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Trees that love shade


11 Best Trees That Grow in Shade for Years

Minimal Sunlight Species for Every Zone

By

Vanessa Richins Myers

Vanessa Richins Myers

Vanessa Richins Myers is a seasoned horticulturist, writer, and educator with over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture, with an emphasis in landscape design and urban horticulture. She volunteers as a community garden specialist.

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Updated on 08/30/22

The Spruce

Finding a tree to grow in full shade can be a bit tricky. Most plants crave as much sun as they can get during the day so that their leaves can perform photosynthesis. 

There are, however, some that have adapted well enough to tolerate less light. While you may not get optimal height, flowering, or fruiting, the tree will at least be able to grow there. You also need to carefully consider any plants you place underneath these trees. The leaf canopy will only deepen the shade, so choose accompanying plants like hostas and impatiens that can grow in full shade. The trees below are either deciduous (annual leaf shedding) or evergreen (retains green leaves year-round):

Deciduous:

Evergreen:

Here is more information about the 11 trees which are suitable for planting in full shade locations.

10 Tips for Planting Under Trees

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. Fagus grandifolia. USDA.

  2. Deekshitulu, Balaji. Mental Health for Flower Remedies. International Journal of Philosophical Research, 1:3, 2019. doi:10.28933/IJOPR

Best trees for shade: 9 top growers for shady spots

(Image credit: Kay Ringwood/Alamy Stock Photo)

Opting for the best trees for shade is essential if your backyard or garden is overshadowed by tall buildings or lofty neighboring hedging or fences. 

Not all shady spots are the same, however, so before investing in a tree, work out what kind of shade you have in your plot. In gardening terms, this is usually described as light shade, partial or semi shade, dappled shade, moderate shade or deep shade. Moderate shade is usually seen as a spot which receives light for two to three hours a day, while deep shade is defined by an area that gets less than two hours of direct sun every day.  

There are trees which will grow in all of these conditions of course, especially if you take a few simple measures to compensate for the lack of light. Trees growing in partial, medium or dappled shade will benefit from extra watering, and the addition of a thick mulch of compost to lock moisture into the soil.

Some trees tolerate shady conditions, but they might flower less, or potentially, in the case of certain deciduous trees, their spring or fall foliage could be less vibrant than ones which receive plenty of light. That’s no reason to avoid planting a tree, however, because they have so many advantages. Even the best trees for small gardens can work in a shady spot and will add some structure and height to a garden, plus they can help to filter out noise and air pollution and provide pollen and insects for wildlife. 

Add interest to tricky spots with the best trees for shade

The key to success when choosing the best trees for shade is to make sure you select the right tree for your spot. Our top picks for shady areas will help you find the optimum one for your plot. 

1. Portuguese Laurel

(Image credit: Peter Wheeler/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: partial shade
As a general rule, flowering trees usually need some sun to thrive, but the Portuguese Laurel (prunus lusitanica) is one of the best trees for shade as it will happily grow in a shady corner. 

It has neat, glossy evergreen leaves that are quite dense, so it can be a good option if you're also searching for the best trees for privacy. It also has delicate small, creamy white flowers from April to May that are a hit with pollinators, plus it is deer resistant and only requires a light trim once a year to keep it in shape. 

In terms of growth rate, you can expect it to increase by around 30-50cm per year, reaching an eventual height of up to 12m, but trimming it regularly can keep this height in check. It will grow best in moist, well drained soil. 

2.

Flowering dogwood

(Image credit: Cindy Hopkins/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: light shade
Cornus or dogwood trees are one of the best low maintenance trees for your plot. They have have masses of pretty flowers followed by ornamental berries and will light up a partly shady area. They can cope with all kinds of soil types too. 

For a variety which has a thick covering of white flowers, try Cornus kousa chinensis ‘Schmetterling’. For pink blooms, choose ‘Cherokee Daybreak.’ 

The dogwood is often a top pick for garden designers. It’s also one of the USA’s most popular ornamental trees, and it’s a familiar sight in many UK gardens, too. 

3. American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

(Image credit: Archive PL/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: heavy shade
An attractive deciduous tree, also known as the blue beech or ironwood, it has bright green leaves in spring and summer, and prettiest fall shades of orange, red and yellow.  

It's one of the best trees for shade as it's native to forests in the eastern half of the USA and southern Canada, where it typically grows in the understory. Thanks to this, it means means it can cope very well with dense shade in most gardens. 

