Shade Garden 2025

 Shade is shade, right? Actually my dear friend and former boss Maurice of Joy Creek Nursery taught me to think of shade in a much more nuanced way. There is deep dark shade from dense tree canopies, light shade from a deciduous canopy, if a canopy has been lifted or thinned then it's likely partial shade.

 Consider shade from structures. That's a solid dark line of shade that creates quite a temperature change from sunny to dark and cool. Think of a city in the middle of summer in the shade of skyscrapers with wind whipping through. Definitely different from dappled shade of a maple tree in your backyard. Think of shade cast from your neighbor's new four-story ADU. Or, perhaps it's only shady for part of the year then burning hot in summer. Perhaps it's shady for most of the day and then you get a hit of hot afternoon sun for an hour or two.

Then there's aspect - is it a slope, is it flat, is it well-drained or swampy? Somewhere in between? North facing, south or otherwise? Dry shade is fairly common as shade in the garden is usually a result of trees that generally speaking have large root systems that take up whatever water is available. That's me. When I refer to my shade garden I'm talking about the northern edge of our property, on a slope, with many Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and a few big leaf maples, Acer macrophyllum. This creates a super-dry soil that no matter how much I water does not stay wet in summer. At all. Ever. Plus, living in the summer dry region of the West Coast it's really dry.

It's arguably the most challenging garden area I grow for these reasons. Plants take forever to establish because I can't water them enough. I have lost many plants over the years that just cannot compete or are smothered by something more vigorous. My strategy then has been to observe what has done well and repeat as I go along this some 250' length and 15 - 30' width (depending on where you measure) stretch of shade garden.

This is a look at the survivors and thrivers.

Saxifrages in general do well for me, especially useful at the front of the garden path where they won't be swallowed up by taller ferns and oxalis. This is Saxifraga x geum 'Dentata', an evergreen favorite that grows into lovely colonies. The flowers are a bonus, I grow this and most plants for foliage effect. Others that do well are Saxifraga primuloides, Saxifraga 'Aureopunctata', Saxifraga stolonifera but they like a little more moisture in the soil. Also in this photo, Brunnera 'Sea Heart' is another easy care plant for me.

A small shade loving carex, Carex conica 'Snowline' is evergreen, stays small and I have never had a seedling from the 20 or so plants I have in the garden. It has narrow foliage with white variegation and quietly does its job brightening up whatever it is next to. I find most carex appreciate more water but this one has been forgiving of my dry shade. Also in this photo are Ophiopogon 'Nigrescens' and Veronica 'Georgia Blue', both of which are excellent.

Geranium macrorrhizum, bigroot geranium and Hosta 'Guacamole' are both excellent plants. The geranium is a problem solver - it's semi-evergreen (you'll still see it in winter but it's not as lush), the flowers attract bumble bees, it grows under maple and fir trees (see the Acer macrophyllum trunk in this photo) and is very drought adapted. The hosta is also very forgiving of dry conditions and its large leaves means it is slightly out of reach of slugs which (knock on wood) have not bothered this one still emerging in this stage. It will soon have large ovate leaves that rise above the geranium.

Asplenium trichomanes, maidenhair spleenwort, may not be super easy (I've killed my share in my old garden) but here it's pretty happy, happier still when I started mulching with a bit of gravel so I include it for its cute factor. They are small evergreen ferns that I wish would colonize my garden. Here is a great description on Fancy Frond's website about what they want: 

 Colonies of maidenhair spleenwort usually grow in fissures where small moss and humus accumulations provide a moisture retentive yet well drained and aerated root run. Although these rocky denizens may occur on a southerly slope they are always situated out of the direct sun, and we have found that they prefer slightly acid soils.  Excessive soil splashing can cake on the fronds and inhibit their growth, so make sure that the soil around them is secured in place with rocks, moss, or dense forest loam that resists splattering.

Polystichum setiferum 'Bevis' sporting brand new fresh fronds among a sea of oxalis. Also at the base of the fabulous J.D. Perkin sculpture you can just see Podophyllum pleianthum poking out. This has struggled with my super dry soil but it's kind of come back this year so all is not lost.

