Re: dry shade/clivia

Angela -

There are indeed many very carefree, drought tolerant shade plants that are 
common in the Bay Area, either in nurseries and garden centers or from 
shared plants.  Nan suhhested Berkeley Hort's shade list - I actually take 
issue with many of the plants listed.  It seems to be that the reference to 
'dry shade' can be a relative one (how dry is 'dry'?).  I recently created 
a list on the mediterranean climate gardening site:
http://www.support.net/Medit-Plants/plants/shade.dry.html
that I think are more to be trusted, and more capable of tolerating really 
dry shade.  If anyone has other species they feel would be good additions, 
or if they'd like to challenge those listed, please let me know.

In Berkeley, often cooler in the summer due to the influences of fog and 
cool Golden Gate air, dry shade is a more moderate environment.  Dry shade 
in San Jose or Walnut Creek is more challenging.

If you can tell me more about this site, perhaps what the address is, I 
might be able to drive by and give you more precise suggestions for what to 
plant.

Regards,
Sean O.

At 01:38 PM 5/31/00 -0700, LEE,ANGELA IUE-CHIH wrote:
>Hi folks,
>
>I've got a two part question regarding dry shade plants and clivias.
>
>I've been asked to suggest some plants for a very shady strip running
>along the side of my parent's house in Berkeley (i.e. mid 20's C in the
>summer and single digit temperatures in the winter) . My parents don't
>particularly care what they put in there as long as they don't have to
>put in much care once the plants are established.  I am trying to persuade
>them to at least put
>in something that will tolerate drought if (ok, when) another drought hits
>california.  Any recommendations for dry shade plants from groundcover to
>3ft tall would be most welcome.  The plants would also have to be readily
>available at any nearby nursery or such supermarket type places like Home
>Depot.  The garden is more a chore than pleasure for my parents and I
>would like to convince them that drought tolerant non-invasive plants are
>as easy to obtain and grow as a more weedy or more water needy plant.
>
>I noticed on the medit-plant web site that clivia miniata is a suggested
>plant for dry shade.  I have always associated this plant with rather
>moist situations.  How shady and how dry? will they flower in heavy
>shade?  Do they like water but can tolerate occasional drought or will
>they do fine during a prolonged period of drought?  would this plant be a
>good choice for the conditions I've described above?
>
>Thanks in advance for any suggestions
>Angela Lee


Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@groupmail.com
h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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