Plants Tolerant of Full or Dry Shade

Virginia Bluebell
Mertensia virginica

Full shade is found in woodlands and forests, where the rees provide a full, sheltering canopy. Here plants receive less than an hour of direct sun a day, though they often benefit from filtered sun during part of the day. It's possible to have a gorgeous garden in full shade by choosing shade-tolerant plants like hostas, bleeding hearts.

Deep shade is the bane of gardeners. In nature, look for deep shade in coniferous forests where direct sunlight seldom if ever reaches the ground. In the garden, deep shade occurs where walls and other solid structures completely block out the sun.

The following plants may be planted in an area with decidous trees such as oak and maple. In general, such areas are too shady for grass and may be covered in leaf litter. The higher the canopy, the more chance plants will succeed. Rain showers will likely not penetrate the canopy, and unless sufficient rain falls, plants must be watered by hand.

Dry, shaded areas are some of the most difficult sites to fill. The most difficult places are those where the shade is the result of large shade trees whose roots suck out all the available water from benethe and around the trees. No plants enjoy such conditions, but a few will tolerate them. Provide additional irrigation whenever possible.

Plants Tolerant of Dry Shade

Related Topics

• Planting Bare-root Plants
• Planting Balled and Burlapped Plants
• Planting Container-grown Plants
• Bed Planting
• Garden Plants Directory
• Propagation of Perennials (Seeds & Division)
• Propagation of Perennials (Cuttings)
• Best Bulbs for Perennial Garden

Right Plant for the Right Place

• Long-blooming Plants
• Plants Tolerant of Heavy or Dry Shade
• Plants for Summer Color in Shade Gardens
• Plants for Autumn Color in Shade Gardens
• Plants for Container Garden: Dwarf Conifers and Broadleaf Evergreens
• Ornamental Grasses
• Perennial Groundcovers
• Grooming Perennials
• Propagating Hydrangeas

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