Dry soil
• What is dry soil?
– Anoka County Sand Plain
– Spaces between grains of sand are
large
– Water leaches easily, soil dries out
fast
– Low ability to hang on to nutrients
• Gardening in dry/shaded areas
– Amending with 3-6” organic material
– Apply 3” of mulch to keep soil moist
– Fertilize more often
– Space plants farther apart
– Stake tall plants as they will grow
toward the light
– Do not put additional soil over tree
roots
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Alkaline Soil
Annuals 3 Feet or More
Annual Vines That Grow Quickly
Boulevard Gardens: Perennials
Boulevard Gardens: Small Trees
Broadleaf Evergreens for Zone 4
Clay Soil
Cold Tolerant Annuals
Compacted Sites: Trees
Crevice Plants
Deer Resistant Plants
Dry Soil: Annual Foliage Plants
Dry Soil: Shade or Under Trees
Dry Soil: Trees
Fragrant Annuals and Perennials
Fragrant Shrubs
Indoor Low Light
Knot Gardens
Lakeshore Native Plants
Long-Blooming Perennials
Rain Garden Plants
River Banks and Canoe Public Access Areas
Self-Seeding Perennials
Septic Mound Plants
Shade: Shrubs
Shade: Small Trees
Shade: Tall Perennials
Steep Slopes
Trees that Produce Minimal Litter
Under a Black Walnut Tree
Presentation
Written by:
Cathy LeVahn
Anoka County Master Gardener
Minnesota Tree Care Advisor
Compiled by Terry Engels and Mary Zeug
Stearns County Master Gardeners
Dry Soil:
Annual Foliage Plants
• Foliage plants are invaluable for
obtaining an attractive colorful
look.
• In a container, foliage can
reinforce a color theme or blend
the disparate elements of
various bloomers.
• In the ground, annual foliage
can carry a summer display
through the quiet times between
perennial flowering periods.
• Plants listed may be perennials
in other zones, but are used as
annuals in our northern
gardens.
• A word about establishment: Initial
care must be taken to establish the
plantings for the first two weeks,
whether from seed or bedding plants.
• They require only light watering
however; DO NOT overwater or plants
will be floppy and disease-prone.
• Unless indicated these prefer full sun
and average soil conditions of fertility,
drainage, and pH.
Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
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Height: 2-4’
Colorful foliage
Trailing rope or chenille-like flowers
A. tricolor has brightly colored foliage
Seedrack.com
Dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’,
‘Emerald Falls’)
• Height: 1-4’
• Trailing with small round grey leaves
• Tolerates part sun
Swallowtail Gardens
Variegated pigeonberry (Duranta erecta ‘Golden
Edge’)
• Height: 24”
• Crisp variegated green and cream foliage
• Tolerates part sun and dry shade
Taunton Press
Snow in summer, variegated annual spurge
(Euphorbia marginata ‘Kilimanjaro’)
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Green leaves, edged with cream
Native to poor soil
Do not fertilize
Needs good drainage
Self seeds
Mobot.org
Variegated or blue Marguerite (Felicia
amelloides ‘Variegata’)
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Trio Nursery
Height: 12-18”
Small blue daisy-like flowers
Variegated foliage
Bushy shape
Variegated lantana ‘Samantha’ (Lantana
camara ‘Samantha’)
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Height: 12-18”
Clusters of golden yellow flowers
Chartreuse and yellow foliage
Extremely drought tolerant
www.bustaniplantfarm.com
Fancy-leaved geraniums (Pelargonium ‘Crystal
Palace Gem’ ‘Blazonry’ ‘Golden Ears’)
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Height: 12-18”
Showy, colored leaves
Prefer lean, dry soils
Can tolerate part-shade
Grow from cuttings
‘Crystal Palace
Gem’
‘Palace Gem’
Taunton Press
‘Golden Ears’
Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum
‘Rubrum’)
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Height: 2-4’
Excellent in containers
Purple foliage and seed heads
Good for xeriscaping
Sets no seed
Dies with frost
Plant Safari
Dusty Miller (Senecio ‘Silver Dust’)
• Height: 8-10”
• Lacy silver colored mounding cultivar with a spread of
12” or more
• Prefers full sun
www.hardyplants.com
Purple heart/Purple Spiderwort (Setcresia
purpurea or Tradescantia pallida)
• Height: 8-12”
• A rugged plant that has no serious pest or disease
issues
• Full sun
www.plantsmanlandscape.net/
Variegated nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus
variegata ‘Alaska’ ‘Jewel of Africa’)
• Height: 12”
• Grown cascading in containers, up a trellis, or as a
groundcover
• Prefers dry, less fertile sites
‘Jewel of Africa’
‘Alaska’
Plantcare.com
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Alkaline Soil
Annuals 3 Feet or More
Annual Vines That Grow Quickly
Boulevard Gardens: Perennials
Boulevard Gardens: Small Trees
