Evergreen flowering shrub shade
Evergreen Shrubs For Shade (That Look Good All Year)
Whether you are looking for foundation shrubs, bushes to plant in your front yard or plants to use for a hedge, this list of evergreen shrubs for shade will give you some inspiration. Between their foliage that stays green all year round and the beautiful flowers, they’re a great alternative to deciduous shrubs in your shade garden.
When you’re planning a garden, bushes are the plants that add form and structure to your flower beds.
With their branches and size, they make great foundation plants, provide the backbone of garden beds and can create a privacy screen or hedge for your yard.
If you want your bushes to keep their look all year round, then evergreen shrubs are the way to go.
And if you need them to grow in the shade, then this list of bushes will help.
If you need bushes for sun, you can find our list of evergreen shrubs for full sun HERE.
1 | Rhododendron
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Zones: 3 to 9
Light: Shade to Part Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 2′ to 12′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 12′
Rhododendrons are a beautiful flowering evergreen bush with deep green foliage and gorgeous spring blooms.
To grow healthy Rhododendrons, plant them in acidic soil, keep them well watered and provide a layer of mulch to keep the roots cool.
Rhododendron flowers come in a wide range of colors that bloom from early to late spring depending on the variety. So if you plant a few of them, you can have flowers all spring.
‘PJM’ is a compact variety that is covered in blooms, and it’s one of the only deer-resistant Rhododendrons.
You can buy it HERE.*
Rhododendron ‘Yaku Prince’‘Raku Prince’ is another small plant but it has beautiful two-toned pink and white flowers.
You can buy it HERE.*
With so much variety to choose from, it’s hard to have only one!
Click HERE for some tips on growing Rhododendrons.
Find more Rhododendrons to buy HERE.*
2 | Azalea
Zones: 2 to 9
Light: Part 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 part of the Rhododendron family so they have very similar characteristics.
They like acidic soil, many are evergreens, most are shade loving shrubs and they have very pretty blooms in the spring.
However, there are some varieties that prefer the sun and are deciduous so if you’re looking for evergreen shrubs for shade, make sure you buy the right variety.
Find some more of my favorite Azalea and Rhododendron varieties HERE.
Buy Azaleas HERE.*
3 | Camellia
Camellia ‘Debutante’Zones: 6 – 10
Light: Part 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 an easy-to-grow bush (or small tree if you cut off the lower branches as they grow) with dark green, evergreen leaves.
Besides their gorgeous flowers, the big claim to fame for Camellias is that they flower when most other plants are dormant: Anytime between the end of October and the beginning of May, depending on the variety.
Be sure to check the bloom time when you are buying the plant as it varies considerably between cultivars.
Camellia japonica ‘April Remembered’It does take them a couple of years to get going after they have been planted, but once established, they are covered in blooms.
Find out more about growing Camellias HERE.
Buy Camellias HERE.*
4 | Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense)
Zones: 7 to 10
Light: Part Shade to Sun
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 3′ to 10′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 8′
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense) is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that produces lots of flowers in the spring and then scattered blooms through the rest of the season.
There are two types of this shrub – one with white flowers and green leaves, and another with pink flowers and purple leaves that turn green as they mature (my favorite!)
Although the literature says it prefers part to full sun, I have two Chinese fringe flower bushes growing in the shade and they are both doing very well.
Plant Chinese fringe flower in acidic soil and prune after the spring flowers have faded to control the size.
5 | Daphne
Zones: 5 to 10
Light: Shade to Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late Winter to Early Spring
Height: 3′ to 5′
Spread: 3′ to 5′
Daphne is a compact, shade-loving, deer-resistant shrub with very fragrant pink or white blooms.
Most varieties have evergreen leaves and produce flowers in late winter or early spring.
Some even have variegated leaves, which provides a little more interest when they aren’t blooming.
It can be a little tricky to get started. But keeping the plant well-watered, applying a generous layer of mulch in the spring, and pruning out the old wood once a year will help keep it alive and well.
And once it is established, Daphne is a very low maintenance bush.
Click HERE to find out more about Daphne.
Buy Daphne HERE.*
6 | Gardenia
Zones: 6 to 11
Light: Shade to Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
Height: 2′ to 8′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 4′ to 5′
Gardenia is a small to medium-sized evergreen shrub with beautiful white flowers that fill the air with their perfume in late spring or early summer.
And with their shiny leaves, they even look good in the winter!
They like humid weather (which is perfect for the South) but don’t do well with cold winters, so you may have to grow them in pots and bring them in if you live further North.
