If you’re unsure about which types of shrubs will thrive in part shade, start by reading about hydrangeas. Not only are these flowers gorgeous, but they are also useful for drying and arranging. Choose from white, pink, purple, magenta, blue, and even different shades of these bushes. These can grow to up 12 feet tall and spread out to a height of 4 feet. You may also want to consider a deciduous shrub if you want something with a low growing habit.
Low-light shrubs
If your yard is not quite as sunny as you would like, try some low-light shrubs. Consider the hydrangea. Its white or pink flowers are beautiful and useful for drying or arrangements. Depending on the variety, it can grow up to 12 feet high. A good selection of shrubs will keep your part-shade yard looking great all year round. If you prefer an evergreen plant, consider the dogwood. Dogwoods grow in a variety of climates and will not suffocate in a hot spot.
Another option for low-light shrubs for part shade is the cyclamen, which is very hardy and adaptable. The fragrant blooms of this shrub will complement other early spring flowers. Hellebore, a perennial that thrives in zones four to seven, will bloom early in the spring, complementing other early bloomers. Foxgloves, another low-light shrub for part shade, are also good choices. They grow in clusters and bloom in the late spring or summer. The flowers will gradually change color from white to pink or maroon, and then fade to red and gold in the fall.
Deciduous shrubs are also a great choice for part-shade areas. They grow in part-shade conditions, and some even survive with no leaves during the cold months. Evergreen shrubs, on the other hand, retain leaves all year. Choose the shrub that best suits your climate. Then, choose the plant according to its USDA growing zone number and find a variety that suits your needs.
Flowering shrubs
There are several flowering shrubs for part shade, but these are a few of the best. Whether you want flowers for a vase or for drying, you will find a variety of varieties available. These flowers are also good for a variety of uses, including arrangements. These shrubs typically have flowers that are a variety of shades of white, pink, purple, magenta, blue, and pink.
If you have part shade, consider planting hydrangeas. These beautiful flowering shrubs can tolerate the shade and thrive in zones three through 10. They are disease-resistant, making them a good choice for gardeners with shady gardens. Enkianthus, a native of Japan, is another option for part-shade. It has stunning clusters of flowers, which can change from white to pink and maroon in the fall.
If you have very little direct sunlight, try Japanese Andromeda, which can survive with less than six hours of light a day. This shrub is the shortest among flowering shrubs, growing to just eight feet. Other options for part-shade gardens include Japanese Holly, which has rounded, spikeless leaves and black berries. Japanese Kerria is a deciduous shrub with yellow blossoms. The Rhododendron family includes more than a thousand species.
A few of the best flowering shrubs for part shade are native plants. For example, Clethra, also called summersweet, bursts into bloom in late summer with its richly scented white flowers. It also produces bright yellow leaves in the fall. This shrub is hardy in Zones 3 to nine. It is also good for rain gardens and butterfly habitats. You’ll want to look for a variety that has blooms that last all season long.
Evergreen shrubs
Depending on the amount of part shade you receive, you may want to consider planting a variety of evergreen shrubs. You can choose from the needled species, narrowleaf evergreens, yews, boxwoods, and hemlocks. These evergreens can live in a variety of exposure conditions, so you can be sure to find one that suits your climate and taste.
Another option for growing in a part-shade area is a wintercreeper. This evergreen shrub is commonly found as a ground cover or as a vine and features bright red cones that emerge in the spring. They also grow slowly and will grow to ten feet tall. They should be planted in a moist soil and receive afternoon shade. The foliage will be attractive all year-round, but you’ll need to keep them pruned in early summer.
Other evergreen shrubs that do well in part shade include azaleas. Azaleas are a great choice because they tolerate zone four to eight. Azaleas require moist soil and can survive in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Azaleas grow in parts of the world that receive very little direct sunlight. The indirect light dapples the leaves of the plants below.
