MBG Home Horticulture MBG Search

Quick Links
Home Page
Highlights
PlantFinder
PF Search
Pests
Plants of Merit
Master Search
 
Searches
GardeningHelp
Titles
PlantFinder
Pest Images
Bloom Data
Scientific name

 

ProblemSolver Plants: Plants for Dry Shade


The following plants are suggestions for trying in shady conditions which experience periodic drought in the lower Midwest. Typically, these locations may be under trees or in the shade of buildings. The denseness of the shade, soil type, soil pH and duration of drought will affect plant performance. It is best to try a variety of plants to see which perform best in your specific conditions.

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Begonia (Semperflorens Cultorum Group) begonia
  Begonia (Tuberosa Group) hybrid tuberous begonia
  Begonia 'Bepared' DRAGON WING RED begonia
  Chlorophytum comosum spider plant
  Hedera colchica 'Dentata Variegata' bullock's heart ivy
  Impatiens balsamina garden balsam
  Plectranthus argentatus Brazilian ivy
  Plectranthus australis Swedish ivy
  Plectranthus australis 'Variegatus' Cuban oregano
  Plectranthus forsteri 'Marginatus' Swedish ivy
  Vinca major 'Wojo's Gem' greater periwinkle
Broadleaf evergreens Mitchella repens partridge berry
Deciduous shrubs Aesculus parviflora bottlebrush buckeye
  Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegatus' aralia
  Hydrangea arborescens smooth hydrangea
  Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' smooth hydrangea
  Hydrangea arborescens 'Dardom' WHITE DOME smooth hydrangea
  Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora' smooth hydrangea
  Hydrangea arborescens 'Ryan Gainey' smooth hydrangea
  Kerria japonica 'Golden Guinea' Japanese rose
  Kerria japonica 'Picta' Jew's mallow
  Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' Japanese rose
  Kerria japonica 'Simplex' Japanese rose
  Staphylea trifolia bladdernut
  Symphoricarpos orbiculatus coralberry
Ferns Athyrium pycnocarpon glade fern
  Polypodium virginianum American wall fern
  Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern
Herbaceous perennials Anemonella thalictroides rue-anemone
  Aquilegia canadensis columbine
  Arum italicum Italian arum
  Aster anomalus aster
  Aster divaricatus aster
  Aster divaricatus 'Eastern Star' white wood aster
  Aster patens spreading aster
  Bergenia 'Abendglocken' bergenia
  Bergenia cordifolia pigsqueak
  Bergenia cordifolia 'Winterglut' WINTER GLOW pigsqueak
  Bergenia 'Eden's Magic Giant' pigsqueak
  Cyclamen hederifolium Persian violet
  Epimedium alpinum bishop's hat
  Epimedium diphyllum bishop's hat
  Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' bishop's hat
  Epimedium grandiflorum 'Pierre's Purple' bishop's hat
  Epimedium perralderianum bishop's hat
  Epimedium pinnatum subsp. colchicum bishop's hat
  Epimedium pubigerum bishop's hat
  Epimedium 'Tama-no-genpei' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x rubrum bishop's hat
  Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x versicolor 'Versicolor' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x warleyense bishop's hat
  Epimedium x youngianum bishop's hat
  Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x youngianum 'Tamabotan' bishop's hat
  Geranium maculatum wild geranium
  Helleborus niger Christmas rose
  Helleborus orientalis hellebore
  Hosta 'Chinese Sunrise' hosta
  Hosta clausa hosta
  Hosta elata hosta
  Hosta 'Gold Standard' hosta
  Hosta 'Golden Tiara' hosta
  Hosta 'Janet' hosta
  Hosta lancifolia narrow-leaved hosta
  Hosta 'Pearl Lake' hosta
  Hypericum calycinum St. John's wort
  Lamium galeobdolon yellow archangel
  Lamium galeobdolon subsp. montanum 'Florentinum' yellow archangel
  Lamium maculatum 'Beedham's White' spotted deadnettle
  Lamium maculatum 'Cosmopolitan' spotted deadnettle
  Lamium maculatum 'Dellam' GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY spotted deadnettle
  Lamium maculatum 'Elisabeth de Haas' spotted deadnettle
  Lamium maculatum 'Pink Chablis' deadnettle
  Lamium maculatum 'Red Nancy' spotted deadnettle
  Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy' spotted deadnettle
  Monarda bradburyana eastern beebalm
  Pachysandra terminalis Japanese pachysandra
  Phlox divaricata wild sweet William
  Podophyllum peltatum may-apple
  Podophyllum peltatum f. deamii may-apple
  Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum' Solomon's seal
  Sanguinaria canadensis bloodroot
  Scutellaria incana skullcap
  Silene caroliniana wild pink
  Solidago ulmifolia elm-leaved goldenrod
  Spigelia marilandica Indian pink
  Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio spiderwort
  Uvularia grandiflora large-flowered bellwort
  Verbesina helianthoides crown beard
  Vinca minor lesser periwinkle
  Vinca minor 'Honeydew' lesser periwinkle
Ornamental grasses Diarrhena americana American beakgrain
  Elymus hystrix bottlebrush grass
Trees Ptelea trifoliata hop tree
Bulbs Early spring-flowering bulbs can also be good choices for locations under decideous trees where ample moisture and light is received early in the season. Summer shade and drought conditions when the bulbs are dormant are not limiting factors for most early bulbs. Some bulbs to consider include: crocus, daffodils, grape hyacinth, snowdrops, spring beauty, and winter aconite.  

© Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001-2009