light conditions. Perhaps if you could establish something by means of assiduous watering for one summer it could cope on its own thereafter?

Yes, I'll keep going with extra waterings of the tutsan to see how it gets along. It perked right up after a good deep watering and mulch a couple of evenings ago. I don't want a plant I'm going to have to keep giving supplementary waterings to long term there, though, so I suppose it depends how it behaves after it establishes. I'll tough it out for this summer unless it looks like it's in serious trouble. I might try a euphorbia mellifera if it doesn't work out, especially if it really is honey-scented. I haven't been a huge euphorbia fan in the past but they are slowly growing on me (sounds like a bad gardening pun). I can imagine things like comfrey, lemon balm and ivy would definitely cope as I have them in slightly shadier but equally dry spots elsewhere, but probably want to cram in something different this time around for a bit of contrast.

I have a narrow border next to an east facing house wall which is very dry and is alternately in sun or shade. Best plants I have found are Centranthus (Valerian) white one is good and hollyhocks. After the Valerian flowers I cut it right back while the hollyhocks flower, then cut them right back while the Valerian has another go. Both seed themselves around. I have other plants in the border but these are the only two which look really healthy with the conditions

Thanks calypso. I planted some centranthus ruber last autumn, and they have been doing admirably well in the unusually hot and dry conditions this summer, but that was in a full sun position. I didn't realise that they might do OK in part day shade.

My immediate thought when you mentioned wildlife was Buddleia.. I have one growing in far more shade than it should be in, and it copes quite happily.

Oh yes, buddleia seem pretty near indestructible. I think it may grow too big even with regular hard pruning, unless there's an unusually small cultivar, about 4ft up the jasmine is overhanging slightly and the space itself at ground level is around only 2ft by 2ft.

I will say Buddleia too because I have seen them growing out of abandoned railway lines, roofs, chimneys, all sorts ! They are good for butterflies .

I am now having a rethink about the whole wall bordering my garden after catching an intruder in my garden last night (and also being told by my neighbour that I had similar happen a couple of weeks back while I was asleep). I'm now considering planting spiny wall shrubs for increased security but will start another thread about that.

try some eucomis