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Best full shade shrubs


Shade Loving Shrubs: The Best Bushes To Plant Under Trees

Do you have a tree in your yard and don’t know what to do with the empty space underneath? Well, I’m here to tell you that there are plenty of shade loving shrubs that thrive under trees! In fact, many of them actually require those shady spots in order to grow well. So whether your landscape has full shade or partial shade, read on for some recommendations.

If you’re like me, you have a few trees in your yard and are always looking for plants that will thrive under their shady conditions.

The space between taller trees and low growing perennials lends itself to an array of blooming bushes and interesting foliage plants.

In fact, by growing a variety of shade tolerant shrubs, this shady area is the ideal place for plants that provide all-season interest.

I rely on the glorious flowers of rhododendrons, azalea and mountain laurel in the spring, the magnificence of hydrangeas in the summer, Japanese maple foliage in autumn, and evergreen foliage and bark in the winter.

And those are just a few of the available options. Keep reading to find the best shrubs for shade that you can plant under trees.

Flowering shrubs

When I’m planting in the shade, I’m always looking for ways to add some color that brightens it up a little.

So I love shrubs for shade gardens that have beautiful blooms.

Luckily there are more of them than you might think! Here are some of my favorite flowering shrubs for shade.

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Zones: 5 to 8
Light: Shade to part shade
Bloom Time: Early spring
Height: 3′ to 10′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 10′

Pieris Japonica is a shade tolerant evergreen shrub with leaves that start out red, then change to pink and cream before becoming lime green.

It likes acidic, well drained soil which is characteristic of many of the shrubs that grow well in shade.

Pieris Japonica ‘Forest Flame’

When planted with rhododendrons, azaleas and yews, the bright green leaves add contrast and interest to your garden all year.

In early spring, the stems are crowned with white or pink star-shaped clusters.

Learn more about growing Pieris Japonica HERE.

Buy it HERE*.

Zones: 3 – 11
Light: Full shade to part sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Height: 3′ to 12′ tall (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 12′ tall

Another fabulous late spring/early summer bloomer is the Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia).

It is another one of the evergreens for shade that prefers acidic soil, sheltered conditions, and mulch for moisture retention.

The pink blooms take your breath away with their beauty.

Learn more about growing Mountain Laurel.

Buy it HERE.*

Rhododendron ‘PJM’

Zones: 4 to 9
Light: Shade to part shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 3′ to 12′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 12′

As long as the soil conditions are acidic and regular moisture is provided, rhododendrons are the perfect flowering shrub for the mid-story.  They thrive in the dappled shade under trees, but can grow in full or part shade.

Rhododendrons need shelter from winds and the sun, and require little or no pruning.

Mulch is important to protect the shallow roots and replace nutrients in the soil.

I like the contrast in shape of the broadleaf evergreen leaves among the needled yews.

Rhododendron’s range of colors and spring bloom times provide a succession of fabulous blossom from April to June.

When the early Rhododendrons are covered in magenta or fuchsia flowers, my heart sings and my soul recovers from the blight of winter.

Get some tips on growing Rhododendrons.

Buy them (including the purple one) HERE.*

4 | Azalea

Zones: 2 to 9
Light: Partial shade to sun (depending on the variety)
Bloom Time: Spring, some re-bloom in the Fall
Height: 2′ to 6′ tall
Spread: 2′ to 4′ wide

Azaleas are members of the Rhododendron family and have the same acidic soil and protected growth requirements. And also make the list as one of the best shrubs for shade.

The difference is that azaleas are generally smaller plants and can be either deciduous or evergreen bushes.

Northern Lights Azalea

The Northern Lights series is tough, no care and (as the name suggests) is bred to survive the cold.

Their blossoms precede their leaves in spring and are a joy to behold.

Encore Azalea ‘Autumn Twist’

The Encore series is evergreen and not as hardy, but blooms a second time in the fall.

They are available in a wide range of colors.

‘Bollywood’ Azalea

‘Bollywood’ is an evergreen variety that has variegated leaves with pretty red to fuchsia flowers.

Azalea ‘Gibraltar’  ©Peter Turner Photography – shutterstock.com

And there are even a few Azaleas with bright orange flowers like this one called ‘Gibraltar’ (you can find it HERE*).

In my opinion, no spring garden should be without these bright, glorious flowering shrubs.

Buy them HERE.*

Zones: 4 to 8
Light: Partial shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 3′ to 8′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 6′

Unlike their full-sun cousins (perennial peonies), Tree Peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) thrive in the dappled shade under trees.

This deciduous flowering shrub likes acidic to neutral soil.

A much tougher plant than it looks, it is definitely low maintenance – requires only regular watering and mulching.

Tree peonies produce huge luncheon plate sized ruffled flowers in mid-spring. I counted 15 blossoms on the tree peony ‘Pluto’ (as seen in the picture above) in my front shade border this year.

Learn more about how to grow tree peonies.

You can find a lot of different varieties for sale (including ‘Pluto’) HERE.