4. Japanese Maple (acer)

(Image credit: Gina Kelly/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: dappled shade
Colorful Japanese maples are an asset to the garden, with extremely attractive shapes and foliage color. Some are very suitable for small plots, making them one of the best trees for front yards. 

According to garden designer David Chanell Arlo & Bloom 'acers grow best in dappled shade, but you can still use them in darker spaces. The noticeable differences being that red varieties will adopt a greener tinge. Fall colors will not be greatly affected, but the vibrancy of their spring colour can be reduced.'

There are lots more tips on how to grow acers in our guide. 

5. Allegheny serviceberry

(Image credit: Tim Gainey/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: heavy shade
Here is a tree which actively prefers deep shade, and has the added bonus of masses of white spring flowers to lighten up the darkness. A medium sized, multi-stem tree, it is native to the eastern US and Canada. 

The white spring blossom is followed by juicy purple black berries, and during the fall, the leaves turn scarlet and yellow. This tree cannot cope with full sun, so choose a part or fully-shaded spot with well-drained soil. Hardy to zones 8-10.

6. Irish Yew (Taxus baccata fastigiata)

(Image credit: Hervé Lenain/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: heavy shade
This dense, upright tree has an elegant column shape and dark green needle-like leaves. It is compact, and therefore suitable for small gardens. The female plants have red berries in the autumn. The golden version, Taxus baccata fastigiata ‘Aurea’, would lighten up a gloomy garden corner.  

It's important to note that this plant is toxic, so it's best to avoid this tree if you have young children or pets as it can be one of the most poisonous plants for dogs. 

7. Eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis)

(Image credit: Irin Afonskaya/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: partial shade
There’s nothing like blossom to brighten up a dark area in the garden, and this medium sized tree, also known as the Judas Tree, has plenty of it.  

One of the best flowering trees, it has pale pink flowers that burst out of the bare stems in mid-spring, and heart-shaped dark green leaves develop later. It’s a deciduous tree, but it will provide wonderful yellow colors in the fall. There is also a white flowered version, called Cercis canadensis var.alba. 

This tree is native to the US, where it is hardy to most zones, and it’s popular in the UK too. Plant in moist but well-drained soil. 

8. Katsura Tree (cercidiphyllum japonicum)

(Image credit: Autumn season/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: partial shade/dappled shade
If you're after one of the best trees for shade that also offers plenty of stunning seasonal color, this is a great option to consider. 

The leaves of this large deciduous tree don’t just look stunning in the fall, with orange, pink and yellow colours, they also smell like spun candy, which gives rise to the common name, ‘candyfloss tree.’ 

The foliage is pretty in spring, too, with coppery pink hues, changing to mid-green in summer.  

The ideal setting for the candyfloss tree is a sheltered woodland area, and it’s one for large gardens owing to its ultimate size of 39ft (12m) or more, with a spread of 26ft (8m). 

9. Variegated holly (ilex aquifolium)

(Image credit: Avalon Red/Alamy Stock Photo)

Best for: partial shade
One of the best plants with winter berries, evergreen holly with marbled leaves can bring year-round light and interest to a sombre site. Plants are male or female, and generally, the females produce the attractive scarlet berries when they are fertilized by pollen from a male plant. To ensure winter berries, it’s advisable to plant one male tree and one female (although some plant companies do now sell pairs in one pot). 

Holly ‘Golden King’ has spineless green leaves with a gold rim, and ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’ has spiny foliage with silvery cream edges but there are lots of different ones to choose from. 

Hollies will grow well in partial shade, preferably with moist, well-drained soil. Deeper shade may cause the leaf coloration to be less defined.

Garden designer David Chanell of Arlo and Bloom names Japanese maples, or acers, as his best tree for shady spots. 

'When working with an area cast in shade I always turn to Japanese maples (acers),' he says. 'They have such an extraordinary range of color and texture and can become a focal point in any garden.'

David’s favorite varieties are acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ for its vivid pink winter stems, ‘Seiryu’ as the only upright dissectum variety and acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ for its tight and compact leaf form.  

If you're short on space, acers are also one of the best trees to grow in pots. 

Acer Palmatum 'Sango-Kaku'

(Image credit: Leonie Lambert/Alamy Stock Photo)

Which trees will grow best in heavy shade? 

Heavy or dense shade typically receives less than two hours of direct sunlight every day. If you have dense shade in your garden, try planting an American hornbeam, an Allegheny serviceberry (amelanchier laevis) or the Irish yew tree (although this last one is toxic, so not suitable for family gardens where pets and young children roam).  

