One of the most difficult growing conditions for perennials 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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Helleborus x hybridus 'Onyx Odyssey'
Item #: 8882
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 01/24/2025Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Painted Doubles'
Item #: 9747
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/18/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Painted Singles'
Item #: 8698
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Peppermint Ice'
Item #: 4013
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/04/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Picotee Pearl'
Item #: 15879
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Red Sapphire'
Item #: 4045
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/04/2024Sold out -
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Ruby Wine'
Item #: 10513
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/18/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Sandy Shores'
Item #: 13128
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Shotgun Wedding'
Item #: 16763
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/25/2024Sold out -
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Sun Flare'
Item #: 14317
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/04/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Tropical Sunset'
Item #: 14369
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/04/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus 'True Love'
Item #: 13130
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x hybridus 'Wedding Bells'
Item #: 13355
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/04/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus Winter Delights Pink w/ Red Spots
Item #: 8207
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/18/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x hybridus Winter Delights Red
Item #: 2525
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
Helleborus x hybridus Winter Delights Violet
Item #: 8208
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x hybridus Winter Delights Violet w/ Pink Edge
Item #: 9929
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x iburgensis 'Anna's Red' PP 24,720
Item #: 2353
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x iburgensis 'Penny's Pink' PP 24,149
Item #: 7365
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 14" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 10/04/2024Sold out -
Helleborus x lemperii 'Katie' PPAF
Item #: 18077
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x lemperii 'Liara'
Item #: 17017
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x lemperii 'Walberton's Rosemary' PP 19,439
Item #: 9417
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus niger 'Snowbells'
Item #: 15744
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helleborus x sahinii 'Winterbells' PP 24,434
Item #: 3315
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per
More Information About Dry Shade Plants
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.
Some of our favorite plants for dry shade include:
- Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plants) - One of our all-time favorites. Deer-resistant and shade-tolerant, there is a reason we have over 200 different varieties.
- Cyclamen (Hardy Cyclamen) - These small fall/winter growing perennials absolutely thrive in the shady, dry conditions found underneath large deciduous trees and conifers.
- Danae (Poet's Laurel) - A slow-growing evergreen shrub with amazing shade tolerance.
- Liriope (Monkey Grass) - This drought-tolerant grass-like perennial is actually a member of the lily family but we love using it as an ornamental grass.
- Ophiopogon (Mondo Grass) - A wonderful ornamental grass with many dwarf and variegated forms to choose from.
- Pyrrosia (Tongue Fern) - Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, these un-fern-like ferns make great accents at the edge of a dry shade garden where they can get partial sun.
- Ruscus (Butcher's Broom) - Another evergreen choice with great drought tolerance. They also produce bright red berries that add a splash of garden to your shade garden.
- Sarcococca (Sweetbox) - An evergreen dry-shade perennial that produces small, fragrant blooms in the winter when other dry-shade perennials are dormant.
Also, see all of 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.