For a dense, yet colorful plant, try Flowering Dogwood. Flowering Dogwood is a beautiful evergreen shrub with long, white or green flower clusters. The fruit is red or black and appears in the winter. It can withstand many types of soil, and only needs a light amount of drainage. Mountain Laurel, English holly, and Tree peony are also attractive choices for full shade areas.
Flowering Dogwood
If you’re considering growing a Flowering Dogwood shrub in your garden, you’ve come to the right place. This regal shrub grows well in full shade or semi-shade, and is ideal for a variety of soils and climates. This plant has an abundant supply of cream-colored bracts, which turn pink with age. The shrub produces luscious strawberry-like berries in autumn. In addition to its beautiful flowers, this tree is easy to care for and tolerates most soils, including acid and chalky ones. It is a popular shrub, but requires a regular water supply and regular pruning. Occasionally pruning it will help keep it looking nice, and you can also use a fungicide to protect the plant from the blight. However, if you want to protect your shrub from this problem, it’s
When selecting a flowering dogwood shrub for full shade, make sure to choose one that stays compact. A smaller variety will grow to about 15 to 20 feet, and a larger one can take up to 30 feet. Those with shade and partial sun gardens should consider the “Cherokee Chief” variety, which can grow to a height of 25 feet. The Cherokee Chief variety is especially lovely, with red blooms in spring and bronze foliage in the fall. Whatever you choose, flowering dogwoods will provide a plethora of color and charm to your landscape.
Its large, creamy-white bracts appear in the spring. Its dark green leaves and bracts are largely ornamental. While it will be happiest in a sunny location, it can also thrive in full shade. The foliage of a Flowering Dogwood shrub is beautiful in fall. Its compact growth makes it a great choice for a small specimen tree. You can choose a dwarf variety for full shade.
Mountain Laurel
If you’re aiming to plant a Mountain Laurel shrub for full shade, you should prepare the soil for its specific needs. Generally, Mountain Laurels like well-drained acidic soil. You can add peat moss for added acidity. Avoid planting the Mountain Laurel shrub in a garden that is too acidic, as it will suffer from poor germination. The soil should also be moist but not soggy.
Despite its name, this plant is poisonous to both humans and pets. That said, the plant does have some benefits. This shrub deters deer from eating it, as it’s poisonous. This is helpful because deer tend to eat anything when they’re hungry. But if you’re planting a mountain laurel shrub in a full-shade area, you should take care of this pest before you plant it.
Its flowers are pink to white, and the buds are often pink. The petals will be six-petaled and have a dark red marking. Mountain Laurels will also produce seeds in nutlets. Each seed contains dozens of tiny seeds, and you can collect them throughout the winter. The mountain Laurel shrub grows shallowly, and its roots have evolved to cling to minimal soil.
Another consideration is where to plant the Mountain Laurel. This tree will grow best in moderate to partial shade, while it will struggle in full sunlight. But it will still produce flowers, though they won’t be as lush. And you don’t want to place it in front of a heat-reflecting wall. That way, the sun won’t scorch the leaves. In addition, mountain Laurel grows thorny and can get singed.
Tree peony
Tree Peonies require well-drained soil that is pH close to neutral or slightly above neutral. They will also tolerate acidic soils. Peony roots shouldn’t be planted deeper than two inches below the soil surface. In the spring, add a layer of organic matter (such as pine bark or well-aged manure). When planting a Tree Peony shrub, plant it at a depth of four to six inches below grade. Water the shrub thoroughly before planting it.
The perfect location for this magnificent shrub is a cool area that receives a moderate amount of sunlight. Tree Peonies can grow four to five feet tall and bear fragrant flowers up to 10 inches across. Planting them in dappled shade will help prevent the flowers from fading. You’ll want to provide enough space for the shrub to grow and spread out. They need a site that is well-drained and has plenty of space to grow.
Once the tree Peony shrub has grown to mature, you can prune it regularly. In spring, remove any dead branches and limit the plants photosynthetic ability. In fall, trim off the remaining leaves so that new buds will form and the tree will be able to set more flowers the next year. However, be careful because pruning can make your Tree Peony shrub leggy. Aside from pruning, tree Peonies also suffer from powdery mildew, so you need to be careful with the plant.
English holly
If you’re looking for an evergreen shrub to add a festive touch to your landscape, consider an English holly. This traditional U.S. shrub grows to twenty to thirty feet tall and has attractive green leaves and red berries. It is a slow grower in the Southern climate, but will thrive in full or partial shade. There are many varieties of English holly, including variegated and green. Alternate varieties, such as the Altaclere variety, have large, bright red berries and grow to twenty to thirty feet tall at maturity.
Although it is native to Washington state and Oregon, the plant has not been declared an invasive plant by those jurisdictions. However, some cities and counties have stricter regulations regarding invasive plants. The City of Kirkland, for example, prohibits the planting of English holly on public or private property. If you’re concerned about its invasive nature, you might want to consider growing another type of English holly.
It’s important to choose an English holly shrub that is resistant to leaf spot and tar spot. Both are caused by the same fungus, Coniothyrium ilicinum, and cause yellow-brown spots on the leaves. The symptoms first appear in winter and early spring, progressing to red-brown by the summer. Tar spot, on the other hand, develops into sooty black by the fall. Copper-based fungicides can effectively combat the fungus.
Japanese kerria
Choosing a Japanese kerria shrub for full shade requires some considerations. Regardless of cultivar, kerrias are vigorous growers that are often prone to suckers. Pruning is best done in the spring, after they flower. Kerrias vary in height and width, ranging from three to six feet tall. Plants should be spaced at least six to eight feet apart.
The Japanese kerria is one of the few deciduous shade shrubs that can thrive in full shade. Its flowers are golden yellow and look like a cross between a rose and a chrysanthemum. Its leaves are grayish green, and it grows four to five feet high. The foliage turns a pale yellow in fall, allowing the Japanese kerria to look stunning no matter what your planting location.
Mahonia is a species of Japanese kerria, a deciduous shrub that grows in both shade and sun. The shrubs produce edible berries that are rich in vitamin C and have a sharp flavor. The genus was named for the horticulturist Bernhard McMahon. Mahonia shrubs are also great additions to winter gardens, as their leaves turn an attractive bronze color.
If you want a shrub with a small habit, you can opt for the Japanese kerria. Its small structure is reminiscent of that of a small tree and is highly fragrant. If you choose to plant one in your garden, make sure to choose a vernal or common witch hazel. These shrubs have beautiful yellow flowers and are easy to maintain. You can also opt for dwarf varieties of Japanese holly and Azalea.
Silk Tassel Bush
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Silk Tassel Bush grows to maturity in 6 to 12 feet and bears clusters of small, spherical berries. This plant needs supplemental water and afternoon shade to thrive and will make a silky hedge in a sheltered area. It is very drought tolerant once established, and its foliage is attractive to birds and goats. Here are some of the most popular cultivars:
A large evergreen shrub with distinctive catkins, Silk Tassel bush grows to a height of about 3 metres, and is often included in mixed plantings. It tolerates a wide range of soil types and is often planted as a hedge. It has velvety, dark-green, smooth bark and long, tassel-like catkins. A native of the western United States, Garrya elliptica is often grown as a landscape plant, and is deer-resistant.
Growing a Silk Tassel Bush in a shady corner is a great way to add formality to your shady garden. You can keep it flat against the wall or prune it to form an espalier. You can also leave it as a free-standing shrub. If you prefer a formal hedge, you can prune it into a fan shape and let it form an espalier over time.