To make the most of their fragrance, I like to plant them close to the door and walkway.
That way anytime I leave the house, I walk right by them and can’t help but smell their perfume.
Learn more about them HERE.
7 | Magnolia
Zones: 4 to 12
Light: Part Shade to Sun
Bloom Time: Late Winter, Spring or Summer (depending on the variety)
Height: 10′ to 65′ tall
Spread: 10′ to 65′ wide
In the South, people tend to think of Magnolias as the very large shrubs (or trees) with glossy, evergreen leaves and huge creamy white flowers that bloom in the spring to summer. (They will grow in part shade or sun).
However, there are many different types of Magnolias that will thrive from the colder areas of zone 4 all the way through the tropical heat of zone 12.
Some bloom in late winter, some in the spring, and some in the summer.
Many are fragrant and all have beautiful flowers.
Some Magnolias are deciduous or semi-evergreen (meaning they’re evergreen in warmer zones but not colder ones) so if you’re looking for an evergreen bush, make sure to check the variety you’re buying.
Click HERE to find out more about Magnolias.
Buy them HERE.*
8 | Mountain Laurel
©Gerry – stock.adobe.comZones: 3 – 11
Light: Full shade to Part Sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Height: 3′ to 12′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 3′ to 12′
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a native North American bush that has beautiful white or pink flowers in the late spring or early summer.
It’s evergreen, thrives in the shade and is easy to grow. All characteristics I love to use in my garden!
It is another one of the evergreens for shade that requires acidic soil, sheltered conditions, and mulch to keep the soil evenly moist.
But is generally low maintenance and disease-resistant.
Find out more about Mountain Laurel HERE.
Buy Mountain Laurel HERE.*
9 | Pieris Japonica
© PATARA – stock.adobe.comZones: 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, deer-resistant, evergreen, flowering shrub that has pendant-like flowers in early spring.
Pieris Japonica ‘Red Head’In addition to the pretty blooms, this shrub puts on a show with its leaves that start out red, then change to pink and cream before becoming lime green. Which helps to add interest to your garden all year round.
It likes acidic sandy soil which is characteristic of many of the shrubs that grow well in shade.
Pieris can be toxic to pets, so if you have a dog that likes to chew on your plants, you may want to be careful about planting this.
Learn more about growing Pieris Japonica HERE.
Buy Pieris Japonica HERE*.
10 | Spotted Laurel (Aucuba Japonica)
Aucuba japonica ‘gold dust’ ©simona – stock.adobe.comZones: 7 to 9
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Foliage Only
Height: 6′ to 10′
Spread: 6′ to 10′
Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica) is a broad leaf evergreen bush that makes a great hedge or back-of-the-border shrub in the 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 shade garden.
Find out more about Aucuba HERE.
Buy it HERE.*
11 | Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Zones: 4 to 9
Light: Shade to Sun
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 2′ to 4′ as a shrub; up to 60′ as a vine
Spread: 4′ to 10′
Wintercreeper (Eonymus fortunei) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub for shade that can also be grown as a ground cover or a vine.
With it’s variegated leaves that take on a pink tint in the winter, wintercreeper adds interest to your garden all year round.
It has insignificant greenish-white flowers in the spring but is usually grown for its foliage.
Euonymus fortunei is very easy to grow, tolerating drought and pretty much any kind of soil except bog conditions.
It requires pruning to maintain its size and shape since it can become invasive if left to its own devices.
Buy it HERE.*
12 | Yews (Taxus)
YewZones: 4 to 9
Light: Part 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.
If you don’t want to do diligent pruning, avoid ‘Hills’,’ Hicks’, and ‘Browns’ yews because they grow too large for a border.
It should be noted that the berries and needles are poisonous to humans and animals.
Taxus x media ‘Tauntonii’ is a dwarf yew that is perfect: it grows slowly, is very tidy and has a very dark green hue.
Evergreen Yew “Emerald Spreader”Taxus cuspidate ‘emerald spreader’ is another good bright green choice that gets denser if pruned annually.
Buy Yews HERE.*
13 | Boxwood (Buxus)
© wjarek – stock.adobe.comZones: 4 to 10
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Bloom Time: Foliage only
Height: 1′ to 12′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 2′ to 8′
Boxwood (Buxus) is a slow growing shrub with small evergreen leaves that thrives in the shade or the sun. Which makes it a great option for a hedge since it doesn’t require even lighting.
We most often associate Boxwood with clipped hedges and balls in formal gardens.
