Plants for problem site: mostly shade except hot noontime sun

15 years ago

Hi,

I live in Walnut Creek, where the temps go above 100 in the summer and below freezing occasionally on winter nights. I have a few places in my garden that are shaded almost all the time except right in the middle of the day, when the sun is very strong. I don't know of many plants that do well in these conditions--especially plants that I'd want right next to my house, since one of these areas is just outside a large French door off my kitchen. It's sheltered on three sides, so it gets lots of shade, but in the middle of the day, it gets a good blast of sun for a few hours. It also gets a little sun in the morning. Another of the areas is on a slope in my backyard. It's mostly shady except the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead and very late in the afternoon. Any ideas for me?

Thanks!

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Comments (8)

melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/
15 years ago
Your situation sounds remarkably similar to mine but I live in Sacramento. My area is even in a similar spot as yours--right outside my kitchen/patio in, essentially, a side yard that our patio faces. The plants get no sun until ~11am, then the sun is gone by 2pm. In addition, my spot only has passable drainage in winter (will drain w/in 24 hours if the rain actually stops). Here's what I have been able to grow successfully (with moderate water):

loquat
clematis
star and pink jasmine
violets (invasive but tough and easy to pull out--don't grow near a lawn!)
calla lilies
walking iris
Joan Senior daylilies
pineapple mint
italian arum (for winter interest when the violets go dormant)
ornamental strawberries
gobluedjm 9/18 CA
15 years ago
I have numerous salvias in part shade and they are in full bloom right now; salvia gregii, salvia microphylla. I think they would be fine in both areas. Another I have in same conditions is polygala dalmaisiana sweet pea bush and will bloom most of the year and frost doesn't seem to bother it.
You might try cistus orchid rock rose on the slope.
In your heat and mine some full sun plants will appreciate some shade so don't let that deter your choices.
CA native salvia clevelandii would also be good and has a nice scent and great for erosion control on the slope. Although it will sort of die off in late summer so may not be as nice next to your door.
You should also take a look at lavatera tree mallow maritime and bush morning glory convolvulus cneorum
both appreciate some shade.
Frost hasn't bothered any I have listed.
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Anchita, As far as perennials, the list would be almost endless. Some of the easier plants would be columbine, lantana and autumn sage--all of these take the heat very well. Columbine is a good one for the shade. Many houseplants are actually quite heat tolerant (being from the tropics) and will benefit from the extra sunlight outdoors--you would have to bring them in for the winter. Do you like roses? I grow them in containers with great success, as well as daylilies. Your choices are really only limited by what you want to grow. You can certainly plant a container garden now. Fall planting is best for plants going in the ground, since they can establish over the winter, but this isn't really relevant for container growing--the plants are in a container at the nursery right now after all. The only warning I have is that you will have to water containers EVERY DAY in the summer, unless you go the cactus route. A great website is http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu (that site and gardenweb could keep you busy for years) Neil Sperry's Texas Gardening is a must have book, and his website neilsperry.com has a lot of good information. ...and definitely visit North Haven Gardens in Dallas for great plants. The fact you've decided to do some research and ask questions will definitely be a benefit in your gardening endeavors--most of us murder quite a few plants before we figure out what to do. Good luck, Anchita. I'll leave you with a link to recommended perennials for Texas. Jason Here is a link that might be useful: Perennials for Texas
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Debbie
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Melle. I have some daylillies planted nearby, so I might try the Joan Senior variety you have.

Hecka.
Debbie
Original Author
15 years ago
A landscape designer friend suggested convolvulus cneorum for my trouble spot near the kitchen, so I will check that one out for sure. I planted lavatera in a very prominent sunny spot last year and it is getting kind of leggy. I was thinking of transplanting it to a further-back place but was worried that it wouldn't get enough sun. but now I think I will move it.
gobluedjm 9/18 CA
15 years ago
My nursery told me to cut Lavatera to ground every fall.
Last year I just cut it back about a foot. It is 6 high and 8 feet wide I think. It's gonna get cut this fall.
It's the fastest growing thing I have...oh except for honeysuckle-not the vine type.
todancewithwolves
15 years ago
I also live in WC. I have a spot like you describe. Have you thought of roses? This one gets morning shade, afternoon sun from 1pm until around 3pm then full shade again. It's called ballerina.
{{gwi:527311}}
Debbie
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi,
Your ballerina rose is beautiful! I've actually pulled out almost all of my roses--I'm trying to use lower water/care plants. I have a couple of Cecile Brunner roses that partially shade the problem area near my kitchen--they are in bloom now and are covered with 100s of flowers. The flowers only last a few weeks a year but I just can't bring myself to pull out the plants!
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
15 years ago
Tough sun-or-shade shrubs like boxwood and Nandina. Mostly shade with a blast of mid-day sun is pretty hard to work with.

Plants for problem site: mostly shade except hot noontime sun

Comments (8)

melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/

gobluedjm 9/18 CA

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Plants for problem site: mostly shade except hot noontime sun

Comments (8)

melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/

gobluedjm 9/18 CA

Related Discussions

DebbieOriginal Author

DebbieOriginal Author

gobluedjm 9/18 CA

todancewithwolves

DebbieOriginal Author

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

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Debbie
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