When it comes to planting in shady areas of your garden, you will find several options. You can choose from Evergreens, Deciduous shrubs, Biennials, and Subshrubs. You can choose one that will provide shade and protection from harsh sunlight, or you can choose a variety that will offer both foliage and flowers in a shaded area. Deciduous shrubs are suited to shady areas because they do not need as much water as evergreen ones.
Evergreen shrubs
The perfect way to add year-round greenery to your yard or garden is by planting evergreen shrubs in shady areas. These plants provide the same benefits of deciduous plants, but are tolerant of less sunlight. Shrubs that do well in shady areas include viburnums, hydrangeas, and sedges. Before planting a shrub, however, you need to decide on its area and type of shade. For example, if it is located in the shady corner of the yard, it should be grown in a pot that will accommodate its height and width.
When selecting an evergreen shrub for a shady area, consider the size of the plant. Some of these evergreen plants will grow taller than others, but if you’d like to control their size, you can prune them. Choose a dwarf type of Azalea, Forsythia, Japanese Andromeda, or Japanese Andromeda. Even if your space is limited, it’ll still look beautiful.
A dappled shade-tolerant evergreen shrub, the Silk tassel bush has a spectacular cascading flower display. Native to southeastern U.S. states, it thrives in partial to full shade. Its bark is attractive and it requires frost protection in colder climates. However, it prefers moist soil and will tolerate some drought once it’s established.
Another excellent choice for shady areas is the camellia. This evergreen shrub has a single or multi-stemmed trunk and a pyramid-shaped branch structure. Camellias do not require pruning, and flowering can be enjoyed year-round. They are low-maintenance and do not experience pests. The flowers of these shrubs will keep you company in winter!
Mountain laurel is a beautiful evergreen shrub native to eastern North America that produces showy clusters of flowers in late spring. The dwarf variety, the Minuet laurel, has more attractive flowers. Make sure to fertilize the shrub every year when new growth begins. A fertilizer containing acid will help it thrive. In addition, mountain laurel can be toxic to pets. So, if you want to plant this shrub in a shady area, choose something that can provide shelter from the rain.
Deciduous shrubs
There are several deciduous shrubs that are suited to shady areas. These shrubs will thrive in part shade or full shade, but will still perform well if there is no direct sunlight. Listed below are some examples of shade-loving shrubs. Choose them wisely for the conditions of your garden. Listed below are some of their characteristics and how to plant them in shady spots.
Among the most attractive shade-tolerant shrubs are lobelias and camellias. Lobelias require little maintenance and are generally regarded as shady-zone plants. The mounding plants, such as the lobelia erinus, are both shade-loving and will bloom throughout the fall. Hydrangeas are another shade-tolerant deciduous shrub to plant. Their big, green leaves turn a golden yellow in the fall. Depending on your climate, these plants will grow anywhere from six to ten feet tall, and they can be grown in full or partial shade. They are generally resistant to cold, heat, and drought.
There are many different types of shade-loving shrubs, so finding one that suits your climate will be a breeze. Many of these shrubs are drought-tolerant and can be pruned or controlled with other methods. They can provide beautiful foliage and flowers for your garden. So, go ahead and plan ahead and start planting! The best way to select shade-loving shrubs is to learn about the needs of the species you’re growing.
Among the most beautiful shade-loving deciduous shrubs is the Canadian Hemlock. They offer a year-round show of brilliant yellow flowers on tall, upright stems. They are not poisonous, but they require protection from sunlight. They also grow slowly, and are drought-resistant. They are also great choices for the shadier areas of your garden. These three shrubs are both beautiful and low-maintenance.
The Canadian Bunchberry is another shade-loving deciduous shrub. This evergreen plant is native to the southeastern United States, and is prized for its shade tolerance and attractive evergreen foliage. They will grow in deep shade, and will tolerate very little direct sunlight. Another good choice is the Evergreen Winterberry. This shrub is native to the Eastern and Southern United States and retains its leaves year after year. If you choose to plant this plant in a shady area, it is important to keep it covered in winter or pruned in early spring to prevent windburn.
Biennials
You can choose from a variety of biennial plants to brighten up shady spots in your garden. Many biennials require a period of cold temperatures before the flower buds will form. You can plant them in the fall to begin enjoying blooms in the spring and summer. Many will begin by developing rosette, a dense cluster of buds and leaves along a short stem. The longer days prompt flower development and blooms can produce dozens of flowers, with some producing large amounts of seed.
If you need more color, consider growing hostas. These fern-like plants can be both a groundcover and specimen plant. Hostas, for example, are a perennial choice for shady areas, and there are cultivars that have golden leaves. They require some sunlight to achieve color. Once they have reached maturity, you can combine them with annuals and biennials for an even more spectacular display.
A classic shade annual, impatiens produces flowers in part or full shade and comes in many colors. They look lovely in garden beds with watermelon pink blossoms. Impatiens are susceptible to a serious disease called downy mildew, so try not to plant them in the same spot as the ones that have already succumbed to it. However, if you’re looking for a unique flower for your shady area, try a brightly colored impatien or two.
The beautiful tricyrtis, for example, is another great plant to grow in a shady area. Its flowers are white with irregular purple spots, and the stems of these perennials grow up to 24 to 30 inches. These plants will make a beautiful addition to your garden and have the added benefit of being able to divide the plants in the fall. If you don’t want to plant flowers, try coleus. The leaves of this plant are rich and scalloped, and the astilbe’s flowers are fringed.
For best results, plant biennials in loose, free-form gardens. They’ll grow well in regular perennial beds, too, though a little planning is required. Sow seeds of biennials before planting them. If you’re not comfortable with growing them in a regular bed, consider buying a seedling and planting them in the fall. Just like with perennials, treat them just like you would for any other flower. However, don’t forget to mulch the area to keep them healthy.
Subshrubs
Shade-loving shrubs are a great way to add color to your garden or landscape all year round. Most of them can tolerate partial or full shade. Shade is considered low light by gardeners, meaning areas with less than six hours of direct sunlight per day. It can also be deep or medium shade. Learn about different types of shade and the conditions they prefer. Find out which shrubs will flourish in your region. You can find many shade-tolerant shrubs at a plant nursery or online.
Evergreen shrubs are an excellent choice for shady areas of your garden, providing color all year round. The foliage changes colors as the seasons change. The blooms are fragrant and attract native pollinators. In addition to being low-maintenance, this type of shrub is also drought-tolerant and pest-free. Once established, you can even add a privacy screen with an evergreen shrub. And if you want to add fragrance to your garden, you should try native varieties such as wisteria and dwarf boxwood.
When selecting shade-loving shrubs for your garden, it’s important to consider the size of each variety. You’ll need to know how many shrubs will fit into your space and what soil type you have. Shrubs are usually low-maintenance and only require a small amount of fertilizer in the spring and fall. However, the water requirements vary between varieties, so make sure to look into each variety’s water requirements before you purchase it.
Canadian Bunchberry is another shade-loving shrub. This subshrub looks similar to an ash tree, but has large, multi-colored leaves. It forms dense colonies in wooded areas. These shrubs make excellent groundcovers. They produce red berries in the spring and have a variety of attractive features. And, unlike other plants, they’re deer and rabbit resistant. If you don’t mind a bit of shade, consider prickly ash.
Japanese Maples, Dogwoods, and other shade-loving shrubs make for great shady gardens. Their leaves provide vibrant year-round interest, while their large, dense leaves are a focal point in a shady border. Japanese Maples prefer deep mulch and dappled shade. Pruning Japanese Maples after their leaves have formed is another way to add color and interest to your shady garden.