6 | Shade Hydrangeas

Zones: 3 to 9
Light: Partial shade
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Height: 3′ to 5′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 5′

Big green leaves and prolific magnificent blooms describe this entry in our shrubs for shade list.

Hydrangeas, as the name (hydra) implies, need to be kept well watered.

They are deciduous bushes that blossom from July through September.

The pruning care requirements are dependent on the type.

Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf, hophead, lacecap, and florist hydrangea) should only have dead and weak stems removed immediately after the blooms fade. Otherwise, it will not flower next year.

It blooms on old wood, so resist the urge to trim the dead looking stems in the spring!

With the exception of the white bloomers, and some new introductions (e.g. ‘pistachio’), the color of Hydrangea macrophylla flowers is dependent on the pH of the soil—blue in acidic and pink in alkaline.

Buy Hydrangea macrophylla HERE.*

©hcast – stock.adobe.com

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an understory plant indigenous to the southeastern United States and is poplar in the home garden border for its all-season interest.

Its distinctive oak-shaped leaves turn bright red in the fall and the exfoliating bark of its stems is interesting in the winter and early spring.

It likes acidic soil and needs no pruning.

Buy Oakleaf Hydrangea HERE.*

Note: While most Hydrangea varieties do well in the shade, Hydrangea paniculata grows better in the sun, so be sure to check what kind you are buying.

Get some tips on how to get the best blooms from your Hydrangea.

Zones: 6 – 10
Light: Partial shade to shade
Bloom Time: Fall, winter, or spring (depending on the variety)
Height: 18″ to 25′ tall
Spread: 18″ to 8′ wide

Camellias are another of the evergreen shrubs that grow well in the shade.

The big difference with this bush is the time of year that it flowers. Depending on the variety, it can bloom any time between October and April. And those blooms are stunning!

Even better? Once established, Camellias require very little maintenance to keep them healthy.

Learn how to grow Camellias.

Buy them HERE.*

Zones: 5 to 10
Light: Shade to part shade
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring
Height: 3′ to 5′
Spread: 3′ to 5′

Next on our list of shrubs for shade is Daphne.

Most varieties have evergreen leaves and produce pink or white fragrant blooms in late winter or early spring.

In my garden, it’s one of the plants that lets me know spring is coming. When I open the front door and can smell the Daphne’s perfume (even before I see the flowers), I know winter is almost over!

It can be a little tricky to get started, but once it is established, Daphne is a very low maintenance plant.

Find out more about growing Daphne. 

Buy it HERE.*

9 | Virginia Sweetspire (

Itea virginica)

Zones: 5 to 9
Light: Shade to sun
Bloom Time: Late spring, early summer
Height: 3′ to 8′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 8′

Virginia Sweetspire is a native shrub with long fragrant white flowers (that pollinators love!) and gorgeous autumn foliage in the fall.

It is easy to grow in pretty much any garden conditions – dry, wet, poor soil, shade or sun.

Look for the dwarf variety ‘Little Henry’ if you want one that doesn’t take up a lot of space in your garden.

Buy it HERE.*

10 | Viburnum

Zones: 2 to 9
Light: Partial shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 1′ to 20′
Spread: 6′ to 10′

Viburnum is a very versatile deciduous shrub that always seems to work itself in to my garden plans.

With its huge white blooms that look like snowballs hanging off the branches, it definitely makes a statement!

For planting under trees, look for smaller varieties (such as Korean Spice) that won’t outgrow the space.

Buy it HERE.*

11 | Spotted Laurel (

Aucuba japonica)©simona – stock.adobe.com

Zones: 7 to 9
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 6′ to 10′
Spread: 6′ to 10′

Spotted Laurel is a broad leaf evergreen bush that makes a great hedge or back-of-the-border shrub in deep shade.

It produces clusters of maroon flowers in the spring that turn into bright red berries if you have both a male and female version planted together.

But most people grow it because of its beautiful foliage.

Even without the flowers and berries, this shrub’s gorgeous green and yellow leaves add interest to your deep shade garden.

Buy it HERE.*

12 | American Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Zones: 4 to 8
Light: Partial shade
Bloom Time: Late fall to early winter
Height: 10′ to 20′ tall
Spread: 15′ to 20′ wide

American Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a large deciduous shrub with clusters of citrus-scented yellow flowers that appear in the late fall and early winter.

As the name suggests, it is a native bush to North America. And like many native plants, it is low maintenance, fairly deer resistant and disease resistant once it is established.

Although Witch Hazel grows quite large naturally, it can be pruned to keep it smaller. This should be done before summer starts to prevent cutting off the buds.

Buy it HERE*.

13 | Red Twig Dogwood (

Cornus Alba)

Zones: 3 to 8
Light: Partial shade to shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 8′
Spread: 8′

The red twig dogwood (Cornus Alba) is a shade loving shrub with very attractive variegated gray-green deciduous leaves that provide a bright light in the shaded border.

It has insignificant small white flowers in the spring, followed by white berries, but the compelling reason to plant this shrub is for the winter interest of its red stems.

It can be most appreciated if planted in front of a window where the splash of red in the snow only needs a cardinal to complete a perfect vignette.

