Gardening in Dry Shade
Gardening in Dry Shade I am fortunate give this shrub some room to False forget-me-not enough
macrophylla )
to grow.
have enough
( Brunnera
may
be
my
favorite perennial for dry shade.
property to have gardens in both F a l s e
spirea
( S o r b a r i a Clouds
of
blue
forget-me-not
sun and shade. Many years ago, sorbifolia ) is another shrub that flowers cover the 12-inch plant I spent more time in my sunny scoffs at dry shade. Its fern-like from late April to early June – six gardens tanning my back while foliage unfurls tinted pink in weeks of flowers! Choose the all planting, weeding, and mulching. spring
and
large
sprays
of green variety or try one of the
As I get older, I find myself creamy white flowers bloom in new
v ariegated
v arieties :
heading for the cooler spots in mid-summer. It also grows 4 feet Dawson ’ s White, Jack Frost or my
landscape.
Those
areas tall
and
spreads
slowly
by Mr. Morse.
sheltered from the hot summer suckers. sun serve as a welcoming retreat.
( E pimedium
Barrenwort Yews
( T a x us )
play
an versicolor
But the Silver Maples responsible important role in my landscape. slowly
‘ S u lphureum ’ )
spreads
to
form
a
for the respite from the sun ’ s Poor yews…they ’ ve gotten such wonderful mat of heart-shaped heat rob surrounding plants of a bad rap – not because they semi-evergreen foliage that is available moisture. They have are bad plants, but because tinted red in spring. Yellow starmany roots that compete for people have placed them poorly. like flowers appear in April and precious rainwater. Even with S i t e d
a p p r o p r i a te l y ,
t h e y May. This is a small plant only
supplemental watering, it has contribute needed structure, a reaching 9 inches tall. been difficult to find plants that sense of permanence, and winter will
thrive
in
this
hostile color. Their short, flat needles are
environment. But over the years, dark green on top and lighter I have found several plants that green underneath.
New foliage
perform well in dry shade.
in spring is bright green.
Shrubs
Perennials
J a p a n es e
kerria
( Ke r r ia Lady ’ s
mantle
( Alchemilla
japonica ) is indispensable if you mollis ) is a must-have perennial.
Epimedium versicolor ‘ Sulphureum ’
are gardening in dry shade. It It forms a 12 to 18-inch tall
grows happily in dry shade.
grows about 4 feet tall in my mound of beautiful, velvety soft garden. Golden yellow flowers green leaves that catch and hold G i a n t bloom for three weeks in mid- droplets of rain.
Solomon ’ s
Chartreuse ( P o lygonatum
Seal
giganteum )
spring and continue sporadically flowers make long-lasting cut adds architecture to a border with through the summer. Bright green flowers.
Lady ’ s mantle some- their arching stems that grow 3
stems shine in the winter garden. times self-seeds in my garden, so feet tall. They have spread to It spreads slowly by suckers so I get some babies for free.
form a large colony in my garden.
White bell-shaped flowers bloom in my landscape. Beacon Silver evergreen mat up to 12 inches in May and June, and blue has dark pink flowers over silvery wide. In April to May, Pink Ridge berries appear in fall. If this plant -white foliage; White Nancy has has dark mauve-pink flowers. is too tall for your garden, plant white flowers over similar foliage; The flowers of Sherwood Purple Smooth
Solo mon ’ s
( P o lygonatum
Seal Beedham ’ s
White has white are lavender-blue.
b i f l o r u m ) flowers over yellow foliage; and ( Convallaria
instead. This year I am adding Anne Greenaway has mauve Lily-of-the-Valley Variegated Solomon ’ s Seal.
flowers over foliage that is a majalis )
is
an
old-fashioned
blend of dark green, pale green, favorite. Enjoy the fragrant, white Grasses Bottle
patula )
chartreuse and silver.
flowers in the garden or in a
( Hystrix
vase. Give this one room to roam
is a clump forming,
– even under the stress of dry
Brush
Grass
upright grass that grows up to 3
shade, it is vigorous.
feet tall. It has pink, bottlebrush flowers from June through July.
If you have given up gardening
This is one of the few grasses
under
that actually prefer dry shaded
consider giving it another try.
conditions.
Beacon Silver Lamium grows well in dry shade.
There are plenty of plants from admirably.
