Shade loving, drought loving plants?

[debbiem]

Is there such a thing? Even through all this rain we're getting I have a trough on my bathroom windowsill with soil which is dry as a bone, the rain just doesn't get there as the area outside the window creates a kind of alcove. I end up having to water the trough through the bathroom window, even if it's tipping down outside. I would love to plant some of my Sempervivums and my Lampranthus and maybe my Lewisia in this trough as it remains so dry but they all like full sun I think, and the windowsill only gets a bit of early morning sun then that's it's lot. Those plants wouldn't thrive there, would they?

Can anyone think of anything that would be shade and drought tolerant and not too big that would fit in the trough and be happy there?

[madonplants]

Oct 7, 2008 10:43:53 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

Is there such a thing? Even through all this rain we're getting I have a trough on my bathroom windowsill with soil which is dry as a bone, the rain just doesn't get there as the area outside the window creates a kind of alcove. I end up having to water the trough through the bathroom window, even if it's tipping down outside. I would love to plant some of my Sempervivums and my Lampranthus and maybe my Lewisia in this trough as it remains so dry but they all like full sun I think, and the windowsill only gets a bit of early morning sun then that's it's lot. Those plants wouldn't thrive there, would they?

Can anyone think of anything that would be shade and drought tolerant and not too big that would fit in the trough and be happy there?

How about hardy geraniums. they would go, wouldn't they?

[debbiem]

That's a brilliant idea Keith, you mean Cranesbills? I've got a couple in pots, one I just bought from the bargain basement at the GC, an A.T. Johnson, and one I dug up from the border as it wasn't doing very well and is now thriving - would they actually tolerate drought though? It's still a brilliant idea if they only need to be watered now and again.

[madonplants]

Oct 7, 2008 10:52:50 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

That's a brilliant idea Keith, you mean Cranesbills? I've got a couple in pots, one I just bought from the bargain basement at the GC, an A.T. Johnson, and one I dug up from the border as it wasn't doing very well and is now thriving - would they actually tolerate drought though? It's still a brilliant idea if they only need to be watered now and again.

I don't see why not, especially once they are settled in. How big is the trough?

[debbiem]

About 3ft long and 10 inches wide, not huge- maybe the depth would be a problem with these two as they're both quite big.

[debbiem]

Thanks The witch. I'm really surprised at some of those on the list - Ajuga, Lady's Mantle, Bergenia, Pulmonaria and Helleborus Niger, as I thought all of those thrived in moist soil!

Thanks again, I've got some ideas going on in my head now.

I see the Cranesbills are there too Keith.

[4pygmies]

Snowdrops and Scillas like dry shade Mrs B, if you wanted some Spring colour.......

[debbiem]

Thanks 4P - again, I'm surprised that they like it dry - I assumed all woodland plants liked it moist. I've learned something on this thread.

[debbiem]

And I should know - half of my border is located under a huge Horse Chestnut and it gets really dry under there, but everything there seems to do much better when it gets a really good soaking - but this is REALLY dry.

[debbiem]

Just ordinary bog standard potting compost atm, with some fertilizer in granule form.

[debbiem]

Ok, thanks The witch - anything that helps me not having to water it all the time.

[madonplants]

Oct 10, 2008 9:51:36 GMT 1 @debbiem said:

Ok, thanks The witch - anything that helps me not having to water it all the time.

How is it attached, Mrs B, as loam based will be a lot heavier, though better for the plants?

[debbiem]

It sits back off the windowsill like this Keith;



It's freestanding, it doesn't have to be attached to anything there.

[madonplants]

Loam based will be OK, then.

[debbiem]

But it's a sunny day here, so apart from the very quick glance of sunshine it's in the shade there for most of the time.

[mickthecactus]

I have an old Readers Digest Book of Gardening which has a very useful section of plants for awkward places. I'll have a look at that as well.

[debbiem]

Thanks Mick.

Do you think that Sempervivums, Lewisia and Lampranthus would have a hard time up there with hardly any sunshine?

[mickthecactus]

I do Debi. They are definite sun lovers. They would live but would look pretty manky.

[debbiem]

OK - it's a shame though, they'd be protected from Winter wet in there.

[plocket]

You could try epimediums - I believe they can cope with fairly dry soil, and certainly shade

[debbiem]

Oo - I'll look those up! Thanks Plocket.