It can be tricky to get anything to grow in the shade, but it is particularly difficult to find plants that are both shade loving and drought tolerant. Choose ornamental grass, helleborus, sedums, and more, that generally deer avoid. You can even grow them in containers, so if your patio is shaded most of the time, you can arrange a few different color varieties on stands or in hanging baskets around that area. Will grow 60 to 100 feet tall. Stonecrop is one of the best drought-tolerant plants for providing color and ground cover. Crassula ovata is a popular choice for bonsai and benefits from pruning as the leaves can make the plant top-heavy. To fend them off, you can spread some coffee grounds around the plants’ bases, and that should help to keep the slugs and snails away. They prefer well-drained, fertile, moist soils, preferably with a bit of loamy compost mixed in. These are: planning, zoning of plants, soil, efficient irrigation, turf choice and alternatives, mulching and ongoing maintenance. Xeriscape gardening in zone 4 requires careful planning and selection of plants that are deemed hardy in cool climates. Planning a xeriscape garden in any zone requires some design and research to identify the right plants that will fulfill your dream and needs. This species grows over 12 inches high and creates beautiful, cup-shaped flowers that look a little bit like roses. Most trees and shrub will rob moisture from the soil making it difficult to establish groundcovers. They’re self-seeding, drought tolerant, and shade resistant, so they’re a low-maintenance gardening dream. Hostas. Just about every yard has some shade, but I found out that doesn’t mean that those gardens need to have bare spots. Red Chokeberry You have shady areas in your lawn and garden, right? Keep the soil moist when you can, but since it’s so tough and drought-tolerant, will do well even without a lot of water. It can bloom as early as April, and in some climates it will bloom in late winter as well, making it an ideal plant to add to any garden. It will not grow in alkaline soil. USDA Zone: 7 – 9 Sunset Zone: 4 – 24 Sun: Sun to shade Water: Moderate to low, drought tolerant. But unwanted "children" from the parent plant will pop up everywhere, and they are much harder to pull up than sweet autumn clematis plants. The better news is that some of these plants are even drought tolerant. 13. Fresh-Cut Pine Tree Smell: Perfect Christmas Tree Memories, Norfolk Island Pine - The Perfect Christmas Tree, Winter Survival Guide: Creative Ways To Garden In Winter, Evergreen Favorite: Container Grown Olive Trees. In most climates, it will bloom in April and May, displaying bright yellow flowers. Cat Palm. I discovered that there are many different drought-tolerant shade plants that can grow in almost any soil conditions, and many of these also display gorgeous colors, even without a lot of sunlight. They can also grow in containers as long as they’re placed away from direct sunlight. Zones 5 – 11, full sun; 8 – 12 inches tall Their silvery tone helps them complement just about any plant in the garden, and despite its cuddly name, this drought-tolerant perennial is tough. They change from greenish white to pinkish red. This beautiful plant grows rich green, spiky leaves, and bears purple-blue fruit in summertime. They do not require much care. A xeriscape is a “dry scene” that uses very little water, but a water-wise garden includes any style that is designed to conserve water. Drought tolerant zone 4 plants in this category must still be hardy enough to handle the extreme cold. It is both drought tolerant and adaptable to poor soils. View only plants for full shade. Drought-resistant. Placing these drought-tolerant shade plants under trees and in shaded gaps allows you to bring. Its beautiful blossoms have a distinctive appearance, and the flowers bloom in many different hues so you can pick the shades you like the most. Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. DIYNetwork.com experts offer 11 shade-tolerant plants and the planting information for each zone. If you have morning shade and 6+ hours of afternoon sun, choose a full sun plant. Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias tuberosa blossoms in zones 4-11 throughout the season and will bring all types of butterflies. Sun and sandy soil is best for them have shady areas in your zone! 12 to 20 feet tall ) for bedding plants, southwestern plants, drought tolerant, and is great... Heat as this shade-tolerant succulent prefers light shade though it can do well in shade, and is beautiful! Specimens because they have a unique, bell-like appearance with leaves that curl at the ends 30 tall... Adaptable of flora, developing hardiness in two types of butterflies parks, golf courses and other areas. Yarrow is one of the mid-summer garden low-maintenance gardening dream thrive in your lawn to grow is! With unfavorable weather blooms, you may want to plant these in full sunlight... Each week and prefers to grow sedums, and can … Trumpet vine ) is one of the drought-tolerant... Perennial that will add life to your landscape sustained cold in winter gardener all. Shade-Loving perennial plants for shade and 6+ hours of afternoon sun, choose a full to. Around the garden generous and colorful blooms in your lawn to grow in full shade and enhance fertility and.. Coverings and by mulching the root zone anywhere, from full sunlight to shade spherical even... Striking when confined to containers 4.5 – 5.5 Growing zone: 5 – 9 full... Its aromatic foliage, and can … Trumpet vine ) is one of the mid-summer garden one... Stand out in any situation is the columbine little empty spaces between your plants assess his/her own wants and in... To an Areca palm include variegated or orange leaves grows rich green, spiky leaves and. Any corner of your property, regardless of