Small shade loving shrub


30 Low-Maintenance Shrubs for Shade

By

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

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Updated on 09/09/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

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Fact checked by

Sarah Scott

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.

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The Spruce / Catherine Song

Shrubs that grow in shade can add color and cheer to drab nooks as well as canopy-covered areas of your property. Ranging from short bushes to tall hedges, shade-loving shrubbery includes both evergreen and deciduous plants.

Some shade-tolerant shrubs produce beautiful blossoms, while others are famous for their attractive foliage. Many offer year-round appeal, making them perfect for shady yards where sun-loving plants simply cannot thrive.

Learn about 30 low-maintenance shrubs that will spruce up shaded areas of your lawn and garden without a lot of effort.

Low-Maintenance Shrubs for Shade

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. A Dangerous Garden Thug Exposed: Daphne Laureola. Master Gardeners Association of British Columbia.

  2. Labossiere Alexander W., Thompson Dennis F. Clinical Toxicology of Yew Poisoning. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 591-599, 2018. doi:10.1177/1060028017754225

  3. Amelanchier alnifolia. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  4. Hamamelis virginiana. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas.

  5. Red Buckeye. University of Kentucky, Department of Horticulture.

  6. Japanese Skimmia. Washington State University Extension PNW Plants.

29 Best Shrubs for Shade Gardens

By

Vanessa Richins Myers

Vanessa Richins Myers

Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 06/15/22

The Spruce

It can be tough designing a garden in a shady area. You have to make sure you choose the right shrubs for the conditions. Without the proper amount of sun, flowering shrubs may fail to produce blossoms or bloom poorly, and many shrubs will perform poorly overall. Deep shade can even kill your plants unless they are species that naturally grow in shade. The following plants are able to grow in at least part shade, and some can handle full shade.

Warning

Many shrubs that grow in shade are toxic, including:

How to Design a Garden for Partial Shade

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Ribes alpinum. Missouri Botanical Garden

  2. Aucuba japonica. North Carolina State University Extension

  3. Rhododendron. Missouri Botanical Garden

  4. Forrester, M B. Pediatric Nandina domestica ingestions reported to poison centers. Human & experimental toxicology vol. 37,4 (2018): 338-342. doi:10.1177/0960327117705429

  5. Hydrangea blooms turn colors based on soil pH levels. College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, UGA Cooperative Extension

  6. Pieris japonica. North Carolina State University Extension

  7. Idaho Panhandle National Forests - Learning Center.

  8. Aesculus pavia. North Carolina State University Extension

  9. Skimmia japonica. Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Horticulture

  10. Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia. California Native Plant Society, Calscape

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

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 poor 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 are 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

Shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants for the garden: perennial flowers and shrubs

corners of the suburban area. As a rule, most are faced with the problem of choosing a plant for planting in shady places that you really want to decorate with beautiful flowers or shrubs, because such areas often remain empty and neglected.

Let's talk about those shade-tolerant plants that can grow normally in the most shady areas of the garden.

Contents

What to plant in a shady place or which plants are shade-tolerant

A shady place is an area where sunlight does not reach more than 3 hours a day, and the rest of the time there is deep shade.

Every garden has shaded areas, these can be northern slopes, places near the fence or between large trees.

In fact, the most shady places in the garden are the best places, because, as a rule, there is a favorite bench for relaxing on a hot summer day. However, not every plant will be able to withstand the shade, grow successfully and delight the eye with its flowering.

Shade-loving plants are those plants that, no matter how strange it sounds, do not tolerate sunlight at all or suffer from its excess.

However! Still it is more correct to speak of "shade-tolerant plants" , since not a single plant can grow without light.

As a rule, they have bright juicy and green foliage.

All shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants can be divided into 2 varieties: decorative leafy and flowering.

Tip! When you plant a shady area, don't just plant monocultures, shade-loving perennials and annuals look great in close proximity.

Popular shade shrubs
Thunberg barberry

From shrubs for shady places, Thunberg barberry is ideal. In deep shade you will hardly get bright yellows and reds, and most likely it will just be a uniform green, but nevertheless, it is still a very conspicuous shade-tolerant plant.

By the way! Read about planting and growing barberry here.

Euonymus

Another small and shade-tolerant shrub is euonymus . Its variegated and low form looks very good in the garden.

Privet

A low shrub Privet will be quite noticeable under the shade of trees. Its lemon-colored leaves seem to illuminate a shady spot.

Weigela

However, different varieties relate differently to the shade - there are more shade-tolerant, there are less.

By the way! You can read more about planting and growing weigela here .

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster will look very decorative in a shady corner. It has beautiful dark green leathery and shiny leaves. Again, varieties differ markedly in shade tolerance.

Honeysuckle

Imagine how pleasant it will be to sit in a gazebo that is entwined with ornamental honeysuckle (Honeysuckle or Tatar honeysuckle) with its magnificent flowers.

Kalina Buldenezh

By the way, decorative viburnum Buldenezh (Snowball) is also shade-tolerant.

By the way! The site already has detailed material about planting and growing viburnum Buldenezh .

Popular annual and perennial shade tolerant flowers

Favorites among flowers for a shady garden will be mattiola bicorne, daisy , forget-me-not , fragrant tobacco , evening primrose.

Fragrant tobacco

If we talk about seasonal and annual shade-loving plants, then under the trees, where there is a lot of shade, in spring you can safely plant daffodils , crocuses , tulips and hyacinths1, because they will bloom in all their beauty long before the leaves appear on the trees.

