There is an area against the back of the house (facing north) that is shady most of the day. Right now, it is filled with blackberry lily, ditch lilies and Pachysandra. Its approximately 8 feet long and 3 feet from front to back.

I want to dig out and remove everything there, and replace it.

I would like to cover the ground with threadleaf false cypress (might be too shady), and then put 2 or 3 taller shrub/small trees there. I'm thinking lacecap hydrangeas or maybe single-leader sand cherrys.

Any comments about this would be appreciated, as I've not gardened in the shade...

Thanks so much...

Some good zone 7 shade plants would include nandina (heavenly bamboo - watch for invasive issues in specific areas), Japanese holly, azaleas and rhodies or pieris (if soil conditions are appropriately acidic), camellias, sweet box (Sarcococca), hydrangeas, shrub dogwoods and Euonymus fortuneii cultivars. A dwarf Japanese maple could be a nice focal point or if enough room, a witch hazel.

You have lots of choices for groundcovers - the pachysandra would work fine; also lamium, vinca, ajuga, mondo grass or lilyturf. And there's lots of shade loving perennials you could include for some seasonal color.

You might want to visit the library and check out The Complete Shade Gardener by George Schenk. It's kind of a shade gardening bible and with lots of great ideas and photos for inspiration.

I'm leaning towards mondo grass for the ground cover. I have TONS of pachysandra and vinca... The previous home owners planted it everywhere...

I was also thinking about Japanese Hakone Grass... I love the look - and I've read it may do okay in shade... I'm just not sure about availabilty and price....

Meadow Lark