Plants that thrive in the shadows: Conquering the challenges of dry shade gardening

Made in the shade

Photo: Contributed

A shade-loving, drought-tolerant perennial to be offered at the OXA spring plant sale is this dramatic Aralia cordata 'Sun King' (Japanese spikenard).

Finding plants that thrive in dry shade is one of gardening's most formidable challenges.

These difficult spots are often located beneath mature trees or along north-facing walls or fences and present a double handicap. Not only do these areas receive minimal sunlight but plants must often compete for precious moisture. Yet, with careful selection of adaptable plants, even these challenging areas can become garden highlights.

The difficulties of dry shade gardening start with photosynthesis itself. Plants need light to manufacture food, and those receiving less must adapt their growth patterns accordingly. Many shade-loving plants evolved in woodland settings with naturally moist soil that offsets reduced light. But in dry shade, plants face not only minimal sunlight but also fierce root competition from established trees and shrubs that greedily siphon available moisture.

Beneath trees the dense canopy above may prevent rainfall from reaching the ground, while established root systems quickly absorb what little moisture does arrive. The resulting environment challenges even experienced gardeners.

Successful dry shade gardening requires both proper preparation and careful plant selection

Amending your soil with organic matter improves moisture retention and soil structure. Regular mulching helps maintain moisture levels, while occasional deep watering during establishment gives plants their best chance at success.

Included in our upcoming Okanagan Xeriscape Association spring plant sale will be three remarkable cultivars, which have proven their worth in conquering these difficult conditions. Each brings unique attributes that allow them to not merely survive but flourish where others fail.

Polemonium pulcherrimum “Golden Feathers” (Jacob’s ladder) stands out with its striking foliage featuring finely divided, ferny leaves in brilliant variegated gold that brighten even the darkest corners. This cultivar reaches a modest eight to 10 inches tall, with a width up to 14 inches, making it perfect for edging or in container plantings.

In late spring, delicate purple flowers rise above the foliage, creating a stunning contrast with the golden leaves. Polemonium “Golden Feathers” is hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

What makes “Golden Feathers” exceptional for dry shade is its remarkable drought tolerance once established, combined with a preference for partial to full shade. Unlike many golden-leaved plants that scorch in direct sunlight, it maintains its vibrant colour without fading throughout the growing season.

The herbaceous perennial Heuchera sanguinea “Snow Angel” (Coral bells or Alumroot) offers season-round interest. Its heart-shaped foliage with light green leaves is dramatically speckled with creamy white variegation.

This Heuchera variety forms an attractive mound, approximately 12 inches tall and wide and is zonally appropriate for planting in the Okanagan.

In early summer, slender stems rise above the foliage, carrying delicate pink bell-shaped flowers that are favoured by hummingbirds but seldom nibbled by deer. The flowers of Heuchera “Snow Angel” make an interesting cut flower with a long vase life.

“Snow Angel” succeeds in dry shade thanks to its adaptable nature and shallow root system that can capture surface moisture before it evaporates. The thick, leathery leaves reduce transpiration, conserving precious water reserves during drought periods. This cultivar demonstrates reliable drought tolerance once established and thrives in a wide range of soils.

Perhaps most impressive is Aralia cordata “Sun King” (Japanese spikenard), a bold architectural plant that brings tropical drama to shaded areas. This Japanese spikenard cultivar features compound leaves in luminous gold that seem to glow in dim light.

Growing four or more feet tall and wide, it creates dramatic structure and should be located in the middle or back of your shade border. In middle to late summer, tiny white blooms appear, followed by dark purple inedible berries.

The flowers of Aralia “Sun King” are attractive to bees and other pollinators with the foliage unappealing to deer. “Sun King” was awarded 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.

“Sun King” conquers dry shade through several adaptations. Its extensive root system can access deeper water sources beyond the reach of competitors and the large leaves efficiently capture available light.

Despite its tropical appearance, this perennial demonstrates surprising drought tolerance once established, requiring only occasional supplemental watering when grown in a shady location.

These three exceptional cultivars demonstrate that dry shade locations needn't remain a garden wasteland. With thoughtful plant selection and proper care during establishment, even these challenging areas can be transformed into vibrant, textured spaces that contribute to the garden's overall beauty.