Broadleaf Evergreens for Zone 4
Clay Soil
Cold Tolerant Annuals
Compacted Sites: Trees
Crevice Plants
Deer Resistant Plants
Dry Soil: Annual Foliage Plants
Dry Soil: Shade or Under Trees
Dry Soil: Trees
Fragrant Annuals and Perennials
Fragrant Shrubs
Indoor Low Light
Knot Gardens
Lakeshore Native Plants
Long-Blooming Perennials
Rain Garden Plants
River Banks and Canoe Public Access Areas
Self-Seeding Perennials
Septic Mound Plants
Shade: Shrubs
Shade: Small Trees
Shade: Tall Perennials
Steep Slopes
Trees that Produce Minimal Litter
Under a Black Walnut Tree
Presentation
Written by:
Cathy LeVahn
Anoka County Master Gardener
Minnesota Tree Care Advisor
Compiled by Theresa Rooney
Hennepin County Master Gardener
Dry Soil: Shade or
Under Trees
• Plants that can survive under trees or
in dry low light conditions
• Competition is keen for water, light and
nutrients
• All are winter hardy in Zone 3 and 4
Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
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Height: 6-12”
Purple blooms in early spring, various foliage colors
Can be short lived
Dense groundcover that prevents weeds
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
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Height: 1’
Yellowish green blooms in summer, early fall
Good cut flower
Division is rarely required
Cathy LeVahn
Lady fern (Athyrium angustum)
• Height: 2’
• Graceful green fronds, grows easily in wide range of
conditions
• Pair with hosta, coral bells or bergenia
Cathy LeVahn
Cathy LeVahn
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• Height: 1-3’
• Short-lived but self-seeds
• Red, yellow, pink, purple, blue and white blooms
spring, summer
Clarence A. Rechenthin @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)
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Height: 4-6’
Cream, white blooms in early summer
Will tolerate full sun if soil is kept evenly moist
Looks natural planted in woodland or native gardens
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
• Height: 12”
• Matte round leaves will hide tiny flowers
• Great groundcover
Jennifer Anderson. USA, IL, Rock Island Co., Rock Island, Black Hawk State Park. 2002
Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia)
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Height: 12-18”
Pink flower in spring; red/burgundy fall color
Thick glossy leaves similar to cabbage
Versatile groundcover
Bailey Nurseries
Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla)
• Height: 1-2’
• Light blue to pale purple flowers bloom in spring
• Very reliable plant that rarely suffers from any
problems
Bailey Nurseries
Vinca, periwinkle (Catharanthus rosea)
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Height: 6-12”
Blue, purple, white flowers that bloom in summer, fall
Quickly forms a dense mat, shallow rooted
Shear back hard in spring to control spread
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Glory-of-the-snow (Chiondoxa luciliae)
• Height: 6”
• Small early flowers with open petals and yellow
centers
• Easy to grow
University of Chicago
Virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana)
• Height: 5-10’
• Great native vine
• Tiny white flowers mid- to late summer
Duke University
Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis)
• Height: 12”
• Spreading groundcover, can become invasive
• Fragrant white bell flowers
in early summer
Iowa State University
Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia)
• Height: 12-18”
• Blue/green foliage; white or pink flowers, flowers most
of the summer
• Does well near pond or stream
i84.photobucket.com
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
• Height: 2-4’
• Pink, purple, yellow, maroon, red or white blooms
spring to mid-summer
• Allow self-seeding for a perennial bed
• Poisonous
Hort. Printers - Monrovia
Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.)
• Height: 1’
• Beautiful heart shaped leaves; tiny orchid-like flowers
in spring
University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
• Height: 4-8”
• Small, nodding, white bell-shaped flowers often bloom
while snow is on the ground
University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens
Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
• Height: 4-12”
• Pretty groundcover with white fragrant flowers in late
spring, early summer
• Fine textured foliage has a new mowed hay fragrance
University of Illinois Extension
Geranium, cranesbill (Geranium spp.)
• Height: 12-18”
• White, red, pink, purple, blue flowers in the spring,
summer and fall
• Shear back spent blooms for a second set of flowers
• If foliage looks tatty, shear back by two-thirds
Dead nettle (Lamium spp.)
