Nature and Gardening

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All things green, outdoors, and nature-y. Whether it's animals in their natural habitat, hiking trails and mountains, or planting a little garden for yourself (and everything in between), you can talk about it here.

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Zone 7 plant suggestions for a spot with no rain or sun? (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi all, I have a raised garden bed in the front of my house (south facing). It is set a few feet back under a roof overhang, so it gets basically no rain or sun.

Any ideas for things I can plant there that wouldn't require me to remember to water them more than once or twice a month?

I've gotten a couple suggestions for hostas, but something a bit flashier would be nice.

EDIT: I am in the USA, and referring to USDA zone 7.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Funny you should say that, we did actually try to grow coleus in this bed, but unfortunately our winters kill them off and I'd prefer something that I don't have to replace every year. Weekly watering is probably doable if the plant is a real looker.

Pulmonaria seems viable although the moist soil requirement might be a bit challenging to maintain. Maybe mulching the bed will help trap moisture in better?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Mulch is usually a good addition to garden beds. Mulch color can affect the overall temperatures the plants experience and while that might not be a huge swing in this particular shady garden, it's probably worth thinking about if you have other gardens and you're looking for something to tie the whole outdoor room together.

Not sure why this did lnt come to mind before but perhaps members of Crassulaceae or Echeveria would work in those conditions as foliage. It might not be enough sun for them to flower but many are understory plants, and we have several growing where we are in Maine that come back each spring.