By embracing these adapted plants, gardeners can convert previously problematic areas into new opportunities for creative expression.

Visit our plant database on our website at okanaganxeriscape.org for information about other species that flourish in areas of dry shade.

•••

• As in years past, OXA will represent the Make Water Work campaign at nurseries throughout the Okanagan Valley and will be onsite to answer any of your gardening and xeriscaping questions.

• Mark your calendar for OXA’s plant sale on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 840 Old Vernon Road. We will be having a member-only pre-sale on Friday, so consider becoming a member for this and other valuable benefits outlined on our website.

• The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the Okanagan Basin Water Board and is proud to be collaborating on the Make Water Work campaign. Check out the Make Water Work plant list at makewaterwork.ca.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Welcome to spring and a new gardening season

Start to spring in the garden

Photo: Judie Steeves

Pycnanthemum "Smokey Mountain"

The Okanagan Xeriscape Association celebrated the official start to spring with the first Dig with Sig volunteer event recently in the greenhouse, as we began potting-up plants for our upcoming plant sale.

Spring is an exciting time for gardeners and our annual spring plant sale is a highlight of the season.

I’d like to describe some of the new cultivars which will be available for purchase at our May 10 sale. Three outstanding perennials recently potted up include: Anacyclus “Silver Kisses”, Pycnanthemum “Smokey Mountain”, and Oenothera “Twilight”. All deserve special attention for their remarkable drought-tolerance and beauty. These plants offer gardeners resilient options that thrive with minimal irrigation while providing both visual interest and ecological benefits.

Anacyclus “Silver Kisses”, a member of the daisy family, has emerged as a must-have ground cover for water-wise landscapes. Its finely dissected, silvery-gray foliage creates a striking carpet-like appearance that remains attractive even when not in bloom. The delicate, ferny texture provides excellent contrast to bolder plants in the garden.

Come spring, this Mediterranean native bursts into flower, producing an abundance of white daisy-like blooms with distinctive red undersides. These cheerful flowers hover just above the foliage, creating a floating effect that attracts pollinators while requiring minimal moisture. Its silvery foliage isn’t just ornamental, but is a drought adaptation that reflects sunlight and reduces water loss.

A deep taproot allows Anacyclus “Silver Kisses” to access moisture far below the soil surface, making it remarkably resilient during extended dry periods. Once established, this perennial requires very little supplemental irrigation. Anacyclus “Silver Kisses” tolerates poor, rocky soils and thrives in heat that would wither less adaptable plants.

Its compact growth habit, reaching two to four inches tall, with a spread of 12 to 18 inches, makes it perfect for rock gardens, border edges and container plantings where irrigation may be limited.

Pycnanthemum “Smokey Mountain”, commonly called “mountain mint,” delivers unexpected drought tolerance from a genus typically associated with moisture-loving plants.

This North American native combines the aromatic qualities of the mint family with remarkable heat and drought resilience.

The Smokey Mountain cultivar produces silvery bracts that surround tiny white flowers, creating a misty, smoky effect in the garden from midsummer through fall. This perennial reaches 24-36 inches tall, forming an upright, bushy clump that requires no staking despite its height.

What makes this perennial exceptional for xeric landscapes is its adaptability. Once established, the deep root system efficiently utilizes available soil moisture, allowing it to sail through dry periods that would stress many other plants

Its aromatic foliage contains natural oils that reduce water loss, and simultaneously deters deer while attracting beneficial insects.

Gardeners will appreciate that unlike its mint relatives, Smokey Mountain is well-behaved in the landscape, forming tidy clumps rather than aggressively spreading.

This self-sufficient perennial thrives with minimal care in full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for various garden locations where irrigation might be limited.

Oenothera “Twilight”, a selection of evening primrose, brings dramatic twilight displays to any water-wise garden.

As dusk approaches, its satiny lavender-pink blooms unfurl in a fascinating display that continues throughout summer into early fall.

The drought tolerance of Twilight evolves from its heritage in the American Southwest. Its slightly succulent leaves store moisture, while a substantial taproot searches deeply for available water.