If you have a partial shade garden, you can consider growing aucuba. This evergreen shrub can reach fifteen feet tall and has red berries in the fall. They have glossy elliptical leaves and bloom in early spring. If you’re not keen on pruning, you can always try rhododendron, which grows well in part-shade and full-sun conditions. ‘Chindo’ Viburnum needs regular watering and a balanced fertilizer in early spring.
Deciduous shrubs
Choosing a variety of deciduous shrubs for part shade can make the garden look great year-round. Deciduous shrubs in part shade will produce colorful leaves and flowers in spring and summer, and will also thrive in cooler temperatures. Many shade-tolerant shrubs will bloom in the spring, and some of these species also have edible fruits. In addition to choosing the right shrub, consider its water requirements and climate range.
Choosing a shrub that can tolerate partial shade can be challenging, but with the right care, the right plant will flourish. American Beautyberry (also known as American Mulberry) is one of the best choices. This hardy deciduous shrub grows to six or seven feet and produces clusters of creamy-white flowers that are covered with small berries. It has a yellow fall foliage, and its leaves change color from green to red. It needs at least one inch of rain per year, or the equivalent of watering once a week.
Among the many choices of deciduous shrubs for part shade are the Carolina allspice, a low-growing plant with a fruit-like fragrance. When crushed, the flowers are a delightful scent, and the foliage is used in potpourri. Some cultivars have yellow flowers, too. Loropetalum is another shrub for part shade that has fragrant bell-shaped flowers. Its foliage is lanceolate or ovate, and it blooms in spring and summer.
Slow-growing shrubs
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance shrub to plant in your part-shaded backyard, consider the many varieties of flowering shrubs. These plants have structures reminiscent of small trees and bloom in the spring and summer. Many flowering shrubs are fragrant as well. Consider planting common or vernal witch hazel. These shrubs grow to three feet tall and can be pruned to your desired height.
Barberries are excellent slow-growing shrubs for part-shaded yards or patios. They’re deciduous and feature deep red foliage that contrasts beautifully with their golden yellow flowers in spring. The leaves of these shrubs are edible, but the berries aren’t. This shrub’s shape is easy to maintain; prune them every spring to maintain the desired look. Barberries grow between two to three feet and are deer and disease-resistant.
Hydrangeas are a beautiful plant with hardy roots that tolerate part-shade. The flowering hydrangeas will provide a splash of color in late spring. Other hardy shade-tolerant shrubs include Japanese holly, which has evergreen foliage and bell-shaped flowers in spring. Enkianthus, a deciduous shrub with fiery autumn leaves, will thrive in part-shade.
Hydrangeas are another slow-growing shrub with beautiful foliage that can grow to two to three feet in height. They bloom in spring and summer and are excellent for arrangements. They also produce a large number of flowers and are often very ornamental. They bloom in different colors, including white, pink, magenta, blue, and purple. The flowers will last throughout the winter, but you may want to cover the plant in winter to prevent windburn.
Planting in full sun or partial shade
In zones three to eight, hydrangeas are a low-maintenance, hardy, and beautiful choice for planting in full sun or partial shade. They also produce beautiful flowers, which can be white or pink, during the spring. They also have a large number of varieties, and their foliage is quite colorful. In fall, they bear berries that attract birds. If you want flowers all year long, try enkianthus, a Japanese native that grows well in partial shade. It has clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring and summer that fade to a luscious red or purple color in fall.
A plant in the part sun or partial shade needs about four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. The hours do not have to be consecutive, but they must be at least half of the day. Part sun plants prefer morning sun, while those that thrive in afternoon shade need the heat and intense sunlight that comes from full sun. Similarly, part shade plants will bloom more profusely in the morning. For best results, plant your plants in partial shade if you have a large backyard.
For full shade, moisture may be an issue. Since soil moisture is low in full shade, competition between tree roots may be very high. As a result, select plants with a tolerant root system, or prepare to provide supplemental water to the plants. If the shade is too dense, choose a small shrub with a dense canopy of foliage. A dense canopy of foliage will provide a sheltered area for the shrub.