If you’re looking for shade-loving plants, try Taxus baccata, Hicks yew, Skip laurel, or Lucky bamboo. These plants spread like weeds and add height to your outdoor space. Bamboo belongs to the grass family, so they require extra nitrogen from fertilizers to thrive. Organic fertilizers work best with bamboo. Here are some easy-to-grow privacy shrubs for shade.
Taxus baccata
If you’d like a dense, evergreen hedge for shade, you should consider the Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata Aurea’. This variety has a columnar habit and grows up to 6 feet tall with erect branches and coral red seed-bearing cones. This tree is one of the world’s most popular conifers, and can provide year-round privacy.
Taxus baccata ‘Standishii’ is a dense columnar evergreen shrub with golden yellow leaves that stay bright throughout the year. A female cultivar of this plant produces a cluster of coral-red seed cones. This shrub grows to be about three to 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It will tolerate pruning and thrives in USDA zones four to seven.
This plant is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub that doesn’t require much pruning or fertilizer. It’s relatively disease-resistant, and requires only regular watering once its roots have established themselves. It’s a great choice for privacy around a pool. It has trumpet-shaped flowers and seedheads in the late summer and autumn. The deciduous form of this plant is known for its large flowers and is a good choice for homes and gardens.
Cherry laurel
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance privacy shrub, Cherry Laurel may be just the thing. This fragrant shade-tolerant tree can grow to a height of 20 feet. They’re excellent choices for privacy hedges, tall background plants, and more. You can plant them just about anywhere, and they thrive in heavy shade. Plus, they’re easy to grow! These plants are easy to care for and are great for gardens!
The Carolina cherry Laurel is a great privacy hedge. Its semi-glossy leaves are dark green and dense, and it has tiny white flowers that bloom in the spring. This easy-care plant grows from 15 to 20 feet tall and ten to fifteen feet wide. It’s drought-tolerant and native to the Southeastern U.S. and southern Canada. But, whatever its shape may be, it’s an excellent privacy hedge.
Cherry Laurel can grow in any soil, and they’re happy even in urban areas. Their low growth rate makes them ideal for urban landscaping, and they’re immune to most common garden pests. If you’re concerned about pests and disease, look for wilted, yellowed leaves. Pruning can make this shrub more tree-like. But be aware that you’ll need to watch out for pests – even if they don’t bite!
Hicks yew
Hicks Yew is an excellent choice for privacy screens, hedges, foundation planting, and accent trees. Depending on location, it can reach a mature height of 10-12 feet and a width of four to five feet. It can be pruned to any size or shape, and requires little maintenance once established. Despite its name, Hicks Yew has been used in the past as a windbreak and privacy hedge.
Planting this evergreen shrub along the property’s edge or next to a swimming pool is an excellent idea. If space allows, plant the shrubs about 18 inches apart to create a single screen. However, larger Hicks Yews can be planted much earlier. Planting them around your patio or deck will shield you from prying eyes and provide shade in Zones 3 through 5.
If you have limited space in your garden, try growing a Hicks yew instead. These evergreen shrubs tolerate shade well and can be pruned to achieve the desired shape. They are also relatively drought-tolerant. Another good choice is the Anglo-Japanese yew cultivar ‘Denisformis’. This shrub is commonly used as a foundation planting due to its spreading habit and evergreen ground cover. However, it is important to prune them regularly to maintain their neat and dense growth.
Skip laurel
There are several options when it comes to choosing skip laurel privacy shrubs for shade. They are compact growing shrubs that tolerate a variety of soil types and are often used to create a privacy screen. They are also known as inkberry and are native to southern Canada and the eastern third of the US. The foliage is rich, glossy and red and is attractive to both birds and humans. Despite their sour flavor, Skip Laurels are often the most attractive shade-tolerant shrubs available.
This tree is an excellent choice for a privacy screen or hedge. They grow about two feet per year and can grow to 10 feet, or 4.5 meters, if left unpruned. Although they do not require much maintenance, they can still grow quite tall and become impenetrable. When left unpruned, skip laurel will produce white candle-like flowers in spring and dark berries in autumn.
This tree is an excellent choice for a hedge because of its speed. It can tolerate both shade and full sun. This tree also tolerates drought and doesn’t suffer from pests or diseases. If pruned occasionally, Skip laurel will become a more attractive hedge as it matures. They’re also easy to grow in any shape, from square to oblong. In addition to the beautiful foliage, skip laurel trees also require little maintenance. You may need to trim the branches from time to time, but it will soon emerge with lush, green growth.
‘Green Giant’ arborvitae
‘Green Giant’ arborvitae is the fastest-growing of all the evergreen shrubs. The thick, dark green foliage of this plant forms an instant privacy screen. It is often used in commercial settings for its ability to protect from adverse views. It is a hardy plant that tolerates growing zones 4 through 5. This fast-growing shrub has an upright, columnar habit, and requires little to no pruning.
Green Giant Arborvitae is fast-growing, making it a great option for creating privacy screens and windbreaks. The dense, pyramidal foliage is relatively fine, making it stand out in the landscape against other plants. In addition to its fast growth rate, Green Giant Arborvitae is also low-maintenance. It only needs pruning to remove dead or dying branches. Because this tree tolerates urban pollution and heavy snow, it is also deer-resistant.
‘Green Giant’ arborvitae is hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8 and is also hardy in zones 9 if the climate is moderate. It will grow best in areas with summer humidity and filtered sunlight. It also grows well in partial shade. But it does require ample water, and it needs plenty. If you want privacy for your home, planting ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae in a sunny location is not a good idea.
‘African scurf pea’
The African scurf pea is a shrub that grows quickly and well in shade. The name comes from the Greek psoraleos, meaning “scabby,” and is a reference to the black oil glands found in the leaf tissue. The plant is a multi-stemmed, upright-growing shrub with fine-textured foliage. It thrives in partial shade, moist soil, and is fairly tolerant of urban pollution.
This erect, fast-growing, evergreen plant produces needle-like leaves and lilac-blue flowers. The flowers are soft and fragrant, and the plant can be trained to form a small tree. The African scurf pea is commonly called “Kool-Aid bush,” and it is a popular choice for privacy and screening. But beware: this plant does require some maintenance.
The Andromeda plant is a fast-growing native of Taiwan, eastern China, and Japan. It grows up to 30 feet tall and produces showy, cupped flowers that are similar to magnolia blooms. The flowers grow between two and four inches across and are fragrant. The shrubs require medium-to-high moisture and well-drained soil. African scurf pea is a beautiful choice for privacy and screening, and will add to the beauty of your garden.
Amur maple
Amur maple trees and shrubs make excellent privacy screens and are a good choice for shady gardens. These shrubs grow slowly and are low-vigor. Amur maples can be grown from seed, but care must be taken to avoid damaging the fragile bark. Seedlings should be collected when they are mature and do not contain any germination inhibitors. After harvesting, soak seeds in water for a day or two. Alternatively, fresh seeds should be stored at 1 to eight degrees Celsius for one to four months. During this time, the buds on the leaves should develop and new branches should sprout.
Amur maple trees are adaptable to many different soil conditions. They can grow in zones 2 and 8 of the USDA. It grows well in areas of a wide range, including Alaska and the northern Canadian territories. It is tolerant of light shade, drought, and salt. Amur maple trees are a good choice for gardens because they can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. They are most suitable for areas with partial shade, but they can handle full sun as well.
