Advice sought... which shrubs to choose...

I have finally abandoned my original plan of having a mature herbaceous border in my front garden. It faces north and, at ground level, is heavily in the shade of the house. My next plan is to make it into a shrubbery. The area is about 3m x 10m (10ft X 33ft). Soil is naturally a bit acid, but I am likely to replace the soil around the shrubs with my super-fertile neutral worm compost (mixed ~ 50/50 with the natural soil, which is also naturally rather heavy).
I am thinking Rhododendron, Deutzia, maybe Azalea mollis. I have already bought Wiegela 'Bristol Ruby'. Since the above are fairly early bloomers, can anyone suggest some later-blooming types, and recommend specific cultivars.
I have a nice encyclopaaedia which would be great for finding this info, but foolishly left it in France!

My taste in shrubs - flashy! If you've got it - flaunt it!!!
Any suggestions gratefully recieved.
Mike

Not later flowering, but how about these for really flashy, and liking shade:
Fatsia japonica - late autumn flowering, big bold 'tropical'-looking leaves
Mahonia x media, M. lomariifolia, M. gracilipes - winter-flowering, impressive foliage
No need to change the soil, either, with these.

Resin

Fatsia japonica

Mahonia x media

There are azalea that bloom into late summer. I got some at Rare Find Nursery last
year - lots of yellows and oranges as I recall. I would have to look it up to give you the name -
maybe lepodite? Check on rhodo's forum to get suggestions too.

Will rose of sharon bloom for you there? Not sure how much shade they take - mine has
quite a bit of sun and is lovely in later summer.

Perhaps something that has berries for winter interest? I'm having a total memory block on the
group of shrubs that are natives & have berries. Viburnums! I recall a nice thread with lots of selections
on the Trees and Shrubs forum not too long ago.

Tam

Tam

Have you considered some of the Lindera species?

Guy S.

Hydrangea quercifolia, Calycanthus floridus, Viburnum sargentiana 'Onondaga' are all shade lovers with beautiful blooms. Don't forget the groundcovers and spring bulbs to tie it all together!

(Sorry for silence - been away)...
Fatsia and Mahonia are what I call 'vandal-proof' plants, which I feel are more suitable for public parks than gardens (though they do look nice) - I actually have a Mahonia in my back garden and fairly loathe it, but can't quite bring myself to dig it up and dump it...
In fact, our climate is relatively mild... a sort of variation on zone 9a (cool summers and wet winters).

I feel I, perhaps stressed the shade a bit much, it's not in deep shade.

Have found a late Azalea through the Rare Find Nursery... Late Lady... now only problem is to find supplier this side of Atlantic (haven't quizzed the web yet).

Rose of Sharon is, I'm afraid one of my bêtes noirs - it grows like a weed here and I spend a lot of time yanking the seedlings out...

Lindera is a nice idea... can it be kept to a fairly small size (< 8 feet)? That reminded me (the trimming aspect) that Eucalyptus gunnii would make a good choice.

I have an undistinguished Viburnum, which I will now replace with the recommended Onondaga which looks lovely. Ditto the Hydrangea and the Calycanthus - thanks PrairieGirl.

I had also thought that Acca/Feijoa sellowiana might make a nice show... and Ceanothus... maybe Gloire de Versailles...

Thanks to all...

I like the idea of Feijoa and Ceanothus. There is even C. arboreus which is nice and some crosses of it. The Gloire de Versailles is nice but deciduous I believe. The variegated Fatsia is nice as well as the 'Spiders Web'. Griselinia littorialis variegata is super. Ugni molinae makes a nice filler and the fruit is absolutely delightful for jelly. I think you might be able to grow Tetrapanax papyrifera with Hedychiums. As for the Eucalyptus, see if you can find "Baby Blue" or for an even more dramatic effect, E. pulverulenta which is a really neat plant. If you can find Correa, the blooms are unique and it's a well behaved small shrub. I have other ideas if you want.

Leucothoe and Pieris would also do well. Don't forget some of the dwarf conifers for winter structure.

Thanks for these extras... I used the brilliant RHS Plantfinder site to find suppliers of most of the plants suggested. Have bought three(!) Eucalypts over the net (the company wouldnt sell less than three (E. gunnii divaricata, E. pulverentula and E. pauciflora) the latter will be put in my back garden to replace an ugly holly tree, which I have covered with Clematis montana.

I wonder a bit about the hardiness of the Tetrapanax, but will probably give it a go...

Thanks again.
All the best,
Mike

Great to hear! Tetrapanax makes it through the winter with its roots. You're slightly milder than me so they should be ok. If you protect the stems you get a bigger plant but what a great tropical-like summer display. Good Luck!