However, it is such an easy plant to grow (and also deer-resistant), that I think it deserves a place in any kind of garden border.
Adequate water, 3 inches of mulch and annual pruning to keep its shape take care of its maintenance needs.
Buy Boxwood HERE.*
14 | Anise (Illicium Parviflorum)
©Arsgera – stock.adobe.comZones: 7 to 10
Light: Shade to Part Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 5′ to 15′
Spread: 5′ to 10′
Anise (Illicium parviflorum) is an evergreen native plant that produces insignificant yellow-green flowers in the spring. But it is mostly grown for the color of its foliage.
With its heat resistance, yellow-green leaves and small star-shaped fruit, this shrub is a stand out in the Southern shade garden.
It is an easy to care for bush that likes moist soil but will tolerate some drought once established.
Find out more about Anise HERE.
Buy it HERE.*
Other Plants You Might Like
- Evergreen Shrubs For Sun
- Bushes That Grow Under Trees
- How To Grow Tree Peonies
- Deer Resistant Shade Plants
Have comments or questions about these evergreen shrubs for shade? Tell us in the section below.
This post was originally published on February 12, 2021 but was updated with new content on June 20, 2022.
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Flowering Shrubs for Shade - Top Picks for the Yard & Garden
If you’re a gardener or homeowner with a lot of shade on your property, you may find yourself struggling to find plants that thrive and bloom with minimal sunlight, especially when it comes to shrubs. While there are many colorful flowering perennials and annuals for shade, there are far fewer shrubs with vivid blooms for shady conditions. Today, I’d like to introduce you to 16 flowering shrubs for shade to fill your landscape with color from early spring through fall.
There’s even a shrub for shade that blooms in the winter on this list!
Oakleaf hydrangea (
Hydrangea quercifolia)A wide-spreading, 6-foot-tall, North American native shrub for shade, oakleaf hydrangea deserves a home in every shady landscape. Even in the winter the peeling bark of the oakleaf hydrangea is deserving of our attention. The large, oak leaf-like leaves turn an amazing orange and then a deep burgundy in the autumn. Large, cone-shaped panicles of creamy white flowers are produced from the woody stems in summer. The merits of this shrub for shade cannot be stressed enough. It’s a personal favorite for its four-season interest. Hardy in garden zones down to -20 degrees F.
Japanese kerria (
Kerria japonica)Kerria is a small genus of underused flowering shrubs for shade (or sun!). The plants have bright green stems and leaves, and sunny yellow flowers.
These shrubs are very tolerant of shade and poor soil. Thin out the old stems every few years by cutting them back to the ground just after the plant flowers. Kerrias are prolific bloomers that reach a height of 6 feet. The inch-wide flowers are produced in spring. The cultivar ‘Pleniflora’ has double flowers and a taller, more vigorous growth habit.
Mountain laurel (
Kalmia latifolia)Laurels are evergreen flowering shrubs for shade that are native to the eastern U.S. The leaves are smooth-edged and glossy, dark green. The large clusters of tea cup-shaped flowers are absolutely stunning (albeit a little sticky). They appear on the plants in late spring and can be purple, pink, white, or bicolored. This woodland flowering shrub is hardy to -30 degrees F and has many different cultivars. Spreads 5 to 15 feet tall and wide, and has a rounded, yet open shape. Choose a shady location for this shrub, and make sure the soil is acidic by fertilizing with a granular, acid-specific fertilizer annually.
Slender deutzia (
Deutzia gracilis)These spring-blooming flowering shrubs for shade are deciduous and vase-shaped. They’re easy to grow in average garden soil and require very little care. Topping out at around 5 feet tall, they can be kept smaller by pruning them just after they bloom. The prolific flowers are pure white and nearly an inch wide. Each five-petaled flower lasts for several weeks. Slender deutzia is hardy to -20 degrees F. Though deutzia flowers best in areas that receive full sun, this shrub is quite tolerant of partial to moderate shade, though dense shade should be avoided. The dwarf cultivar ‘Yuki Cherry’ has pink petals for added interest.
The tubular, spring blooms of glossy abelia are a welcome sight to many spring pollinators.Glossy abelia (
Abelia x grandiflora)This semi-evergreen shrub grows between 3 to 6 feet tall and thrives in areas of full sun to moderate shade, though flowering is better where the plant receives at least a few hours of sun per day.