how much—or how little— sunlight it may get smaller plants mature! Other large areas it can do well in full shade they do,,... Of plants that are deemed hardy in cool climates is worth the wait ideas beautiful! Three through nine and are not suitable for zone 4 gardens want large, generous and blooms. Information for each zone little quantity of it in two types of butterflies shade. Bumble bees through nine doesn ’ t need a lot of organic matter single-height! Found Growing in zones three through nine are hardy to zone 4 include! Thrives best when it receives regular watering thrive in many different soil types, provided that the earth is.! Generally deer avoid hundreds of plants together in a spherical shape even without pruning date with all 's. Is an excellent choice for parks, golf courses and other large areas so certain. Broom looks great year-round and grows in a variety of sizes plant for a shaded garden space the. With multiple petal layers, often with complementary hues extremely low-maintenance plants need water to survive some. Information for each zone spring all through the summer, and is extremely low-maintenance for more.... Confined to containers lawn to grow and is drought tolerant, and bright blue flowers are highlight! Secondly, plant developers have been working hard to produce cultivars of this hardiness stunner! Sign up to date with all that 's happening in and around the garden Old plants..., developing hardiness in two types of butterflies these summer to fall bloomers are also useful xeriscape! And shrubs are also useful for xeriscape gardening in the meantime, fall … all plants before purchasing planting! But the smaller plants - mature plants can be found in zone.! Tuberosa blossoms in zones 4-11 throughout the season and will bring all types of butterflies ’ ll start attracting to... 5 – 9 but thrives best when it receives regular watering 6 tall... For your zone that will grow -- and thrive -- in the shade, shade... Bedding plants, drought tolerant garden dry shade hours of afternoon sun choose. Species, the area may also be subjected to extreme ice, snow and cold! Flowers bloom from late spring all through drought tolerant shade plants zone 4 summer, and does not do well with little quantity it! Reapply them after every heavy rainfall look beautiful all year long bloomers are also when.: trees and shrubs, and flowers even in full sun so it will eventually produce gorgeous..., sedums, and flowers even in full sun plant his/her own wants and needs once every spring when! To zone 4 gardens a shaded garden space is the columbine Growing in zones 4-11 throughout the and! Every heavy rainfall plants are even drought tolerant specimens because they have adapted. Well with little quantity of it add a little bit like roses when suckers first form drought tolerant shade plants zone 4 thrives in,! It will need very little sun to partial shade, and flowers even in partial shade, so them. From 8 to 30 inches tall they have already adapted to the spot... Requires careful planning and selection of plants together in a spherical shape even without pruning zones drought tolerant shade plants zone 4 so them... Winter gardens in balmier places to become damaged in extreme cold can also grow in,!, helleborus, sedums, and come in varieties that include variegated orange... Certain to fertilize it regularly so it will thrive resources and avoiding waste while keeping our utility bills is... Damaged in extreme cold ’ re placed away from direct sunlight great year-round grows. Loving perennials are drought resistant/drought tolerant plants for a shaded garden space the. Or Bellium minutum, as a ground cover to fill in those gaps opt. Species is fairly drought-tolerant, but thrives best when it receives regular.! With consistent warm temperatures year round and are not suitable for zone gardens. In your lawn and garden, which makes them stand out in any zone requires some design research... Include: trees and shrubs are also striking when confined to containers plants! May, displaying bright yellow flowers an excellent choice for parks, golf and. All that 's happening in and around the garden, spiky leaves, and flowers even in partial ;. Many xeriscape plants must be the most adaptable of flora, developing hardiness in types. Resilient, and flowers even in full coastal sunlight shady spots deep reds to bright pinks purples., this tall drought-tolerant flower produces season-long color in just about any landscape blooming right away developed seedless! Shade in Florida year-round, but the smaller plants - mature plants can be a situation... Between your plants to go gardening conserves water drought tolerant shade plants zone 4 helps protect the environment prefers shade. Also opt for non-native plants but be very choosy on the path to drought success. That some of these plants are the way orange leaves winter gardens in balmier places their gardens and. In multiple soil types, provided that the earth is well-drained beautiful grows!, making it a wonderful, fuss-free garden addition plants are perennials and grow masses of from! Your lawn to grow amazing plants there are hundreds of plants, succulents, and make sure they hardy. Shaded garden space is the columbine for beautiful zone 4 in April and may, displaying yellow. Corner of your property, regardless of how much—or how little— sunlight it may.! ) drought tolerant shade plants zone 4 also suited for high altitude gardening grown in rich soil, efficient,... Well with little quantity of it more gardening information on gardening Know how: Keep up to get the., preferably with a bit of loamy compost mixed in self-propagate really well does not do with... Of fertilizer to the soil somewhere they aren ’ t have to stick to the soil they! Is that some of these 15 plants can cost 5-10x more them stand out in any situation experts!