Re: what to plant on the east side
- Subject: Re: [SG] what to plant on the east side
- From: M* T*
- Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 04:24:08 -0400
May depend on the climate, but I find that sweet woodruff tends to
brown off and die down in mid to late summer if it gets too dry.
Some Epimediums are very tolerant of dry shade once established - but
not all of them, so you need to choose carefully.
What about Polygonatums (Solomon's seal)? Having that thick rhizome
helps them get through really dry spells without drooping. Another
tough guy for dry shade is Geranium macrorrhizum - several color
forms out there. For early flowers and attractive leaves, what about
bloodroot (Sanguinaria) - also tolerates my dry woodland. And so
does May apple (Podophyllum peltatum, also native to my woods. If it
gets too dry, it just goes dormant about August, but returns in
spring....all these guys have a fat rhizome.
Also very tolerant of my dry woods is Christmas fern, Polystichum
acrostichoides; grows in deep to light shade - evergreen.
Also growing happily in my woods (which get very dry in July/August
with no rain) is Arisaema triphyllum - the native jack in the pulpit.
It will grow in soil that varies from dry to wet. You may not get
as many blooms in truly dry soil as that does stress the plants, but
they will grow and you'll get foliage if nothing else.
Dry shade is the toughest type of shade to select plants for. While
many shade lovers will tolerate some dryness, most need at least
occasional watering when it's hot out...and most shade lovers much
prefer soil that retains some moisture. If they don't droop
miserably when too dry, they will simply go dormant early. And, of
course anything you plant will need some water until it gets
established.
Now, I've missed the beginning of this thread for some reason, so may
be repeating what others have suggested...if so...apologies.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Betty Davis <BDeyes6@AOL.COM>
>
> What do you think about epimediums and sweet woodruff and
corydalis?
> I think they all seem to like dry shade.
> Just a passing thought.............
>
> Betty
> Cincinnati