An experienced freelance journalist, editor and columnist writing for national magazines and websites, Fiona now specialises in gardens. She enjoys finding and writing about all kinds, from the tiniest town plots to impressively designed ones in grand country houses. 

WHAT TO PLANT IN THE SHADOW?

Often the owners of a suburban area face a difficult task - how to equip shady places? There are dark corners in all areas, they can be on the north side of the house or fence, under large mature trees with dense foliage and a low crown. This issue is especially acute if your house is located in a forest area. There are already several hundred mature huge trees on the site, but their crowns are very high, and walking on the ground, you can only see long bare trunks. In addition, so little sunlight penetrates under the forest canopy that most ornamental plants cannot live here. nine0003

The very definition of a shadow can also raise questions. There are places where not a single direct ray of the sun penetrates all day. For example, a narrow strip between a house and a high fence, or a place under dense trees. But there is also diffused light, which plants also use. Therefore, if there is an open sky above them, then the situation is not very bad - such a place can be considered penumbra. Also, if part of the day the territory is still illuminated by the sun, this is also partial shade.

What can be planted in the shade? For shady places there is a special assortment of plants. These are shade-tolerant species that have adapted to live in conditions of lack of light. There are much fewer of them than light-loving ones, but quite enough to make very beautiful compositions. Of course, in the forest it is desirable to adhere to the natural natural style. Alley plantings, sheared plants and strict symmetrical groups will not work here. And in the open, you can show your creativity in a much wider framework, so long as your garden is combined in style with the house, it is comfortable and beautiful. nine0003

Of the coniferous plants, the following species and their decorative forms are shade-tolerant: balsam fir, Canadian hemlock, yews - spiky and medium. The berry yew does not tolerate the Moscow winter; only its undersized forms can be planted and covered with spruce branches.

Among deciduous trees and shrubs, these are those for which the native home is a shady forest. These are elderberry (it is also called red elderberry), common honeysuckle, hazel, mountain ash, alpine currant, white snowberry, Holly Magonia and others. Euonymus (European and winged) will blaze in your garden in autumn with all shades of red. nine0003

When choosing plants, pay special attention to the autumn composition, do not spare colors, use green, yellow, red, orange, purple, make your site bright. And then, the view from the window will be breathtaking, and if you go out for a walk in the autumn garden, you will feel like you are in a fairy tale.

On forest edges and clearings, you can plant plants that are suitable for partial shade, which need to be protected from too bright sun and wind. Rhododendrons will feel good here. These plants are very popular among the owners of suburban areas, and they deserve it. Rhododendrons require special care, planting in specially prepared acidic soil, a location protected from the wind and shelter for the winter is desirable for them. But all these worries do not frighten gardeners, because the flowering of rhododendrons in May and early summer is a spectacle that leaves no one indifferent. nine0003

In nature, there are about 1300 wild species and a huge variety of varieties of rhododendrons. Among them are evergreen with dark shiny leaves and deciduous, which delight with bright autumn color. The height and diameter of the crown is from 0.5 m in the lowest varieties to 3-4 m. The color of the flowers is very different: pure white, yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, purple ... Very few species can grow in the Moscow region and varieties of rhododendrons, so the selection of the assortment should be approached with all responsibility. Rhododendrons require acidic soil and shelter from the wind. Used as ordinaries, in groups, hedges, borders, rock gardens. nine0003

Tatar honeysuckle, field maple, sweet raspberry are also suitable for decorating semi-shady places. If this is the southern edge of the forest, then light-loving plants can also be planted here.

Do not give up on shade-tolerant vines, decorate them with a monotonous fence, pergola, arbor or bare tree trunks, if your site is located in the forest. For this, for example, acute actinidia, actinidia kolomikta, girlish five-leaf grapes, petiolate hydrangea are suitable.

When choosing a range of plants for your future garden, consult with experts about the winter hardiness of certain species. A very important stage is the acquisition of planting material. Ideally, the plant should have a label indicating the Russian and necessarily Latin name, manufacturer, supplier, their coordinates. Of course, this is not always the case, so the choice and purchase of planting material is also best done together with a professional. nine0003

