What kind of flowers or plants should I put here? See pics and details.?

This is a really cool glacial rock in my yard that has a large groove down the center. We just cleared it out and thought it would be a great place for planting something. It is in a shady spot and we live in the northeast US.


My whole yard is very hilly and difficult to maintain, therefore, the more natural looking the better, however we are open to all ideas. There are several more huge outcrops of ledge like this one, but this one is prominent in the yard and has the most soil.


I put a chair on top of it in one of the pictures in case anyone needed a size perspective, but lost the pic during download, so see the rake I guess. Anyways it%26#039;s pretty big.


Thanks to all in advance.


http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/599/i...


http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9323/im...

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersWhat a beautiful rock. The first image that popped into my mind was that of a Japanese maple. It would look stunning in that crevice. It would be a perfectly natural combination of color and texture. Here is a picture of a Japanese maple. Try to picture it in the crevice. The crevice where the rake is. http://treegrowersdiary.com/japaneseredm...





I was not able to see the first pic for some reason until just now and noticed the groove you are referring to... I think. Anyhow, you will need something shallow rooted to grow there and I think some hosta may do well or maybe some sort of ground cover like lamium or Aurea.


pic of lamium: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi...


Pic of Aurea: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...
Reply:what a wonderful rock...since you want this setting to kind of appear natural..why not go with plants that are native to your area ... maybe like some moss and ferns.. than add somethinge like coral bells to give height and color http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/plants/p... ( ..this site indicates corabells should be planted in the sun...coral bells grow best in shade)
Reply:Purple coneflower or daisies would be hardy, not fast spreading and add color, texture and a focal point. In your other areas, try hostas, sedum autmn joy, or maybe even a low-growing evergreen like juniper that will creep along the rock ledge as it grows.
Reply:I was thinking succulents first off the bat, but the area looks pretty shady, so maybe something like monarda (bee balm), some small bulbs (crocuses, grape hyacinth) for spring, a type of bell-flower (campanula persifolia). These are plants that do well on the north side of my house and have shallow roots.
Reply:you could use some sort of ground cover, mint is one, grows easily spreads naturally smells great, you will want to put some kind of divider in the ground about 6 inches deep to keep it from spreading where ever you don%26#039;t want it.
Reply:I saw a place like this when I lived in Germany. Ferns grew naturally, it was in the woods and shady. I don%26#039;t know what kind of ferns they were but the winters didn%26#039;t bother them. I think ferns is what would probably grow naturally there if they had a start.
Reply:variegated hosta would look great and it loves shade and does flower





http://www.hosta.com/
Reply:i would put in creeping sedum, snow in summer,


bleeding hearts,lily of the valley,astilbe, sweet william


primroses,and hostas. larger plants in the back and mix the medium and smaller around the rock and these plants bloom at different time during the summer.
Reply:What about some kind of waterfall with a creek.puppy teeth