The red twig dogwood can be kept small and brighter by pruning out 1/3 of the old stems in the winter, otherwise, it will reach 8’ tall.

Buy it HERE.*

Foliage Bushes

While flowering bushes are beautiful, to have a lush, relaxing shade garden, shrubs that are known for their foliage are also a must.

With the different leaf textures and colors, they add interest to your yard for the whole growing season.

Zones: 5 to 9
Light: Partial shade
Bloom Time: Foliage only
Height: 6′ to 25′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 6′ to 25′

Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) are dwarf trees that create outstanding focal points in the shady border under trees.

My front border is anchored by two other Acers, one at each corner of a curved path.

Although they are different varieties of Japanese maple, the foliage provides focal interest and intense color.

They like dappled shade and do not like to dry out, so provide a deep layer of mulch.

Prune, if necessary, in summer after the leaves are established.

I love the way my cut leaf ‘Crimson Queen’ forms a canopy of scarlet lacy foliage from spring until fall. Even in the winter, the branches arch dramatically.

Find out more about growing Japanese Maples.

Buy them HERE.*

15 | Yews (

Taxus)Yew

Zones: 4 to 9
Light: Partial shade
Bloom Time: Foliage only
Height: 1′ to 25′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 25′

Yews (Taxus) are very reliable drought tolerant evergreens for shade that have inch long needles and red berries in the fall.

Unlike conifers, they don’t mind being pruned, so their size and shape can be easily maintained.

But if you don’t want to do diligent pruning, avoid ‘Hills’,’ Hicks’, and ‘Browns’ yews because they grow too large for a border.

Yews provide all season interest and stand out in the winter garden as a green respite among the deciduous branches.

It should be noted that the berries and needles are poisonous to humans and animals.

Yews generally do not like wet conditions.

Taxus x media ‘Tauntonii’ is a dwarf yew that is perfect: it grows slowly, is very tidy and has a very dark green hue.

Taxus cuspidate ‘emerald spreader’ is another good bright green choice that gets denser if pruned annually.

Taxus Canadensis is a tough, small native shrub that will grow in dense shade.

Buy them HERE.*

16 | Boxwood (

Buxus)

Zones: 4 to 10
Light: Full shade to full sun
Bloom Time: Foliage only
Height: 1′ to 12′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 2′ to 8′

The next plant on our list of shade shrubs is Boxwood.

We most often associate Boxwood (Buxus) with clipped hedges and balls in formal gardens.

However, it is such an easy plant to grow I think it deserves a place in any kind of border, especially since it is evergreen and grows so well under trees.

Adequate water and 3” of mulch take care of its maintenance needs.

©EDEN – stock.adobe.com

Aesthetically, Buxus looks much better pruned so that its small evergreen leaves become denser.

It grows slowly, so once the desired shape is established it only needs an annual shearing.

Buy it HERE.*

17 | Anise (

Illicium parviflorum)©Arsgera – stock.adobe.com

Zones: 7 to 10
Light: Shade to part shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 5′ to 15′
Spread: 5′ to 10′

The last of our bushes that grow in shade is Anise.

With its heat resistance, yellow-green evergreen leaves and small star-shaped fruit, it’s a stand out in the Southern shade garden.

Anise is an easy to care for bush that likes moist soil but will tolerate some drought once established.

Buy it HERE.*

Other shade plants you might like

Do you have comments or questions on our list of shade loving shrubs? Tell us in the section below.


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This post was originally published on October 20, 2018 but was updated with new content on June 14, 2022.


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Best shrubs for shade: 13 options for full or partial shade

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

There are many choices of shrubs for shade that thrive in full or part shade so you don't need to ignore darker borders and corners of the garden and relegate them to storage areas, but instead you can make the most of them by adding interest and color through considered planting. 

The best shade plants can offer changeable interest throughout the year, and working with shifting levels of light and shade is something that every gardener needs to learn and understand.

Instead of seeing shady backyards as a challenge, discover the potential you have to create wonderful contrasts as part of your backyard ideas. White or pale flowers and golden or silvered variegated leaves juxtaposed with darker green foliage and shade, create the effect of light among the shadows, one of the dramatic planting possibilities for white garden ideas.

Best shrubs for shade

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The deciduous or evergreen shrubs you choose for shady spots will differ depending on the type of shade you have in your backyard – so study its patterns at different times of day through the seasons. Smaller spaces might be in shade throughout the day; other backyards might only be in shade for part of the day, so the shrubs might have to be sun-tolerant, too. Decide whether areas are in light, semi, dappled or deep shade. For woodland areas, there are many woodland plants that are suited to the specific conditions under trees.

'The main thing about planting shrubs for shade is whether the specific plant is a full shade or partial shade loving plant,' explains Fiona Martin of Burncoose Nurseries .

‘Some shade-loving shrubs, such as the evergreen silk tassel bush, don’t like to be in deep shade, whereas others like Fatsia japonica can cope with full shade,’ explains award-winning garden designer Jonathan Snow .

