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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Mitchella repens 'Danny'
Item #: 13027
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 1" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 05/31/2024Sold out -
Neolepisorus truncatus 'Lemon Lime'
Item #: 9792
Zones: 8a to 11
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Vietnam
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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Onychium japonicum 'Sichuan Lace'
Item #: 5958
Zones: 7a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/21/2024Sold out -
Ophiopogon japonicus 'Gyoku Ryu'
Item #: 551
Zones: 5a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'
Item #: 721
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'
Item #: 3885
Zones: 3a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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Oxalis triangularis 'Atropurpurea'
Item #: 589
Zones: 7a to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: South America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 05/31/2024Sold out -
Oxalis violacea 'Lufkin Lover'
Item #: 10437
Zones: 5a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter, Summer
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Oxalis violacea 'Tyrian Purple'
Item #: 7770
Zones: 5a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter, Summer
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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Pachysandra procumbens 'Angola'
Item #: 6488
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 07/05/2024Sold out -
Pinellia cordata 'Yamazaki'
Item #: 2792
Zones: 5a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Pinellia x cortita 'Purple Dragon'
Item #: 16715
Zones: 5a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum x boreiforme 'Standing Tall'
Item #: 13665
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 42" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $38.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 07/19/2024Sold out -
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Podophyllum difforme
Item #: 3358
Zones: 6b to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $78.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/28/2024Sold out -
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Podophyllum mairei
Item #: 11689
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $38.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 07/26/2024Sold out -
Podophyllum peltatum f. deamii 'Marcel Raymond'
Item #: 16855
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum peltatum 'Maid Marion'
Item #: 15374
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Summer
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum peltatum 'Missouri May'
Item #: 9703
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum pleianthum
Item #: 1621
Zones: 5b to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' PP 17,361
Item #: 6301
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $55.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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Podophyllum versipelle ssp. boreale
Item #: 1548
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
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Polygonatum falcatum 'Wedding Bells'
Item #: 8636
Zones: 4a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
Polygonatum infundiflorum 'Lemon Seoul'
Item #: 5473
Zones: 5a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polygonatum involucratum 'Green Hankies'
Item #: 8243
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/21/2024Sold out
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.