( L amium C r e e p i n g
Phlox
maculatum ) cover lots of ground stolonifera )
forms
trees,
which to choose that will perform
Groundcovers Spotted deadnettles
thirsty-rooted
( Phlox a
dense,
macrophylla )
to grow.
have enough
( Brunnera
may
be
my
favorite perennial for dry shade.
property to have gardens in both F a l s e
spirea
( S o r b a r i a Clouds
of
blue
forget-me-not
sun and shade. Many years ago, sorbifolia ) is another shrub that flowers cover the 12-inch plant I spent more time in my sunny scoffs at dry shade. Its fern-like from late April to early June – six gardens tanning my back while foliage unfurls tinted pink in weeks of flowers! Choose the all planting, weeding, and mulching. spring
and
large
sprays
of green variety or try one of the
As I get older, I find myself creamy white flowers bloom in new
v ariegated
v arieties :
heading for the cooler spots in mid-summer. It also grows 4 feet Dawson ’ s White, Jack Frost or my
landscape.
Those
areas tall
and
spreads
slowly
by Mr. Morse.
sheltered from the hot summer suckers. sun serve as a welcoming retreat.
( E pimedium
Barrenwort Yews
( T a x us )
play
an versicolor
But the Silver Maples responsible important role in my landscape. slowly
‘ S u lphureum ’ )
spreads
to
form
a
for the respite from the sun ’ s Poor yews…they ’ ve gotten such wonderful mat of heart-shaped heat rob surrounding plants of a bad rap – not because they semi-evergreen foliage that is available moisture. They have are bad plants, but because tinted red in spring. Yellow starmany roots that compete for people have placed them poorly. like flowers appear in April and precious rainwater. Even with S i t e d
a p p r o p r i a te l y ,
t h e y May. This is a small plant only
supplemental watering, it has contribute needed structure, a reaching 9 inches tall. been difficult to find plants that sense of permanence, and winter will
thrive
in
this
hostile color. Their short, flat needles are
environment. But over the years, dark green on top and lighter I have found several plants that green underneath.
New foliage
perform well in dry shade.
in spring is bright green.
Shrubs
Perennials
J a p a n es e
kerria
( Ke r r ia Lady ’ s
mantle
( Alchemilla
japonica ) is indispensable if you mollis ) is a must-have perennial.
Epimedium versicolor ‘ Sulphureum ’
are gardening in dry shade. It It forms a 12 to 18-inch tall
grows happily in dry shade.
grows about 4 feet tall in my mound of beautiful, velvety soft garden. Golden yellow flowers green leaves that catch and hold G i a n t bloom for three weeks in mid- droplets of rain.
Solomon ’ s
Chartreuse ( P o lygonatum
Seal
giganteum )
spring and continue sporadically flowers make long-lasting cut adds architecture to a border with through the summer. Bright green flowers.
Lady ’ s mantle some- their arching stems that grow 3
stems shine in the winter garden. times self-seeds in my garden, so feet tall. They have spread to It spreads slowly by suckers so I get some babies for free.
form a large colony in my garden.
White bell-shaped flowers bloom in my landscape. Beacon Silver evergreen mat up to 12 inches in May and June, and blue has dark pink flowers over silvery wide. In April to May, Pink Ridge berries appear in fall. If this plant -white foliage; White Nancy has has dark mauve-pink flowers. is too tall for your garden, plant white flowers over similar foliage; The flowers of Sherwood Purple Smooth
Solo mon ’ s
( P o lygonatum
Seal Beedham ’ s
White has white are lavender-blue.
b i f l o r u m ) flowers over yellow foliage; and ( Convallaria
instead. This year I am adding Anne Greenaway has mauve Lily-of-the-Valley Variegated Solomon ’ s Seal.
flowers over foliage that is a majalis )
is
an
old-fashioned
blend of dark green, pale green, favorite. Enjoy the fragrant, white Grasses Bottle
patula )
chartreuse and silver.
flowers in the garden or in a
( Hystrix
vase. Give this one room to roam
is a clump forming,
– even under the stress of dry
Brush
Grass
upright grass that grows up to 3
shade, it is vigorous.
feet tall. It has pink, bottlebrush flowers from June through July.
If you have given up gardening
This is one of the few grasses
under
that actually prefer dry shaded
consider giving it another try.
conditions.
Beacon Silver Lamium grows well in dry shade.
There are plenty of plants from admirably.
( L amium C r e e p i n g
Phlox
maculatum ) cover lots of ground stolonifera )
forms
trees,
which to choose that will perform
Groundcovers Spotted deadnettles
thirsty-rooted
( Phlox a
dense,