• Height: 8-12”
• White, pink, yellow, mauve flowers in spring and
summer
• Leaves are streaked with white/silver
• Good groundcover
Cathy LeVahn
Summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum)
• Height: 1-2’
• Nodding white flowers similar to Galanthus, but much
larger and later blooming
• Spring blooming bulb
Iowa State University
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
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Height: 6-24”
Wide variety of colors and bloom time
Wildlife resistant
Great naturalizer
gardenerspath.com
University of Illinois Extension
Giant Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Height: 1-3’
• Arching branches; small white flowers in spring; blue
berries in summer
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point – Janice Stiefel
Striped squill (Puschkinia scilloides)
• Height: 2-6”
• Pale flowers with a wonderful fragrance
• Increase rapidly by offsets
NC State University
Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica)
• Height: 6”
• Blue flowers that naturalize wonderfully, especially in
wooded areas
• Not bothered by voles, rabbits, chipmunks or deer
UW Madison
Periwinkle, myrtle (Vinca minor)
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Height: 6-12”
Blue flowers in spring
Evergreen, may need winter protection
Groundcover
Oregon State University
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Alkaline Soil
Annuals 3 Feet or More
Annual Vines That Grow Quickly
Boulevard Gardens: Perennials
Boulevard Gardens: Small Trees
Broadleaf Evergreens for Zone 4
Clay Soil
Cold Tolerant Annuals
Compacted Sites: Trees
Crevice Plants
Deer Resistant Plants
Dry Soil: Annual Foliage Plants
Dry Soil: Shade or Under Trees
Dry Soil: Trees
Fragrant Annuals and Perennials
Fragrant Shrubs
Indoor Low Light
Knot Gardens
Lakeshore Native Plants
Long-Blooming Perennials
Rain Garden Plants
River Banks and Canoe Public Access Areas
Self-Seeding Perennials
Septic Mound Plants
Shade: Shrubs
Shade: Small Trees
Shade: Tall Perennials
Steep Slopes
Trees that Produce Minimal Litter
Under a Black Walnut Tree
Presentation
Written by:
Cathy LeVahn
Anoka County Master Gardener
Minnesota Tree Care Advisor
Compiled by Kim Sullivan
Anoka County Master Gardener
Dry Soil: Trees
• Trees that can grow in dry or sandy
conditions
• Once established, require minimal
water
• All are winter hardy in Zone 3 and 4
Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
• Height: 40-60’
• Popular at Christmas time
for shape and scent
• Pyramidal when young,
narrows as it ages
• Slow growing
• Adelgid can be a pest
problem
River Birch (Betula nigra)
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Height: 40-70’
Peeling cinnamon-brown bark
Often multi-stemmed
Can become chlorotic (yellow)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
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Height: 40-60’
Vase-like habit
Easily transplanted
Slow to establish
Tree produces dark purple
berry-like fruit in fall
Cockspur hawthorne (Crataegus crusgalli)
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Height: 20-30’
Variety inermis recommended
Effective in groups
Wide-spreading low-branches
Black ash (Fraxinus nigra)
• Height: 40-70’
• Large black buds
• ‘Fallgold’ recommended for
fall color
• Performs best in wet or boggy
conditions
• Susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer
Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
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Height: 40-60’
Fast growth
Deep shade
Broad rounded form
Susceptible to Emerald
Ash Borer
• ‘Patmore’ is disease
resistant, seedless
selection
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
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Height: 30-60’
Delicate silhouette; readily transplanted
‘Skyline’ recommended
Do not use as a street tree – vigorous roots can break
up pavement and sidewalks
Crabapple (Malus hybrids)
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Height: 15-25’
Excellent variety in flower, fruit, foliage and habit
Make excellent specimen plants
Most flower in mid- to late spring
Select a disease resistant cultivar
Purdue University
University of Wisconsin
White spruce (Picea glauca)
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Height: 40-60’
Dense pyramidal to conical shape
Blue-green needles
Transplants easily
Black spruce (Picea mariana)
• Height: 30-70’
• Spire-like conical habit with
flaky brown scales
• Blue-green to blue-gray foliage
with small purplish cones that
mature to brown
Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
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Height: 80-100’
Open, irregular mature habit
Fast growth
Seedless ‘Siouxland’ recommended
Prefers wet soils, along rivers, lakes and streams
Bicolor oak (Quercus bicolor)
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Height: 60-70’
Resistant to oak wilt
Yellow fall color
Requires acidic soil
Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
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Height: 40-60’
Long-lived
Pest resistant
Yellow fall color
Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)
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Height: 15-25’
Rounded large shrub or small tree
Bears fragrant cream-colored flowers in early summer
Excellent specimen tree; good in groups
‘Ivory Silk’ recommended
University of Southern Maine
American linden (Tilia americana)
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Height: 60-80’
Fragrant flowers mid-June
Transplants readily
Large silver-grey leaf
Flowers exude a dripping honeydew
Jackie Jasperson
Missouri State University
Thank You!
Questions?