Dry shade perennials/shrubs
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Dry shade perennials/shrubs
- From: A* L*
- Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 19:07:39 -0800
Susan, you might try kiringeshoma (sp?)- will give a 4x4 shrublike
effect in 3 years with pale yellow bells (nodding or upright,
depending on variety) in August. Nice maple-like foliage. The
books say it likes it moist, but mine grows in a crowded bed against
a building foundation (soil was well amended with peat & manure before
planting and I do give it extra water when I remember). Must have
shade.
My other shade favorite is polygonatum odoratum variegatum, the
variegated solomon's seal. Once it gets going, it seems to survive
anything - sun, dry, heat, etc. - but looks freshest in shade.
For a real shrub, I like inkberry (can't remember Latin name, related
to hollies) - about 30 inches high, effect is like a loose boxwood,
nice dark green year-round, tiny white flowers in spring. Mine gets
perhaps 3 hours of sun and seems fine.
I agree with the suggestion of thalictrum - but if you go for the taller
kinds, you'll have to stake. And let's not forget those huge hostas,
that are supreme for filling in blank spaces, unless you already have
an abundance of them. Aster divaricata is also a nice filler, about 2
feet tall, blooms late.
And finally, I like the punctuation of the variegated iris pseudacorus
leaves spearing up through all the broad & ferny things. Likes it moist
but will adapt to 'average garden soil.' Might be worth digging in
some of those moisture-holding gel things.
Have fun.
Anne - Chicago
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