The arching branches produce clusters of small, but showy, tubular flowers. The blooms are white with a blush of pink. This hybrid abelia is hardy to -10 degrees F and blooms in summer. This plant flowers on new growth, so it can easily be pruned back hard and still bloom in the very same season. The variety ‘Edward Goucher’ is a shorter selection that produces larger, lavender blooms. Hummingbirds adore this plant.
Witch hazel (
Hamamelis spp.)There is nothing better than a witch hazel when it comes to surprises. Just when you think there’s nothing in bloom in the garden, the witch hazel struts its stuff! Among the only winter-flowering shrubs for shade, Vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) pops out fringe-like yellow, rust, or red-colored blooms in the dead of winter. Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis) is another winter-blooming selection, while common witch hazel (H.
virginiana) blooms in fall. Most witch hazels are hardy to -10 degrees, though some are hardier and others less so, depending on the species. Witch hazels are deciduous and easy to grow in ordinary garden soil, but moist areas are best. With a structure much like a small tree, these flowering shrubs for shade have an added bonus: the blooms of many varieties are also fragrant! Those seeking North American natives should plant common witch hazel or vernal witch hazel.
Virginia sweetspire (
Itea virginica)These North American native shade-loving shrubs bloom in summer and are hardy down to -20 degrees F. Long panicles of creamy white flowers drip from the stems in mid summer. While this shrub does well in full sun, it’s surprisingly tolerant of shade, too. The deciduous nature of the plant means there are no leaves on it during the winter, but in the fall, the foliage turns a deep red-purple that’s just stunning.
It’s perfect for moist soil. The fragrant blooms are adored by many of our native pollinators. ‘Little Henry’ is a great dwarf variety.
Oregon holly grape (
Mahonia aquifolium)The low-growing habit of these flowering shrubs for shade makes it a good fit for foundation plantings, garden beds, and shrub borders. Their evergreen leaves are compound, and the yellow, fragrant flowers are borne in long panicles. In the fall, the plant is covered in small, dark berries. Oregon holly grape prefers a shady spot that’s protected from winter winds. It reaches 6 feet in height and is hardy down to -20 degrees F.
When the pink buds of this Japanese pieris open, they’ll reveal clusters of tiny, bell-shaped, white flowers that smell sweet.Japanese pieris/Andromeda (
Pieris japonica)When I was a kid, we had a pair of Japanese pieris flanking our front walk. My mother called them “pierce-a-ponicas” which I though was their real name until I took a shrub ID class in college.
Despite my mom’s mispronunciation of the name, I grew to really love these amazing flowering shrubs for shade. They’re deer resistant, evergreen with beautiful green leaves, and very winter hardy. Large clusters of slightly fragrant, white, bell-shaped blooms extend from the ends of the branches in early spring and are a favorite of queen bumble bees and other early pollinators. The plants grow to 10 feet in height, especially in protected sites where they’re sheltered from drying winter winds. Some cultivars, such as ‘Mountain Fire‘, have vivid red new growth in the spring, while other cultivars, such as ‘Dorothy Wycoff’ and ‘Flamingo’, have pink flowers instead of white.
Sweet shrub/Carolina allspice (
Calycanthus floiridis)Oh how I love sweet shrubs! These medium sized, fragrant, gorgeous, North American native flowering shrubs for shade are so delightful.
Topping out at 8 feet in height, this deciduous shrub produces uniquely shaped, dark purple-pink blossoms along the length of its stems. Spring blooming and perfect for sites that are anywhere from partial shade to full sun, Carolina sweet shrubs do best in well-draining soils, though they’ll do just fine in average garden soil as long as they’re irrigated during dry spells. They are a great alternative to the viburnum.
Smooth hydrangea (
Hydrangea arborescens)Another North American native hydrangea for shade, the smooth hydrangea has so much to offer. With an upright but open shape and excellent winter hardiness (down to -20 degrees F), these flowering shrubs for shade produce globe-shaped clusters of creamy white blooms in high summer. Topping out around 4 feet tall, the straight species is lovely, but showier cultivars, such as ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Grandiflora’, produce larger blooms. Unlike many other hydrangea species, the flowers of smooth hydrangea are produced on new growth, so prune in the early spring and there’s no chance of cutting off the current season’s blooms.
They are low-maintenance beauties for full or part shade.
