Shady, dry loving plants for a pot
Hello,
I have a small area next to my front door which is partially covered by an overhanging roof, but it is open to all weather. The area is in shade most of the day but full sun in the evening (summer only!). I have had pots here before and everything I put in them seem to die or become very ill looking.
I would like to have a pot with some plants that dont mind not getting much water (the rain doesnt reach them and although I water them in the summer, I dont really remember or get chance in the winter) and enjoy a shady spot. We are in the central belt in Scotland so it can get quite cold in the winter.
I was wondering about plants such as heather, fern, thistles...? Ideally I dont want to have to keep changing the plants in the pot between winter and summer so it would be good to have something that can stay in that location all year round.
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thankyou.
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Hi LFin, I am very new here so I am sure others will be able to offer better advice, but in the meantime this may help. I have a front border that also gets very little sunshine until late afternoon/early evening in the summer. I planted aquilegia and they have done very well. I don't know how they would do in a pot but possibly something you can try?
I have a Pieris 'Little Heath' in a pot on the north side of my house. It gets very little attention, is totally hardy and looks good all year round. Don't think I have ever had flowers on mine but the foliage is prettily variegated (not one of those things that look ill!) and you get the new pinky red leaves in spring. In a bigger pot you could perhaps add additional seasonal interest with some small bulbs or pansies. Heucheras would be another option. I have a lime green one in a pot with Carex 'Everest' and a white heather, and a bronze leaved one with Carex testacea and browny-orange pansies, all on the same side of the house.Some Heucheras have pink backs to their leaves and combine well with pink heathers or cyclamen in the autumn.
You could have fun playing with your own combinations! None of these would mind a bit of sun, only need a modest amount of water and keep going all year. You would have to watch out for vine weevils that love potted Heucheras!
Basically you are looking for a mixed pot that is perennial and will survive on neglect?? Depending on the size of your pot I would go for a Euonymus with perhaps a bit of ivy to trail and a low growing perennial geranium or any of the saxifrages (London Pride for instance). Year round interest with no maintenance required. You will still need to water in the summer but not every night. Once a week/fortnight if no rain. Add some spring bulbs and you are good to go. If you want something bigger an Aucuba japonica will do.