Some of the best shrubs for the shade are those that thrive in the lightest shade. Doublefile violanum is a good choice, with its wide branches and clusters of white lace-cap flowers. It can reach six to ten feet, and looks particularly beautiful in spring. Other shrubs for the shade include azaleas, fuchsias, coprosmas, and rhododendrons.
Spirea
If you’re looking for an evergreen shade shrub, spirea is an excellent choice. These shrubs grow three to five feet tall and produce delicate white flowers in spring and summer. Their fine foliage is pale green and turns yellow in the fall. If you want to plant your own spirea, make a planting hole twice the size of the container. Loosen any roots and then plant the shrub in the hole. Cover the soil with a two to three inch layer of mulch before planting.
Spirea shrubs have numerous uses and are deer-resistant. They grow to a shrub size, but have a wide variety of blooms. Flowers begin to bloom in early summer and last throughout the summer. Pruning spirea encourages new growth and more blooms. This method results in tons of beautiful blooms. In addition, spirea can be pruned and sheered regularly for maximum bloom production.
Oakleaf hydrangea
These shady-loving plants are best grown in well-drained soil. However, they can’t stand wet feet. Make sure the soil is well-drained. Soggy soil may result in root rot. Alternatively, you can try planting them in a well-drained but drier area. Oakleaf hydrangea shrubs for the shade thrive in full shade and bloom in full shade.
These shady-loving plants have a distinctive appearance. Their leathery green leaves are oak-shaped and grow eight to twelve inches long. The bark is cinnamon-brown and peels off in strips. Their flowers are creamy white in spring and fade to a range of colors during the summer and fall. These shrubs will produce large panicles of dried flowers and resemble giant red oak leaves.
American Beautyberry
You can find an excellent screen in your garden with an American Beautyberry shrub. These shrubs grow up to three feet tall and wide. They bloom in spring and fall, and their branches are laden with white or magenta berries. They also make an excellent screen in swampy areas, especially under shade trees. To keep your shrub looking its best, cut it back each winter to about 12 inches from the base. However, be aware that it may defoliate during prolonged summer droughts.
The American beautyberry shrub is an excellent choice for shade gardens. Its flowers are inconspicuous, but the fruits are showy and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This species is native to the Southeastern US, Bermuda, and the West Indies. It is best planted in a mass planting and can tolerate filtered shade. It grows best with other plants in the same family, such as Hydrangea quercifolia, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, and Aronia arbutifolia.
American Mulberry
The best American Mulberry shrubs for shade are the ‘Fruitless’ cultivars. This species is ideal for ornamental landscaping and grows from 30 to 60 feet (6 to 18 meters) tall. It has a dense rounded crown and can reach up to 54 feet (14 m) wide. This shrub can get quite messy when its fruit ripens, so it should be placed far from walkways, patios, and heavy traffic areas.
The red mulberry is often found in the southern part of its range and is considered monoecious. The flowers of the female and male varieties are arranged on separate branches, each stalked. The flowers bloom in April or May, and the blackberry-like fruit develops from June to August. The fruit consists of many small drupelets that develop and ripen from separate female flowers. They are hardy in zones 6 through nine and are good candidates for shade gardens.
American Beautyberry ‘Goshiki’
Planting American Beautyberry ‘Goshiki’ in your garden provides year-round color and fragrance. Its upright, rounded habit makes it attractive for any setting. Beautyberry shrubs can be pruned to shape or size, and they tolerate moderate drought. After planting, you can backfill the planting hole with compost to encourage new growth. They need only a few centimeters of rainfall a week, but they also tolerate drought and do well in a moderately well-drained soil. Beautyberry shrubs don’t need much fertilizer, but they do benefit from a shovelful of compost in the spring, so make sure you mix it well before planting.