Then assess the soil. 'Does the area have dry soil or wet soil and compare this to the soil requirements for the chosen shrub,' adds Fiona.

Below, we bring you the best shrubs for shade, and explain which type of shade they will enjoy.

1. Best shrubs for shade for small gardens

(Image credit: Getty Images)

With a wide range of species, both deciduous and evergreen, which flower at different times, daphne offer lots of variety and the blooms have a powerful fragrance. 

They grow well in partial shade and are not large shrubs so are also well suited to shady spots in small gardens.

There are many varieties of daphne that flower in winter, adding much needed color as a winter garden idea, while others flower in spring or summer.

2. Best shrubs for shade for winter interest

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Witch hazel, or hamamelis, is a tall flowering shrub that will add some welcome color to your backyard in winter in areas of partial shade.

A early bloomer, the fragrant flowers on this shrub for shade appear from December through to early spring depending on the hardiness zone where you live. 

'It has distinctive spider-like flowers in shades of yellow, red and orange,' explain the experts at Hillier garden centers.

Witch hazel needs to be pruned regularly to keep it in check otherwise it can grow a little unruly. For the most economic option, plant them bare root in fall.

3. Best shrub for shade for hedging

(Image credit: Future / Rowan Isaac)

Great to plant in a shady spot for a privacy hedge, yew, or Taxus baccata, is an enduringly popular choice and it is easy to see why. It will grow happily in many locations – from full shade to full sun – is a dense and quick grower, and can live for many, many years.

This shrub for shade works brilliantly as a backdrop to white flowers in a shady corner, and can be clipped into beautiful shapes and lines.

4. Best shrubs for shade for late summer blooms

(Image credit: Future)

Hydrangeas are well known and loved and there are many varieties to choose from that will cope well in a shady position. They are also one of the best flowering shrubs.

'Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ is my favorite hydrangea with its large pointed velvet leaves and late summer blue flowers. It can also be grown on chalk,’ explains Jonathan. 

The deciduous shrub does well in partial shade, but learn how to prune hydrangeas to keep them flowering well and stop them becoming scruffy and unkempt.

5. Best shrubs for shade with fragrant flowers

(Image credit: RHS/ Anna Brockman)

Shade loving plants often have the most fragrant blooms, as if the plants are trying to compensate for their lack of sunshine and color, so are ideal for sensory garden ideas.

'Sarcococca hookeriana ‘winter gem’, also known as sweet box, has attractive, evergreen glossy leaves and highly fragrant white late winter flowers and berries,' explains Fiona Martin.

The dwarf shrub will tolerate full shade and brighten up dull corners where little else will grow. 

'It is tough and tolerant of most conditions,' advise the experts at RHS Plants .

6. Best shrub for shade with bright flowers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Mahonia repens is a frost hardy dwarf evergreen shrub that tolerates full to part shade. 

‘It’s main attraction, though, is its dark yellow racemes of upright flowers in mid to late spring, followed by blue-black berries. Shrubs with lighter color flowers can really brighten up a shady area, especially white and yellow flowers,' says Fiona Martin.

Fully frost hardy, these low growing mahonias, which typically only grow to one or two feet in height, can be used for ground cover.

7. Best low maintenance shrub for shade

(Image credit: Getty Images)

'Fatsia japonica can cope with full shade as well as a bit of sun, and a fair amount of general neglect, too,' explains Jonathan, so it is a good choice if you're looking for low maintenance shrubs or fast growing shrubs for shade.

'It has architectural, evergreen leaves, and striking panicles of spherical, creamy white flowers in fall, which are often followed by round, black fruit in winter,’ adds Jonathan.

Both the flowers and berries are a valuable food source for beneficial insects, especially as they are produced in the middle of winter when not much else is on offer, so are also great for adding to planting plans for wildlife garden ideas.

8. Best shrubs for shade with variegated leaves

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Aucuba japonica ‘crotonifolia’, also known as Japanese or spotted laurel, can grow in partial or full shade.  

‘The rounded shrub has spotted, variegated leaves and produces bright red berries in fall,’ explains Fiona. They like moist, well-drained soil.

Partial shade is best for more pronounced variegation of this pretty evergreen plant, which can provide a lovely backdrop in a shady corner of a backyard.

'Aucubas may not be the most standout plants, but they make a very effective and dense windbreak and can tolerate high, salt-laden winds,' explains Fiona, so are a  good option for exposed and coastal gardens. 

Growing up to 15 feet tall, they are also good for use as fast growing hedges.

9. Best long living shrubs for shade

(Image credit: Crocus)

For some classic, traditional blooms, you can't get much better than long lasting and low maintenance camellias as shrubs for shade – which we think are among the best shrubs for the front of the house.

'One of my favorites is Camellia sasanqua. I find this fall flowering camellia so much more delicate, in leaf and flower, than its blousy spring cousins,’ says Jonathan.  

If you are growing camellias they prefer moist, rich, acidic soil and thrive in full to partial shade. To maximize their flowering potential, learn how to prune camellias and you will be rewarded with their beautiful blooms for many years.

