What is a good plant for a dry, shady corner?

I need a plant to put in a fence corner that is very shady and dry. I'm preferably looking for a perennial that flowers (or at least has a lot of color to it), has some height/size to it, and will survive comfortably in a 6-7 hardiness zone.



Any suggestions?

What is a good plant for a dry, shady corner?
You might consider astilbe. Here are some pictures from Wayside Gardens:

http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs...



And others from Dutch Gardens:

http://www.dutchgardens.com/on/demandwar...

(they've sold out of their Astilbe Collection though)



SpringHill Nursery is another good source:

http://springhillnursery.com/search.asp?...

(And check out their Flowering Shade Garden collection for variety in your corner area.)



*~ Good luck 'n happy gardening ~*
Reply:Hostas, there are several types, colors etc.
Reply:Plumbago! It's the best plant I have tried in my Virginia garden, and I have tried a lot. It's incredibly drought-tolerant and grows in deep shade. It's a ground cover, forming dense mats of foliage with bright, deep blue flowers that form right at the driest, hottest time of year--late summer and early fall. It's not evergreen, though. Be sure you don't get a related tropical Plumbago with light blue flowers--that's probably what you'll be shown if you ask at a garden center. You want the hardy species. You may find it with other ground covers or perennials at a first-class nursery. Otherwise, you'll have to order it. It's hard to find, probably because it grows rather slowly and doesn't propagate quickly. You may find it in your neighborhood growing on banks or among the rocks of stacked walls, which seems to be its favored habitat.



The down side of this plant for your needs is that it is not tall, only growing to about 8" in height. Dry shade is always a toughie...there are very few plants that will grow at all there, let alone gain much size or have the energy to flower. You might want to grow some larger plants in pots. There is a good selection of shade-loving flowering plants and colorful foliage plants that you can find at any garden center. You will have to replace these each spring. Be sure, by the way, that tree roots cannot grow up into the pots...set them off the ground on a paver or flat rock. Tree roots will steal most of the moisture and nutrients, and that's why this is such a difficult area to grow things.



(Christmas cactus, by the way, is not hardy. It's tropical.)
Reply:Hi:

I live in zone seven and Hostas is a good answer. Think about putting some of these plant specimens in also.



Azaleas

Hollies - some can take shade

Pieris Japonicas (beautiful evergreen plant that blooms in late winter and early springtime. A Japanese beauty!)

Cleyera can take shade

Mountain Laurels

Mahonia

Fatsia (this can go in a container and bring inside during the winter months)



These are just a few suggestions. I will link you to the gallery of plants section of my website. There are many different trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs with photos, a brief description and climate zones. This may give you some other ideas. I will also link you to the site map as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through as there are several tips, techniques are articles that may give you additioinal information on growing in shade and dry conditions. Good luck to you and have a great day!

Kimberly



http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...



http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:The Marijuana plant, it grows anywhere, its easy to grow, it has flowers, and you can smoke it or sell it!
Reply:Cannnibis?
Reply:Mock orange shrub might be nice ... they do flower (white), have a lovely scent, grow to about 6 feet, overwinter nicely



x
Reply:What is a good plant for a dry, shady corner? I would perennial that flower early spring to late fall!

i need to know what is your lighting conditions! corner facing sun! morning noon night! then go from there! i would climbing ivy! or boston ivy! mn climate hardy 6-7 central mn!
Reply:"The most successful dry shade plants,—ferns, mosses, Symphytum grandiflorum, epimediums, and hostas— have evolved large fleshy roots, leathery leaves, and other strategies to help them to cut down on moisture loss."

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/ha...



Hosta tolerates shade, some types tolerate more shade than than others, so look into buying one that meets you shady area's conditions. "Hostas are considered shade-tolerant plants, but most do not thrive if grown in deep shade."

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/12...

http://www.hosta.org/MemphisBotanicGarde...

http://www.contrarymarysplants.com/hosta...



Epimediums make good hosta bedfellows. Many of these epimediums are evergreen and clump daintily, washing the hosta bed in reddish-green heart-shaped leaves throughout the winter while the hostas sleep. They show off in early springtime with wee flowers dancing above the foliage on sinewy stems. Epimediums resemble aquilegias (columbine) but bloom far longer; giving way only after the summer heats up. Mulch well %26amp; make sure the soil is rich %26amp; humusy.

http://www.theplantcoach.org/content/vie...

http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs...



Comfrey-Symphytum grandiflorum 'Goldsmith' :

http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/p...

‘Hidcote Blue’ Flowered Ornamental Comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum) is an early spring flowering perennial with numerous clear blue nodding flowers. Not picky about soils, it forms a weed resistant carpet of deep green foliage. Zones 4-9.

http://www.cottage-gardens.net/ShowDetai...



Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’ and ‘Red Nancy’ is sturdy and fast growing for shade and semi-shady spots. It tolerates a wide range of soils and moisture levels. The white-edged leaves light up dark garden corners. Although not tall (6-8 inches) it would go nice planted in front of taller plants like Foxglove.

http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?...



St. John's wort (Hypericum Calycinum), Evergreen in warm winter climates. Bright yellow flowers; leaves are yellowish green in shade. Grows to 1.5 ft tall

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plant...



Foxglove is a tall beauty, but like the Lily-of-the Valley, you may not want it around children or pets %26amp; some think it spreads too much.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/digi...

http://www.nps.gov/archive/redw/foxglove...

It looks good with this low growing ground cover:

http://www.stonethegardener.com/shade/fo...



More plants for dry shade:

Mexican Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), Crested Iris, Cyclamen, Plumbago, Lilly-of-the Valley,Snow-in-Summer, Japanese Anemony, Pachysandra, Lambs Ear

http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/Environment/...



Mexican Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)

http://www.guernsey.net/~cdavid/botany/f...

http://www.mostlynatives.com/notes/erige...



"You're really serious about solving the dry-shade dilemma when you start collecting plants like Saruma (S. henryi), native coral bells (Heuchera Americana) and variegated sedge (Carex siderosticha 'Island Brocade'). All the plants mentioned will grow better in soil that's amended with compost or sphagnum peat moss."

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_plants_sun_s...

http://www.paghat.com/heucheraamericana....
Reply:CACTUS
Reply:I live in zone 6 also and Hostas, Astilbe and Bleeding Hearts are all plants requiring very little if any direct sunlight.

Best of Success
Reply:the only plant i know that would survive in the shade would be a cactus.if you got a christmas cactus they are nice and they bloom sometimes they bloom for months.and you don't have to water much and they are pretty plants and you can take it in doors in the winter months and they will still bloom.
Reply:Hostas,Ferns,Astilbe,Bleeding Hearts,Huecara Palace Purple.