One of the Candide Community recently asked, "What can I grow in front of my conifer hedge?".
Plants need sunlight and moisture so dry, and shady areas can be more difficult to plant and grow the plants successfully. However, there are quite a few that will thrive in these challenging conditions. Some plants even enjoy gloomy, parched ground that occurs underneath hedges, shrubs, trees and along walls and buildings. This type of area is sometimes called the rain shadow, where light and rainwater find it difficult to penetrate.
Top flowering, shade-loving beauties;
Lilyturf 'Okina'
Liriope muscari 'Okina'
Big Blue Lilyturf
Liriope muscari
Barrenwort 'Sulphureum'
Epimedium × versicolor 'Sulphureum'
Barrenwort 'Frohnleiten'
Epimedium × perralchicum 'Frohnleiten'
Hosta 'Regal Splendor'
Hosta 'Regal Splendor'
Hardy Begonia 'Claret Jug'
Begonia grandis ssp. evansiana 'Claret Jug'
Knotweed 'Darjeeling Red'
Persicaria affinis 'Darjeeling Red'
Foam Flower 'Emerald Ellie'
Tiarella 'Emerald Ellie (Fox Series)'
Navelwort 'Starry Eyes'
Omphalodes cappadocica 'Starry Eyes'
Toad Lily 'Pink Freckles'
Tricyrtis formosana 'Pink Freckles'
The type of plants that succeed in dry shade depends on the light levels more than the moisture content. And as all gardeners will tell you it is easier to improve moisture levels than it is to increase light levels.
If you incorporate organic matter twice a year your plants will thrive in dry, shady places.
Here are some top dry, shade-loving plants grown for their fantastic foliage. Some still have great flowers too.
Golden Hakonechloa
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
Lungwort 'Diane Clare'
Pulmonaria 'Diane Clare'
Elephant's Ears
Bergenia 'Baby Doll'
Solomon's Seal 'Flore Pleno'
Polygonatum × hybridum 'Flore Pleno'
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Chinese Bramble
Rubus tricolor
Japanese Painted Fern 'Ursula's Red'
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Ursula's Red'
Let us know if you are growing any of these plants in your garden and share photos if you have any questions or successes!
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