Dry shade can be the result of several different situations. It could be an area of your garden that can’t be reached with a garden hose, or those using a limited amount of well water, or an area directly under wide roof overhangs. The most likely scenario is that of plantings under trees, most notably those with shallow root like Acers & Beech.
The soil doesn’t get wet as much when it rains, leaving the ground drier than would normally be. Hostas are not only a shade loving plant but also like to have a reasonable amount of moisture. Dry shade is not an ideal situation for Hosta. The majority will not do very well, but as with most things, there are exceptions. There are varieties of Hosta that will tolerate this position.
The ideal position to be in would be to change the soil before planting, by adding plenty of organic material into the soil. This won’t stop it being a dry shade area but will, for a few years at least, hold on to any moisture that is there. This will help the Hostas become established more quickly.
This blog is more about the Hostas that can tolerate these dry shade areas, but actually, may not prefer this situation, rather than talk about the area itself.
It’s fair to say that in most cases there is little you can do to change an area from dry shade to a suitable Hostas growing area. What you want as a gardener is to have your Hostas grow well year after year.
There will be areas of dry shade where Hostas just won’t survive where the soil is so dry, it can’t support the plant. This sort of area will be nearer the trunk of the tree where it gets little or no moisture. The other may be where the outer edge of the canopy is, the dripline, where the finer roots of the tree are more competitive. Avoid these areas if possible.
You are probably thinking, I want to see a list please. I already have dry shade, and I want to know which Hostas will grow in dry shade.
This is the section that you want to see & read. These are the Hostas that will tolerate growing in dry shade. Not their preferred situation but will tolerate it better than other varieties. We are not talking about whether they will prefer lighter or deeper shade.
Hosta Christmas Tree. This is a large Hosta with lovely puckered dark green leaves, with an irregular, yellow edge that changes to white as the season progresses. Lavender flowers in June to July, followed by stunning reddish purple seed pods.
Hosta City Lights. Forms a large mound of 24"-30" in height with a spread of up to 46" at maturity. This large specimen has rounded and corrugated leaves of glowing yellow-gold. Given room this can grow to be fairly enormous. I does need a little sun to maintain the fabulous yellow colouring.
Hosta June. What can we say about this one that hasn’t already been said? It will tolerate most positions and grows well in all of them. A medium Hosta with fabulous dark green margins & pale green centres that change with the amount of sunlight it receives. It has many beautiful lavender flowers well above the foliage from June to July. One of the most popular Hostas on the market today. American Hosta Growers Association Hosta of The Year 2001 & RHS Award Of Garden Merit. (and slug resistant).
Ask any gardener about their Hostas, and what they think will tolerate dry shade and they will probably have a different list, and certainly be able to add to the list.
Hosta Sweet Home Chicago. Medium sized mound of about 18"-20" in height, with a spread of up to 36", at maturity. It creates a mound of gold-centred foliage that contrasts nicely with the wide blue-green margin. Although it will tolerate dry shade it will benefit from some sun during the day.
The six Hosta above are Hosta Halcyon, Hosta Gold Standard, Hosta Abba Dabba Do, Hosta Abiqua Drinking Gourd, Hosta Zounds and Hosta Sagae. These have all performed well in dry shade in our garden.
Sure there will be plenty more Hostas to add to this list and your experience may be different as the level off dry shade will vary from garden to garden.
It is fair to say that, yes, there are Hostas that will tolerate dry shade, to a greater or lesser degree, but to improve the likelihood of success keep the following tips in mind.
Improve the soil by adding plenty of moisture retentive well-rotted compost or organic material, before planting. In essence, trying to reduce the ‘dry’ element of dry shade.
Once planted, use an organic mulch to retain moisture. Do not go around the base of each Hosta, with the mulch. Leave a few inches. If necessary, the mulch around the Hostas should be of potting compost. It would always be advisable to water well before mulching, and water again once done.
You will also need a season long program of watering, to ensure that the area doesn’t dry out too much. Remember, that all these Hostas love moist soil, even though some of the will ‘tolerate’ dry shade.
There are a couple of really good side effects of growing in dry shade. The likelihood of Crown Rot is drastically diminished, and those pesky slugs don’t like it dry, and therefore are rarely seen in dry shade areas. No holey Hosta leaves.
Competition for nutrients and water in dry shade areas under shallow rooted trees is a constant challenge. Hostas grown in dry shade areas will need more watering than elsewhere to ensure optimum size.
The tree canopy often doesn’t allow any rain to get through, hence dry shade, so a regular watering is always on the cards. Even though they will tolerate dry shade, give them what they like. However, if you do neglect them a little, they will cope, just a little better for the care.
To learn more about Hostas, you may interested in reading : Grow and Maintain Hostas In Containers, Benefits of Companion Plants, What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Hostas?, Ways to Protect Your Hostas from Slugs and Snails and "Uncovering the Advantages of Bare Root Hostas:
Shop for Hostas HERE
John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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