PLANTS FOR DRY SHADE

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A word of caution about these plants. Dry shade means that the trees that are growing over the top of the plants below will take the lion's share of the water and fertilizer that you want the planting to receive. So first of all improve the soil before you plant anything. Then consider whether you wish to allow them to "go native" in a dry area or provide water and fertilizer. Many of these types of plants go dormant for the summer or are pretty thin and stressed because of the competition from the trees, poor soils, and long summers without rain.

Also, remember to not plant anything you wish to water under the California native oaks. These trees will develop Oak Root fungus and die if over watered. In these cases, consider planting under them in containers that have a drain pan to catch the water and leave the soil dry below the Oak tree. Oaks are simply full of character and every one is a work of art! Please keep them healthy by keeping them dry.

Groundcovers

Aegopodium podograria, Bergenia crassifolia, Cerastium tomentosum, Erigeron karvinskianus, Hedera helix, Hypericum calycinum, Pachysandra terminalis, Rubus calycinoides, Stachys byzantina, Vinca major, Vinca minor, Viola labradorica, Viola odorata.

Vines

Hardenbergia comptoniana, Hedera helix, Lonicera japonica, Parthenocissus tricuspidata.

Ferns

Dryopteris, Polypodium, Polystichum munitum.

Bulbs

Amaryllis belladonna, Convallaria majalis, Cyclamen hederifolium, Freesia, Iris japonica, Lapeirousia, Narcissus, Scilla.

Perennials

Aeonium, Agapanthus orientalis, Aloe, Alstroemeria ligtu, Alstroemeria pulchella, Alstroemeria aurantiaca, Anaphalis, Anemone x hybrida, Arum italicum, Aspidistra elatior, Campanula latifolia, Campanula primulifolia, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Chrysanthemum ptarmicifolium, Corydalis lutea, Dierama, Dietes vegeta, Digitalis purpurea, Epimedium, Eucomis, Euphorbia species including cyparissias, robbiae, epithymoides, perralderianum, pinnatum colchicum, x warleyense, Festuca ovina glauca, Francoa ramosa, Francoa sonchifolia, Galium odoratum, Gasteria, Geranium macrorrhizum, Geranium palmatum, Helichrysum petiolatum, Helichrysum "Limelight", Helleborus species including argutifolius, foetidus, and orientalis, Hemerocallis, Heuchera maxima, Iris foetidissima, Kniphofia, Libertia formosa, Limonium perezii, Liriope spicata, Mimulus (Diplacus) hybrids, Modiolastrum lateritum, Origanum dictamnus, Oxalis oregana, Polygonatum commutatum, Polygonum capitatum, Sedum species including spathulifolium, spectabile, and spurium, Tiarella, Tolmeia menziesii, Tulbaghia violacea, Vancouveria hexandra and planipetala, Zauschneria californica.

Shrubs

Abutilon megapotamicum and hybidum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos nummlaria, Aucuba japonica, Berberis darwinii and thunbergii, Buddleia davidii, Buxus, Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis and thyrsiflorus, Cercis occidentalis, Chaenomeles, Correa "Dusky Bells" and reflexa, Corylus, Cotinus coggygria, Cotoneaster, Daphne odora, Dendromecon harfordii, Elaeagnus, Escallonia, Euonymus fortunei, Forsythia x intermedia, Garrya elliptica, Hibbertia cuneiformis and dentata, Ilex aquifolium, cornuta, vomitoria, Iochroma cyaneum, Kerria japonica, Ligustrum japonicum and ovalifolium, Mahonia aquifolium and pinnata, Myrica californica, Myrtus communis, Nandina domestica, Olearia insignis, Philadelphus virginalis, Phyllostachys aurea, Protea cynaroides, Prunus ilicifolia, Rhamnus alaternus, Rhaphiolepis indica, Ribes viburnifolium, Ruscus aculeatus and hypoglossum, Sarcococca ruscifolia, Symphoricarpus albus laevigatus, Vaccinium ovatum, Xylosma congestum.

Trees

Acer circinatum, Aesculus californica, Arbutus andrachne and unedo, Azara microphylla and dentata, Brachychiton populneus, Koelreuteria bipinnata, Laurus nobilis, Lithocarpus desniflorus, Morus alba "Fruitless', Nyssa sylvantica, Pinus sylvestris, Podocarpus henkelii and macrophyllus, Quercus agrifolia and ilex, Sophora japonica, Sparmannia africana, Taxus, Torreya californica.