'Right Plant, Right Place' by
Nicola
Ferguson has a section on dry shade.

I have an area under the eaves of the house that is shady year round; the soil is sandy and does not retain moisture. I have good success with Choysia ternata (it even flowers well!), Sansevieria masoniana, Helleborus, giant liriope (of course), Breynia (although the variegated foliage reverts to reddish-green), and Ruscus (butcher's broom). Many ferns also thrive there; I use Holly fern, Leatherleaf and some lace fern (I would have to look up the name). Ferns may fall into the too-tropical-looking category for your taste.

I have bergenia growing in front of the other plants, but they aren't really thriving. I believe it is more a case of a lack of nutrients and organic matter in the soil for them, though. They also get more reflected light during the summer than the other plants, although it is still a shade area.

I am unhappy, overall, with many plants listed as low water plants. My Lantana begs for water all the time. I'm sure it is low water in some locations but I live inland, it gets very hot here, the Lantana wants water about every three days. I've decided to let it die. Stan, I think we having been reading some of the same plant lists. I've seen Hosta too! I have Oxalis, the clumping kind. It is low water for me simply because I stop watering it once it gets hot. I let it go dormant. It does take shade. Myrtus Communis takes shade but it will not stay as compact as in sun. Same with Myrsine Africana. Mine has a loose shape but I keep it as it is hard to find low water plants for shade. How much shade are you talking about? There is one type of Echinacea that takes shade, I don't own it though. There are also Salvias for shade. There is even a website for them. I remain skeptical. I consider Cyclamen as low water. It is asleep during the summer.

I am really having a problem finding a variety of low water shade plants. I hate repeating the same plants in different sections of my garden. That reminds me, I have a Clematis that never gets water and is in deep shade. However, it does not bloom. Looks fine otherwise, I suspect it is a California native. I've had Asparagus Asparagoides for decades. It volunteered. I've heard it can be invasive but I never water it and it is still just a small patch. It takes shade. Stays green too. I'm probably only telling you plants you already know.

I have one more gripe. I am fed up with reading plants on low water lists and when I read the plant description it is pointed out that the plant can survive low water but looks best with regular water. If it does not look it's best then it should not be on a low water list! So infuriating. I am starting to think I can only accept it if I hear it from a local gardener. I am so often jealous of the things I read you folks growing closer to the coast.

Any of the berberis do well. I have 'Ken Hartman' and 'compacta' under an oak tree. Neither get any supplemental water. The 'compacta' looks the best at the end of the summer. I also have 'Golden Abundance' and a nevinii at the drip lines of other oaks which have thrived in dry shade/partial sun.

Clivia is what comes to mind for me. They tolerate dry shade for me and I'm in hot, inland CA.

I agree that the lists often include plant names that should not be included. However, they also cannot provide all of the necessary caveats for the various growing conditions. Plants that wilt too quickly in your soil, could grow with little irrigation in a different type of soil or climate zone, or after several more years time to get established. Lists often are intended for a large region--such as the southwestern states. Yet I have plants I had to give up growing because we moved nine miles. Lists are nothing more than suggestions.

See? this is a tough one!

Stan how hot does Hayward get on an average summer day? I know we covered this before but I forgot your answer.

There are some tank bromeliads that might be hardy in your area. While broms are generally considered high water, I've found them to be remarkably resiliant to infrequent irrigation because of their ability to hold water.

I have cotyledon (pig's ear) that grew under a bushy pride of madeira. I have moved some of them into a full shade (bright light) area to see if they will still do well. I also have some alfalfa that is growing in partial shade ( an hour or two of direct sun only) that is growing well with very little water. Mint also seems to grow in the shade with no water.

And then I have this volunteer vine that grows on our back fence, no direct sun, no water and thrives. Maybe someone can Id it for me. I would like to transplant or plant it in other areas but have been unsuccess

Emmerene,it gets to about 75f on average June- October. This year has been lacking the heatwaves even if the overall average has been near normal.

lil bel...that looks like Tecomaria capensis..I have that and its hard to control once the years go by.