'This camellia makes a handsome stand-alone specimen, but it can also be used to make a dense, informal screen,' advise the experts at Crocus .

10. Best easy to grow shrub for shade

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Silk tassel bush or Garrya elliptica is known for its showy cascading flowers or catkins in winter or early spring.

A native to the coastal ranges in California and Oregon, 'this easy to grow evergreen shrub will grow in most soil types, but prefers to be out of the wind, and not in deep shade,' advises Jonathan. 

It makes a striking backdrop to many other plants and grows well in partial shade.

11. Best large shrubs for shade

(Image credit: Gina Kelly / Alamy Stock Photo)

Woodland plants, rhododendrons grow well in dappled shade.

Suited to USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8, these large growing evergreens flower from spring through to summer filling shady spots in the garden with colors ranging from deep red through to white.

It is easy to learn how to grow rhododendrons. 'Rhododendron ‘Cunninghams White’, is a reliable, free flowering rhododendron with mauve buds that open to white flowers with a pale yellow center in spring,' explains Jonathan 

'It can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, unlike most rhododendrons that prefer acidic soil,' he adds.

Pruning rhododendrons will keep them well shaped and blooming well.

12. Best shrub for shade with changing leaf color

(Image credit: Alamy)

A great choice for privacy and screening in a backyard, photinia grows well in partial shade and is a low maintenance shrub.

Some varieties have lovely changing foliage color in spring and fall, such as Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin', which produces bright red new leaves.

They tolerate most soil types, although will cope best with moist, fertile soil with plenty of organic matter added in.

13. Best climbing shrubs for shade

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you are looking to cover walls or other vertical structures in a shady corner then Euonymous fortunei is an excellent choice and a good courtyard garden idea for making the most of space available by growing vertically.

Some varieties of these evergreen climbers also have lovely variegated leaves, to bring light and golden accents into a dark space, such as ‘Emerald n Gold’ with its golden variegated leaves.

It copes well in dappled and partial shade.

What evergreen is best for shade?

There are many evergreens that are best for shade, advises Fiona Martin of Burncoose.

These range from Aucuba japonica and some camellias, to common laurel and English yew, to name but a few.

The key is to always do your research before buying a shrub for shade and 'check that the specific plant is a full shade loving shrub,' adds Fiona.

(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny)

Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?

Hydrangeas do tolerate some shade, but to flourish they should also enjoy a bit of – ideally morning – sun.

They will not do well in full shade, however, so get to grips with how to grow them and what to plant with hydrangeas so that you get the best from these stunning shrubs for shade.

Can azaleas grow in shade?

If you are growing azaleas, they will cope well with dappled shade, such as along a woodland border, but will struggle in full shade.

Evergreen varieties in particular prefer a shady spot as full sun can scorch their flowers.

Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.

The best shrubs for creating hedges in partial shade. Planting and care, description of species and varieties, photo - Botanichka

When buying a plot, the owners do not always get a wasteland open to sunlight from morning to evening. Many areas are shaded by mature trees. Sometimes you want to create a fence "in the corridor" between the walls of your own and a neighbor's house. Often, green spaces are also needed on the north side of the building. Light-loving plants planted even in light penumbra will never create dense green walls and will not be able to serve as a stable hedge. Therefore, it is very important to navigate in deciduous shrubs that will show their best in partial shade.

The best shrubs for creating hedges in partial shade. © Home Depot

Why hedges are valued in gardening

Every year, hedges become more and more popular. Owners of dachas and adjacent plots are increasingly using green spaces along with traditional fences or even instead of it. And this is not surprising, because the green screen has many advantages over traditional fencing.

A hedge is not only marking the boundaries of the plot, protecting the garden from winds, road noise and the glances of curious passers-by. It is also an integral part of landscape compositions, a uniform background for colorful flower beds and expressive groups of deciduous and coniferous plants.

In addition, green curtains can unobtrusively decorate unattractive outbuildings and do an excellent job of separating functional areas with picturesque lines, smoothing out corners, and sometimes visually changing the configuration of the garden.

Read also our Top 5 Plants for Dust Resistant Hedges.

In order for "green walls" to successfully fulfill their duties for many years, it is important to select plant elements for their creation, taking into account the basic requirements of plants for growing conditions.

To create a living fence in dense dense shade, where nothing but moss grows, it is advisable to abandon the "green solution". With a significant lack of sun, any shrubs stretch out and lose their attractive appearance. But if a hedge is needed in an area where the sun's rays look at least a few hours a day, then you should pay attention to the plants that we will talk about in this article.

Derain is beautiful both in winter and in summer

One of the most unpretentious deciduous shrubs, with free growth quickly reaching a height of 3-3.5 meters. The decorativeness of the derain is mainly provided by the foliage of the plant. Depending on the variety, the leaf blade of the shrub may have a white or golden border, and sometimes chaotic patterns.

Derain is one of the most unpretentious deciduous shrubs that prefers partial shade. © Art’s Bayfield Almanac

In autumn, the attractive foliage of the derain turns purple and looks especially beautiful. Unlike most deciduous, this shrub is attractive even after the foliage has fallen, since bright crimson young shoots become the main decoration of the plant. The catchy colored bark looks especially impressive in winter against the background of white snow.