Several great plants in this photo - salal or Gaultheria shallon is a very useful evergreen shrub I allow to go where it wants, generally speaking. We were lucky in that there was some here already when we bought the property, I have simply encouraged it. Also Oxalis oregana, another native, was one I introduced and wow is it happy. It spreads and can choke out smaller plants so make sure whatever you plant it near can grow up and rise above it. The grass is Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' and while it doesn't like my upper shade garden, here in the western woodland where there is a deep mulch of wood chips which retain more moisture, it is pretty happy.

Cyrtomium fortunei is one of my three species of holly fern. With your help I've finally been able to differentiate between this and its very closely related cousin Cyrtomium falcatum, which is darker in color and has glossy leaves rather than this attractive matte texture. They are evergreen and do get a little ratty by the end of winter so a quick clean up helps them to shine. They have all done surprisingly well in my garden though they are said to prefer evenly moist soil all summer.

The other holly fern, Cyrtomium macrophyllum. In this photo taken a couple of weeks ago, new fronds are emerging but it will continue to grow and get beautiful large fronds.

A fantastic understory tree, Acer circinatum, vine maple, is a petite tree that tends to reach its branches around other plants which gives it an open and airy feel, hence the vine in the common name. In full sun it gets amazing autumn color but in shade not so much. Very forgiving of a variety of soil types, I've had nothing but success with these wonderful small native trees.

Vancouveria planipetala is one of three vancouveria species I have growing and it is arguably the prettiest. It's evergreen and a little slower to spread and its leaves are quite glossy. The other two Vancouveria hexandra is completely deciduous with white flowers and matte leaves, Vancouveria chrysantha is semi-evergreen and has yellow flowers. All three are fabulous.

A wide shot looking towards the east with Oxalis oregana in the left lower corner, Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' and it is fabulous but does require regular water in summer.  This is FM's job as it's his favorite plant. That's Geranium macrorrhizum in the center under the trees.

Schefflera delavayi (syn. Heptapleurum delavayi) is a large, up to 10', evergreen shrub I consider a rock star in my shade garden. I have four specimens, this is the oldest and largest. It is on the northern edge of the garden and gets a bit of light but not too much. None of these, nor my Schefflera taiwaniana has suffered from cold, ice nor snow. I'm impressed. Also in this photo is Oxalis oregana 'Klamath Ruby' and on the far right is Sarcococca confusa, another drought adapted evergreen shrub I wouldn't do without. The fern is Polystichum polyblepharum.

Closer image of Geranium macrorrhizum growing under trees. Their large root (hence the name) stores water so it is incredibly adapted to my dry shade garden.

Mash up of Oxalis oregana, Dicentra formosa var. oregana ‘Langtrees’, Carex 'Snowline' and Sarcococca confusa.

A couple Cyrtomium fortunei in a sea of Oxalis oregana 'Klamath Ruby'.

More oxalis! And Adiantum venustum, Himalayan maidenhair fern, a colonizing fern, pretty much evergreen too though it does grow new fronds this time of the year. Under that is Ophiopogon planiscapus which is a lovely evergreen grass-like perennial that tolerates dry shade. The flowers are Anemone nemorosa, a lovely spreading spring ephemeral - it goes dormant by summer.

On the edge of the shade garden I have two of these which are Holboellia coriacea, sausage vine, an evergreen climber that can get quite large. Squirrels screaming up this tree have kept it from growing much at all, but I think this the year it goes for it. Because of its ability to (hopefully) out-do the squirrels, I consider it a tough one.

Maianthemum dilatatum is a deciduous spreading perennial. I did not plant it, rather it started showing up a few years ago and I've encouraged this lovely little native woodland spreader. Those buds are now open to bright white flowers and it doesn't really choke out surrounding plants so I let it spread a bit. I figure if it's happy and it plays well with others then it's a keeper, especially since it's native to my area.