Pigs ears are a good one. I like that one and it also reminds me of the white jade plant Cotyldon obicularis I think it is. Much slower grower than Jade.

It might grow in the shade but does it bloom in full shade? Speaking of the Tecoma.

stanofh, could you give us a better idea of what you are looking for? I listed 10 shrubs an perennials that work in my dry shade, and did see a yay or nay for any of them . What size plants and look are you wanting to achieve?

gyr,I was thinking for all Californian's who will read this. For myself? My front yard is the neo California dry tropical look. C&S,although,I have stopped adding any more cacti as weeding them over the years just wore me out. The bay area gets too much rains and spring weeds that cause cactus headaches.

But, I was wondering if there was more for dry shade then Crassula's? and the usual dry garden plants. I did like your Choysia idea especially- sorry not to mention that.

Ah, I misunderstood the OP's intent. Unfortunately, many growers have set growing Choiysia aside, due to it being a host for the glassy-winged sharpshooter.

I didn't want to make this exclusive to my own yard. I figure plenty of Californians on GW have dry shade that they wish they could plant. That side yard most have for one.

I did buy from Annie's Annuals years ago some South African perrenial that could grow in dry shade the label said with a big spray of white flowers. Snails ate it! I don't remember the name and I have never seen a mention of it since these many years.

Maybe if Annie reads this...

Stan, what about Camellia's?

My current yard has too much sun, my old yard too little. Some other things that grow for me: Western sword fern, Arabian jasmine, camellias, native Ribes, Mahonia, Iris Pacific Coast Hybrids, agapanthus

Have you tried Haemanthus?

Camellia for what I now need might be too large. Plus they still need plenty of water to get going. The variegated Agapanthus might work for me. I just hope light shade doesnt cause it to revert.

Haemanthus is good. Hard to find,but would fit in.

I like our native Manzanita's red bark and tiny glossy foliage...but do they take light shade? Do they take some summer water as other plants near them cant go totally without?

Another CA native that is said to work in dry shade is ribes viburnifolium, catalina perfume. I haven't grown it but I'm going to try some this fall in an oak shaded area of my garden.

Down here in socal I use crassula multicava, agaves, aeoniums, and tho not totally dry I've been using sedeveria 'harry butterfield' :)

Myers Asparagus fern is not particularly original or interesting, but it does thrive in dry shade and takes up less space than the Sprenger's asparagus fern (which also does well in dry shade).

What about native barberries...aka Oregon grape? Berberis or mahonia?

The Barberries are nice. I've seen them used by a freeway exit near an overpass- shade- and they were thriving on a slope to boot.

I am not an expert on California natives, but I have been dipping my toes in the water, so to speak, because water prices have gone insanely high and I cannot afford to keep watering my non-native garden, a mix of roses, dwarf conifers, grasses, perennials, etc. Ive not been particularly attracted to California native plants, but I've finally found some I really like. I also like the idea that they provide habitat for our native pollinators and birds.

I live on the Las Pilitas website because it is incredibly informative about native plants, both individually and in general. Here's a couple of examples of their helpful general info:

Plants for full shade: http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/California_natives_for_full_shade.html

Plants for dry shade: http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/Dry_shade.html

I am growing a number of natives in almost full shade and almost no water, though even the natives must usually be watered for a year or two until they get established.

Here are some I really like. All tolerate shade.

Rhamnus californica, Mahonia 'Skylark', Mahonia repens, Mahonia 'Soft Caress', , Philadelphus lewisii 'Goose Creek', Ribes 'White Icicle'. Ribes has lots of varieties to chose from, as does Mahonia. I am also growing Holodiscus discolor, Symphoricarpus, Physocarpus, and Manzanita, yes, Manzanita, even in the shade. There are the Monkey Flowers. There are some breeders that are producing better branched, compact shape, more floriferous plants. If the Monkey flowers are watered they keep blooming and blooming.

Summerwinds Nursery in my area has a very good selection of California natives, and there are many other sources for natives if you're willing to drive a little. There are also mail order sources, including Las Pilitas.