Re: drought tolerant shade plants
- Subject: Re: drought tolerant shade plants
- From: Richard Dufresne s*@infi.net
- Date: Fri, 08 Nov 2002 00:08:45 -0500
At 02:22 PM 11/7/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>Does anyone know why there are so few drought tolerant shade plants?
>There are plenty of shade plants that take regular watering, and
>plenty of drought tolerant sun lovers, but what's happening to plants
>in shade that there isn't an abundance of drought tolerant shade
>lovers around?
>
>Thanks
>
>Lisa
>San Francisco, CA
I think it has to do with the fact that plants in shade have to compete with
the surface roots of trees, which normally outcompete understory plants.
During a drought, understory plants would dessicate and disappear.
Also, where understory plants grow, there is usually ample moisture and
fertility. Part of this depends on how far out the trees send their roots
and how far out their shadows cover plants.
Salvias occur in disturbed areas where tree roots have been torn up or
destroyed by felling of the trees. Often, rapidly growing showy flowers and
fruiting plants appear in these areas. They are nature's EMTs, carried to
disturbed areas by animals making their homes there or foraging for food.
Think of all the blackberries, blueberries, etc that show up this way.
Salvias probably make their way to such sites by the glutinous seeds that
adhere to birds and other animals. These plants hang around holding the
soil down until replaced by longer lived shrubs.
Most understory plants are like the birds that follow the horse-drawn
wagons. During a drought, they get nothing.
Richard F. Dufresne
313 Spur Road
Greensboro, North Carolina 27406 USA
336-674-3105
World of Salvias: http://www.eclectasy.com/gallery_of_salvias/index.htm
Salvia email list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Salvia
