How to Garden in Dry Shade

Dry shade often occurs under a larger, primary tree layer composed of very tall evergreen or deciduous trees that block the light and cause soils to be dry.

Designing a Garden for Dry Shade

The advantage of a dry shade garden is that the landscape already likely benefits from large, established trees which help provide protection from the sun, habitat, and a sense of place. But for gardeners, the desire to add in additional plants is met with the challenge of working around roots and dealing with dry or compacted soils.

Utilizing bulbs, perennials, groundcovers, and grasses rather than a large number of trees and shrubs is the best approach when layering new plants under and around large trees. Many plants that are well-adapted to dry shade have their primary season of interest in late Winter or Spring, when overhead trees are dormant and rains are plentiful, providing plants with more sunlight and water than they receive during the Summer.

Embrace early-flowering evergreen perennial plants like Epimedium, Hellebores and introduce large swaths of these for the greatest impact. Underplant them with Spring-flowering bulbs for a spectacular early-season display. Where soils are deeper and space allows, native shrubs like evergreen Huckleberry can be added in to help provide more height to the garden.

Tips for Gardening in Dry Shade

• Often, existing understory plants or less desirable plants (ivy) must be removed before new plants can be added. Reinvigorate the soil with a layer of fresh compost before planting.
• Winter and early Spring are optimal time frames to establish new plantings in dry shade, as it is at this time when such areas receive periods of moisture from rainfall, especially underneath deciduous tree cover. New plants will settle and develop a good root structure prior to entering into their above-ground growth stage.
• If planting in the heat of Summer, regular water must be provided to newly planted areas. Compost worked into the soil at planting time can assist with water retention and a layer of mulch like compost or bark laid each year over the top of the soil will reduce evaporation.

Discover more detailed information about shade gardening here!

Plants for Dry Shade

Shrubs & Trees

• Acer circinatum (Vine Maple): Deciduous, Native
• Aucuba japonica (Japanese Laurel or Gold Dust Plant): Evergreen
• Calocedrus deccurens (Incense Cedar): Evergreen, Native
• Fatsia japonica (Japanese Aralia): Evergreen
• Hydrangea queciifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea): Deciduous, Native
• Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape): Evergreen, Native
• Sarcococca ruscifolia (Sweet Box): Evergreen, Fragrant
• Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry): Evergreen, Edible

Perennials

• Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle): Herbaceous
• Bergenia (Pigsqueak): Evergreen
• Helleborus (Hellebore): Evergreen
• Heuchera (Coral Bells): Evergreen
• Liriope (Lily Turf): Evergreen

Bulbs

• Crocus (Crocus): Spring blooming, Summer dormant
• Cyclamen hederifolium (Baby or Hardy Cyclamen): Spring blooming, evergreen
• Fritellaria imperialis (Crown Imperial): Spring blooming, Summer dormant
• Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop): Spring blooming, Summer dormant
• Narcissus (Daffodil): Spring blooming, Summer dormant, Fragrant

Groundcovers

• Epimedium (Bishop’s Hat): Semi-evergreen to Evergreen
• Gaultheria shallon (Salal): Evergreen, Native
• Mahonia repens (Creeping Oregon Grape): Evergreen, Native
• Sarcoccoca (Sweet Box): Evergreen, Fragrant