Betty Truax's Gardens

Is there anything more fustrating to a gardener than dry shade?   I personally struggle with this as well.  In my dry woodland garden I've only found a few plants that are tolerant of the conditions.   

My favorite solution is a non-native ground cover - Epimedium (also known as Barrenwort).  Although it spreads, it does so slowly. It is easy to divide and share (or plant somewhere else in your gardens).  I actually raked up a piece of one last fall andplopped it in the ground without much thought.  I noticed it's still hanging in there with no help from me.   My favorite is Epimedium x perralchicum "Frohnleiten" for being vigourous, evergreen and having adorable yellow blooms.  Truth be told I've never met an epimedium I didn't love.

My hostas are doing well in dry shade, however, I did provide tender loving care - in the form of water - for a year or two until they became established.  I would not invest in expensive ones but luckily there are some nice choices in cheaper ones these days.  

Some ferns do well in dry shade - Holly Fern and Wood Fern come to mind.  I've also had Autumn Fern and Sword Fern do pretty well as well.  

When I moved into this house there was a patch of lily of the valley under a tree and it's done pretty well.  It's even coming up in the gravel road.  I wouldn't have planted it - it can really take over but it seems to be somewhat more controlled in dry shade.

I also have native woodland poppy growing in dry shade.  It seems to be doing pretty well.  I think it might in fact grow just about anywhere. The large yellow flowers remind me of buttercups on steriods.  It also self seeds readily.  

Hellebores and perennial forget me nots (Brunnea) also tolerate dry shade in my garden.    

I use compost to help hold on to what little moisture my dry bed gets. I really love these plants - you have to admire their  persistence!