Another sweet native I did plant, Adiantum aleuticum, Western maidenhair fern is arguably my favorite fern. It clings to rocky outcrops all over the waterfall-laden Columbia River Gorge, a vision I hold dear since childhood. Here in a garden setting it's just as lovely, though would probably appreciate a waterfall. I'll see what I can do.

Lonicera 'Briloni', an evergreen shrub that is, for a shrubby honeysuckle, petite. It will eventually spread by layering and suckers, but this one is slower than others of the same species. Its bright foliage is a great foil to darker greens typically associated with shade gardens. The airy tree in the middle left is Acer circinatum, vine maple. I can't let this post go by without mentioning epimedium - I have several species and all are quite good for dry shade and are mostly evergreen. Epimedium 'Neosulfureum' on the bottom right just poking into frame.

Of all the hydrangeas in my garden, Hydrangea quercifolia is the least thirsty and for that I am grateful. Most hydrangeas are huge water hogs but these, H. quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers' (and most quercifolia forms) are not. Mine rarely if ever receive extra water in summer. They are also mulched heavily with wood chips.

There are many, as in hundreds, of Polystichum munitum, our native sword fern, in our garden. They are super drought-adapted, evergreen, easy and grow well under trees. This particular plant has rather wavy pinna I find pretty cool.

Some of the many Polystichum munitum in the garden along with Galium odoratum, sweet woodruff, a semi-evergreen spreader that looks its best this time of the year.

A sweet saxifrage from an online garden friend, Chavli. We swapped seeds/plants through the mail. Gardeners are the BEST people! Thank you Chavli, I think of you every time I spy this lovely little saxifrage. These are doing well in what is a new-ish area of the shade garden. Bit by bit we're creating more garden.

I realize I've shown this lately but it represents more tough plants - Mahonia x savilliana (all mahonias are doing really well for me, our native and non-natives too) and Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' (as well as plain ol' Fatstia japonica). 

Also in evergreen shrubs for shade category is Aucuba japonica, a plant that laughs at dry shade. Plus, its foliage colors and their patterns vary so much, it's a fun one even if it seems like a sleeper. This is Aucuba japonica 'Gold Variegated Sport' from Joy Creek Nursery years ago.

While standing on the new pavilion looking northwest. Lots of little treasures in there that will emerge as the season progresses.

Closing out this shade lover's post with my mossy extension, a newly conceived area that loops around where the mossy path ends. I want more mossy path! It's been cleared of weeds and "seeded" with bits of moss from fallen branches and kept well-watered. I have a few cyclamen, ferns, etc. in there which won't have much of a presence for the first few years but it's fun to watch it grow.

A few other plants of note that didn't get photographed are Vaccinium ovatum, Osmanthus 'San Jose' and O. rotundifolia, many other ferns, Pittosporum 'Sappy' and 'Irene Patterson' and I'm sure a dozen others. To be well-rounded, I must list a few plants I have lost in the shade garden due to too dry conditions, being overcrowded or generally unhappy (which could include being demolished by voles/critters). This includes Uvularia, Tricyrtis, Polygonatum, Actaea rubra, some Thalictrum, Mukdenia rossi, Osmunda regalis, Rhododendron pachysanthum, Rhododendron sinogrande, Selaginella, to name the most painful. But, there are so many more that are doing well so I tend to forget about the losses.

The shade garden is so different from the rest of the garden and is a place I return to again and again especially in the hotter days of summer. Right now it's especially charming as the weather is cool enough and all those pretty ephemerals are showing themselves. I hope this has given some ideas about shade and possibilities to try especially if you too are in the dry shade camp. I feel like even with the dry soil I'm at a point where the garden is telling me what will grow. I'm listening.

That's a wrap for this week at Chickadee Gardens. As always thank you so much for reading and commenting, we do love hearing from you all! And a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our plant sale last Saturday, we appreciate you so much! It was a blast and we'll do it again in autumn, so stay tuned. If there's something you're after and missed out, send a note our way and we'll se what we can come up with. Cheers!