Coralberry/snowberry (
Symphoricarpus spp.)Ok, so, I’m cheating a bit here. While coralberries and snowberries are flowering shrubs for shade, they’re much better known for their berries than they are for their flowers. These hardy, deciduous shrubs are North American natives that produce fairly small, unremarkable blooms, but their berries are just lovely in the autumn and winter landscape. Some species serve as a host plant for the day-flying snowberry clearwing moth (also called the hummingbird moth). The snowberry (S. albus) grows to 4 feet and produces pink flowers followed by white fruits. It’s hardy down to -50 degrees F. The coralberry (S. orbiculatus) has white flowers followed by coral-colored fruits. Plus, the fall foliage is a lovely crimson. They make very unique hedges.
Rhodies and Azaleas
What we gardeners commonly call rhododendrons and azaleas are actually one very large genus of plants botanically classified in the genus Rhododendron. Gardeners distinguish rhododendrons from azaleas by how their flowers are produced. Azalea flowers are funnel-shaped and borne singly, while rhododendron flowers are larger and produced in clusters. All rhododendrons are evergreen, but there are both evergreen and deciduous azalea species. Regardless, both rhododendrons and azaleas are great flowering shrubs for shade. They are both attractive to early season pollinators and make beautiful statements in partial to full shade. Here are some excellent varieties of both rhodies and azaleas.
Azaleas are excellent flowering evergreen shrubs for shade.Evergreen azaleas (
Rhododendron [sub genus Tsutsusi])If you are looking for evergreen shrubs that aren’t yews, try azaleas. Most evergreen azaleas are native to Asia, but a few species are native to North America.
There are thousands of evergreen azalea species, hybrids, and cultivars – so many that it’s difficult to keep them straight. Azaleas can range in height from mini varieties that top out at just 2 feet tall, all the way up to full-sized specimens that grow to 8 feet in height. Azaleas produce a wide range of flower colors, from salmon pink and white to purple, red, and lavender. Their hardiness varies, though many are hardy to -20 degrees F. If you’re looking for a great flowering evergreen shrub for shade, azaleas are a terrific choice.
Deciduous azaleas (
Rhododendron [sub genus Pentathera])Deciduous azaleas are among my favorite flowering shrubs for shade. While their branches are bare in the winter, the clusters of tubular flowers that appear in spring are real show-stoppers. My favorite group of deciduous azaleas are the Exbury hybrids. These upright azaleas reach a height of 4 to 5 feet and produce trusses of flowers that can be red, pink, cream, orange, or yellow.
Hardy to -20 degrees F, these flowering shrubs for shade prefer well-drained soils high in organic matter. They bloom around the same time as the dogwood. The royal azalea (R. schlippenbachii) is another deciduous species that grows up to 10 feet tall, with leaves clustered at the end of the twigs and pink flowers in the spring.
Rhododendron (
Rhododendron species, hybrids, and cultivars)Rhododendrons are a large group of woody plants with broad, evergreen leaves. The bell-shaped flowers are borne in huge clusters at the ends of the stems. The showy flowers each have 5 to 10 stamens and are treasured by bigger bee species and butterflies. Rhododendrons prefer well-drained, acid soil with lots of organic matter. Use sulfur or a granular fertilizer formulated specifically for evergreens. Partial and dappled shade is best for rhododendrons; deep shade may reduce flowering. However, some species and hybrids are more tolerant of deep shade than others.
Rhododendrons may exhibit winter die-back during years of particularly cold weather or in windy areas. Larger species, such as R. catawbiense, can grow 10 feet tall, while shorter species, such as R. yakusimanum, reaches just 3 feet in height. All rhododendrons bloom in spring. Their hardiness varies, depending on the species, but most are hardy to at least -10 degrees F with many species exhibiting hardiness way beyond that.
PJM rhodies have purple leaves in the winter and produce flowers in the spring, sometimes with a second smattering of blooms in the fall.PJM Rhododendron (
Rhododendron x PJM)This group of broadleaf evergreen rhododendrons is a delightful addition to any shady garden. They’re among the hardiest of all flowering shrubs for shade, surviving easily down to -30 degrees F. PJMs grow up to 6 feet tall and wide. The bright lavender-pink flowers appear in spring, often with a smattering of reblooms in the autumn. Just like other rhododendrons, PJMs prefer acidic soil that’s well drained.
This group of hybrids produces compact growth and small, dark leaves. It’s hardier than many other rhododendron types and the foliage turns a deep purple in the winter.
A few other shade-tolerant shrubs worth including in your garden are summersweet clethra, serviceberry, camellias, aucubas, and the bottlebrush buckeye.
