Re: No-water, flowering hardy shrubs/perenniels for 6 month shade -alkalai soil?

It shouldn't be too hard to find plants that would
tolerate those conditions, as it does rain in summer
in London, and fairly regularly.  Some California
natives that would do well might include Ribes
sanguineum, Oxalis oregana, Heteromeles arbutifolia. 
Other Medit climate plants might include Acanthus
mollis or A. spinosissima, and Helleborus
argutifolius.  Deciduous shrubs such as Deutzia,
Forsythia, Hamamelis, Corylopsis and Chimonanthus all
tolerante bright shade and give winter bloom. 
Magnolia stellata might also fit the bill.

There are so many nice Mahonia species, and M. bealii
or lomariifolia are simply stunning in winter. M.
fortunei is little used here in California, but is
quite an attractive plant in Dallas, Texas gardens
where I have seen it. Large leafed plants such as
Fatsia japonica or Tetrapanax papyrifera would also do
well there. (Tetrapanax may die back to the roots in
cold winters). In central London I would also assume
that you could use Camellia japonica and C. sasanqua. 
Bergenia of several species would also do well, as
would Heucheras.  Ceratostigma would also do well in
full shade.  Tricyrtus species and cultivars, and
Anemone japonica and hybrids would also take these
conditions.  Dicksonia antarctica is also quite
commonly planted in London and does well.

As to peat substitutes, why not suggest using coconut
coir?  It is a highly renewable product, and works as
well as peat.  She might also try mulching with pine
needles each year.  Again, I don't think London is
also that alkaline of soil, just slightly on the basic
side, unless she really has chalky soils. 

If there is some question of whether these plants
would thrive on no supplemental water at all, she
should look around her neighborhood for similar
situations and see what is thriving on neglect, or pay
a visit to Kew Gardens and do some research there. 
London seems such an easy climate to garden in as long
as you respect the lack of real summer heat and don't
push the zonal denial too much with tender tropicals.


--- RStarkeson@jschlesinger.com wrote:

> I have a friend who lives in London (where there is
> substantial frost), and has a garden space against a
> north wall, such that it gets sun only in the
> summer, who would like plants (could be annuals,
> perenniels, or shrubs) that flower even in winter,
> and never need watering besides the natural rain
> (the wall provides a bit of a rain shield as well). 
>  It can't be a tree, because she is afraid of roots
> endangering the neighbor's foundation (the wall). 
> She does not like Mahonia.  I was tempted to suggest
> an artificial plant, but did not.  She would also
> like to amend the soil (which is friable rather than
> clay - a previous owner had apparently removed most
> of the natural clay) so that it is slightly acidic
> (ground water is apprently naturally basic there). 
> She has firm convictions that the use of any
> peatmoss to change the soil pH would be an
> ecological crime, based on its non-renewable
> character in England.  Any suggestions as to soil
> amendments available in England or plants?
> 
> Richard Starkeson
> Sanb Francisco
> 
> 



		
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