Shrubs for dry shade under conifers

I have a big double row of double conifers (Austrian pine/blue spruce) slowly succumbing to blight and old age. I'd like to start spotting in hardy shrubs and small trees to form a privacy/windbreak screen. Any suggestions for ZONE 6 that will grow in dry shade? (Most of the conifers have been limbed up to about head height, so there's a good bit of light at ground level. THANKS!

theres some difficulty with shade tolerance, and is you soil acidic? usually pine needles create an acidic soil when they decompose. and when you first plant the shrubs youll have to water to establish, especially if the soil is already dry.
im thinking some nice forsythias would be a nice way to start, since they give such nice color in spring. they are drought tolerant. it can take part shade, but fulll sun is preferable. witch hazel is similar so they can be used too.
hydrangeas can take part shade as well, and they do fine in nearly all soils, including dry ones.
junipers have great drought tolerance. and nice color, especially if you want to stick with evergreens.
i will let you know if i have other suggestions. perhaps someone else will have a dry shade garden theyll share with you. hope this helps.

Thanks Coastal! We're on the same page, because I've already spotted in a few forsythia. Junipers are probably out, because we have rust disease in this area, as well as this is a big commercial apple area, and orchardists frown on junipers because they vector the rust disease to apples.
I'd love to give witch hazel a try!
I'd like hydrangeas, but thought they required fairly moist soil.
Thanks so much!

Witch Hazels would look really nice. Maybe give mountain laurel and serviceberry a look.

Accubas are varigated evergreens and grow in the shade. They are not fast growing and don't need constant trimming. I love mine.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/aucuba_japonica.html





This message was edited Nov 28, 2011 6:37 PM

Thanks everybody! I think I'll be making up a list of many of your suggestions. Witch hazel is something I've always wanted to try. I'm also thinking maybe viburnums? I LOVE accuba, I have one growing in a pot, but unfortunately it won't survive our zone 6 winters outdoors.

your welcome! yeah i was going to say, maybe accuba in summer but not winter for you. viburnums actually do tolerate dry soil. and they look great under almost any conditions, not a personal favorite, however, because they do grow fast to tree size here.
and about the hydrangeas, i think oakleaf hydrangea is more drought tolerant than the traditional ones. i do think they generally like it moist.

Vibrumums don't survie here with the heat, but they would be beautiful.

coastalzonepush said: "usually pine needles create an acidic soil when they decompose. and when you first plant the shrubs youll have to water to establish, especially if the soil is already dry."

I have learned that when we speak of acidic soil from pine or fir material in and around such plants that this usually refers to just the first few inches of soil. If there are earthworms in abundance, then they work to neutralize the soil pH. It is a good idea to dig deeper than 6" and test the soil below to determine the state of the pH. Oftentimes, it is safe to plant many types of plants. Among blooming shrubs that can tolerate both the soil and the dryness is Japanese kerria which will propagate by rhizome and fill as much space as a gardener allows.

This message was edited May 5, 2013 12:13 PM

thanks for that info & clarification, PermaCycle!