Garden Feature of the month

Plants for dry shade

There are many plants that will thrive in or at least tolerate shade, but dry shade is a special case. However, there are still enough plants in this category to produce an attractive year round display. Dry shade occurs under the canopy of trees, and can also be found against a north or east facing barrier. Most plants listed here, although worth trying in dry shade, will still benefit from enrichment of the soil with organic matter and being well watered until established. Some of them may not produce as much colour, flower or vigour as you would get if they were in a less dry and shady site, but they will all have a go.

Climbers

• Akebia quinata (chocolate vine)
• Clematis montana 'Rubens'
• Hedera helix eg colchica 'Sulphur Heart' (Ivy)
• Hydrangea petiolaris
• Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' (climbing honeysuckle)
• Parthenocissus (Virginia creeper)

Shrubs

• Amelanchier lamarckii 'Snowy mespilus (June berry)
• Aucuba japonica (Spotted laurel)
• Buxus sempivirens (Box)
• Corylus hazel, filbert, cobnut
• Danaë racemosa (Alexandrian laurel)
• Euonymus fortunei (Spindle)
• Ilex aquifolium (Holly)
• Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter flowering jasmine)
• Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape)
• Ribes sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet' (Flowering currant)
• Skimmia japonica
• Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose)

Perennials

• Acanthus (mollis and spinosus - Bear's Breeches))
• Ajuga reptans (Bugle) - better in moist but still ok
• Alchemilla Mollis (Lady's Mantle) - especially if self-seeded
• Some Ferns (Dryopteris filix-mas, Dryopteris affinis, Polystichum setiferum)
• Digitalis (Foxgloves)
• Epimedium (Barrenwort)
• Geranium (Cranesbill)
• Helleborus foetidus (Stinking hellebore)
• Lirope Muscari (Lilyturf)
• Pachysandra terminalis
• Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
• Waldsteinia ternata
• Vinca Major and Minor (Periwinkle)

Trees

• Rhus typhina (Stag's horn sumach)
• Sambucus nigra 'Aurea' (Golden Elder)

Grasses

• Milleum effusum 'Aureum' (Bowles' golden grass)

Bulbous

• Arum italicum 'Marmoratum' or 'Pictum' (Lords and Ladies)
• Cyclamen coum
• Ornithogalum nutans (Star-of-Bethlehem)