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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Rohdea japonica 'Fukuju Kan'
Item #: 18274
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outRohdea japonica 'Go Dai Takane'
Item #: 12634
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $65.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Goin' Curlin'
Item #: 18273
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per
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Sold outRohdea japonica 'Gunjaku'
Item #: 2152
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Gyoku Ho Nishiki'
Item #: 8276
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $38.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Line Dance'
Item #: 18270
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price per
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Sold outRohdea japonica 'Miyako-no-Hana'
Item #: 12927
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $38.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outRohdea japonica 'Otome'
Item #: 13010
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $100.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Sekkei Nishiki'
Item #: 10028
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Shishi'
Item #: 12633
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Striped Delights'
Item #: 18095
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
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Sold outRohdea japonica 'Taishu'
Item #: 10027
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outRohdea japonica 'Tama Hilfiger'
Item #: 18323
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $100.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Rohdea japonica 'Wrath of Kan'
Item #: 18319
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outRohdea japonica 'Zansetsu'
Item #: 2649
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outRuscus aculeatus 'Andre the Giant'
Item #: 17671
Zones: 7a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: England, Iran, Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Ruscus aculeatus 'Elizabeth Lawrence'
Item #: 5932
Zones: 7a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: England, Iran, Mediterranean Europe, Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Ruscus aculeatus 'Wheeler's'
Item #: 1371
Zones: 7a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 54" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: England, Iran, Mediterranean Europe, Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Ruscus hyrcanus
Item #: 4652
Zones: 7b to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Ruscus x microglossum 'Eco Gardens'
Item #: 3425
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outSabal 'Blackburniana'
Item #: 6220
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 180" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sabal 'DeFuniak'
Item #: 15648
Zones: 7b to 10b, guessing
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 400" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outSabal etonia
Item #: 3857
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sabal miamiensis
Item #: 14303
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 78" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular 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.