We have already written that it is not recommended to arrange a lawn in the forest. And not only because of the inconsistency with his "forest style", but also because lawn grasses do not develop well in the shade. Of course, the latter applies to all shady areas. Therefore, use various shade-tolerant herbs here: ferns, European hoof, lungwort, variegated goutweed, snowdrops, strawberries, and lilies of the valley, Volzhanka, bergenia, astilbe, hosts. From shade-tolerant ground cover plants, plant creeping tenacity, monetized loosestrife, periwinkle. These plants cover the entire surface of the soil in a few years. In the meantime, they are small, help them, do not let the soil dry out, feed and remove weeds. This, of course, requires a lot of work and a lot of patience, but the result will be worth it! nine0003

cand. biol. Sciences Svetlana Chizhova

8 trees that can grow in full shade. Names, descriptions, photos - Botanichka

Strongly shaded places are found in almost any landscape - whether it is the area on the north side of the house or, for example, under a massive oak tree in the far corner of the garden. Often there are also forested areas where large oaks, birches, pines or other tall trees grow. But even in such situations, you should not let the forest dominate the garden, because smaller trees with beautiful flowers and spectacular foliage can still be planted under them. This will just require breeds that can grow normally in the shade. Some species in heavily shaded conditions may not reach their optimal height and not show abundant flowering or fruiting, but at least they will not wither and die there. nine0003 8 trees that can grow in full shade

"Shadow" is a relative concept

First, let's look at what levels of illumination exist from the point of view of plant farming. The terms that are used to describe the sunlight requirements of a particular crop quickly become familiar to anyone who works with plants, as they are usually listed on the label that comes with the seedling.

They include:

Full sun . For a place to be considered fully sunny, the plant placed on it must receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day, with maximum illumination between 10 am and 4 pm. nine0003

Full sun to partial shade . This suggests that the plant can withstand a wider range of conditions. And it will be able to grow both in full sun and in partial shading (see next paragraph).

Partial shade/partial sun/partial shade . These terms are used interchangeably to refer to the need for four to six hours of sun exposure daily. It is preferable that the most intense lighting was in the cooler morning hours. nine0003

Mottled shade . Dappled sunlight is similar to partial shade, such lighting is obtained when sunlight penetrates through the branches and foliage of deciduous trees.

Full shadow . This term does not mean that there is no sun at all in such places, because very few plants can tolerate a truly complete absence of sunlight. And plants that can grow in full shade are those that can survive four hours in full sunlight (mostly in the morning or late afternoon). Full shade is also called the conditions when the plant stays during the day in spots of sunlight, that is, diffused sunlight. nine0003

Important! Thus, when choosing a plant for shady conditions, it should be understood that the term "full shade" does not mean the absolute absence of light (in such conditions, only mushrooms can grow). This only indicates the need for minimal lighting, which the plant will be content with to maintain its vital functions.

Not all trees suitable for shady areas have the same light requirements. And each tree species has its own range of shade tolerance. Also, remember that not all shade-tolerant trees are truly shade-loving trees. Many breeds simply have the ability to survive in the shade, but may lose some of their decorative features. nine0003

For example, individual trees that bloom profusely in the sun may produce much fewer flowers in the shade. And deciduous trees, which when grown in the sun show a very bright decorative autumn color, in the shade in autumn, can give out faded, inconspicuous shades of foliage.

1. Sugar maple

Sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ) is best known for its fall color as its foliage turns brilliant scarlet in autumn. This type of maple is also considered the best tree for extracting the juice used to make maple syrup. This is a beautiful tree for landscape design, in the summer it has carved bright green leaves with a palmately dissected shape. Other species names - stone maple and hard maple . It is used in urban landscaping, as well as in large gardens, as it grows quite tall.

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum). © F. D. Richards

2. Eastern Hemlock

Eastern Hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) is one of the few evergreen trees that can tolerate shade. It is a decorative, moisture-loving species that can tolerate lower light levels during the day. Eastern hemlock may have several trunks, gray shoots. The needles are arranged in two rows, they are dark green, the reverse side has silver lines. From a distance, hemlock branches look like spruce branches, but their needles are not at all sharp. Cones are small, no more than 2 - 3 cm.

Species plants are full-fledged trees, while numerous varieties grow as low shrubs of various habits, including creeping forms. Hemp grows slowly. In nature, individual specimens live up to 1000 years.

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). © F. D. Richards

3. Japanese yew

Japanese yew ( Taxus cuspidata ) is another shade-tolerant evergreen tree. In fact, it is one of the best evergreens for full shade. The plant is native to China, Japan, Korea and the Russian Far East. This conifer tolerates very dry and shady conditions well. It usually grows as a spreading tree or tall shrub. The needles are dark green, flat, non-thorny. nine0003

There are many varieties and hybrids of yew. Female specimens have unusual bumps that look like bright red berries. Care should be taken as the plant is poisonous.