Dry Shade - Tricky, but not Impossible!

There is nothing lovelier than a patch of colour under a large shade tree. Unfortunately that large tree often provides less than hospitable conditions for many pretty garden plants - primarily dry shade. Here under a large Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) you can see how three different plants are handling this situation. The grass to the upper left of the photo is a lovely shade of beige - while the Foxglove (Digitalis lutea) and Variegated Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum) look simply splendid.

The blossoms on the Digitalis only last for a couple of weeks, but the leaves remain a good glossy dark green. And the Solomon's Seal, well even if it didn't have little white flowers in the early spring - I'd grow it for its form and striking leaves alone.

Once you know what plants will grow in dry shade, you're on your way to changing a problem area into a little piece of paradise.