Shrubs for Shade

If you have a shady corner and want to add a few shrubs, it’s important to know which varieties to plant, because most shrubs are sun-loving plants or will tolerate, at best, only partial shade. Very few species will do well in a heavily shaded spot, that is, one that receives very little direct sunlight.

The following shrubs, though, have all that ability and also that of being able to tolerate the presence of abundant tree roots. Do note that even shade-tolerant shrubs will likely grow more slowly in the shade, may bloom less abundantly or appear a bit sparser than they would in a more brightly lit spot. Those are environmental comprises they made long ago to living in a situation where sunlight, their only source of energy, is rare. Even so, the shrubs listed below will all acclimatize and do well in shade.

Other Factors

To successfully grow shrubs in shade, you also have to respect their hardiness zone, given here following the plant’s name. In short, you can grow shrubs of your hardiness zone and of any zone with a smaller number. For example, if you live in zone 5, you can choose shrubs from zones 1 through 5.

Also, each species has its soil preferences: rich or poor, acid, neutral or alkaline, moist or dry, dense or light … but there was no room to include all that here, so this list can really only be a first step in your search.

It’s also useful to know how to plant in soil invaded by tree roots. For that purpose, I suggest you read A Laidback Gardener’s Guide to Planting in Dry Shade before you start.

That said, here is the list of tough shrubs that tolerate deep shade.

The Best Shrubs for Shade

1. Aucuba japonica (aucuba, spotted laurel) zone 7
2. Buxus spp. (boxwood) zone 4 to 7, according to species
3. Calycanthus floridulus (Carolina allspice) zone 5b
4. Camellia spp.(camellia) zone 8
5. Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonwood) zone 4
6. Chionanthus virginicus (fringetree) zone 5b
7. Clethra alnifolia (summersweet) zone 4b
8. Cornus alternifolius (pagoda dogwood) zone 3
9. Cornus racemosa (grey dogwood) zone 3
10. Diervilla spp. (bush honeysuckle) zone 3 to 5, according to species
11. Dirca palustris (leatherwood) zone 4
12. Eleutherococcus sieboldianus, syn. Acanthopanax sieboldianus (spikenard) zone 5

    

13. Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus, burning bush) zone 3
14. Euonymus fortunei (wintercreeper) zone 5
15. X Fatshedera lizei (tree ivy) zone 8
16. Fatsia japonica (fatsia, Japanese aralia) zone 8
17. Fothergilla spp. (fothergilla) zone 5 to 6, according to species
18. Fuchsia (fuchsia) zone 7 to 9, according to species
19. Gardenia jasminoides (gardenia) zone 8
20. Gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen) zone 2
21. Gaultheria shallon (salal) zone 7
22. Hamamelis virginiana (common witchhazel) zone 4b
23. Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea) zone 6
24. Ilex spp. (holly) zone 3 to 8, according to species
25. Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire) zone 6
26. Kalmia angustifolia (sheep laurel) zone 1
27. Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) zone 5
28. Kerria japonica (kerria) zone 5b

    

29. Leucothoe spp. (leucothoe) zone 5 to 7, according to species
30. Lindera benzoin (spicebush) zone 5
31. Lonicera spp. (honeysuckle) 2 to 7, according to species
32. Mahonia spp. (grape-holly) zone 4 to 8, according to species
33. Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) zone 7
34. Microbiota decussata (Siberian cypress) zone 3
35. Physocarpus spp. (ninebark) zone 3
36. Pieris japonica (Japanese pieris) zone 6
37. Pittosporum tobira (Japanese mockorange) zone 8
38. Rhododendron (rhododendron, azalea) (some varieties, such as ‘Boule de neige’, R. carolinianum, R. catawbiense, ‘Elviira’, R. kiusianum, ‘Maid in Shade’ series, ‘Nova Zembla’, ‘P.J.M.’, ‘Ramapo’, R. schlippenbachii, ‘Snowbell’) zone 3 to 10, according to species
39. Rhododendron groenlandicum, syn. Ledum groenlandicum (Labrador tea) zone 1
40. Ribes alpinum (alpine currant) zone 4b
41. Rubus odoratus (purple-flowerig raspberry, thimbleberry) zone 3

    

42. Sambucus spp. (elderberry) zones 3 to 6, according to species
43. Sarcocca spp. (sweet box) zone 6
44. Sorbaria spp. (sorbaria) zone 2 to 5, according to species
45. Staphylea spp. (bladdernut) zones 4 to 6, according to species
46. Symphoricarpos spp. (snowberry) 3 to 6, according to species
47. Taxus spp. (yew) zone 4 to 6, according to species
48. Tsuga spp. (hemlock) zone 4 to 6, according to species
49. Vaccinium (cranberry) zone 3
50. Viburnum spp. (viburnum) zones 2 to 8, according to species