Shade loving drought tolerant plants

Cecelia-L

Good morning all! 

Please could everyone suggest ideas for shade loving drought tolerant plants? 

It is a small patch 3 ft by 4 ft patch by the house. It is shaded by mature deciduous trees but also overlooked as too far from any taps. There is one pole for climbers. A  Ground floor window too so I couldn’t just grow a hedge. 

Ideally a combination that looks good all year round, failing that evergreen shrub type would work. I have planted tulips there which looked glorious in spring but right now it looks a bit tatty. 

Any suggestions gratefully received

GardenerSuze

@Cecelia-L lMost plants that do well in this situation are at thier best in spring before the tree canopy develops. Interesting that tulips do well as they are best in full sun.
Epimediums such as Spine Tingler and Domino are favourites of mine. Hardy Geranium Phaum and Geranium Macorhizzum White Ness would work. These plants are all spring flowering. I do grow Euonymous Emerald and Gold together with Solidago Fireworks under a tree too. It does depend on soil and circumstance. Not suitable for planting next to a leylandii hedge.

Cecelia-L

Geranium sounds lovely! 

Will look into epimedium plants too. Thanks @GardenerSuze

This has given me the idea of planting euphorbia there. 

Spring tulips followed by euphorbia in summer. 

As they both die back during winter I will plant a tiny little evergreen hedge in front. Such as Euonymus Kathy. 

Would that combination look alright? 

Similar to this 

GardenerSuze

@Cecelia-L As you can see from the beautiful photo you have posted that Euphorbias look their best at the same time as the late flowering tulips in the spring. Most prefer full sun but E Robbie will be fine in shade. it can get carried away and spread quickly The sap is an irritant if this is what you decide, so gloves are needed.
Euonymous Kathy is new to me, I grow E Green Pillar which is slow and an alternative to Box hedging which is suffering so much.    

Cecelia-L

Euphorbia robbiae is simply perfect. It’s exactly what I am looking for! Thanks!! 

I shall forgo the evergreen hedge and see how it looks with just tulips and this evergreen gorgeous euphorbia.