Agree with hoovb - not too many hardy succulents, and definitely too shady for them.

I would also advice hostas.

Thanks hoovb and rina, I guess maybe I should give up on my idea. I did plant a Hens and Chicks, an Autumn Joy and a Stonecrop down in my Ravine. These have survived in other areas with just a little more sun. I'll have to see how they survive the winter in this location.

Some succulents not matching my desired shape and color are listed as cold hardy. I do have 25+ hosta down there and some ferns, huechera, Black Scallop Ajuga, hydrangeas, grasses (surviving, but disappointing size wise)....... It is a sprawling area in which plantings just seem disappear in the space. I have seen nice blue succulents, but unfortunately (for me) they are not hardy in my zone 6a.

Thanks again,

Jon

Jon

The succulents you have planted are hardy - I have them too, in colder zone than yours. But they would do better with more sun. They will not die, but probably grow long and bit weaker stems than they should.

Most grasses also like sun (few will do fine in partial shade). I believe in few seasons your plants will reach mature size and fill up the area. Looks like a very nice part of a garden...Rina

This is quite blue spurge Donkey tail (Euphorbia myrsinites) - also very hardy, looks best in full sun:

There are some large blue hosta that would likely do very well there

Jon is a regular on the Hosta Forum and likely aware of the hosta available.

I have good luck with Red Russian Kale with about that much sun. Might be worth a shot.

This is in more sun...

...but these are in less sun.

Biggish, bold and blue. May survive winter in your zone and though a biennial it would reseed.

tj

@ Rina, Donkey Tail may be as close as I can come to my 'desired' succulent. I have 3 Hakonechloa Aureola that have barely survived a few years. Next Spring I will either move them into more sun, or cut down a tree and trim some others to gain a little sun.

@ Paul, Hosta do well back there. I have a Blue Angel that is a good 6 feet across. Many are coming into their third(leap) year and should show some good growth this year. My greatest surprise last year were 3 Dream Queens that I wasn't too sure of because of their variegation. They have all done very well.

@ tj, thanks for the recommendation. I might give that a shot, it might work. I have an area along the edge of a walkway that I have lined on both sides with stone. The blue succulent was to line the 'outside' edge of the walkway. The 'Inside' edge has some Blue Fescue grass that' so far, is surviving the winter. These are hardy to zone 4 and 'full sun', but seem to be surviving/thriving.

I am also considering European ginger as ground cover on the slope. Vinca Minor is spreading nicely outside the walkway. Experimenting now with Creeping Jenny. I am not afraid of these being invasive. If they start to invade into the area that I don't want them I can rip it out or control the spread with Roundup. It is a wooded area and there is no intention of trying to pretend it is a sophisticated, well-manicured garden. It is my favorite area. Nice place to sit and relax........

.....on my bench from 350 year old salvaged wood, concreted blocks covered with Mexican beach stones. Sorry, I really like it.

One of the new Dream Queens taken in July.

Part of the new area with the Blue Fescue. It is a lot bigger (the rock structure) today. The fescue has grown in size in it's first year so I'm encouraged.

Blue Angel

Some of the hosta. 'Ravine' in the background. The subject walkway is in the forefront, not shown.

Thanks all, I appreciate your suggestions.

Jon