For part shade planting, you must pick a variety of shrubs that can tolerate the lack of afternoon sun. Shrubs that grow well in part shade include Coralberries, Snowberries, Dogwoods, Azaleas, and many others. Here are some examples:
Coralberries
In the southern hemisphere, this shrub grows in oak savannas. Its small, bright pink and white flowers bloom in early spring. The coralberry’s edible fruit is pea-sized and persists through winter. Birds love it, as it provides tasty treats to fluttering insects. The same can be said of the closely related Diervilla. Both are in the Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) family.
The thorny leaves and small flowers of the coralberry make it a great plant for a part-shade garden. The foliage is medium-green, and the berries are delicious! Coralberry is in the Caprifoliaceae family and is hardy in USDA zones two to seven. The shrub likes well-drained, amended soil. Its roots and suckers form thickets, which provide excellent cover for small birds. Birds eat the fruit and berries.
The drupes are globular and reddish-purple in color. They are borne in clusters in the leaf axils. The drupes are not juicy, but are densely packed. The fruit is about 1/4 of an inch long and has a short beak. The stem is a reddish color with fine hair along its new stems. The underside of the leaf has a hairy surface and is not shiny.
Snowberries
If you’re looking for a shrub that will grow in part shade, try the snowberry. Commonly found in the forested areas of Minnesota, the Snowberry can grow up to 40 inches (1 m) tall and is native to the state. Although it may reach a height of knee-high, it rarely grows taller than this. It is one of the two native species of Symphoricarpos, along with the Wolfberry. Both species have similar growth habits and flower characteristics, but the Snowberry’s flowers are larger and more rounded. The fruit is a bright white, half-inch long, drupe with two nutlets.
This part-shade shrub grows best in USDA zones 3-7. It can grow in many types of soil and requires a pH of 6.0 to 8.5. The shrub can tolerate part shade as long as it has adequate moisture. The snowberry is very cold-hardy. In zones three and four, it will grow even in dry, winter climates. It can tolerate temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit and all types of humidity.
This winter-blooming shrub is easy to grow, requiring very little care and maintenance. Once established, this shrub will grow in any type of soil and provide excellent cover. Snowberries are shrubs for part shade or full sun and can be planted in the ground during the spring or fall. Taking care of the shrub will reduce its maintenance needs. The shrub is drought-resistant once established. Its autumn branches make great flower arrangements.
Dogwoods
In part shade, Dogwoods thrive as specimen trees and can even grow up to 10 feet tall. These shrubs are native to the Eastern United States, but they can also grow as small trees in your yard. They can grow up to 10 feet in height, and some varieties have interesting horizontal branching patterns. If you’d like to add some color to your yard, dogwoods are an excellent choice. Read on to learn more about their uses and how they can improve your landscape!
The flowering dogwood has a very attractive appearance, and is often grown as a medium-sized tree or a tall shrub. These shrubs bloom in spring, and then bear berries in summer. They tend to fade over time, so you should regularly prune them to younger branches to keep them looking healthy. Dogwoods are hardy in USDA zones 3-8. They are best suited for shady or wet areas.
Unfortunately, dogwoods are susceptible to some diseases. While they are more resilient than many other landscape plants, they do have a few flaws. For one thing, dogwoods are susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, a fungus that can cause cankers and dieback on branches. If you want your shrub to grow well, you should purchase a cultivar that’s resistant to this disease.
Azaleas
If you have a sunny window or a part-shade yard, you may wish to consider planting azaleas. In part-shade areas, azaleas receive filtered sunlight through an open canopy. Azaleas can also grow in full shade, but they need part-shade to bloom. In full sun, azaleas will develop a compact habit and bloom profusely, but the flowers will be less abundant.
When growing azaleas in a sunny location, they will suffer from sunscald and drought. If they are planted under an evergreen tree, they may suffer from winter burns. Sunscald results in yellow leaves, scorched edges, and brown tips. The plants will also curled their leaves, a sign of too much water and sunlight. As a result, you’ll need to transplant them every two or three years, so be sure to read the plant’s instructions carefully before planting.
There are many varieties of Azaleas, ranging from dwarf bushes to six-foot tall bushes. If you’re planting in part shade, it’s wise to check which types are suited for the area. Azaleas are known to be hardy in Zones 8-10. Azaleas should grow between four and eight feet tall, and are usually suited to full-shade and part-shade environments.
Hydrangeas
If you are planning to plant hydrangeas in your garden, you may wonder whether they are suitable shrubs for part shade. In fact, they can grow in full sun and part shade, and they can bloom year-round. They can grow to a height of 15 feet, and bloom from spring to fall. Some of them are more shade-tolerant than others. The flower color will depend on soil pH and sunlight conditions.
The blooming season for hydrangeas depends on the type and cultivar you choose. Generally, hydrangeas will begin to put on buds and bloom in early summer or in early fall. However, in hotter climates, this blooming may be cut short. Besides, hydrangeas will rebloom in fall. In addition, they don’t require pruning; you can simply cut out dead wood when it becomes obvious.
Hydrangeas are very hardy shrubs and can be grown in many different types of gardens. They prefer full sun and part shade. The sun you provide for your shrubs will determine the amount of light they need to grow and bloom. Generally speaking, hydrangeas will do fine in part shade. They will grow to a height of five to 12 feet, and will be about as wide. The foliage is deep green, changing to reddish bronze in the fall.
Japanese natives
Japanese natives have developed a variety of shrubs that are great for part shade and drought conditions. There are several varieties of Japanese andromeda, including apricot, camellia, cherry, and privet, and all of them are tolerant of part shade, drought, and heat. Listed below are the best shrubs for part shade, and which ones are the most adaptable to your area.
The Skimmia japonica is a small, slow-growing shrub or tree that is native to Japan, eastern China, and Taiwan. It is prized for its showy blooms and fragrant foliage, which occur in late winter and early spring. The flowers are tipped with pink and last for about two weeks, following which the shrub produces a rich, red fruit known as a berry.
Another plant that thrives in partial shade is the mountain laurel, which grows naturally in woodland areas and lush grasslands. It has beautiful foliage and prefers acidic soil to thrive. It can grow in zones three through eight and needs an evenly moist environment. In addition to flowering in late winter and early fall, the shrubs in this area have beautiful foliage that makes them an excellent choice for shady spots.
Japanese sweetshrub
Clethra, also known as Japanese sweetshrub, is a great addition to a shade garden. Its small, drooping clusters of white flowers are beautiful and attract pollinators. The Japanese sweetshrub is well-adapted to part shade and will tolerate deep shade. It is pollinator friendly and deer-resistant. This native of Eastern China grows to a height of 10 to 12 feet.
This native shrub is hardy to -20 degrees F. It blooms in late summer and early fall and produces long panicles of creamy white flowers. Native pollinators love the scent of these flowers. They are easy to maintain and resistant to many pests. Besides being beautiful, they are also great for the environment. They can even be grown in a garden with minimal watering. These shrubs are a great choice for part-shade gardens, as they are both deer-resistant and hardy.
Another Japanese sweetshrub for part shade is the Candy Corn (r). It grows into a compact mound, but you can shear it if you like. It will grow new growth later in the season, and this will provide attractive rusty red foliage. It prefers a rich, average garden soil, but it can tolerate some clay and is not troubled by disease. It can withstand part shade, and is drought-tolerant.