For more exceptional plants for your landscape, check out the following posts:
- Perennials for shade
- Annuals for the shade
- Small-stature flowering shrubs for sun
- Dwarf evergreen trees
- 3 Small flowering trees
- Compact evergreen shrubs
Do you grow any of these terrific flowering shrubs for shade? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comment section below!
Shade-loving perennial shrubs for the garden, photos and names
It happens that shaded places are found on the territory of a summer cottage or garden plot. And yet there are not so many well-lit places.
The reasons for the fact that there are many shaded places on the site can be very different. So, for example, shrubs and trees grow on it in large numbers. They, of course, give delicious fruits and berries, but they take up a lot of space and cast a rather voluminous shadow. Therefore, the plants growing under them are almost completely devoid of sunlight. However, few summer residents do not want the entire summer cottage to be beautiful and originally designed. The way out of this situation is very simple. So, in shady places, you only need to plant shade-loving perennial shrubs for the garden.
Content
- 1 How to choose shade -tolerant shrubs for the garden
- 2 Shadow -bearing flowering shrubs
- 9000 2.1 Rhododendron
- 2.2 Garden Jasmine
9000 3 Shadow Berry bushes 3,000 - 4 Shade-tolerant ornamental foliage plants
- 4.1 Forsythia
- 4.2 Euonymus
- 4.3 Mahonia
How to choose shade-tolerant shrubs for the garden
Shade-tolerant perennial shrubs are conditionally divided into 3 different groups, namely: berry, flowering, and decorative foliage.
Each of these plants has both certain pluses and minuses. And there are also such types of shrubs that not only look very impressive, but also give useful, fragrant and incredibly tasty fruits. Experienced gardeners and summer residents categorically do not recommend buying planting material in spontaneous markets, as there is a high probability that it will be of very low quality. It is best to purchase seedlings in special stores that have a good reputation. Among the various types of shrubs, the most popular and common can be distinguished.
Shade-tolerant flowering shrubs
Rhododendron
Such a shrub has a very spectacular appearance, especially during the flowering period, when it is almost completely covered with inflorescences consisting of flowers of a rich color. Its leaf blades are fleshy. Rhododendron thrives in the shading created by tall trees and shrubs, in which many other plants can simply die.
Garden jasmine
This shrub is very popular with gardeners and summer residents.
Such a very beautiful plant will be an excellent decoration for almost any site. Jasmine looks especially impressive in the process of flowering. At this time, its branches are covered with snow-white lush inflorescences, from which a very pleasant and rather strong smell emanates. An important advantage of such a shrub is its undemanding to the place of growth, as well as to the quality of the soil. Garden jasmine can adapt to absolutely any growing conditions. So, he perfectly withstands dry periods, and he is also not afraid of quite frosty winters. However, in order for your site to be decorated with a compact and neat bush, it will need to be cut systematically and often enough.
Shade-tolerant berry bushes
Such perennial plants are suitable for those gardeners and summer residents who want the plants grown by them to be not only very beautiful, but also bring certain benefits.
Barberry
This shrub is quite popular in Eastern countries.
It is fast growing and frost resistant. It is quite easy to care for him, and he also tolerates a dry period perfectly. Such a shrub has small, very beautiful leaf plates, which in the fall change their green color to rich burgundy. The barberry grows berries with high palatability. They are used in cooking to prepare a variety of dishes.
Gooseberry
It can grow both in sunny and shaded places. And such a shrub needs to be watered quite rarely and moderately, while it can withstand a dry period. Very tasty berries grow on the plant, which are often used to make jam.
Hazel
This plant prefers to grow only on non-acid soil. If the soil is acidic, then it is recommended to add sand to it. Quite tasty nuts grow on hazel.
Shade-tolerant ornamental foliage plants
This group includes many plants. Here is some of them.
Forsythia
This plant has spectacular leaves of rich lemon color. It can be planted both together with other shrubs, and singly.
It is frost- and drought-resistant, and also unpretentious in care.
Euonymus
This shrub grows very fast and does not require special care. In winter, it also looks quite impressive. Leaves of saturated color will certainly bring zest and a peculiar charm to your garden.
Magonia
This evergreen shrub loves moisture. With systematic watering, it will become very lush and even be able to bloom.
These shade-tolerant shrubs make a wonderful addition to any yard.
What plants to plant in a shady area
Watch this video on YouTube
which coniferous plants grow in the shade?
Shaded areas can be effectively used by planting them with fruit and ornamental plants. Various shade-loving shrubs for the garden will be a real find. They will decorate the territory with lush foliage and flowers, divide it into zones, and also delight with generous harvests of juicy berries.
