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What are good shrubs for shade


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

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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

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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

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'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

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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.

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. He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

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

Watch Now: Tips for Selecting the Right Shrubs

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.

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

Already in early spring, we begin to think about the layout of our garden, distributing the plants that we will plant in different corners of the summer cottage. 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. nine0003

Content

Depending on the parameters of the shaded area, it can be wet or dry. To select suitable shrubs, you need to determine the type of shade and select varieties accordingly. nine0003

If the shaded area is occupied by large fruit or ornamental trees, then the shade will be dry, because large plants have a strong root system and are able to pump water out of the soil, and with it nutrients. Wet shade is formed on dense soils in the absence of drainage.

What varieties of shade-tolerant shrubs are planted in the garden

The list of plants that do well in shady areas is quite long and allows you to apply different techniques to create different styles of landscape design. Shrubs are used for the following purposes:

  • garden ornaments;
  • providing a decorative background for small flowers or ornamental grasses;
  • hedge construction.

Ornamental shrubs, which are commonly used in landscape design, are divided into 2 groups:

  • deciduous, attracting attention with unusual color and leaf shape;
  • characterized by spectacular long flowering.

Let's watch a useful video about which shrubs grow in the shade:

How to choose shade-tolerant ornamental shrubs

To determine which shade-tolerant plants will suit the site, study their characteristics and visually evaluate the photos on which they are depicted.

Let's present the most popular varieties that surprise with their decorative effect and attract with relative ease of care.

Rhododendron

This representative of the Heather family looks beautiful during the flowering period, pink or lilac petals of its inflorescences, densely covering the branches, have a bright color. Dense, fleshy leaves, oval or ovoid in shape, look attractive. nine0003

Rhododendrons are very hardy, easily enduring conditions of heavy shading, in which other species will wither and eventually die. However, for bushes, it is preferable to choose semi-shaded areas with drained soil. It is advisable to provide for the possibility of watering plantings during a period of severe drought.

Rhododendrons are used for planting along garden paths, they look great against the background of conifers or building walls.

Jasmine garden or mock orange

Very popular plant, readily grown by gardeners. The view is attractive, the flowers are bright, large, have an amazing aroma, which fills the entire garden during the flowering period.

Shrub does not require quality soil, can adapt to life in any conditions. The plant is frost-resistant, in summer it can withstand prolonged drought. The procedure for caring for jasmine practically consists in correct and fairly frequent pruning and pruning of bushes. Dense plantings are used to create hedges. nine0003

But if you want to admire the lush flowering of mock orange, then you can observe it if the bushes are planted in partial shade, in conditions of deep shade, flowering will not be plentiful. In addition, many varieties of garden jasmine have been bred today; when choosing, you should take into account the peculiarities of the climatic conditions of your area of ​​​​residence.

Cotoneaster

Ornamental plant resistant to adverse living conditions, it can be grown in shady areas, even in cities where the air is characterized by increased gas content. nine0003

Cotoneaster branches are densely covered with dark green leaves that turn red in autumn. The bushes have a beautiful dense crown, designers prefer to use it when creating a hedge.

In addition, bushes lend themselves well to shaping. When creating garden compositions, both erect and creeping plant varieties are used.

Flowering shrub, flower petals in different varieties may be white or pink, the flowers themselves may be collected in racemes or solitary. Cotoneaster fruits are bright, black or red. nine0003

Gotensia

Shrub considered one of the most widespread and popular in the world. In the conditions of the middle lane, dozens of frost-resistant varieties are grown.

Hydrangea is planted in sunny and shaded areas, provided that there is sufficient nutrient soil. It is necessary to provide for the possibility of irrigation, because. hydrangea is very sensitive to soil moisture.

The plant is characterized by long flowering, and the flowers at different stages of flowering have different colors, at first the petals of hydrangea paniculata lettuce, then - white, at the end of flowering become a delicate pink color. nine0003

Kalinolistny vesicle

This shrub is the undoubted leader in the number of varieties, in its description they usually emphasize decorativeness, unpretentiousness, suitability for growing in urban conditions are distinguished among the quality characteristics.

A spherical vesicle bush covered with corrugated leaves and lush clusters of flowers looks luxurious, the seeds of the plant ripening in boxes look no less attractive against the background of the leaves. Among the latest achievements of breeders, it should be noted new varieties that are distinguished by a unique foliage color: purple and golden yellow. nine0003

Derain white

The plant attracts attention with beautiful leaves with a white border along the edge. The bright color of the leaves does not fade in the shade; by autumn, pink and apricot shades are added to the color scheme of the leaves. The decorativeness of the plant is not lost in winter, its red shoots look very bright against the background of snow.

Deren is not picky about the quality of lighting and is resistant to winter frosts, but it needs moist nutrient soil for active growth.

Some turf varieties are tall, but shaping their shape and size is not at all difficult, the plant tolerates pruning well. nine0003

For more information about the best shade-tolerant garden plants, watch the video:

Does it make sense to consider planting fruit-bearing shrubs in shady areas

Yes, some fruit-bearing shrubs can be grown in shady conditions. Consider the descriptions of the most unpretentious plants.

Honeysuckle

This fruit-bearing shrub owes its popularity to its hardiness, it can grow normally in shady areas, it is not demanding on soil quality, it is resistant to polluted air, which allows it to be grown in urban conditions. nine0003

There are a lot of varieties of honeysuckle today, so the shrub can have quite large differences in the color of the leaves and flowers, the fruits can also differ in shape and ripening time.

It should be remembered that some varieties of honeysuckle, for example, Honeysuckle, are suitable for growing in good light, others (Tatarskaya) withstand moderate shading well.

Honeysuckle is used for single plantings, vertical gardening, for arranging hedges. nine0003

Barberry

The plant is fast growing and highly resistant to frost. The bushes do not require special care, the plant can withstand even severe droughts.

The leaves of the barberry are small, beautifully shaped, green in summer, changing color to burgundy in autumn.

The Thunberg barberry variety has a burgundy leaf color throughout the summer, and the Thunberg barberry Goldalita has golden yellow leaves.

Barberry berries have a pleasant aroma and excellent taste and are used in cooking, especially in oriental cuisine recipes. nine0003

Gooseberry

It can be grown in sunny or shaded areas. The plant does not need frequent watering, it easily tolerates short droughts.

Gooseberries in the process of ripening acquire a yellow or reddish hue, become translucent.

The fruits are used in cooking, they are used to make compotes and jams.

Which companion plants can be planted in shady corners of the garden

Planting shrubs alone is not enough to create beautiful corners in the shady part of the garden. nine0003

You will need to select small plants that will allow you to maintain the decorativeness of the site throughout the summer season.

Let's note the most popular ones and give a brief description of them.

Climbing plants in natural conditions are undergrowth plants, so there is no doubt about their shade tolerance. Liana-like are used to decorate arbors and pergolas, verandas.

Popular plants in this group are parthenocissus, kirkazon and knyazhik. They grow quickly and are able to form dense thickets. The attention of the owners of suburban areas is often attracted by girlish grapes, whose leaves turn bright red-orange hues in autumn. nine0003

Ferns, depending on the varieties, differ in size, but their leaves have a clear graphic and volume, which allows you to get a background for flowering shrubs.

Learn more