I have a border that is approx 15ft long and 2-3ft deep which is next to a mature privet hedge. The border is also in shade pretty much 100% of the time. There is literally nothing growing in it at the moment, not even a weed. Could anyone please advise me what I could plant in this border so there is some sort of coverage year round and ideally some flowers at times throughout the year? Also, I know the shade is an issue in regards to growth but is there a possibility the privet hedge is 'robbing' all the nutrients from the soil??

Any help will be much appreciated!

Same here Rodders1! I've got a massive hedge which is going to launch everything into shade so any ideas of shade lovers, but are still pretty, would be very welcome!

hmm, tricky.

Grasses and alpine plants grow in fairly inhospitable places - if it was me, I'd be tempted to put some gravel down (over some landscape matting), so that there was some drainage, but also so that what little light there is, is reflected backto the plants. Or I'd go with a fern / woodland garden - some beautiful green textural plants - laurels don't mind a bit of shade (and you can get varigated ones too) ... gunnera (tend to get rampant tho, so only plant it if you really want it).

There are quite a few options really - I think it depends what you want ?

What about woodland plants such as ferns, bluebells or foxglove etc. Periwinkles do rather well in shade and are good ground cover - you could get one of the verigated varieties

Our garden is v shady too.... The previous owners planted lots of rododendram type plants, plants with waxy leaves (sorry for spelling).
These seem to do well, although I dont like them, they are big plants that just seem to have taken over.