| I have a narrow rectangular garden area (3'wide x 8'long) between a large picture window and a blank wall. Ultimately, I'd like to have a nice space to look at from the window. This area gets little to no sun, and can get fairly dry in the summer months. What types of flowering plants, shrubs and vines can you recommend for this kind of area? Thank You! |
| Following is a list of plants that should perform well in dry shade. These are plants that can tolerate the dim, dry conditions under tall trees or hedges or under the eaves next to north-facing walls, or that can compete effectively with tree roots. Before planting in dry shade, try to improve your soil's water-holding capacity by adding organic matter such as compost, leaf mold, manure, coconut coir, etc. Don't expect to achieve fantastic lushness; most of the plants will tolerate, not necessarily thrive, in dry shade and will probably flower and fruit more sparingly. Bulbs: Amaryllis belladonna Convallaria majalis Cyclamen hederifolium Freesia Iris japonica Lapeirousia Narcissus Scilla Ferns: Dryopteris Polypodium Polystichum munitum Groundcovers: Aegopodium podograria Bergenia crassifolia Cerastium tomentosum Erigeron karvinskianus Hedera helix Hypericum calycinum Pachysandra terminalis Rubus calycinoides Stachys byzantina Vinca major Vinca minor Viola labradorica Viola odorata Perennials: Aeonium Agapanthus orientalis Aloe Alstroemeria ligtu A. pulchella A. aurantiaca Anaphalis Anemone x hybrida Arum italicum Aspidistra elatior Campanula latifolia Campanula primulifolia Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Chrysanthemum ptarmicifolium Corydalis lutea Dierama Dietes vegeta Digitalis purpurea Epimedium Eucomis Euphorbia cyparissias E. robbiae E. epithymoides E. perralderianum E. pinnatum colchicum E. x warleyense Festuca ovina glauca Francoa ramosa F. sonchifolia Galium odoratum Gasteria Geranium macrorrhizum G. palmatum Helichrysum petiolatum H. 'Limelight' Helleborus argutifolius H. foetidus H. orientalis Hemerocallis Heuchera maxima Iris foetidissima Kniphofia Libertia formosa Limonium perezii Liriope spicata Mimulus (Diplacus) hybrids Modiolastrum lateritum Origanum dictamnus Oxalis oregana Polygonatum commutatum Polygonum capitatum Sedum spathulifolium Sedum spectabile Sedum spurium Tiarella Tolmeia menziesii Tulbaghia violacea Vancouveria hexandra Vancouveria planipetala Zauschneria californica Shrubs: Abutilon megapotamicum A. hybridum Amelanchier alnifolia Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds' Arctostaphylos nummularia Aucuba japonica Berberis darwinii Berberis thunbergii Budddleia davidii Buxus Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Cercis occidentalis Chaenomeles Correa 'Dusky Bells' Correa reflexa Corylus Cotinus coggygria Cotoneaster Daphne odora Dendromecon harfordii Elaeagnus Escallonia Euonymus fortunei Forsythia x intermedia Garrya elliptica Hibbertia cuneiformis Hibbertia dentata Ilex aquifolium Ilex cornuta Ilex vomitoria Iochroma cyaneum Kerria japonica Ligustrum japonicum Ligustrum ovalifolium Mahonia aquifolium Mahonia pinnata Myrica californica Myrtus communis Nandina domestica Olearia insignis Philadelphus virginalis Phyllostachys aurea Protea cynaroides Prunus ilicifolia Rhamnus alaternus Rhaphiolepis indica Ribes viburnifolium Ruscus aculeatus Ruscus hypoglossum Sarcococca ruscifolia Symphoricarpus albus laevigatus Symphoricarpus orbiculatus Vaccinium ovatum Xylosma congestum Vines: Hardenbergia comptoniana Hedera helix Lonicera japonica Parthenocissus tricuspidata Best wishes with your new shade garden! |
