Native Plants for Shade

Dry shade presents quite a challenge for growing things. Not only is there not enough sunlight for producing energy for growth, there is no moisture either. The most common shade producer in the unbuilt environment is trees. But boulders can produce shade as well. Hiking the Tramway Trail today, I paid particular attention to things that grow in the shade. Interestingly, for the most part, things that grew under the junipers, oak and piñon were the same things that grew in the open. These tolerant plants must have existed as the tree grew, then had to survive as the shade of the shrubby trees developed. Nolina texana seems to do quite well, so does three-leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata), although these can have more open form than those growing directly under the hot sun. Doing surprisingly well was Opuntia engelmanii, which still produced an abundance of fruit. In drainage areas, were a number of New Mexico olives (Forestiera neomexicana). The native festuca seemed to do well under the trees, predominantly at the edge of the drip zone, with those in the deeper shade becoming more scraggly. Also at the edge of the drip zone, or under the trees with higher branches, Ribes aureum seems to be happy. I’ve seen various penstemon, and Mirabilis multiflora under high branching trees as well, though not today. Still, these provide a few options for planting in the dry shade of trees that we humans enjoy so much on a hot day.


Entering a shady area with light green Forestiera, lime green Juniperus monosperma, gray-green Quercus grisea.

But the filtered shade under trees is not like the deeper shade cast by a building. This shade is more like that under boulders. On the shaded side of rocks, were the same plants as growing out in the sun, possibly capturing the moisture flowing off the rocks when the rains came. But in those areas where the boulders created ceilings of rock, I found very few plants. Sometimes an occasional festuca could eek out a living. Occasionally a ribes. but usually nothing but gravel. Likewise, more often than not, those areas under those dense junipers and piñon, there was nothing but gravel. Since these dry shaded areas are just the areas where we would like to enjoy a cool drink, I began thinking that perhaps I was thinking about it all wrong. Perhaps I shouldn’t be thinking about designing with plant material at all, but simply rely on surfaces where furniture could be placed. Gravel would be ideal for allowing water to reach roots, as well as a comfortable surface. Flagstone would also allow some water infiltration also. And for some greenery, some of the plants above, at the drip line of the tree could be placed. Or better yet, some pots of exotics for color and scent.