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| Any suggestions for robust mounding perennials that have colorful foliage for dry shade? A very long blooming perennial would be perfect too. First thing that comes to mind is Hosta but not sure if they do well with dry shade. I have extremely well drained sand. I can get them established I just want something that isn't going to cry for water have a couple weeks of hot weather after established. Thanks for the suggestions! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| well, epimediums are an obvious choice and some of the geraniums have interesting foliage. |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a N CT (My Page) on Sat, Jun 8, 13 at 20:16
| I have a full shade bed on the north side of my garage that gets zero supplemental water altho' it gets whatever Ma Nature doles out in terms of rainfall. The soil is sandy loam. Here's a list of what's growing & thriving in that bed: Hosta Not all meet your "mounding" or "long-blooming" requirement but they do well for me in shade. I generally am satisfied with colorful or interesting foliage in shade and don't expect many things to produce long-lasting blooms, especially since most are spring bloomers. The toad lily blooms late where I am--in early October. |
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| All plants will need water when they are getting established the first growing season. We need to know more about your "dry shade" There's a big difference in a shade bed that doesn't get additional water from the gardener and a bed that's shady because of trees are nearby. It gets less water because of the tree canopy but most important because of root competition. Maple roots just suck up the moisture and eventually fill any area with their roots. So, while I believe the perennials Gardenweed lists grow in her particular dry shade, the brunnera and pulmonaria would crisp up right under the maples. The epimediums are lovely and fool proof. You can find clumpers and spreaders, in all colors and sizes. Some have beautiful variagation in the spring and turn beautiful colors in the fall. If you are not careful, it is very easy to become an epimedium collector. |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a N CT (My Page) on Sun, Jun 9, 13 at 9:12
| Idabean is correct and I should have specified that my own shade bed isn't impacted by tree roots but rather only the shade provided by the roof of my house. While there is a mature tree about 10 ft. northeast of the shade bed, it is a tulip tree and not a maple plus it's growing part-way down a slope so the roots are quite a distance away and below the level of my shade bed. The bed gets no supplemental water other than during severe drought when I will water the astilbes. |
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| All, thanks for the comments! I'll take a closer look at the plants suggested to at least research a bit further. I myself specialize in woody plants so my experience and knowledge in the perennial world is limited. Any particular species and/or cultivar suggestions with the epimedium? Area is dry mainly because its shaded by mature Tilia americana and is sandy and somewhat rocky so it doesn't maintain much moisture to begin with. Root competition isn't too much of a concern from what I can tell after planting woodies in there. Just compacted in some areas. I planted a few Hosta to give them a shot. But still need some fillers that offer foliage interest. For example I have cool splash honeysucklke, Cornus alternifolia 'W. Stackman', Snowberry sun blade and Viburnum lantana Variegata in the area. |
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| Whaas, Find Garden Visions on the internet and see if there's a mailing address for the catalogue. It is an epimedium nursery started by Darrel Probst, one of the foremost epimedium specialists in the world. The simple catalogue and accompanying photos will give you an idea about where to start. But I can tell you that "Roseum" is beautiful and makes a good ground cover. "sulphurum" and neo-sulphurum" are rhizominous and are excellent tough weedbeating. Later in the summer the nurseries often have very nice epimedium on sale because they are still not widely known by the gardeninng public. If you can't find where to send for a catalogue, I'm sure I have an extra I can mail if you are willing to send me your email adress and home address. I have an email link on my GW homepage. |
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| Painter's Palette Latin: Persicaria virginiana If you let it flower you get some that are this color and some are green/purple/red like this. It is the plant behind the fairy house
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Here is a link that might be useful: Painter's Palette
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| Lamium is another possibility. |
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