Stipa Arundinacea
Moist shade exists on north facing banks ,walls fences and hollows where rain and run off soaks into the ground and moisture seeping down through the soil can come to the surface.
Far more common is dry shade which is of two types . Permanent , beneath roof overhangs and large evergreen trees and temporary , beneath the canopy of Deciduous trees and shrubs.
For us, in Thanet most recommendations for general shade do not apply as the moist shade experienced in wetter climates and on heavier soils do not apply here . All trees and shrubs extract an enormous quantity of moisture from the soil when they are in leaf and there roots go very deep.
However deciduous trees and shrubs do not take up any moisture during their dormant season , October –may and allow plenty of light to fall to the ground. This is why most woodland plants and bulbs produce their foliage very early in the spring and their flowers soon after. The foliage then often dies down in the summer and autumn, once the leaves come out on the trees above. Evergreen shrubs, climbers and perennials , like holly, ivy and bergenia ,also do most of their active growing during the winter and spring months and effectively go dormant during the summer , to withstand drought and shade. Paradoxically, mediterranean plants that go dormant in the summer months to withstand summer drought are also generally capable of withstanding dry shade created by deciduous trees.
Large evergreens such as evergreen oaks, eucalyptus and leylandii pose a problem as they take up moisture and cast shade all year round. The area beneath them is best left , with a mulch of leaves and some natural vegetation such as ivy,grass and bulbs,and screened by other shrubs in front. It may be a good site for a shed or compost heap. or other wise paved and used for a sitting area and a few watered pots of busy lizzies etc. Less shaded areas can grassed down but will most likely dry up in summer . When planning a bed or border next to an evergreen hedge or large shrub try, if you have room, to bring it out from the root zone of the hedge, the strip behind can be used as a pathway for cutting the hedge.
Never plant a tree or deciduous shrub under the overhanging branches of another tree, as it will not thrive and will try to grow out sideways towards the light.
Plants for permanently dry shade
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Plants for dry shade beneath deciduous trees
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Damp Shade only
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Most garden plants are quite happy growing in light shade or out of direct sun . However Grey leaved plants are more prone to rotting off if the leaves or roots are permanently wet.