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Something for dry shade?
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Posted by whtros USDA z5a IL (whtros2@aol.com) on Sat, Jun 24, 06 at 10:56
| I prayed for years for my trees to get large enuf to shade my yard and now I am complaining about how limiting all this shade is to plant in. I have clay soil and seems 2B on the dry side even in areas not under trees. I want to plant a shrub behind a bench that is shaded but not directly under a tree and very dry, I think. I went to buy a Clethra this week but the tag says it needs semi-moist conditions. I'm afraid it won't survive in this spot.
Sooooo....
Can you suggest something 4-6 feet tall, preferably something that blooms or is interesting. Also thot about a small clumping bamboo but I don't know anything about them.
Thanx for your help, Barbara. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Something for dry shade?
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| One that comes to mind is glossy Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa). I've got a couple of these that have done well in full sun, but they can handle a fair amount of shade, and may even prefer those conditions. As the name implies, the foliage is very nice and doesn't seem to be bothered by much. Flowers are nice, but nothing to write home about. Fruit is very ornamental, but the birds around here don't seem to be interested in it. Maybe the best feature of this shrub is the outstanding fall color. Overall, this is a nice 3-season native shrub that is easy to grow and relatively trouble free. Bob |
RE: Something for dry shade?
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| I've had very good success with Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape holly), Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry), Kerria japonica (Japanese Kerria), Ribes aureum (Clove currant), Eleutherococcus sieboldiana (Five-Leaved Aralia), and Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla sp.) Simon |
go, simon!
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| exc suggestions from simon. i am thrilled that kerria pale moon (v. hard to find) is so beautiful and is THE one flowering shrub i have finally succeeded with in a spot of deep dry shade. pale yellow single flowers in spring. blooms a month. not a solid type shrub- very airy. it's relative, rhodotypos, has similar habit but has single white flowers. the eleuthero... (or acanthopanax) has a more solid visual mass and is variega- great for shade. you'll likely need a few together for a statement. also, red winged euonymus tolerats deep dry shade (under sugar maples no less) makes a solid large mass, has stunning red fall foliage. but its considered environmentally invasive by some states and not sold anymore, so don't know if you could find it.
best, mindy |
RE: Something for dry shade?
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| Simon must have been strolling through my garden, because I have ALL of his suggestions in dry shade, some even at the feet of dreaded, moisture-sucking maple trees! In addition, my most reliable dry-shade shrub (right up against the maple and birch trunks!) has been common barberry - not everyone's cup-of-tea, but at least it thrives (and the birds love it!). . . Another shrub doing well in dry shade here is nandina domestica - also ilex glabra, inkberry...and since I
really wanted a clethra ('Sixteen Candles') badly and only
a dry shade location was available, that's where it went -
it just means a little extra attention to watering that
particular shrub, but it's 3 years now and it's going strong... Carl |
RE: Something for dry shade?
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| Any more ideas for dry shade? I also wondered if Carl might be able to answer a question. I would love to grow ilex glabra in my dry shade near maples, but wonder if they will really do well, or just survive? It is hard to find evergreen material for dry shade. I have hollies that are not growing very much at all and a couple of taxus that will probably take 10 yrs to screen out my neighbors [g]. Kerria is one shrub I plan on getting, I couldn't even find a photo of the 'Pale Moon'. I have seen some that have very large double blooms on them. Does anyone know the name of those, or have a photo of the 'Pale Moon'? Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks :-)
pm2 |
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