Most of my planting space is on the north side of my house which is a dry shade area. Its been a challenge trying to get many things to grow in this area. The two plants that have done well have been cast iron plants and my crossvines. A couple of years ago I had two large clumps of cannas, but both clumps died in drought conditions. Despite adding plenty of rotting leaves and an occasional top dressing of composted manure nothing seems to thrive. I may just put garden art in place of plants and keep my shade flowerbeds really simple.

One Eriobotrya japonica can be seen. Try Dracenas, Monstera's and other aroids. Ferns/Sedums/Worts should also love this spot. Things others would love to grow but cannot should grow.
Regards,
Arif.

I have the loquat temporarily in shade because its in a small container that dries out really fast. In Spring I'll have to move it into a larger container. Thanks so much for the ideas, I have a few dracaenas that I could plant outside. A monstera would be a good idea too because I would love to grow something that grows large leaves.

Yes, do some shade gardening. The environment must be cooler and a lot of plants would love to grow there. Think of Philodendrons also. https://www.google.com.pk/sear... These would also run riot and of course Hostas and family.
Regards,
Arif.

I like scheffleras too. During the Summer we can have temperatures well into the 100s. I wish I could grow hostas but most die because of the extreme heat.

That area is in shade then the heat that is effecting the area is coming via breeze or it is reflected heat not direct from sun. If you like the observation then you need a windbreak to modify the ecology. Trellis and vine can be along where the reflected heat is coming from which in photograph one seems the wall. Huge wall and if it is yours then a few Rose/Bougainvillea ramblers/vines will would give a dramatic effect.
Again in photograph one I see a gap between the house and the wall, either the hot breeze is entering or exiting from there. Some modification is required there also. Maybe a few small fruit trees if that area has sun and if not then some shade loving tall bushes and a few small shade loving trees should break the force plus further cool down the area.
I also see three lanky scraggly trees there. How about some tree surgery/pruning to make them a bit lower and more bushy. Maybe dig around their base and mix in a bit of organic fertilizer.
This Eriobotrya japonica due to little sun will go tall, lanky and snap in strong wind. Not much fruit either. Could you shift it along the wall. Let it enjoy the reflected heat. Loves heat.
Just observations and rambling.
Regards,
Arif.

Vines would be a great idea. I'm growing a few vines from seed right now. (Blue Pea vine, moonvine, morning glory, and passion vine. I have one climbing rose that grows really large, I've been keeping it small because its in a container. It only blooms once in Spring. I'll look for some shade loving shrubs. The trees were pruned by the maintenance man. The branches were a lot lower in the past before he cut them. The bag worms have also eaten a lot of the growth so they look even more scraggly during Spring and Summer. I have Purple Heart plants around the base, because its the only thing that has been able to survive under the trees. I would love to grow a whole row of crossvines for a windbreak, but I don't know how to build a trellis tall enough and long enough. I'll move the loquat into more sun, last year I had to cut the top off because it started dying for some reason. Thanks again for the ideas, I never thought of making a windbreak to block the heat and wind.

Your photographs were so clear in detail, had to comment. That belt of sun along the wall, think of small fruit trees every fifteen feet. Enough direct and reflected sunlight there and if against that wall in winters its warm and comfy just imagine the potential. Sweet peas, Cups and Saucers, think . Maybe in summers it is hot but what about spring?
Regards,
Arif.

I definitely appreciate your input. I would love to grow more fruit trees. I have one peach tree, but its mainly for ornamental purposes. It never produces good fruit. Spring here can be very nice and mild as well as rainy. I would love to grow sweetpeas. I had to google cup and saucers, those are beautiful vines.

Thats a nice way to plant a long narrow area.

I need to do some research on which bushes can tolerate dry shade. Are sweetpeas good for a narrow area?

Sweet peas and other seasonal can grow easily in that area plus that area is not all that narrow. That tree is showing sunlight to a height more then one foot. Any thing higher then a foot in that area will have constant sunlight on it. It seems that this house is oriented North South and this is the North side.
Regards,
Arif.

I'll have to try sweet peas. I also have lots of hyacinth vine seeds, I wonder hyacinth beans would do well in that area?

Lablab, you have it there? Why not, you area cannot beat this area in heat. Are you going to eat the beans? Scandens Blue will go with the flowers of Lablab. I would have said Rangoon creeper but pink and white I don't know if this combination will go well with Electric Purple, then why not? Ask a lady expert, they are good in mix and match . The fragrance though will overpower the surroundings. Now who wanted to attract bees and humming birds, let me think.
Regards,
Arif.

I have some seeds that I'm going to start next month. I'm probably going to grow it for ornamental purposes. Rangoon Creeper is such a pretty vine, I especially love fragrant plants. I would love to attract hummingbirds to my yard. I planted a few plants last year that were considered hummingbird plants, but I never saw any.

Use your imagination. You are lucky to have bright sunny, moderate sunny under the tree and shade. Just do some micro climate engineering, maybe a small pond under the trees with goldfish and a fountain to increase the humidity further. Then some pots in the forks of the trees to get these things going
http://www.exoticrainforest.co...
http://www.exoticrainforest.co...
Pretty adventurous?
Why are there no Plumerias against the wall?
Regards,
Arif.

I've always wanted to do more under the trees, I never had any good ideas. That's a great idea to put pots in the forks of the trees. Thanks so much for the links. I wish I could do something like that. Those are really amazing pictures. I never thought of putting my plumerias against the wall. I usually have them cluttered together on the patio lol.

It seems you have a lot to do this season. Just take it one at a time.
Regards,
Arif.

lol I definitely have a lot to do this season. I made a new flowerbed for my zinnias and I'm making a small herb garden.

Enjoy yourself. Look at the surroundings with new vision and experiment. Except for summers that South facing wall can be used to advantage. Zinnias? Go for Salvias they love the heat, Zinnias wont take it and you will have a hard time. Marigolds also require less water. Think of plants that don't want much water until you can rectify the micro climate. There are some beautiful flowering succulents if they catch your fancy. Then there are flowering cactus also. Citrus various types also love heat and can help in changing the climate.
Regards,
Arif.