Shrubs for Shaded Areas

When it comes to buying shrubs, consider this list of 12 shrubs for shaded areas of your property. This easy to grow list includes plants for your foundation and those that work for any shady part of your landscape.

If you enjoy gardening, especially ornamental gardening, then you probably have at least a few shrubs. Shrubs are great for adding structure to the garden. Most certainly at the foundation of your house as trees can be too big and perennials are too small.

However, many if not most foundations offer a shade period at some time during the day. Also if you have mature trees that send a lot of shade to your landscape you might be looking for shrubs that will grow in well in shady areas.

Like so many plants sunlight is key to good growth and getting the plant to flower. Today's list is a group of shrubs that will grow in the shade. Some of them will grow just fine in a partially shaded area, meaning they will receive some sun during the day but not all day.

I also have a few listed that will grow in a very shaded area. However, note that just like low light houseplants these shrubs won't die but they may grow slower and produce less foliage and flowers.

So take a look at the area you want a new shrub. How much sun does it get during the day? Also, you should learn what zone you live in. Some shrubs are hardier in different areas of the country. To learn your hardiness zone you can enter your zipcode here.

12 Shade-Loving Shrubs to Know and Grow

1. Abelia x grandiflora

This beautiful shrub is on the back hillside of my yard. There are pine trees that provide shade in the afternoon but it does get sun in the morning.

The great thing about the abelia plant is that the flowers are very fragrant and smell like honeysuckle during late spring. That's because it's from the honeysuckle family. The one shown above is a glossy leaf abelia but there are many hybrids with different variegated foliage, such as Kaleidoscope, Radiance, and Mardi Gras.

2. Azalea japonica

Most people have heard of azaleas. They are super hardy and where I live they put on a gorgeous flower show right around Mother's Day. Though they are now grouped in with rhododendrons they need some sun, (not full sun) to be able to flower. The leaves are a glossy green and are evergreen so you have pretty foliage all year long. Plant them in acidic soil or add a little sulfur or Holly Tone near the plants.

3. Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

What a beauty! This delicate lacy foliage in black adds a nice texture and makes a great statement in any garden. Commonly known as Elderberry, this shrub produces pretty umbels of pink flowers in the spring that turn into berries later in the season. Some people still make Elderberry wine from the berries, though I have never tried it.

4. Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo'

Next, we have what is commonly known as Ninebark. I have a dark purple leaf variety called 'Diabolo.' This is another low-maintenance one on our hillside with partial shade that grows very well. While the foliage is gorgeous it does flower in the springtime with creamy white rounded clusters of flowers tinged with pink.

More notably the flowers turn into bright red pods (above) shortly after flowering for another attractive attribute.

5. Pieris japonica 'Katsura'

Here's another evergreen shrub that looks good during the winter too. It is known for its beautiful copper red colored foliage that appears on new growth. In April this shrub produces flowers with lily-of-the-valley shaped clusters that hang down from the plant.

6. Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'

For a smaller shrub that does well in partial shade try Itea 'Henry's Garnet.' Commonly known as Virginia Sweetspire this pretty shrub produces long creamy white fragrant flower clusters (see above) over the entire shrub into early summer.

In the fall, Itea 'Henry's Garnet' turns beautiful shades of red and orange for weeks until frost.

7. Paeonia x suffruticosa 

If you love peonies why not consider a Tree Peony? Tree peonies do not die back to the ground the way other peonies do as they are woody shrubs. They are deciduous, however, meaning that they will lose their leaves during the winter. Still, they produce beautiful very large flowers in early spring. After the flowers are gone the foliage continues to look good in the garden throughout the season.

8. Viburnum carlesii 'Diana'

Known as Korean Spice Viburnum this shrub produces sweet large rounded clusters of white flowers with pink edges. These flowers are extremely fragrant. So much so that if you cut a few to bring inside to place in a vase you may get overwhelmed with the scent.

This easy to grow shrub was on the property when we bought our home over 20 years ago. It grows with ease under a magnolia tree confirming that some shade is welcome by this shrub.

Shrubs for Full Shade

9. Hydrangea quercifolia

Oakleaf hydrangeas are known for growing well in a good amount of shade. In fact, you can see it growing in the image above by our front windows. It was not doing well there because it got too much sun. So I moved it to the back.

In this shaded area it grows much better, bigger and very full.

And, it still blooms these large conical white blooms called panicles. Some say that all hydrangea will grow in shade but my experience shows that only the oakleaf grows well and flowers well in the shade. All the others need at least a half day of sun to flower.

Just like H. macrophylla, oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood. This means you should prune just after it blooms or don't prune at all.

10. Rhododendron catawbiense

Rhododendrons are a staple where I live. This broadleaf evergreen shrub with lavender blooms can be seen around any suburban house. For good reason, as they are very easy to grow, enjoy the shade and sun and they produce beautiful flowers in the spring.

This shrub is native to North American. I have a few growing along the house. I've also seen them growing in the woodlands in deep shade while hiking proving that they can handle a good bit of shade and still grow well.

They can grow quite large. One way you could contain them is by limbing them up, which means cutting the lower branches as shown in my neighbor's rhododendron above.

11. Kalmia latifolia

Another native commonly known as the Mountain Laurel, is the beautiful shrub shown above. Moutain laurel is the state flower of Pennslyvania where I live. The image above was taken in the woodlands while hiking in Maryland when they were just starting to bloom.

They can get quite large but like most wonderful plants you can buy some hybrids that are smaller.

12. Buxus sempervirens

Last but not least I have to add boxwood to the list. This ever-hardy glossy dark green evergreen shrub is great for a shaded area and easy to care for. It's often used for hedges as you can easily trim or prune it into the shape you like. Though boxwood can take sun, it grows best in partial shade or dabbled shade. It can grow in full shade but the growth will be slower and perhaps less full.

I hope you enjoyed this list of shade-loving plants that will add lots of structure and beauty to your landscape for years.