The experts' suggestions

[girlyswot]

So, my question was indeed duly asked and answered on GQT today. Here's what they suggested:

Pippa Greenwood: Silver-leaved pear; any of the Malus trees; winter aconites.

Anne Swithinbank: Suggested a 'woodland feel': Magnolia tree; yew; honeysuckle; Lenten hellebores, snowdrops, narcissi, pulmonarias.

Matthew Biggs: Didn't quite get the 'low-maintenance' part of the question and suggested containers with things like rhododendrons and camellias. I don't think I'll be doing that.

Comments

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I heard it! I liked the silver-leaf pear or crab-apple idea; neither would get too big for you. The rhododendrons in containers: no! I think they look awful and as you say, not low maintenance. I bet you end up with something like Anne Swithinbank's scheme. I like her; she knows her stuff and has common sense.
They didn't give you enough time!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I know! When someone brings along a dead twig they seem happy to spend ten minutes analysing it, whereas mine only got a brief answer from them all, then straight on to the next thing.

I liked both Pippa's and Anne's suggestions, especially the 'woodland' idea. I think those sorts of plants would look really nice around the Shed.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I agree. To suit the site, you want plants that look as if they might have grown there naturally (ferns would look good against the stone!), which wouldn't be the case with rhodos or camellias.