Tricky spot; 9 months of shade, then 3 months of sun

[jasbo]

I have a yard with a real landscaping challenge. There's an area that gets no sun for most of the year, then gets broiled for three months. It's on the north side of the house, in this case our backyard.

We've been to a couple of nurseries over the years and asked for plant suggestions. We hear nandina (heavenly bamboo), maybe photinia, and I forget what else. Does anyone out there have suggestions for plants that will survive in the shade most of the year, then survive a blast of sun and 90-degree heat for three months?

Jim

[Bobberman]

I thought you were talking about alaska at first! Rose Of Sharon bush type trees grow anywhere and flower most of the summer. They have a small root base and gro from2 feet to 5 feet in two years! They even make nice hedges!

[Kisal]

I read your post and thought to myself, "Sounds just like Oregon!" Then I looked at your location!

What kind of plants are you looking for? Trees? Shrubs? Flowers? Ground covers? Perennials? Annuals?

[jasbo]

I read your post and thought to myself, "Sounds just like Oregon!" Then I looked at your location!

What kind of plants are you looking for? Trees? Shrubs? Flowers? Ground covers? Perennials? Annuals?

Kisal: Ideally we're looking for a mix of heights and shapes. A small tree or two would work along with shrubs, perennials and ground covers. It's not an area where we want to spend a lot of time working, because it's down a bunch of steps and a bit of a walk from the deck (even thought it's quite visible from the deck). So I'm looking at low-maintenance, no annuals.

I forgot to mention we're in Sunset Zone 7, and the area is roughly 10-12 feet by 30-35 feet.

Jim

[rainbowgardener]

Here's a list of nice native shrubs in a range of heights, that are hardy, tolerate sun to shade and have flowers and berries and are attractive to birds and butterflies:

serviceberry (40 some different kinds of birds love these berries!)
bearberry (evergreen)
ceanothus/ snowbrush (evergreen)
gooseberry/ black current
thimble berry
buffalo berry
snowberry

There's also your Oregon state flower-- Mahonia/ Oregon holly-grape. It is evergreen, with yellow flowers, berries, very nice. It does well with the shade, but is a bit less tolerant of the full sun than the others.