As you know, many plants with variegated foliage can noticeably lose color in partial shade, but the variegated painted leaves of the deren remain bright even with a lack of lighting. A hedge from this shrub can easily add color to a plain shady area while maintaining a stable decorative look.

Planting and maintenance of a turf hedge

To create a turf hedge, grown seedlings of two to three years of age are planted at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from each other. Landing can be carried out both in autumn and in spring. Before the plants fully take root, they definitely need regular abundant watering. In the future, this shrub requires a minimum of attention, usually pests are not too greedy for its foliage, and diseases bypass it.

The only peculiarity of turf that is important to take into account is its increased moisture-loving nature, so plants endure long-term drought with great difficulty, and in abnormally dry summers they definitely require abundant watering.

Derain is one of the fastest growing shrubs, and most of its varieties form a dense hedge in just one or two seasons. Pruning can be done at any time from spring to autumn, as it is painless for the plant. For the first time, the turf is cut when it reaches the age of three, and then it is cut 1-3 times a year.

In natural style gardens, turf is well suited for creating naturally shaped hedges. In this case, only gentle and sanitary pruning is carried out, which involves the removal of damaged shoots and light containment of the volume of the bush (cutting the tops of young shoots).

Red branches of turf will decorate the garden in winter

The best varieties of turf for hedges in partial shade

For a budget hedge, ordinary species white turf with plain green foliage and purple shoots is best suited, which can be easily propagated by cuttings.

Of the varietal sods, "Elegantissima" sod grows the fastest, it will allow you to create a fence faster, but at the same time it will require more frequent mowing.

Outwardly similar varieties with a white border of leaves "Sibirika Variegata" and "Ivory halo" grow a little slower. Variety "Shpeti" is distinguished by a golden border of leaves.

To create a particularly interesting effect in winter, varieties with purple branches can be supplemented with Flaviramea turf, which has an expressive bright green bark.

Benefits of a turf hedge

Disadvantages of derain hedges

Spiraea - full bloom, minimal care

Spiraea is a flowering shrub. In the month of May, the plant dresses in an openwork snow-white outfit of small fragrant flowers with the smell of honey. Spireas blooming in spring, as a rule, are tall plants (up to 2.5 meters), having a sprawling bush shape and medium-sized leaves.

The less spirea is sheared, the more abundant it blooms

With regular shearing, the green backstage of spirea turns out to be quite dense, like real walls. Nevertheless, the plantations have an elegant appearance and, thanks to the small foliage, look openwork and weightless.

Planting and care of spirea hedge

Plant spirea at the age of two with an interval of 40-50 cm. Formation of the hedge can be started already in the first year. Features of cutting spirea depend on whether the plants belong to the group of spring-flowering or summer-flowering.

Spiraea varieties that bloom in spring, unlike those that bloom in summer, flower buds are formed only on last year's shoots, so they can be cut only after flowering is over. Mowing in early spring will result in the plants not blooming that season.

By the way, the spirea hedge, which is cut too often and intensively, usually blooms very sparsely or does not bloom at all. Therefore, it is important to choose what is more important for the gardener - a strict form or white fragrant flowers.

The first cut is carried out in June after the plants have completely faded. With formative pruning, they cut quite intensively, giving the green wall the necessary shape. Further, in the middle of summer, a correction is carried out as the shoots grow (several times per season).

The first cutting of summer-flowering spireas is carried out in spring (April-May). In culture, spirea is unpretentious and does not require any special care.

The best varieties of spirea for hedges in partial shade

Spireas are most often planted in the sun, but some species will do well in partial shade. First of all, this applies to varieties with green leaves that bloom in spring ( spirea agruta , vangutta , tunberga , three-bladed , gray etc.).

Many types of spirea quickly lose their natural arched shape during formation and grow vertically upwards. Of the summer-flowering spireas, tall species ( Billard's spirea , loose-leaved , Douglas ) blooming with pink flowers can also be selected as hedges.

Thunberg Spiraea grows well in partial shade. © Sera Ipotesti

Advantages of a spirea hedge

Disadvantages of spirea hedges

Privet - for strict hedges in partial shade

An unpretentious semi-evergreen shrub that is easily cut in all directions. With the onset of autumn, its foliage falls only partially, and some of the surviving leaves remain on the plant throughout the winter, making the hedge visually denser in comparison with a deciduous hedge. In addition, in the off-season, the shrub is decorated with medium-sized rounded tar-colored berries.

Privet is a shrub that can be cut into any shape. © Babij

Two types of privet are found as ornamental plants in gardens - common privet and oval-leaved privet . The height of the first is more than 3 meters and the bush is more sparse, dense leathery leaves are slightly pointed at the ends. Privet with oval leaves has more decorative rounded leaves that are better preserved in winter, they are shorter.

Both species bloom with medium-sized white flowers with a pleasant aroma (in early summer, in June-July). Privet grows relatively quickly and takes root very easily, so planting material can be grown independently from cuttings.

