Here is a garden under an ash tree in OH in it's even though the garden was just over a year old at the time, from previously being sparse grass. There are hostas, columbine, creeping phlox, Pulmonaria, Bergenia, Trillium, violets, Polemonium (jacob's ladder,) a few bulbs, Lamium, a little lilac, ready to be a tree if the ash got emerald beetle borers (I moved, remains a mystery,) and a few others I don't remember and can't see from this angle. 4" of mulch can retain moisture for weeks. Of your list, I would avoid the Vinca. Just too sprawling/spready to play nice with the other plants. In general, you don't want vines in a flower bed. Entities like Vinca or Ajuga that rapidly spread really do best in their own, well-enclosed space. Spreading through other more self-contained plants, these spreaders can make the whole thing look like a confused mess. But, like most things-gardening, this is subject to your personal opinion on the matter.

Wow wow wow! Thanks everybody for all the suggestions... and the gorgeous pictures! I'll research all the strains mentioned, although just a reminder that I'm in Maryland where BS seems to be extra bad (I havent heard of a few of these before, which makes me wonder whether they do well around here). Btw, in searching this site's archives I did find a list that "Olga" posted a couple of years ago, which included both New Dawn and Awakening as ones which do pretty well around here. I'd welcome further thoughts, though! As to that picket fence, Betty - I wish I could paint it or something but, alas, it's not mine - that's the neighbours house (we're on a hill that direction, thus their grade is about 5-7ft higher than ours). REally, all I can hope to do is grow over it :) Mandi, as for bushy: I realise it will take some time - I'm assuming (hoping?) that over the next 4-5 years the plants I put in now will do their thing and be covering up that fence a little more each year. If the canes want to grow up, what happens if you peg them over as they get long enough, so they spread out and mound a bit more? To add to my questions: what about Mermaid? Another weed-riddled and miserable corner (jungle!) along the back fence is being cleared as we speak (I gave up on that one and got some college lads with chainsaws and better heat tolerance than I have to come and do it for me). A huge mounding mass of something I LIKE and that would hopefully over time compete with the brush that seems to want to grow there would be awesome. I saw some pictures of Mermaid (also on Olga's list as doing quite well in these parts) and it got me to thinking about a way of making that ugly corner prettier but relatively easy to maintain..... :) Thank you everybody SO SO MUCH! Keep those ideas coming!

Hi momnipotent. Gardening in part sun can be challenging, and I've found that it comes down to two main things: 1) paying close attention to exactly when, where, and for how long the sun hits each part of your garden, and 2) experimentation. If a plant isn't thriving where you put it, don't be shy about moving it. Some suggestions to add to your hostas would be ferns, brunnera, polemonium, astilbe, geraniums, or chelone lyonii. I grow all of these and I love them. Astilbes and polemonium will give height and color to your garden. Coral bells are another great option, although I have difficulty growing them (for some reason, the local thug squirrels always dig mine up). I also grow Japanese anemone and they do wonderfully in lots of light conditions. Be forewarned, however, that once established they can spread very quickly and consume other plants. I wouldn't call it aggressive, but certainly assertive. In fact, I noticed this morning that one of mine is threatening to swallow some of my columbines, so it will need to be pruned this evening. Speaking of which, columbines are another option. Meconopsis cambrica (Welsh poppy) is a freely-seeding cheery yellow flower that does well in a variety of conditions.

would be under the eave, so a part shade/shade situation. Would need to either grow to be no more than 3 ft. wide and preferably 12' tall. ==>> foundation plantings are planted to hide the foundation .. not on the foundation ... in my world.. if you are planting under an eave ... you are TOO CLOSE to the foundation .... conifers are trees.. they NEVER STOP GROWING .. ever ... all of them will eventually hit the eave how about a pic.. maybe its much different than what i am thinking ... though west coast MI is basically z6 ... i would not push it long run ... and go with a steady z5 plant... ken