Goshiki is a slow-growing, variegated tea olive shrub that grows best in partial shade. Its foliage changes from pink to cream white to various shades of green. The blooms of this beautyberry are edible and a favorite of songbirds and small mammals. Its leaves produce a chemical that repels mosquitoes. The fruit may remain on the plant well into winter.
Mountain laurel
The most important factor in planting a Mountain Laurel is the soil it will be growing in. It should be acidic but not too acidic. Its roots should not be planted too deeply in the soil. They also should not be transplanted too deep, as they will not survive in a shallow hole. Mountain Laurels need at least four hours of sunlight per day to thrive, so the ideal spot would be one with dappled light. The best time to transplant the Mountain Laurel is when it is young, but not too early – two or three years is plenty for it to establish itself and start growing. You can mulch around the crown to protect the plant from pests.
If you want to grow a Mountain Laurel, you will need to provide plenty of water. They are easy to grow, but their shallow root system can cause the soil to dry out quickly in the spring. To protect your plants from this, consider applying organic mulch to the soil. The best mulch is ground bark, as it will decompose into organic matter and help keep the soil moist and cool. When planting mountain laurel, make sure you give them a lot of water when they are first starting out, so they can be established.
Spotted laurel
Spotted laurel is a broadleaf, evergreen shrub that belongs to the Garryaceae family. It is native to East Asia and Japan. The species is suited to the shade and can grow as close to six feet apart as possible. The spotted laurel does not tolerate too much shade, but it can handle arid, wet soil. It does not require pruning or feeding during its early growth.
If the soil does not freeze, it can be planted anytime of the year. If the soil is not frozen, plant it between mid-March and mid-April. If the soil is dry, give it a long-term slow-release fertiliser in spring. If you’re growing shrubs in the shade, feeding is more essential. It’s better to feed shrubs than trees. The best time to feed them is in the early spring.
Smooth hydrangea
These shrubs are best planted in shady areas, where high humidity and moisture is beneficial. Planting them in the morning or in the late afternoon is ideal, as they are less likely to be stressed by heat. Carefully remove the plant from its container and cut the stem so that the base of the shrub is level with the top of the planting hole. Fill the hole about half way with soil, then add the plant to it. Water the new growth well to encourage more blooms.
When planting smooth hydrangea shrubs in the shade, keep in mind that their blooms occur on new wood, so it’s important to prune them each winter and in the early spring. Smooth hydrangea shrubs are resistant to most pests and diseases, and can be pruned to the ground in winter or early spring. Smooth hydrangeas also require very little maintenance and don’t attract any serious pests.
Spotted laurel ‘digyna’
These hardy, dioecious evergreen shrubs have glossy leaves and red-purple berries. The plants are highly disease resistant, and the females have showy red fruits in winter. They can be grown in containers and make great shrubs for winter gardens, children’s gardens, and shade areas. Despite their attractiveness, spotted laurel needs cool temperatures to flourish. It’s also prone to pests and diseases, including spider mites.
These spotted laurels are native to moist woodlands and thickets, and can tolerate some shade. They prefer partial to deep shade and will burn if exposed to too much sunlight. Their roots need loamy soil with good drainage and high organic content. They can grow as tall as 15 feet and can be planted three to six feet apart. Planting spotted laurels in fall is the best time to get them established and begin blooming.
Arrowwood Viburnum
The most popular of the many Arrowwood Viburnum shrubs for the landscape is the Southern Arrowwood, which is native to eastern North America. Native Americans used its straight stems to create arrow shafts. This versatile deciduous shrub grows in USDA hardiness zones three through eight. It likes to grow in moist soil, but can tolerate poor drainage. It produces flat-topped, white flowers in May.
Despite its name, this deciduous shrub grows between three and 10 feet tall, depending on the type. It has rounded foliage and small, white flowers that emerge in late spring. The small berries turn blue-purple in mid-summer and are eaten by birds. Its branches are smooth and have many lenticels on their bark. It grows at a medium rate, reaching 13 to 24 inches per year.