Common privet also has a variety 'Aurea' with unusual bright yellow foliage. But this cultivar will show itself in all its glory only in the bright sun, and when creating a hedge in partial shade, you should be prepared for the fact that the color of the leaves becomes greenish.

Planting and maintenance of privet hedge

Plant young plants in 30-45 cm increments to create a dense hedge. when planting in moist soil and with regular watering.

Privet does not tolerate stagnant water, so for planting it is better to avoid lowlands where standing melt water is observed, and drainage should be done at the bottom of the planting pit to avoid stagnant moisture in the root zone. Privet grows well in loose, well-drained soils.

It is recommended to form a privet hedge not in the form of a rectangle, but in the form of a truncated cone, expanding at the bottom. This shape of the living wall avoids the exposure of the lower branches due to insufficient lighting.

For shearing, it is better to use a lopper or secateurs. For the first time after planting, more than half of the young growth is pruned, and in subsequent years, if necessary, young branches are cut already by 70% of the length.

As a result, branching increases significantly, increasing the density of the bush, however, such a haircut reduces the intensity of flowering. The first sanitary haircut to remove shoots damaged in winter is carried out in the spring, and they resort to formative pruning several times a season. Regular shearing maintains the shape and height of the hedge. It is better to do this 2 times a year - in May and August.

Oval-leaved privet has decorative rounded leaves that are well preserved in winter. © Sandra Richard

Benefits of a privet hedge

Disadvantages of a privet hedge

Viburnum pride - not affected by aphids

Common viburnum - a bright shrub with clusters of coral berries and lobed foliage similar to maple leaves, is well known to people even far from gardening. But to create a hedge, another type of this plant is much more suitable - viburnum pride .

Viburnum pride is excellent for creating a hedge in partial shade. © James M

This variety is a dense shrub up to four meters high with a dense but compact crown. This species differs from the common viburnum in large pubescent leaves covered with white hairs that give the impression of velvet.

Viburnum pride blooms profusely in May-June with white inflorescences-caps, after which attractive bright red and black berries are tied on the bushes. The main advantage of this culture over viburnum vulgaris is that this shrub is not affected by aphids.

Planting a viburnum gordovin hedge and care

In order to create a hedge, 2-3-year-old plants are planted at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from each other. Kalina pride loves fertile, well-moistened soils. Therefore, in a drought, she will need watering, even after the plants take root well.

In the second year at the beginning of summer, the young growth can be cut back to 2-3 knots to increase the branching of the bush. Further, the formation of a hedge from viburnum pride will consist in removing too thick old shoots. In young stems, only the tops are pinched.

This type of viburnum is most suitable for making a free-growing screen and should be trimmed as little as possible. In plants with such large leaves and thick stems, a strong excessive haircut will not look quite harmonious. The total life expectancy of a shrub is long (about 60 years), so such a fence will perform its function for many years.

Advantages of viburnum hedge

Disadvantages of viburnum hedge

After the flowering of viburnum pride, attractive bright berries of red and black color are tied on the bushes. © Oregon State University

Other Hedge Shrubs in Part Shade

A low hedge up to 1 meter tall in a semi-shaded location also works well with common snowberry . At the same time, some varieties do not form the usual white, but very unusual pink berries. In care and pruning principles, the snowberry resembles a spirea. It can be cut regularly or left to grow freely. In the latter case, much more attractive berries will be tied.

Tall cultivars barberry ( common, thunberga, Ottawa ) and vesicle are often used to create green fences in shady conditions. However, it should be borne in mind that such plants will not develop successfully in dense shade, and in partial shade, varieties with brightly colored foliage (purple, yellow, two-tone) with a lack of sunlight will lose their intensity and become almost green.

Read also our material Califolia vesicle - bright and fast-growing.

Tolerates partial shade and European spindle tree, and common , but its famous hot pink fall color will also be less pronounced in semi-shady areas.

Green fences on the site can also be made in the form of screens entwined with perennial vines. In shady areas, parthenocissus feels good, which will cope with its task in the shortest possible time.

However, the aggressiveness of this creeper should not be forgotten either. Shade-tolerant climbers such as lemongrass , actinidia , moonseed , petiolate hydrangea will do this job more delicately. But in order to enter into full force, they will need about three years, after which the green mass will grow very actively.

Popular flowering shrubs for the Moscow region

Ornamental shrubs play an important role in landscape design. The variety of types and varieties of ornamental shrubs allows you to implement any design projects, because among these perennials there are many beautifully flowering or unusually colored leaves, there are miniature forms and tall ones, with different types and sizes of crowns. Some flowering shrubs, in addition to external attractiveness, are also interesting as fruit plants that allow us to diversify our diet.

Today, on sale you can find both species of shrubs that are well known to our gardeners, as well as real exotic ones. Of course, everyone wants to make their garden unique, surprising guests with the unprecedented beauty of overseas plants, but, unfortunately, not all of them stand the test of Russian winters. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the choice of flowering shrubs for summer cottages in the Moscow region, guided by common sense and the recommendations of specialists from reputable nurseries.

