Re: dry shade
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] dry shade
- From: B* D*
- Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 20:49:09 -0500
Claire is right about Hosta undulata. I grow the Albo-marginata type on
the east side, under the overhang of the eaves, which in turn are
sheltered by a large maple tree. The poor things never see any rain or
sun, but they do remarkably well. I feel the streaked types need a bit
more sun.
In that same bed are a Pieris japonica, 2 old white evergreen azaleas,
woodruff, japanese fern, lily of the valley, and epimedium, plus some
trilliums that pop up and bloom before the maple leafs out. And Christmas
ferns and white epimediums, which someone else suggested. On the other
side of the walk, planted around the base of the trunk, are ivy, trailing
euonymus, Canadian ginger, and pachysandra.
I should mention these azaleas never fail to bloom and are stunning in
spring. How they manage, I don't know. The pieris is always nice, too.
They gladly tolerate the heavy shade and lack of water in exchange for the
sheltered situation they are in, I guess. (Once or twice a season I may
turn the sprinkler on these plants, but they can never count on it.)
Gingers are plants for dry shade, at least the ones that I have tried. I
notice that Celandine Poppy seems to prefer it. Ajuga and liriope are very
content in dry shade (not that these are plants I particularly care
about). In my yard, the native solomon's seal thrives in dry shade, a
difficult plant in other ways (it never quite seems to fit in).
Honeysuckles (esp. Amur and Tatarian, which no one should plant) also like
dry shade.
All of these might need some water before they get established, but once
they are settled in, you can just forget 'em--if my experience is typical.
Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington, IN
zone 5/6
On Sat, 7 Oct 2000, Claire Peplowski wrote:
> The Christmas fern is a dry shade denizen. Also Helleborus foetidus.
> Several campanulas, punctata is one. These are three that will not just hold
> on but will grow well in dry shade. All of the Hosta undulata forms will do
> very well in dry shade. Discussed often is archangel which will grow
> anywhere and is the plant of desperation. Archangel is beautiful and
> vigorous (Lamiastrum) and is best curbed by the lawn mower.
>
