Diversity in dry shade

Perennials that love a challenge

Dry shade is probably one of the most difficult places in the garden to plant. Yet there are many perennials that do perfectly well there. They are often forgotten, because many designers and garden owners avoid these spots and rely only on the familiar to tackle them.

Therefore, it is not an obvious one, because much depends on what is going on underground. At what depth does water occur? What kind of trees and other plants are still there, competing for light and moisture? How rich is the soil? Has the soil been compacted because bulldozers, cranes, tractors drove over it when the house was built? 

Consequently, this makes it not always predictable what a plant will do or if it takes a while to catch on. It's best not to plant in periods that are too dry and work some good compost into the soil when planting. Use coarse garden compost or leaf compost, even cocoa shells can help. You better not use fine compost because the soil can compact even more and an airy soil is very important. So proper preparation is important. Once these toppers have left, however, there is no stopping them and you can make those difficult spots a lot more interesting. 

Mansoor

We'll start with one of the least conspicuous: mansoor or Asarum europaeum. This low ground cover is evergreen and is most notable for its shiny, kidney-shaped dark green leaves. It blooms in April and May, with inconspicuous dark brownish-red flowers. It is often recommended for moist, slightly acidic soils, yet it does fine in drier soils once established. It does not like inclement sea breezes, but is otherwise disease resistant and very hardy. Keep an eye on snails in the spring, however, as they love the fresh young leaves. 

Great wall

The more inconspicuous Asarum blooms, the more conspicuous Great Wall or Stellaria holostea blooms. Beautiful loose umbels of white flowers appear in May. This native plant is still far too little used, but is a real asset to bees and insects in the shade garden. It is a strong groundcover that can expand considerably but can be controlled. Combine them with large-leaved plants such as Brunnera or Bergenia for an even stronger effect. 

Fairy Flower

Epimediums are fantastic ground covers and, fortunately, are becoming more common. A lot of Epimedium do well in dry shade once they are rooted in. There are now hundreds of cultivars and hybrids on the market and there are rarely any bad ones among them. So you can't go wrong with Epimedium, but it can take some time for them to take root and start growing strongly. 

Epimedium x warleyense, however, does a little better than the rest. Beautiful orange flowers appear above evergreen foliage in April and May. Young leaves may be slightly red-tinged when they just appear. The cultivar 'Orangekönigin' is sold most often and is definitely recommended. 

Pachypragma

Pachypragma macrophylla is one that is still much underused. This ground cover has numerous benefits and is a year-round addition to the garden. Although it is often recommended for moist soils, it often does well in drier conditions. It can be used in tree beds and suppresses weeds very well. The white flowers rise nicely above the round bright green leaves and appear beginning in March. 

Stork Beak

Stork Bean or Geranium is a well-established garden plant. There are a lot of different species and cultivars. Geranium nodosum is the topper, however, when it comes to dry shade. It is not evergreen and blooms in July-August with delicate, lilac-colored flowers. Its beautiful glossy leaves grow about 40-50 cm tall and stand out in the shade. This Geranium is so hardy that it does well even in the shade of conifers, a place many do not venture. 

Dry shade is a challenge for every designer and garden contractor, but with these toppers, the toughest spots can add value for garden owners and nature.