Climate features of the central regions of Russia

The climate of the Moscow region and neighboring regions is temperate continental, with pronounced seasonality. And every season rarely passes without weather surprises.

In the spring, when everything around blooms and turns green, return frosts often occur, threatening the death of fruit ovaries. Summers are quite warm, with long daylight hours, which is good for plants. However, droughts and prolonged rains often occur this season. Autumn is fickle, especially in the first half: the nights are cold, while during the day in clear weather it can be quite warm. The weather can change very drastically: in the morning the sun, and in the afternoon - rain for several days. Snow cover is formed by the end of November, but in recent years there has often been a lack of snow until the end of December, but freezing rains are becoming the norm. And in January and February, severe frosts, up to -25-30 degrees, are replaced by thaws, and during this period the plants have a particularly hard time.

Requirements for ornamental shrubs

Based on the local climate, it is best to choose plants that meet the following characteristics:

In other words, experts recommend purchasing flowering shrubs grown outdoors in local nurseries, rather than ordering them from warm European or Asian countries.

The most popular types of flowering shrubs for the Moscow region

Lilac is one of the most beautiful and hardy shrubs for our gardens. Undemanding to soils, withstands any weather anomalies, tolerates air pollution. The bush is strong, tall, up to 2.5 meters or more. Blooms at the end of May or in the first half of summer. Flowering is very lush, lasts 2-3 weeks. The inflorescences are paniculate, large, fragrant, painted in white, pink, lilac, purple, red and even yellow. Large green leaves do not change color in autumn and fall off only with the arrival of stable frosts.

Mock orange is a spectacular frost-resistant shrub that blooms in early summer for 15-20 days with large snow-white inflorescence caps, consisting of many fragrant flowers. Lamellar leaves up to 9 cm long are most often green, sometimes golden green or yellow. The crown is dense, spreading, rounded. Plant height - from 1 to 3.5 meters. Mock orange loves the sun, needs watering in drought.

Kalina is a valuable ornamental and fruit plant, perfectly adapted to the natural conditions of the central and more northern regions. This winter-hardy shrub up to 4 m high can withstand severe frosts, prolonged waterlogging of the soil and drought. Viburnum also grows in shading, but it does not bloom as plentifully as in a sunny place. At the time of flowering, the bush is completely covered with a lush "foam" of white or pinkish inflorescences. The leaves are beautiful, curly, in autumn they change green color to red, pink, orange. In September, clusters of scarlet berries ripen, which are harvested closer to October and used for homemade preparations.

Buddleya Davida is an ornamental shrub up to 3. 5 m high. It is fast growing. The shoots are thin, slightly hanging under the weight of large spike-shaped inflorescences up to 40 cm long. The color of the inflorescences is in white-pink-violet tones. Flowering mainly in late summer and autumn, lasts up to 45 days. The flowers emit a strong honey aroma. Buddleya is a heat-loving plant, and often in winter the shoots remaining above the snow freeze out, but in the spring the bush recovers very quickly. In care, the plant is completely unpretentious.

Hydrangea arborescens is a magnificent shade-loving shrub that blooms from the first half of July until autumn with large balls of inflorescences that can change color from milky white to pink or blue. To do this, the plant is watered with special formulations sold in garden stores. No less popular with gardeners is paniculate hydrangea, the inflorescences of which resemble lilac brushes, directed upwards. The color of the inflorescences is from pure white to bright red, sometimes two-tone. Hydrangea loves moist fertile soils without lime, it develops better in partial shade.

Quince - low, from 1 to 2.5 m, fruit-bearing shrub, which also has very spectacular flowering, which occurs in late May - early June. Solitary or in small inflorescences, orange-red flowers densely shower prickly shoots before the foliage begins to bloom. In autumn, a crop of small sour apples ripens, which are used in home canning. Quince is thermophilic, in the first years it needs shelter from frost. Loves fertile loose soil and plenty of sun.

Spiraea is a luxurious shrub up to 2 m high. In nature, the plant is represented by more than 90 species; According to the timing of flowering, spireas are divided into spring-flowering and summer-flowering. The color of the inflorescences in the first group is white, in the second - pink, red, raspberry. The shape of the bush, depending on the type and variety, can also be very diverse. The shrub is completely undemanding to soils, photophilous and winter-hardy.

Barberry , first of all, captivates with a variety of bush shapes and a wide palette of foliage colors. In addition, it attractively blooms with small yellow bells, and in autumn it gives healing fruits that are used in cooking and traditional medicine. This shrub is extremely hardy under any environmental conditions, undemanding to soils and easy to care for. Most often used as a hedge, it tolerates a haircut very well.

Rhododendron is a magnificent flowering shrub, striking with the beauty of large flowers, painted in shades of red, pink, lilac, lilac. The height of the bush is from 0.5 to 3 m, the crown is hemispherical, wide. The plant cannot be called completely unpretentious. He needs semi-shady places, protected from the wind, fertile, moisture-intensive and light soils with an acidic reaction.

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