Dry Shade part 2

When you are first planting under dry shade the essential thing is to prepare the ground thoroughly. This will involve digging as larger hole than required and mixing the existing soil with good quality compost. If necessary, put some water retention granules into the soil as the most successful outcome will occur if the plants are given a good start to establish themselves.

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Top 10 herbaceous dry shade lovers

Helleborus-or winter hellebores and Lenten roses-for those of you with these dry inhospitable conditions where you will the area in the winter months these plants will provide excellent colour throughout the winter months and flower into spring.

Epimedium-fantastic evergreen with a slowly spreading root system that will throw up fantastic veining and red tints to the leaves in winter and will flower early spring with miniature shooting stars in a range of colours.

Pulmonaria-also known as soldiers and sailors- from pure red to blue and pink flowers during late winter and large furry/hairy often spotted foliage in silver and green which will brighten up the dry shade area

Heuchera- also known as the foam flower- has a fantastic range of coloured foliage from plain green through to oranges and red all of them proffering an early to mid summer show of white flowers on colourful stalks

Convalleria-also known as Lily of the Valley as well as the beautiful scent these dainty spring plants have lovely deep green shiny leaves and the most delicate white to cream small bell shaped flowers. Will grow in clumps and spread on its own to provide a spring carpet to your dry shade area- very effective ground cover.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta- also known as bluebells-available in the full spectrum range between whites and pinks including lilacs blues and purples, these are traditional English cottage garden flowers and a well loved sight in woodlands and wild areas in late Spring. A few years ago these were in danger of becoming a protected species so you will be doing your bit for the environment  by establishing them in your garden!

Polygonatum X hybridum-also known as Solomon’s Seal-elegant arching branches to 2 foot high with hanging white flowers in late spring and a very resilient storage root to help it colonise in a given area.

Brunnera-forget me not like blue flowers in late spring above a range of foliages from green through to almost white with varieties such as Brunnera Jack Frost.

Bergenia-also known as elephants’ ears-large glossy  leathery leaves from green through to red with pink or white flower spikes in spring. Attractive for slugs and snails  to sleep under so these plants never get eaten but provide excellent hunting grounds for elimination!

Violas-these well known woodland floor plants related to the pansy have smaller delicate flowers in a range of colours  including creams, blues, whites, pinks ,purples etc and swill gradually colonise your dry shade area. Try not to dead head them but let them go to seed  so they will spread naturally.

Next time- dry shade and climbing plants.