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Perennials for Dry Shade
What is dry shade?
Dry shade describes areas under shade trees where tree roots compete for
water. These are areas that receive very little water.
Some other examples of where there is dry shade are:
- Areas North or East of buildings where overhangs, wind patterns or
obstructions reduce expected rainfall.
- Northern facing slopes
- Areas where soil amendment is difficult. Example: under maple and
pine trees.
The following is a list of perennials for this difficult to landscape area of
the garden. Note that some of these plants will tolerate dry shade, but do not
expect lush growth or appearance; some will also flower more sparingly. Some of
these perennials will need regular watering until they establish themselves.
Many of these perennials will become drought tolerant usually in two
year’s time.
Before planting, the addition of compost to these areas will improve the
soil’s moisture holding ability. If pockets of tree roots are involved, compost
should be added to the planting hole before planting perennials. Likewise, these
plants may need more frequent applications of a low nitrogen fertilizer since
they are in competition with the trees for nutrients . The addition of a light
layer of mulch (1-2 inches) will also aid in the survivability of these plants
in dry shade. Care should be taken not to mulch or apply topsoil over the tree
roots as this interferes with the water/O2/CO2 transpiration from the tree to
the air and vice versa. Mulch applied directly next to the tree trunks will also
eventually compromise the life of the tree.
Perennials
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
| Acanthus mollis |
Bear’s Breeches |
| Aegopodium podagraria |
Goutweed/ Bishop’s Weed |
| Ajuga reptans |
Bugle Weed |
| Asarium europaeum |
Wild Ginger |
| Bergenia cordifolia |
Pigsqueak, Bergenia |
| Convallaria majalis |
Lily of the Valley |
| Cyclamen hedifolium |
Hardy Cyclamen |
| Digitalis purpurea |
Foxglove |
| Epimedium sp. |
Barrenwort, Bishops's Hat |
| Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae |
Robb’s Spurge, Wood Spurge |
| Euphorbia cyparissias |
Cypress Spurge |
| Euphorbia epithymoides |
Cushion Spurge |
| Gallium odoratum |
Sweet Woodruff |
| Geranium macrorrhizum |
Big Root Geranium, wild geranium, cranesbill |
| Helleborus orientalis |
Lenten Rose |
| Hemerocallis sp. |
Daylily |
| Heuchera sp. |
Alumroot , Coral Bells |
| Heucherella sp. |
Foamy Bells |
| Hosta sp. |
Plantain Lily |
| Iris cristata |
Crested Iris |
| Iris foetidissima |
Stinking Gladwin Iris |
| Lamium maculatum sp |
Spotted Dead Nettle |
| Lamiastrum galeobdolon |
Yellow Archangel |
| Liriope muscari |
Blue Lilyturf |
| Liriope spicata |
Creeping Lilyturf |
| Mertensia virginica/ pulmonarioides |
Virginia Bluebells |
| Podophyllum peltatum |
Mayapple |
| Polemonium caeruleum |
Jacob’s Ladder |
| Polygonatum sp. /also variegated varieties |
Solomon’s Seal |
| Pulmonaria saccharata |
Bethlehem Sage, Lungwort |
| Tiarella sp. |
Foam Flower |
| Tradescantia virginiana |
Spiderwort |
Groundcovers
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
| Chrysogonum virginianum ‘Allen Bush’ |
Goldenstar, Green and Gold |
| Hedera helix |
English Ivy |
| Lysimachia congestiflora ‘Eco Dark Satin’ |
Dense Flowered Loosestrife |
| Pachysandra terminalis |
Japanese Spurge |
| Rubus calycinoides/pentalobulus |
Ornamental Creeping Raspberry |
| Veronica peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue’ |
Creeping Speedwell, Veronica |
| Vinca major |
Large Periwinkle |
| Vinca minor |
Common Periwinkle |
| Viola labradorica and others |
Labrador Violet, violet |
Ferns
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
| Athyrium nipponicum |
Japanese Painted Fern |
| Dryopterus erythrosora |
Autumn Fern |
| Dryopterus felix-mas |
Male Fern |
| Dryopterus marginalis |
Wood Fern |
| Polystichum acrostichoides |
Christmas Fern |
Sedges, Carex
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
| Carex arctata |
Drooping Wood Sedge |
| Carex blanda |
Common Wood Sedge |
| Carex buchanii |
Leatherleaf Sedge |
| Carex conica ‘Snowline’ |
Miniature Sedge ‘Snowline’ |
| Carex glauca/ flacca |
Blue Sedge |
| Carex grayi |
Gray’s Sedge |
| Carex morrowii variegata |
Variegated Japanese Sedge |
| Carex muskingumensis ‘Oehme’ |
Variegated Palm Sedge |
| Carex oshimensus |
Oshima Sedge |
| Carex pensylvanica |
Common Oak Sedge |
| Carex plantaginea |
Wideleaf Sedge |
| Carex rosiea |
Curly Styled Wood Sedge |
| Carex rudiata |
Straight Styled Wood Sedge |
Dry Shade Award Winners
| Long Island Gold Medal Perennial 2001 |
Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’ |
| Long Island Gold Medal Perennial 2003 |
Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ |
| Perennial Plant of the Year by Perennial Plant Association
|
Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’ 1991 Winner |
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Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’ 2004 Winner |
This fact sheet was researched and written by Master Gardener Christine M.
Banigan ‘01
Thanks to you Christine for allowing me to place your fact sheet on my web
site. Christine is from Long Island which is also a zone 7 area as we are in New
Mexico. Some of the plants she lists may not grow equally well in New Mexico
because of differences in soil pH and other factors. There are also differences
in common names and some of the ones listed here printed in italics are names
that we use here.
02/01/2009
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