Shrubs That Can Grow in Full Shade
Below you will find a list of Shrubs from our plant database that can grow in full shade. If you click on any of the photos, you will see a Virtual Plant Tag that may contain photos, plant descriptions, usage suggestions and a link to where you can buy that plant for your landscaping. The concept of a shrub can be difficult to define since different people might consider the same plant a groundcover, broadleaf evergreen, bush or tree. The shrubs may be evergreen or deciduous; those that lose their leaves over winter.
Uses for these bushes vary by variety, and may also thrive in partial shade or full sun and a variety of soil conditions including wet soil, moist soil, or dry soil.
With increased awareness of the value that native shrubs add to the natural landscape, these suggestions will help you make good choices about which plants are best suited for your home garden: Box Huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) is an ericaceous plant, which means it is from the same family as the acid-loving Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Box Huckleberry is an low-growing evergreen or ground cover that can grow under pine trees, Rhododendrons, Mountain Laurel and Andromeda. Bracted Viburnum (V. bracteatum) is similar to the Arrowwood Viburnum, both of which are durable and adaptable in the landscape. Not as well known as its relative the Summersweet Clethra or Sweet Pepperbush, the Cinnamon Clethra or Mountain Pepperbush (C. acuminata) has peeling, cinnamon-colored bark and fragrant flowers that attract butterflies. Drooping Leucothoe, Fetterbush or Highland Dog-nobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana (catesbaei), another member of the Rhododendron family makes a nice facer plant, to hide leggy plants in area of moist soil. New cultivars with variegated foliage brighten shady areas.
Europe and Asia have given American gardeners numerous shade-loving or shade tolerant shrubs that include: Box-leaved or Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata) and the numerous cultivars can be sheared to maintain hedge shapes, growing somewhat more open in density in the shade, this is good for Boxwood (Buxus) since the increased air circulation can prevent some fungus problems that can be problematic in densely trimmed Boxwoods; Known as either Burkwood's Osmanthus, Burkwood's Devilwood or Osmanthus x burkwoodii, this fragrant, compact hybrid resembles holly leaves; for southern gardens, the Chinese or Shrubby Podocarpus makes a nice hedge or screen and is considered deer resistant; with beautiful blue berries and pretty ridged leaves, Viburnum davidii is being cultivated more; Japanese Kerria, Japanese Rose or K. japonica with its abundant yellow flowers prospers in a variety of tough garden settings.