Ideas for east facing border

[Le Doazac]

I want to create a 'cottage garden' feel for this border. I'm looking at a mix of ground-cover perennial plants and shrubs. So far I've looked at hostas, Anenomes, Cranesbill. Can anyone help with other ideas - especially the ground-cover types?

[Two_Sheds]

I can only tell you what I've got in my east facing beds:

1) hosta, primulas, black bamboo, bedding dianthus, ophiopogon, philadelphus, daffs, crocus, myosotis, anemone de Caen

2) east facing but actually pretty shady: camellia (the flowers get frosted, it'd be better on a west facing bed); all the above plus foxgloves & hellebores

[Le Doazac]

Thanks TS. How do you feel about hydrangea (Mme Emile Mouillere I think that's the variety) and or cotoneaster? I want a mix of shrubs and ground cover. Already have hostas and bedding dianthus in mind but hadn't thought of black bamboo. Great idea, we have several other varieties in the garden so should take well. Also thought about Pink Turtlehead - but not sure if it can cope with our heavy clay soil. Any thoughts on that?

[Two_Sheds]

I hate pink, and I hate cotoneaster, sorry. But I'm sure they'd do fine in your garden

[Jardiniere]

rosemary, lavender and hibiscus.

[Little Mama]

Forget-me-nots and Alchemilla Molis work well for ground cover in my east facing border and it's quite shady there too.

[Le Doazac]

Presumably I'll need to winter the hibiscus in the greenhouse. No idea what Alchemilla Molis is but will look it up now. Lots of ideas now. Thanks.

[Straightenout]

Alchemilla Mollis is commonly known as Lady's Mantle. A profusion of small yellow flowers. Some folks find it a bit plain but it's pretty hardy and grows strongly up here.

BBC - Gardening: Plant Finder - Lady's mantle