Dramatic & Drought Tolerant Plants for Shade

Although this list in no way covers all the plants that might do well in dry shade, there are enough plants here to create a lifetime of gardens. The secret is to use them in generous groupings, and to create context and contrast, rather than a mad mix of “one of each.”

Trees
Acer circinatum
Ailanthus altissima
Azara macrophylla
Cercocarpus (Mountain Mahogany)
Ilex (Holly)
Pittosporum spp.
Taxus spp. (Yew)
Xylosma
 

Shrubs
Abelia
Abutilon (Italian Buckthorn)
Aucuba
Boxwood (Coffeeberry)
Camellia (Esp. Sasanqua and Salicifolia)
Choisya
Cocculus Laurifolius
Correa
Fuchsia magellanica
Gaultheria
Hakea suaveolens (Snowberry)
Hydrangia quercifolia
Ilex (Holly)
Impatiens oliveri
Japanese Barberry (Berberris)
Leucothoe
Mahonia (all)
Myrtus spp.
Osmanthus
Otatea (Mexican Bamboo)
Prunus Laurocerasus
Rhamnus alaternus
Rhamnus californica
Rhaphis excelsa (Lady Palm)
Rhus integrifolia
Ribes
Sarcoccoca spp.
Symphoricarpus
Vaccinun ovatum
Viburnum (davidii rhytidophyllum, quinquinervia, & suspensum)
Westringia
Yucca
 

Water Conservation, a Product of DesignSteps to Water ConservationDry Shade Plant ConsiderationsDrought Tolerant Plants for ShadeChecklistTable of Contents

Perennials
Bergenia
Brunnera
Calamagrostis nutkaensis
Campanula  muralis
Campanula  poscharskyana
Carex spp.
Centranthus (Valerian)
Euphorbias martinnii
Festuca  californica  (Native Grass)
Francoa
Geranium spp.
Gladwin Iris (Foetidissima)
Helleborus (especially Corsican Hellebore)
Heuchera (Maxima and Micrantha)
Japanese anemone
Mock Strawberry (Duchesnea)
Pacific Coast Iris
Wild Strawberry (Frageria)

Ground Covers
Asarum caudatum (Wild Ginger)
Asparagus Fern
Bergenia
Dryopteris arguta, dilatata erythrosora (Wood Ferns)
Dwarf English Ivy
Epimedium
Euonymous
Frageria chiloensis & F. californica (Wild Strawberries)
Gaultheria
Geranium Biokova & Macrorrhizum 
Mahonia repens
Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon)
Nandina
Nephrolepis cordifolia (Southern Sword Fern)
Oxalis oregana (Redwood Sorrel)
Pachysandra terminalis
Saterejua (Yerba Buena)
Vinca Minor
Violet
Western Sword Fern (Polysticum)
 

chris@chrisjacobson.com