Jangchub said:

I have a friend living in Riverside and she's been asking me for
recommendations for some new beds in shade most of the day,
wants them
to flower as long as possible, perennial if possible, dry side.

I did give her some basic recommendations, but would like to know if
anyone here has actual experience in that part of the Ag. zone.

They do have deer, but she is not concerned. However, plants which
deer won't run to first would be good. I appreciate any
recommendations. This friend is a Buddhist nun who cares for Lama
Zopa Rinpoche's house, so if you believe in merit, you will certainly
get some for helping with this.

I'm not anywhere near Riverside, WA, but perhaps I can be of some
use...

Corydalis lutea is the longest flowering perennial I have in my garden.
I can have blooms from early spring into late October.

It is short lived but reseeds and grows in spots that vary from some
sun to mostly shaded. It even grows where it has to put up with a
burst of sun in mid-day, which is rather impressive.

In my yard, it grows where other shade plants (like Pulmonaria) have
regularly died due to water stress, but it probably will need *some*
supplemental water.

I also have some Geranium macrorrhizum that puts up with fairly dry
shade.They have a very short bloom period but have (in my opinion)
pleasantly scented foliage that (unlike some Geranium species) never
needs to be fussed with and sheared back.

The one other plant I have that does well in the drier shady corners
is Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'. Short but very showy bloom
period in the spring. The young leaves are also attractively colored.
This plant is most attractive if you shear off the old foliage (which
is semi-evergreen) in late winter/very early spring, just before the
flower stems start to emerge. (I have another Epimedium with far less
showy flowers but it is just as tough.)


--
Pat in Plymouth MI

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