9Ol000 all
Features of garden species
Recommended
Some shrubs feel comfortable in the shade. In a darkened area, they have a bright color, long and densely bloom. In conditions of abundance of light, shade-loving plants are not entirely comfortable. Their delicate leaves can burn in direct sunlight. Unprotected places for shade-loving species are not suitable. However, such plants need light. The constant deep shade under the northern wall of the house will be a difficult test for them. The best option is diffused light under the canopy of trees.
Unlike shade-tolerant species, shade-tolerant shrubs prefer areas that receive direct sunlight. But they do quite well in dark areas. Under the shade of trees, they may have less vibrant colors and fewer flowers.
Since most shade-loving shrubs naturally live in the forest, it is necessary to prepare the appropriate soil for them. It should be fertile and neutral in acidity.
These conditions are suitable for most species. Although there are some shade-tolerant shrubs that prefer acidic soil. When the earth meets the requirements of the plant, it will be lush and bright. If you choose a plant that grows well in this region, you will not need to create special conditions for it.
To plant a shade-loving shrub, you need to choose a free area so that the plant is not crowded. Undersized specimens are best placed on a hill, this is done to strengthen and decorate the embankments. Their shape, height and flowering is regulated by pruning.
Between trees, the soil can dry out a lot, as tree crowns cover it from rain. If the space around the bushes is filled with creeping shade-tolerant plants, the drying of the soil can be prevented.
High views are suitable for zoning the garden, disguising unattractive buildings and furnishing cozy places to relax.
Garden shrubs can be planted in multi-stage cascades with higher views at the back and low views at the front.
Alley planting looks beautiful when the plants are planted at an equal distance from each other in 1 or 2 rows.
Usually seedlings are sold with a closed root system, so they can be planted in the ground at any time. But the rest period is optimal - late autumn or early spring.
Barberry and blackberry
Red elderberry is perfect for planting in a shady area of the garden. It is not demanding on the soil and can grow in almost any soil, even with excess moisture. In May or June, the elderberry is covered with small white flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm in size. During this period, it looks very impressive. From the end of July, red berries begin to appear on the plant. The fruits of the shrub are eaten and used for medicinal purposes. Red elderberry has the ability to repel mice. For her, it is better to choose a place protected from the wind. Decoctions are prepared from young shoots and flowers of the shrub to protect plants from pests.
The barberry planted on the garden plot will become a source of valuable and tasty sour berries. The plant has a wonderful color of the leaves. Depending on the variety, it is yellow, purple, purple, green, variegated and with edging around the edges. This is a suitable plant for creating garden compositions (mixborders) and a single planting. It can be planted on the slopes and on the banks of reservoirs. A beautiful hedge is formed from the barberry. Due to the abundance of small spines, it will become impenetrable to animals. From dwarf varieties of barberry, you can create a magnificent border fence. The shrub lends itself well to artistic curly (topiary) haircuts. From it form balls, pyramids and other figures. This shade-tolerant plant is drought tolerant and wind tolerant, but does not like standing water in the soil.
Sprawling gooseberry bushes feel great under the crowns of trees. They calmly tolerate the drying of the soil and are resistant to weather conditions.
Fruiting steadily. Ripe gooseberries are red in color. Their scattering colorfully stands out against a green background. An excellent amber jam is prepared from the fruits.
Blackberries can be planted in the garden. This melliferous plant in August is covered with raspberry-like black berries. They have a great sour taste. The branches of the shrub can reach a height of 2 meters, so it must be planted at a distance of at least 2 meters from other plants.
In a garden plot in the shade of trees, hazel will easily take root. The shrub is unpretentious and with minimal care will regularly produce generous harvests of hazelnuts. Cultivated varieties can have different leaf colors and decorate the garden.
Ornamental crops
The bright color of the leaves and flowers of the shrub will transform a gloomy garden area covered with shade.
Few plants can compare with the beauty and abundance of flowering with rhododendron.
They are literally buried in flowers from June to July. The shrub has beautiful glossy dark green foliage. The color of flowers, reaching a diameter of 3.5-4 cm, can be very different. The plant does not like wet soil and is intolerant of winds. For rhododendron, neutral ground must be acidified with special peat. The shrub calmly tolerates early spring and late autumn frosts. But for the winter, most varieties should be covered.
