red/yellow/orange for dry shade

Hi

I am building a garden area that takes in the elements, the area I want to put the fire element is sadly in the shade.

Can anyone suggest plants that have either red, orange or yellow flowers or leaves that can cope with dry partial shade?

I would prefer them to be perennial and if I can grow them from cuttings even better.

Thanks heaps

 

Hi Tilia,
i'm trying to think of some....Photinia (red robin) and Pieris ( forest flame) come to mind..I'm sure Pieris needs acid soil not sure about Photinia...but i'm sure someone will know..I'l keep thinking.

 

Tilia, have a look at this nursery because they specialise in plants for shade.
I've used them quite a lot and they're a good company .....

Long Acre Plants

 

Heres a link with info that may help.
Shade loving plants, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and grasses, :: Buy Garden Plants online from our online garden Centre at best4plants

I should say it is info only. I've had no dealings with them so can't recommend or otherwise.

 

Thanks, I agree, I'm pretty sure Pieris is ericaceous. I haven't got round to testing the soil here but my lavender is growing well so I'm guessing it's alkaline.

I had thought of Photinia, how big does it get and will it cope with the shade ok? I wondered whether it would lose it's red.

 

I planted a photinia (red robin) and a rhododendron in dry shade, and both of them nearly died! I would suggest some of the red /orange bracted euphorbia. Mine seem to grow well anywhere, including shade!

 

Also, for spring colour, aquilegias seem to grow well in shade - and they can be found with yellow flowers, possibly orange. I have a bronze newzealand flax that has thrived in shade, but it depends on how dry your area is, as I planted a variagated newzealand flax in very dry shade, and it has remained small - but not died.

 

Hypericums have yellow flowers and seem to do well in most places in my garden - so may be worth a try.

 

Louise D, thanks for the link. Pennies are tight but I did find Dryopteris Lepidopoda, it just depends if there is enough moisture in the soil for it. I am planning to put a seep hose in but only want to use it when things get dire.. I'm a big believer in "right plant right place" rather than trying to get the wrong thing to grow where I want it.....

 

Yes, what a great idea... maybe St Johns Wort as it is smaller... but yes, that's a great idea!!! :yess:

If I remember right my mum may have some in her garden....

What I can do it put the red/yellow/orange at the front for colour and have mostly green at the back, with the photinia there too.

This is awesome, thanks heaps guys.

I'll be asking more when I get to the other elements lol

 

Ah, right, scrap the photinia then.... but yes red euphorbias would be good :D

 

easy peasy .... start looking at Heuchera ....

for bright red, plant Heuchera berry smoothie

for orange ... Heuchera crem brulee

for yellow, Huechera electra

search google for pics and details ... there are hundreds of colours and you may find other shades of your chosen colours which will suit you better

nice thing is that they are 'evergreen' so you will always have colour even in winter, and they are very hardy (just make sure that the ones you choose are suitable for shade, as some prefer full sun)

I am awaiting an ebay order and will be planting a small bed late next week ... the bed is 7m long, in semi-shade (north facing garden wall) ...

I will be planting 2 types ... Berry smoothie (bright red) with Huechera electric lime ... (berry smoothie, electric lime, berry smoothie, electric lime etc)

will be very 'bright' and hope (am sure) that the client will be happy

 

I have 2 photinia in dry shade and they're fine, queer isn't it !

 

Deciduous Azalaeas should do well there, you also have the added bonus of a superb scent, especially from the yellow varieties.Then there`s Red Hot Poker, Phlox and Crocosmia.

 

a japanese maple may do well, but check the specis out if you have strong wind .... the best one for 'breezy' sites in semi shade is Acer Seiryu ....

hardy, handles the wind better than most of the other acers and grows fast aswell