Best Plants for Dry Shade: Proven Performers for Difficult Spots

The Ultimate Plant List for Dry Shade

Gardening in dry shade can feel challenging, but it’s far from impossible! Whether you're dealing with the base of thirsty trees, the shadow of a wall, or a spot that never quite gets the rain, plenty of plants will thrive.

Many plants can cope with these conditions, but from my own gardening experience, these are the ones that grow well and perform year after year.

Perennials for Dry Shade

These tough plants return annually, bringing colour and texture to your garden:

• Epimedium (Barrenwort) – Excellent ground cover with delicate spring flowers.

• Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium) – Scented leaves and resilient pink or purple flowers.

• Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss) – Heart-shaped leaves and forget-me-not-like blue flowers.

• Pulmonaria (Lungwort) – Speckled foliage and nectar-rich blooms in early spring.

• Bergenia (Elephant’s Ears) – Evergreen leaves and bold pink spring flowers.

• Hellebores (Lenten Rose) – Winter and early spring flowers that thrive under trees.

• Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle) – Soft, green leaves with frothy yellow-green flowers.

• Asarum europaeum (Wild Ginger) – A low-growing ground cover with glossy, heart-shaped leaves.

Shrubs for Dry Shade

Adding structure and year-round interest:

• Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape) – Evergreen with yellow winter flowers and berries.

• Sarcococca (Sweet Box) – Glossy leaves and wonderfully fragrant winter flowers.

• Ruscus aculeatus (Butcher’s Broom) – A tough, evergreen shrub with striking red berries.

• Viburnum tinus – Hardy, evergreen, with pink-white flowers and blue-black berries.

• Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge) – Low-growing evergreen ground cover.

Ferns for Dry Shade

For that lush, woodland feel:

• Polystichum setiferum (Soft Shield Fern) – Elegant, feathery fronds.

• Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern) – Robust and adaptable, perfect for shade.

• Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart’s Tongue Fern) – Beautiful glossy, strap-shaped fronds.

Bulbs for Dry Shade

Spring colour to brighten up shaded areas:

• Galanthus (Snowdrops) – Tiny white flowers that signal the start of spring.

• Cyclamen hederifolium – Hardy, shade-loving cyclamen with stunning foliage.

• Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) – Cheerful yellow flowers in late winter.

• Narcissus ‘Thalia’ – A refined white daffodil that copes well in shade.

Climbers for Dry Shade

Cover fences and walls with these hardy climbers:

• Hedera helix (Ivy) – A tough, evergreen climber that supports wildlife.

• Clematis ‘Bill Mackenzie’ – A robust variety with cheerful yellow flowers.

• Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) – Fragrant and shade-tolerant.

Top Tip: Even drought-tolerant plants need a helping hand when first planted. Adding organic matter like compost or leaf mould will improve moisture retention, and a good layer of mulch will help the soil stay damp for longer.

These are just some of the plants I’ve found reliable in dry shade, but there are plenty more to choose from. What are your favourites? Let me know in the comments!