It is important to first assess the type of shade you are dealing with – not all shade is equal! There are varying degrees of shade: partial, dappled, bright indirect light, and full to deep shade. Typically, plants preferring partial sun/shade conditions want morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in our hot/dry climate. A select few can tolerate the opposite – morning shade and late afternoon sun, or shade throughout the day with a few blasting hours in the middle. Part sun/shade-loving plants placed in too much shade will grow thinner, leggier and will bloom less. Also consider other constraints like excessive needle/leaf drop that can smother daintier plants, rain shadows, drying winds and reflected heat.

As with all drought tolerant plants, getting them established is crucial to longterm success. Just because they tolerate drier conditions doesn’t mean you don’t need to water them! Deep but infrequent soaks are the way to establish deep root systems that will hold up better in hot/dry weather. Some plants inherently have shallow root systems which, to our benefit, helps them adapt to areas with heavy root competition. These plants may require more frequent watering in the warmer months until they are well established. And remember – dry shade is one of the toughest conditions to garden in, so if your plants are less than vigorous, it’s par for the course!