Perennials for Clay Soil

In the table below are perennials that perform very well in clay soil in our area. The table includes the basic information needed to help you site these plants properly. It also includes information on deer resistance and rabbit resistance. So far, I haven't seen deer in my garden and the deer information is from various sources that I have collected over the years. The rabbit resistance information is based on my own garden experience as I always seem to find plenty of rabbits in my garden. Here's how to interpret the information:

• For both Deer Resistant and Rabbit Resistant headings:
  • yes - the plant is not usually eaten. It's possible, though, in some years the pest may eat the plant.
  • no info - there is no definite statement as to the plant's resistance.
  • no - the plant is eaten. Young plants may be eaten though.
  • favorite food - the plant is definitely eaten.
• Light Requirement heading:
  • sun - 6 or more hours of direct sun each day.
  • pt sh - up to 6 hours of direct sun each day.
  • sun to pt sh - must have some direct sun each day. Flowers better in more direct sun.
  • shade - no direct sunlight.
  • pt sh to shade - less than 6 hours of direct sun to no direct sunlight.
  • sun to shade - will grow in any amount of light.
• Soil Requirements heading:
  • moist - soil does not dry out quickly.
  • organic - soil has leaf mold or compost or other organic amendment.
  • well drained - soil does not remain soggy and rot the plant's roots.
  • infertile - opposite of organic - lacking soil amendments.

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Many years ago I purchased a perennial called Tovara virginiana. I planted it on the shady side of one of my dogwood trees, and I ignored it. For the past few years, I've been looking for tough plants for shady places. There are not a lot of them as most plants for shade require moist soil. The soil in my garden is not moist, especially on the slope in the back. It dries out very fast even after a heavy rain.

One day I was looking around my garden for interesting plants to write about and I noticed Tovara and I remembered that I don't fertilize it and I don't water it unless its leaves are really drooping but it keeps coming back each year and covering a small patch of ground in back of the dogwood. I realized then that I had a jewel of a plant for dry, shady places.

As you can see from the picture, it has variegated leaves. The leaves are also fuzzy and therefore, rabbits ignore them--another plus! Tovara makes a nice, weed-free groundcover. It self seeds very little in my dry ground. Any unwanted seedlings are easily pulled out in the early spring when they are small. If it were grown in a moister or richer soil, it might selfseed more heavily. In late summer, it always sends up narrow spikes of tiny, brilliant red flowers. It looks great planted where the late afternoon or early morning sun lights up the flowers. According to the Forest Farm catalog, Tovara grows in sun to part shade and in medium to wet soil. As I mentioned earlier, it grows for me in the shade of a dogwood in dry soil.

Combine Tovara with one of the green liriopes for leaf and color contrast. Its variegation would make a nice foil for the blue hostas such as Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans' or the smaller Hosta 'Blue Cadet'.

There are two problems or "challenges" with this plant. One is what is its real name. Sometimes it is listed as Persicaria virginiana and sometimes it's listed as Tovara virginiana. It is not well known so many local nurseries may not carry it. A cultivar named 'Painter's Palette' was available at McLeans Nursery on Satyr Hill Road during the past summer. Both Forest Farm and Roslyn Nursery catalogs have it listed.

If you need a problem solver for shady places--especially for dry shade, this is one plant that may solve your shade problems. It did for me.

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