Plants For Shady Area

[Driskell]

Hi. I live in Clovis, CA(93619) where we have 110 degrees summers and winters that can drop to about 30 degrees. We have a portion in the garden(about 18 x 12 ft) that receives almost no sunlight. Also, this area has clay soil and can be damp most of the time. Right now, I have planted some gardenias along the wall, astilbes that I am hoping will come back and some narcissius bulbs that have sprouted. In the middle of the area, I have a crape myrtle tree that looks like it will not come back. The reason I am saying this is because last year, the top branches just turned brittle and dropped. It was about 4 feet then. Now it is down to less than 3 feet with no branches, just the thin trunk. Given the location of this area, it is hard to make anything grow. Except for the borders and the center part, we have covered most of the ground with rocks. This helps control the muddy areas. So far, the gardenias are ok. Can you suggest some plants and trees that I can plant in this area that will survive? Thanks very much!

[Aeary]

Hello Jo-Ann and thank you for your question!  Luckily, there are a number of plants which will grow in your shady, wet clay soil and in your climate in California. First, here's a short list of those plants & trees:

Name                           Latin

American hornbeam   Carpinus carolina

Sweet gum             Liquidambar styraciflua

Shining sumac            Rhus copallina

Green Ash           Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Redbud                    Cercis canadensis

Overcup Oak            Quercus lyrata

Sugar hackberry            Celtis laevigata

Bald cypress            Taxodium distichum

River Birch             Betula nigra

Red Maple              Acer rubrum

Possum Haw                Ilex decidua

Mayhaw                     Crataegus aestivalis

Swamp tupelo                Nyssa aquatica

Sweet bay magnolia   Magnolia virginiana

Bigleaf magnolia   Magnolia macropylla

Southern Magnolia   Magnolia grandiflora

Tulip Poplar           Liriodendron tulipifera

Shumard oak             Querecus schumardii

Loblolly Pine            Pinus taeda

Box Elder             Acer negundo

Persimmon               Diospyros virginiana

Carolina Ash            Fraxinus caroliniana

Swamp Blackgum            Nyssa biflora

Blackgum             Nyssa sylvatica

Swamp Redbay            Persea palustris

Sycamore               Platanus occidentalis

Laurel Oak             Quercus laurifolia

Swamp Chestnut Oak   Quercus michauxii

Willow oak             Quercus phellos

Black Willow            Salix Nigra

American Elm               Ulmus americana

Red Chokeberry              Aronia arbutifolia

Beautyberry           Callicarpa americana

Buttonbush            Cephalanthus occidentalis

Summersweet            Clethra alnifolia

Stiff dogwood              Cornus foemina

Swamp Rose              Rosa palustris

Elderberry              Sambucus canadensis

Possumhaw           Viburnum nudum

Strawberry bush     Euonymous americana

Flowering Dogwood   Cornus florida

Milkweed           Asclepias

Obedient plant            Physostegia virginiana

Purple cone flower   Echinacea purpurea

Green and gold            Chrysogonum virginianum

False Aster              Boltonia asteroides

Golden rod              Solidago sp.

Bull Rush                 Scirpus

Hosta's - most all cultivars Astilbes Goats Beard - Aruncus dioicus Lobelias red and blue -especially Lobelia cardinalis

Foxgloves Heurecha Cyclamen lily-of-the-valley Arborvitae Yews Barberry Chokeberry Currants - especially the species which are native to the Pacific Northwest. Dogwood Euonymus Forsythia Honeysuckle -won't flower quite as well, but it's definitely an easy vine to grow. Ninebark Snowberry Viburnum, all but trilobum Spirea, most varieties Willow Witchhazel Ash River Birch Elm Hawthorn Honeylocust Ironwood Red Maple

Amending your soil:

Clay can make excellent soil as long as you incorporate plenty of organic matter, especially course, builder's sand, small amounts of tiny gravel . Be sure not just to mulch with plenty of compost, shredded leaves, etc., but to also dry, course sand to the mix. Among other reasons for this is to encourage worms to help improve the soil by pulling the organic matter down into the soil, aerating with their tunnels, and enriching it with their castings.

I hope this help some!

Gave a great gardening year!

Eirinn