Ideas for dry border - sun and shade

[WobblyLondoner]

Meet the dead zone of my garden. It is south facing but heavily shaded by trees in the garden behind, so while good for spring plants when the leaf canopy is developing, by summer nearly everything dies as it gets so dry. The sturdy survivors you can see are euphorbia amygdaloides. I mulch in the spring (note to self to do more next year) - the garden is on clay sail (London) but on top is a thick layer of top soil and compost. It gets dry very quickly. Strong sun for much of the day and then shade. When I've planted taller plants they often end up leaning forwards towards the light (even though it faces south).

I'm looking at various books etc for inspiration (eg Beth Chatto) but would welcome any Mumsnet gardening wisdom!

I am thinking about more euphorbia (I am a fan) but am worried about the leaning forward issue which will affect bigger plants.

I have a spider's web Fatsia japonica in similar conditions. In theory, it prefers moist, well drained soil but mine seems to thrive whatever. Having just seen your lovely lush garden in the photos thread, it would fit in with your style.

www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/fatsia-japonica-spiders-web/classid.2000020976/

Or you could try an acer in a pot standing in the bed.

You could train trailing nasturtiums or a climbing geranium up the trellis They are both drought resistant and if they are attached to the fence, they can't "lean to the light".

If you can get hold of some lavender it might tolerate your clay? At least it likes the sun and the dryness! Would it reach a height that you’re happy with...idk

I have a similar area.

I have a hebe (I can’t tell you the variety which is a shame as if I knew it, I would buy more of it as it does so well in dry shade), euphorbia, alchemilla mollis, fuchsia delta’s Sarah, heuchera and cranesbill geranium.

I also have a dry shade bed, created by a crappy plum tree (mine) and a Leylandii conifer (NDN) and bamboo (NDN). Northerly aspect but gets dappled sun.

In it I have put some epimediums (nice leaf growth but don't flower much), an Edgeworthia (scented flowers mid-winter, bless it), a Madame Alfred Carriere climbing rose (flowers even on a north-facing wall), some Brunnera and snowdrops and cyclamen. The latter are stars of dry shade as they evolved growing under trees and flower in late autumn. The snowdrops pop up before the leaves appear on the trees so they are not bothered by being under trees.

I do turn the hose on this bed from time to time as the trees create a rain shadow and it does get very dry, much drier than the rose would prefer. So I top up in dry spells.

There are a number of plants that evolved in woodland, like foxgloves or wood anemones for example, that would be quite happy in your dry border.

I've had a lot of success with Tiarella and Heuchera this year in my very shady border as well as some lovley Astrantia. If you want something else to go up the fence then honeysuckle would be very happy there.

Many thanks for all these helpful ideas. Lots to think about.

Many thanks for all these helpful ideas. Lots to think about.

I have a very similar situation but a slightly larger area. Eryngium and acanthus does well, also Japanese anenome, salvia, campanula,and some roses.Geraniums of course, and centranthus .I am going to try some echinacea. I have a myrtle which was leaning forwards but I have looped twine around it and attached to the fence,But I dug out the helichysum because it came so far forwards it covered the patio. Clematis will love this, but be careful. I put in a Clematis armandii and an Albertine rambling rose, and I have spent today hacking them back, far too thuggish. But the clematis tangutica looks good there.
The key To growing there is to get the whole Area as thoroughly watered as possible, then to mulch Thickly with something moisture retentive, like mushroom compost.water plants in well when planting and keep watering well for their first year. It may also be that you could prune your plum, they are best in an open goblet shape, with lots of air circulation.
No pics because it really is a rotten mess today.