This perennial typically reaches 12 to 18 inches tall and wide and possesses exceptional heat tolerance, performing better during hot, dry spells than in cool, wet conditions.

Its drought adaptations include a reduced leaf surface that minimizes transpiration and specialized cell structures that efficiently store water.

Beyond water conservation benefits, Twilight adds wildlife value to the xeric garden as its nectar-rich flowers attract pollinating moths, filling an ecological niche often overlooked in garden planning favouring butterfly gardens.

These three exceptional perennials demonstrate that water-wise gardening needn’t mean sacrificing beauty or garden performance.

By incorporating Anacyclus “Silver Kisses”, Pycnanthemum “Smokey Mountain”, and Oenothera “Twilight” into the landscape, gardeners can create resilient, ecologically-responsible gardens that thrive through challenging conditions, all while delighting the senses.

Visit our website at okanaganxeriscape.org for information about where you can next meet up with representatives of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association. As in years past, we will be representing the Make Water Work campaign at nurseries up and down the Okanagan Valley and will be onsite to answer any of your gardening and xeriscaping questions.

Mark your calendar for OXA’s plant sale May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 840 Old Vernon Road. We will host a member’s-only pre-sale on Friday, so consider becoming a member for this and other valuable benefits, as outlined on our website.

The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the Okanagan Basin Water Board and is proud to be collaborating on the Make Water Work campaign. Check out its Make Water Work plant list at makewaterwork.ca.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Seedy Sunday is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner

Adding up signs of spring

Photo: Judie Steeves

Nodding their delicate heads, snowdrops have burst their way out of the soil in Okanagan gardens, a sure sign that Spring is on its way.

It may not officially begin until March 20, but I’m already delighting in the unofficial signs of spring, starting with the snowdrops that have sprung up in gardens and continuing with seeds and plants appearing at workshops and other events.

The Okanagan Xeriscape Association organized a day-long workshop to inform people, including those in the nursery industry, of the many ways to conserve water on our landscapes and the importance of water conservation in the Okanagan.

The Creating Climate-Resilient Landscapes workshop sold out and gathered an excited array of gardening enthusiasts, master gardeners, those from the landscape industry and Kelowna and West Kelowna city staff. Most judged it a huge success, which was exhilarating for those of us who worked hard to put it all together.

This past Sunday, the Okanagan Xeriscape Association was part of Seedy Sunday, an annual event put on by the Kelowna Master Gardeners at Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna.

This event was originally a seed exchange, but morphed into much more. In Kelowna, the event was founded by local farmer Jon Alcock, who has been an important part of it for the 10 years I’ve volunteered on the day.

I said a quick ‘hi’ to him in the morning but was too busy to spend much time with him until later in the day, when I was able to learn the roots of what was originally “Seedy Saturday.”

Jon figures he and his wife Sher started the first Kelowna Seedy Saturday around 2000 at the Laurel Packinghouse—inspired by the very first Seedy Saturday organized by volunteers at the Vandusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver.

There followed various iterations of the Kelowna event at the Elks Lodge (no longer in existence), Centennial Hall and the former Okanagan University College, which was the first time I volunteered.

I saw a presentation that Jon gave at a master gardener event years ago about seed saving, which was unbelievably informative and I found his first-person account about the beginning of Seedy Saturday fascinating.

He painted a picture for me of a young Kelowna where only a handful of seed savers and swappers showed up, versus this past Sunday, where we had dozens of vendors and 800 people walk through the doors and enjoy dreaming of summer in the garden as they wandered around. What a wonderful progression.

When not selling seeds, Jon can be found on his south-east Kelowna property, Sunshine Farms, where he also provides vocational development for adults with diverse abilities. Jon is one of the founders of agriculture in our valley and I feel grateful to learn something new from him every time I run in to him.

Given what is going on with our neighbour to the south, there has never been a better time to consider growing your own food. It can be acres of garden or a patio planter, depending on your situation. All of it will feed you and your soul.

Thank you to everyone who made Seedy Sunday such a success.

Visit our website, okanaganxeriscape.org, for information about where representatives of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association will be next. As in years past, we will present the Make Water Work campaign at nurseries up and down the Okanagan Valley and will be on-site to answer any of your gardening and xeriscaping questions.

