Plants for dry shade with splashes of yellow

With careful choice there are plenty of plants that can thrive in dry shade, creating a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions

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<i>Euphorbia amygdaloides</i> var. <i>robbiae</i> is great dry shade groundcover
Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae is great dry shade groundcover

Quick facts

  • Dry shade can be caused by large trees and shrubs or by buildings, walls and fences
  • Choosing plants suited to the conditions will promote good establishment, growth and display
  • Using the right plants can reduce demand on unnecessary watering once the plants are established

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The planting plan

James Lawrence, RHS Principal Horticultural Advisor, has designed this simple, attractive, and most importantly, sustainable border design for you to try at home with plants that are easy to grow, widely available and look good together.

This planting design with splashes of yellow provides a range of plants that, once established, will thrive in dry shade while still providing varied interest throughout the year.

Dry shade with splashes of yellow

© James Lawrence

Choosing plants for dry shade

The waxy surface of the Aucuba helps reduce moisture loss due to heat or wind stripping. 

The Euphorbia and Geranium provide some groundcover and help to prevent erosion of bare soil. Groundcover plants can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and suppress weed growth.

Additional organic mulching, preferably with homemade compost, assists with soil moisture retention and weed suppression.

1 – Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’
2 – Polystichum polyblepharum
3 – Viburnum x hillieri ‘Winton’
4  Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae
5 – Geranium ‘Orion’
 
1 – Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’ is an evergreen shrub with large leathery leaves that are heavily blotched with deep yellow. Flowers are small and purple, followed by bright red berries. 
2 – Polystichum polyblepharum is an evergreen fern forming a ‘shuttlecock’ of spreading light green fronds, which darken through the season.
3 – Viburnum x hillieri ‘Winton’ is a semi-evergreen shrub with leaves that are tinted bronze in spring and copper-red in autumn and winter. Small white flowers are borne in early summer, followed by small berries that are red at first, darkening to black.
4 – Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae is a spreading evergreen perennial with rosettes of deep green leaves, from which large, rounded sprays of bright yellow-green flowers arise in spring. 
5 – Geranium ‘Orion’ has lobed leaves and masses of large, lavender-blue flowers with purple veins and a white centre, which are produced over a long period during summer.

About dry shade

Dry shade can be common under mature trees or shrubs or near buildings or walls that act as rain shadows. By choosing plants that are adapted to dry shade you can keep your border looking good and growing well, and once established, they will reduce the need for unnecessary watering. A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.

The challenge of growing in dry shade

Low levels of moisture and light make it hard for plants to grow and develop, unless those plants have adapted to naturally grow in those conditions. Plants not adapted to dry shade can be stunted, lacking in flower or fruit and more prone to failure. Even plants that naturally prefer dry shade may need careful monitoring and watering during their first spring and summer in order to establish well. 

Why choose a sustainable planting combination?

Using the ethos of ‘right plant, right place’ to create a sustainable planting combination is great for the environment. It helps avoid waste, and healthy plants won’t need fertilisers. It also creates robust, long-lived planting that benefits soil health and garden biodiversity.

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