A shady border
This plan includes a mixture of plants with grass-like leaves (Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika'), strap-shaped foliage (Liriope muscari) and large roundish leaves (hosta).
Most plants specified in the plan have a smooth shiny texture; they add a sparkle and brighten up this dark border. Hydrangea quercifolia and digitalis(foxglove) with rough-textured foliage are added to avoid an excessively glossy plant mix.
Clipped balls of Buxus sempervirens (English box) add a more definite repetition of the rounded shapes of Skimmia japonica 'Kew Green'.
For a vertical dimension, three posts with wire netting are used as individual supports for the climber Trachelospermum jasminoides.
The addition of light green (Heuchera 'Lime Rickey' and Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika') and white (Hydrangea quercifolia and Digitalis purpurea 'Albiflora') introduces a lively contrast.
Plantlist for a shady border (10x2 m)
Aucuba japonica (Japanese laurel) (h) (1)
Buxus sempervirens (English box) (h) (3)
Camellia sasanqua 'Early Pearly' (hh) (1)
Daphne odora 'Alba' (winter daphne) (h) (3)
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora (h) (5+6)
Euonymus japonicus (evergreen euonymus) (h) (1)
Heuchera 'Lime Rickey' (coral bells) (h) (7)
Hosta 'Francee' or other hosta with green and white foliage (h) (6)
Hydrangea quercifolia (oak-leafed hydrangea) (h) (2)
Liriope muscari (lily turf) (h) (10+9)
Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika' (basket grass) (h) (4)
Rhododendron 'Alaska' (white evergreen azalea) (h) (4)
Scabiosa caucasica (pincushion flower) (h) (6)
Skimmia japonica 'Kew Green' (h) (3)
Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) (hh) (3)
(f= frost tender; hh= half hardy; h= hardy)