Luxurious hydrangea attracts attention with the size of the inflorescence caps. Lush and openwork balls reach 25 cm in diameter. Hydrangea blooms from July to September, when other shrubs have already faded. Looks great alone or in composition with evergreen ornamental shrubs. The plant loves abundant watering, especially during the dry season. Not all varieties of hydrangea easily endure winter. Therefore, it is advisable to plant them closer to the buildings. Tree hydrangeas can withstand the harshest winter and deep shade. Ornamental shrubs for the garden are best planted on lawns, near terraces and garden arbors, at the entrance to the house or in the front garden.
Dogwood blossoms in early spring, in mid-March or early April, when there are no leaves on the trees yet. For a whole month, he will delight you with many lush pink or golden yellow flowers, densely covering the crown. Flowering dogwood looks amazing. Its early flowers attract many insects. This is an early honey plant. All summer, the shrub decorates the garden with emerald foliage, and by autumn it is covered with scarlet berries. They make wonderful jams and compotes. Dogwood is undemanding to growing conditions and is practically not susceptible to diseases. But for the winter it is recommended to cover it.
In spring, the garden will be decorated with golden large inflorescences of magnificent mahonia. Its flowers look great against the backdrop of shiny dark green leaves. By the end of summer, the bush is covered with purple berries that look like grapes. Mahonia is easy to care for. The plant tolerates pruning very well. So that the bushes are thick and do not stretch upwards, they are cut after flowering.
Magonia is resistant to pests. Shrubs for the garden are used in the design of rocky slides, borders and undersized compositions. Magonia looks beautiful as a single plant.
Evergreen species
Shade-loving evergreen shrubs will decorate the garden all year round. They create hedges, borders, backstage, ornamental stripes (arabesques) and even garden figures.
Berry yew does not require careful maintenance. It is frost and wind resistant. Grows in poor soils and easily tolerates drought. A variety of shapes are formed from the shrub, they create a hedge. It looks good in a group and as a single plant. Yew berry does not tolerate excess moisture in the soil.
Holly holly looks like a real Christmas tree. During the winter holidays, it can be dressed up and turned into a Christmas tree. Viable plant easily takes root on different soils. During drought, it should be watered abundantly. It can grow even in deep shade. The branches of the shrub grow slowly and very densely.
The plant is formed after the fruiting period. If you plan to collect fruits, then you need to plant several plants, as the shrub needs cross-pollination. Holly reaches its peak of beauty in late autumn. In winter, it is covered with green leaves and blood-red fruits.
Boxwood is a popular garden plant. It must be planted in places protected from the wind. The shrub is especially vulnerable to spring winds. Boxwood is resistant to heat and grows on any soil. If the soil is poor, then the bush will grow small, but very dense. Figures, borders and hedges are formed from boxwood. It is recommended to cover the plant for the winter. For spherical shapes, special boxes made of wood or plastic with holes are used. Hedges and borders can be covered with cloth. Bushes for the winter should be tied up so that they do not break under the weight of snow. With the onset of heat, the insulation must be quickly removed so that the boxwood does not rot and get sick.
Calmia is a favorite garden shrub in the US, Canada and European countries.
The evergreen leaves of Calmia resemble bay leaves. The shrub blooms beautifully with large inflorescences of pale pink and white flowers. Calmia is drought tolerant but needs to be watered frequently during hot weather. She needs acidic soil.
How to choose a shrub
It is recommended to give preference to disease-resistant and unpretentious plants that do not require special care. Many species require regular pruning to control shape and size. If you do not want to do pruning, it is better to choose a plant that does not require it. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the maximum height of the variety so that the plant does not grow beyond the boundaries allocated for it.
The shrub must be adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions and soil. Under inappropriate conditions, the plant will be weak or die.
It is advisable to choose a plant that will decorate the garden all year round. The most suitable option would be an evergreen plant.
Among deciduous shrubs, those that bloom profusely all summer, have attractive flowers, beautiful and tasty berries, and have a fragrant aroma, are especially popular. Such shrubs need to form a beautiful crown so that it looks aesthetically pleasing in winter.
Conifers and junipers
In addition to shrubs, coniferous plants can be used for the garden. Thuja is one of the most beloved plants of landscape designers. Interesting architectural forms are created from its crown. It is planted to create alleys and hedges. Dwarf types of thuja look better. Rounded dwarf shrub Danica grows very slowly. It is great for small garden areas.
Juniper can grow in the shade of trees. The plant will fill the garden plot with an amazing aroma that has healing properties. The horizontal juniper, creeping along the ground, looks interesting. It is planted to decorate alpine slides.
Gray spruce looks very romantic.
