Shade-Tolerant and Drought-Tolerant Perennials

Bleeding heart does well in the shade and can tolerate dry soils.

Perennials come in a variety of colors, sizes and textures and can add visual interest to your garden or landscape, even in climates susceptible to drought. Fill in those shady spots in your garden with drought- and shade-tolerant plants.

Bleeding Heart

Dicentra, or bleeding heart, thrives in shade to partial shade. Bleeding heart can grow up to 3 feet tall and produces white to pink flowers in spring. Bleeding heart is drought-tolerant but can go dormant if it goes without water for too long.

Primrose

Primula, or primrose, prefers shade to partial shade. This spring-blooming perennial produces flowers in a wide range of colors, from white to red, pink, yellow, orange and purple. The primrose can grow up to 24 inches tall and prefers well-drained soil.

Hostas

Hostas thrive in shady conditions and can tolerate drought. There are more than 2,500 cultivars of hostas. Gardeners can even choose leaf colors ranging from blue to green, white or gold. Hostas can range from just a few inches high to more than 8 feet wide.

References

• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension: Drought-Resistant Perennials Hardy in Zone 7
• University of Vermont: Dicentra
• University of Vermont: Primula
• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Growing Hostas

Resources

• University of Tennessee Extension: Annual and Perennial Flower Shade Gardening in Tennessee