I look forward to a fantastic season, and to meeting you in a garden.

The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the Okanagan Basin Water Board and is proud to be collaborating with them on its Make Water Work campaign. Check out its Make Water Work plant list at makewaterwork.ca.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Plan your garden plantings to help pollinators survive

Helping the bees

Photo: Judie Steeves

A green metallic sweat bee helps pollinate a Gazania blossom in a local garden last summer.

The Okanagan Valley’s semi-arid climate presents unique opportunities and challenges for creating pollinator-friendly gardens.

More than 500 native bee species call British Columbia home and many of them are found in the Okanagan.

Thoughtful garden design can support these essential pollinators while conserving water through the application of xeriscaping principles.

The Okanagan’s diverse landscape supports numerous native bee species, each playing a crucial role in pollination throughout the growing season.

Without pollinators, the human race and all of earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Mining bees (Andrenidae species) emerge early in spring, while leafcutter bees (Megachilidae species) become active during summer months. Bumble bees (Bombus species) work tirelessly from early spring through late fall, and metallic green sweat bees (Halictidae family) visit flowers throughout the growing season.

Early spring marks the emergence of overwintered queen bumble bees and mining bees, making early-blooming plants crucial for these pollinators’ survival.

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) provides essential early spring nectar when few other plants are blooming. This drought-tolerant evergreen shrub supports early-emerging bumble bee queens and mining bees while offering year-round structure to the garden.

Wild Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) produces early white blooms that attract various native bees. This hardy shrub requires minimal water once established and provides additional wildlife value through its edible berries. Penstemon species, particularly the native Penstemon fruticosus, begin blooming in late spring. Their tubular flowers are especially attractive to bumble bees and provide a reliable source of nectar as temperatures warm.

Summer brings peak pollinator activity, requiring abundant nectar sources. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) offers continuous blooms throughout summer. This hardy perennial attracts diverse pollinators, especially bumble bees and leafcutter bees, while requiring minimal water once established.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) performs exceptionally well in the Okanagan’s climate. Different varieties can be planted to create successive blooming periods, providing consistent nectar sources throughout summer. Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata) attracts numerous bee species while thriving in full sun and dry conditions. Its unique flowers add architectural interest to the garden.

Late-season blooms are crucial for pollinators preparing for winter with Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) provides essential late-season nectar. Its deep root system makes it extremely drought-tolerant, and it supports numerous native bee species, particularly small sweat bees and mining bees. Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) offers crucial late-season forage. Its purple blooms are particularly attractive to smaller native bees and provide essential nutrition during autumn months. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) produces long-lasting lavender-coloured spikes that attract numerous bee species through the end of the growing season. Its silver foliage adds visual interest while indicating its drought tolerance.

Successful pollinator gardens incorporate plants from each blooming period to provide consistent forage throughout the growing season. Create plantings in layers, with taller species at the back and shorter ones in front, ensuring all flowers are accessible to pollinators. Include bare soil patches for ground-nesting bees as approximately 70% of native bee species are included in this group. Plant groupings or “drifts” that make nectar sources easily visible to pollinators.

Beyond seasonal blooms, pollinators need year-round habitat. Leave plant stems standing through winter to provide nesting sites for cavity-nesting bees. Maintain brush piles and undisturbed areas for overwintering insects. Consider installing bee hotels to support tunnel-nesting species like mason bees and leafcutter bees.

Creating a xeriscape pollinator garden in the Okanagan requires thoughtful planning but offers tremendous rewards. By selecting appropriate plants for each season and implementing water-wise practices, gardeners can support native bee populations while maintaining beautiful, drought-resistant landscapes that thrive in our unique climate.

Visit the Okanagan Xeriscape Association’s plant database on our website at okanaganxeriscape.org for information on hundreds of drought-tolerant plants, many of which are also valuable pollinator plants. Your next opportunity to interact with OXA and have your xeriscape questions answered will be March 9th at the Master Gardener’s Seedy Sunday event taking place at Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $2 per adult and children are free.

The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the Okanagan Basin Water Board and is proud to be collaborating with them on its Make Water Work campaign. Check out the Make Water Work plant list at makewaterwork.ca.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.