I have some steps leading from my lawn up to a patio. On the left of the steps I intend to have a veg patch but I don’t know what to plant in the patch on the right of the steps.

The patch is about 1.5m by 1.5m and quite steep in gradient. I’m new to gardening so have no idea about plants. The soil is quite clayey and the area gets a lot of sun in the summer but none at all from October to March.

I’d like idea’s for plants I can plant here that will give year round interest, be low maintenance (possibly ground cover to cut down on weeding). I like flowers but a lot of “year round interest” seems to mean boring evergreens and conifers.

Advice and suggestions welcome please. :)

sedums come in a range of different varieties and colours and are easy to grow and will grow pretty much anywhere, they are also excellent ground cover, you could also try some hebes again a range of different colours, also if the ground is especially clayey, you could dig in some good compost and some sand to help break it up.

Thank you, that's the kind of advice i need. More please everyone.

Bulbs bulbs and bulbs - spring ones will add that colour you will normally not have. Also worth growing a few things in pots and then you can rotate them in and out of the patch - thus allowing you to grow more sun loving plants in the shady area.

I'd go with torin8 & kim 69. Loads of bulbs for spring, and hebes - perennials. Cranesbill geraniums too. We had really heavy clay in our last garden, even when we added compost and sand it didn't make much difference. Hebes & cranesbills flourished.

Not sure about soil types but you could try:

Chillian Guava, Hakonechloa, Red barked dog wood, Evergreen bittersweet, myrtle.