Dry shade is usually found under large trees or other shaded areas with little moisture.
These spots can be challenging to plant in.
Hosta
One of the most tried-and-true shade plants,hostasare low-maintenance withhundreds of varietiesto choose from.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
Smaller varieties can also form a pretty garden border orfill in space around the base of a tree.
These perennials have tough leaves, which can be spotted or solid green.
Some types deal with dry conditions by going dormant, but they’ll be back the following spring.
Credit: Greg Ryan
Its heart-shaped blooms appear in spring, then the plant will “play dead” once summer comes.
No need to worry, it’s just resting andwill come back next year.
Plant bleeding heart with other colorful plants that cantake the stage later in the year.
Credit: David McDonald
Though these perennials do bloom, it’s thefoliage that really stands out.
Varieties like ‘Marvelous Marble’ grow beautiful, multicolor leaves with a marble-looking surface.
Other varieties have leaves that almost look spray-painted while some have deep vein colors.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
However,plenty of fernswill grow well in dry shade.
Other than theoccasional slug, pests tend to leave ferns alone.
apretty groundcover for shady gardens.
Credit: Samantha Hedum
These plants spread slowly to form a dense mat that can keep weeds at bay.
The foliage is a bit fuzzy, making itdeer and rabbit resistant.
In autumn, the leaves turn beautiful shades of reddish-orange.
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Over time, bigroot geranium will slowly spread to form a dense carpet of foliage over the ground.
‘Lacy’ (shown here) is a variety with variegated foliage for some added interest.
is one of the toughestshade-loving plantsaround.
Credit:Ian Adams
With thick, almost leathery leaves, it’s easy to see why.
Because all parts of this plant are highly poisonous, it’s very resistant to deer and rabbits.
In spring, it produces little frothy wands of white orpink flowers.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Growing Conditions:Part shade to full shade in well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Barrenwort
Marty Baldwin
Barrenwort (Epimediumspp.)
Barrenworts are very drought-tolerant, deer- and rabbit-resistant, and look good through spring, summer, and fall.
Credit: Matthew Benson
A few types are even evergreen so also add some winter interest.
Try planting it along a wall orraised bedwhere the plant’s slender foliage can cascade over the edge.
A few varieties offer yellow variegation on the leaves.
Credit: Carson Downing
This slow-growing perennial tolerates dry conditions well, though it prefers consistent moisture.
Lilyturf
When youre looking toplant a border garden, try growinglilyturf(Liriopespp.
)in your landscape.
Credit: David McDonald
Its clumps of strap-like, dark green leaves will stay true to its color in the summer and winter.
Purple flower spikes rise above its leaves in late summer.
Itsberries will attract birdsto your garden.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Its bright yellow flowers bloom in the spring and ripen into edible blue-black berries by early fall.
Its small creamy flowers bloom in the fall and are followed by black berries.
Its mid-summer bloom of white flowers with red anthers is spectacular.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Easy to grow as a mass planting in shrub borders or woodland areas, this mounded shrubattracts butterflies.
Its impressive show continues in autumn when its foliage turns yellow.
It blooms on previous years wood so be sure to prune it in the spring after it flowers.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Its shiny dark green leaves turn greenish yellow in autumn.
To help get yourplants off to the best start possible, keep them well-watered throughout the first year.
After that, they will likely do fine with whatever rainwater they get.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Once you master these plants, you’re able to use that confidence to experiment with more varieties.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
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Credit:Laurie Black
Credit: Rob Cardillo
Credit:Denny Schrock
Credit:Denny Schrock
