One of the most difficult conditions is dry shade. Not only are the plants that grow in dry shade already stressed from not having much light, but they also have to compete with other large plants for soil moisture.
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Acanthus mollis Reut, Israel
Item #: 9811
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Acanthus mollis 'Wofford Rhubarb'
Item #: 10006
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Northern Africa, Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Acanthus 'Morning Candle'
Item #: 8933
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Acanthus 'Summer Beauty'
Item #: 2526
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Ajuga reptans 'Texas Tough'
Item #: 12990
Zones: 3a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alstroemeria 'Casablanca'
Item #: 8689
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 40" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alstroemeria 'Koice'
Item #: 9113
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alstroemeria 'Koncajoli' PP 22,267
Next crop available: 04/20/2018
Item #: 10756
Zones: 6a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alstroemeria 'Patricia Lynn'
Item #: 4643
Zones: 6a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alstroemeria psittacina 'Variegata'
Item #: 3028
Zones: 6b to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Brazil
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alstroemeria 'The Third Harmonic'
Item #: 4160
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorpha canescens Arkansas form
Item #: 9810
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorphophallus bulbifer 'Old Warty'
Item #: 7890
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Burma/Myanmar, India
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorphophallus corrugatus 'Mint Julep'
Item #: 6108
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Burma/Myanmar, China, Thailand
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorphophallus henryi
Next crop available: 04/29/2018
Item #: 3049
Zones: 7b to 9b
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Taiwan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorphophallus kiusianus
Item #: 3053
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Taiwan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorphophallus kiusianus 'Mr. Green Genes'
Next crop available: 04/20/2018
Item #: 9177
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Taiwan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorphophallus konjac
Item #: 783
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Anemone 'Dreaming Swan' PP 27,384
Item #: 13578
Zones: 6a to 8b, probably colder
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aquilegia rockii BSWJ 7965
Item #: 3106
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arachniodes standishii
Item #: 6234
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema consanguineum
Item #: 2524
Zones: 5a to 8b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema costatum
Item #: 6171
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 40" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Nepal
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema grapsospadix 'Alishan'
Item #: 13701
Zones: 8a to 9b
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Taiwan
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema heterophyllum
Item #: 1407
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema muratae
Item #: 3605
Zones: 6a to 8b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema ringens
Item #: 2531
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema serratum var. mayebarae
Item #: 7571
Zones: 5b to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema sikokianum
Next crop available: 12/31/1969
Item #: 1850
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema sikokianum Silver Center
Item #: 2528
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema speciosum 'Himalayan Giant'
Item #: 7474
Zones: 7a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: India
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema thunbergii ssp. urashima
Item #: 2663
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arisaema tortuosum
Item #: 1383
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 50" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Himalayan Mountains
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Arum italicum 'Marmoratum'
Item #: 765
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum arifolium 'St. Clair'
Item #: 12912
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum asperum 'Silver Streak'
Next crop available: 11/11/2018
Item #: 13294
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum campaniflorum 'Leprechaun'
Item #: 13282
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum forbesii 'Mercury'
Item #: 6104
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum forbesii 'Venus'
Item #: 13283
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum lewisii 'Flossie'
Item #: 1402
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum porphyronotum 'Irish Spring'
Item #: 12966
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum porphyronotum var. atrovirens 'Internet'
Item #: 13340
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum splendens
Item #: 720
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asarum takaoi 'Pitter Patter'
Item #: 12584
Zones: 4b to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 1" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra ebianensis 'Flowing Fountains'
Item #: 9916
Zones: 7b to 11
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Amanogawa'
Item #: 6587
Zones: 8b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Asahi'
Item #: 2538
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Fuji-No-Mine'
Item #: 7064
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Lennon's Song'
Item #: 4349
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Sekko Kan'
Item #: 7519
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Snow Cap'
Item #: 8422
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra elatior 'Stars and Stripes'
Item #: 7522
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra guangxiensis 'Spiderman'
Item #: 9920
Zones: 8a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra minutiflora 'Leopard'
Item #: 2117
Zones: 8a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra oblanceifolia 'Nagoya Stars'
Item #: 8431
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra sichuanensis 'Gold Lancer'
Item #: 9915
Zones: 7b to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 22" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra sichuanensis 'Garden Gallery'
Item #: 2225
Zones: 8b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra sichuanensis 'Rawhide'
Item #: 2172
Zones: 8b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra sichuanensis 'Spek-tacular'
Item #: 8593
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aspidistra sinensis 'Cosmos'
Item #: 7548
Zones: 9a to 11
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
More Information About Dry Shade Plants
(Aspidistra, Danae, Ruscus, Ophiopogon, Liriope, Sarcococca, Pyrrosia, Cyclamen, etc)
One of the most difficult conditions in the garden for plants is dry shade. Not only are dry shade plants already stressed from not having much light, but they also have to compete with other large plants for soil moisture. It takes a special plant to be a dry shade plant. We have assembled a list of plants for dry shade below that tolerate dry shade well in our climate. For those in cooler climates, your list would be quite a bit longer, since the hot daytime temperatures aren't as severe.
Keep in mind that just because a perennial plant is tolerant of dry shade doesn't mean that it will grow forever without adequate moisture. A good rule of thumb is that plants with smaller, thicker foliage can survive the longest in dry shade conditions. Also, the more established the plants are, the better they can tolerate drought. In our trials, plants like cyclamen, danae, ruscus, arum and dracunculus top the list of dry shade plants. Right behind are ophiopogon, liriope, sarcococca, hedera, aspidistra, sabal palms, tetrapanax, clumping bamboos, and aucuba. Hellebores, rohdea, and pachysandra are also drought-tolerant, but less so than the first two lists. When you're ready to buy drought tolerant shade plants for your garden, we hope the list of plants for dry shade will help.
Also, see all our shade tolerant plants or just the wet shade plants.
Check out our article entitled 'Gardening in the Shade' that describes many cool plants for dry shade.