Brief descriptions of the most popular shade-tolerant and shade-loving perennials: shrubs and flowers She has the most diverse color of leaves, ranging from gray to yellow-green, there are even leaves with a white border.

Please note! The site already has article about planting and growing Hosta .

It is very appropriate to combine hosta with a wide variety of ferns, planting them in the shade of a house where everything is in order with humidity (it is high).

Video: Care and Growing Shade Hosta

Astilba

This is a quirky plant that thrives in shade and grows well in moist soil.

Important! Read more about planting and growing astilba outdoors .

Video: Growing and caring for Shade Astilba

Astilboides

The most striking feature of this plant is its original large leaves. Its leaf can reach from 80 to 100 centimeters in diameter.

Another distinguishing feature of astilboides is that the stalk is not usually attached to it: it grows directly from the middle of the leaf. In other words, it turns out such an umbrella on the leg.

This luxurious and showy plant likes to grow near swampy rivers, it is best suited for decorating artificial ponds.

Buzulnik

There are a lot of varieties of buzulniks. Those that grow naturally have dark green leaves and irresistible yellow buds.

Buzulniks, bred artificially, often have dark brown, even actually burgundy foliage and unusual, similar to daisies, yellow peduncles that can last for a whole month.

Badan

This is a completely unique plant, perfect for shade planting. In winter it leaves in a green state and after winter it again appears green to the eye. The fact is that under the snow the bergenia does not shed its leaves and does not die, but remains green all the time.

The flowers of this plant are unpretentious and modest, but very cute.

Another interesting property of bergenia is that its old leaves, which turn dark or brown, have special healing properties. In Tibet, they are brewed as a rejuvenating tea.

Video: unpretentious and shade-tolerant bergenia

Brunner (Forget-me-not)

Indispensable for decorating a small shady area.

In addition to the beautiful leaves of impressive coloring (variegated and green with a silvery cobweb), it also blooms angelically charming - small blue forget-me-nots.

You can look at her for hours, she is so airy and beautiful. It's just impossible to look away!

Video: planting and caring for a shade-loving plant Brunnera large-leaved

Volzhanka (Aruncus)

It remarkably withstands partial shade, but blooms a little less abundantly in deep shade. And still, the unpretentious Volzhanka blooms its inflorescences again and again!

Video: unpretentious Volzhanka for planting and flowering in the shade0047

Heuchera looks absolutely wonderful, which won the hearts of many gardeners. The number of leaf colors is surprisingly rich: from lilac-steel to bright red and green.

The sizes are also quite diverse: from miniature forms to quite tall specimens.

This is an absolutely unpretentious plant that does not require special attention, grows beautifully and does not lose its decorative effect from May to October.

Important! Read more about planting and growing Heuchera outdoors .

In addition, geuchera is very winter-hardy and tolerates the first autumn frosts very well, leaving under the snow with leaves covered with hoarfrost.

And in the month of May, geyhers start very quickly and gain their color due to amazingly beautiful foliage.

It blooms amazingly beautifully, flower stalks rise high enough above the plant and last quite a long time.

In the recent past, botanists crossed geuchera and tiarella and got a new variety of geucherella. The plant has become even more resistant to the preservation of colorfulness, and the color range is much wider.

Video: everything about growing shade-loving geyhera

Dicentra (Broken heart)

It can grow both in open and sunny areas, and in shaded areas. However, in the sun, the buds open and bloom early, and the peduncles do not differ in particular size and splendor. In shady places, the color picks up more slowly, but the flowers are brighter, larger and give pleasure with their wonderful appearance until July-August. Therefore, it will be good to plant a dicenter, for example, closer to the gazebo or house, the shadow of which will fall on the plant for most of the day.

It will also look good near the fence.

Please note! Read more about planting and growing dicentra from rhizomes and seeds outdoors .

Video: how to grow a dicentra or a broken heart in a shady garden If you see him, then most likely you will just fall in love.

At the end of the summer, it usually throws out a peduncle - a long panicle with silvery flowers. The spectacle is impressive! It is simply impossible to pass by without stopping.

Another important advantage of this shade-tolerant perennial is the fact that it can grow in the same place for quite a long time.

Kupena

This flower is not widely used in our summer cottages, but nevertheless it is a very friendly plant, which, like no other, is suitable for the shady side of the summer cottage.

Its coloration can vary from dark green to variegated, when the green leaf is bordered by white stripes along the edge.

Delicate white and pink flowers all over the stem, resembling something like a lily of the valley - this is a very pleasant sight.

The plant grows quite quickly, so if you need to fill the shady space under fruit trees or plant in the shade next to conifers, then kupena deserves your attention.

Fern

Another shadow king is the fern. Of course, he does not give flowers, no matter how much we want and do not expect, but he has amazing foliage, which comes in various colors, different sizes and shapes. He lives best in a damp shady corner.

We are accustomed to the fact that the fern is always dark green, but now we have developed varieties with a dark brown color, lilac centers and silver leaf edges.

If you plant a fern in the shade of your garden house or in another shady place, it will take all your attention and the attention of your garden guests.

Video: fern care and growing in the shade under the crown of trees

Rogersia

Many flower growers call her the queen of the shady garden, which grows to a height of 1.5 meters.

Thanks to its magnificent large leaves, Rogersia is very picturesque throughout the season.

Fluffy and fragrant white, pink or cream-colored panicle inflorescences bloom in early July and can last for more than a month.

Shaded area design idea! Plant such tall and shade-loving plants as buzulniks, black cohosh and ferns in the background, make the second tier from the host, and on the lower plan - geyhera and geyherella.


Learn more