Small evergreen plant shrubs that are tolerant of shade supply color to shaded gardens . Many types of shade - large-minded evergreen shrubs also produce wondrous flowering blossom in wraith of red , blanched , yellowish , orange , purple , and pink . In improver , planting modest shrubs that grow in the shadow of trees , construction , walls , or large shrubs forestall your front or backyard from look sparse , without any greenery or raw elements .
Choosing the safe modest or dwarf evergreen bush for shade can be tricky . Some shrub varieties perform best in partial shade or dappled sunlight . In direct contrast , other modest shrubs need full shade — fewer than two hour of sunshine daily — to thrive .
This article is a guide to picking dwarf or low - growing shrubs for a shaded garden landscape . Descriptions and pictures of shade - loving low - growing shaggy plant will help you choose the practiced variety for your front or backyard .
How to Choose Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs for Shade
To decide which small evergreen shrub to plant , think the amount of sun , soil character , and maintenance needs . For model , shrub for partial to full refinement only postulate a few hours of sun daily . Also , check your USDA hardiness geographical zone to pick midget President George W. Bush and shrubs that thrive in your climate .
Full Shade, Partial Shade, Dappled Shade And Light Shade
For shrubs to thrive in shaded landscape , it ’s crucial to get laid how much sun your front or backyard gets . Typically , calorie-free requirements are relegate as partial sun , partial shade , and full wraith . Additionally , dappled sunlight is when speckle of sunshine and shadow fall down on shrub foliage .
Here are descriptions of levels of shadowiness shrubs want :
The Best Small Evergreen Shrubs for Shade
The best low - growing or belittled shade - tolerant evergreen shrub depend on your landscape motivation . For example , boxwood and English yew are ideal for evergreen plant hedges in fond shadowiness to dappled sunlight . But dwarf Japanese camellia and azalea shrubs have yr - long foliage andstunning flashy flowers in shaded gardens .
Types of Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs For Shade (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
There are many dwarf orsmall evergreen bush that flourish in shaded conditions . Here are 15 type of shade - tolerant shrubs with evergreen plant foliage , some of which are alsosmall flowering shrubs .
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Euonymus fortunei‘Emerald Gaiety’)
The small evergreen plant wintercreeper ‘ Emerald Gaiety ’ bush has variegated leaves and is suitable for fond subtlety
Wintercreeper is a low - growing , shade - tolerant spread out shrubthat grows in thickets . The attractive evergreen shrub has beautiful fondness - form , variegated sullen unripe folio with creamy margins . The ovate leaves measure 1.75 ” ( 4.5 cm ) in diameter . The little evergreen bushy plant blooms with clusters of tiny headliner - shaped dark-green - white flowers .
Also yell spindle ‘ Emerald Gaiety , ’ the small shrub with its attractive foliage grows 4 to 5 ft . ( 1.2 – 1.5 m ) grandiloquent . The vigorous shrub is idealistic for grow as a depleted hedge , foundation planting , orevergreen ground coverin partial shade .
Agriculture Department growing zones:5 to 9
Sun photo : Full sun to partial shade
Soil requirements : Medium wet , well - drained soil
Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis‘Spreading Star’)
The ‘ Spreading Star ’ Pacific silver fir is an evergreen shrub with spreading development habit that can be spring up in both sun and shade
The spreading Pacific silvery fir is an evergreen shrub - like coniferous tree with exuberant , slow fuzzy green foliage . The tardily - growing coniferous shrub thrives in partial sun to full shadowiness , and it can also go full sun . The shrub ’s foliation consist of acerate leaf - like fleeceable leaves with a silver underside growing on arc branches .
Pacific silver fir tree ‘ propagate Star ’ raise up to 3 ft . ( 1 m ) grandiloquent and 6 foot . ( 1.8 m ) wide . The low - growing shrubby conifer is idealistic for small gardens , containers , orground cover in full shade .
USDA growing zones:6 to 8
Sun exposure : Full sun to complete specter
grease requirements : Moist , well - drained ground
Dwarf Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua)
There is a variety of low maintenance evergreen dwarf camellia shrubs to become landscape gardening shaded smaller spaces
Dwarf Nipponese camellia ( Camellia japonica ) is a flowering evergreen plant bush that favour part nicety or subtlety . The slow - maturate , shaggy industrial plant is discover by its leatherlike , lanceolate , lustrous green leaf and showy doubled blooms covering the compact foliage from late winter until former spring . The attractive bloom measure 3 ” to 5 ” ( 7.5 – 10 centimetre ) .
Also call peony camellia , this is one of the most democratic shade - make love landscape plants . When in full bloom , the dwarf shrubs produce an salient flowered show . Nipponese camellia bush are perfect for growing in shrub borders , mixed beds , containers , or as a living covert or flowering hedgerow .
Sasanqua camelia ( Camellia sasanqua ) is native to China and Japan and has circularize to the West with various dwarf cultivar . They are typically faster grow and low criminal maintenance . Their flowers and leaves are slimly belittled , and they bloom a bit earlier in autumn until late wintertime . Sasanqua camellia can grow in full sun and shade .
USDA mature zones:7 to 9
Sun exposure : Partial sun to full shade
Soil prerequisite : Consistently moist ground with excellent drainage
Evergreen Compact Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata‘Compacta’)
Evergreen compact Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata ‘ Compacta ’ ) can grow in partial tincture and has an attractive rounded anatomy
Compact Japanese holly is a low - growing evergreen plant shrub known for its rich dark green leafage and globular shape . The compact easy - to - rise landscape bush performs well in fond shade . This shrub hassmall fragrant dark-green - white spring flowers , obovate glossy green leaves , and minor black drupes from summer through fall .
Also calledboxleaf holly , the compact Japanese holly shrub grows around 6 foot . ( 1.8 m ) tall and wide . The shade - large-minded shrub also perform well in full sun . you could plant the evergreen shrub as a bush border , foundation industrial plant , medium - sized hedging , ortall ground cover .
Boxwood (Buxus)
point modest evergreen boxwood shrubs in the front of menage to increase the AMEX appealingness or as a decorative factor in sunny or shaded area
succinct evergreen boxwood shrubs perform just as well in full shade as in full temperateness . The dwarf boxwood varieties have densely - growing ovate , calendered dark-green leaves that keep their colour throughout the year . In increase , the gnome , low landscaping shrubs typically have a spheric habit and are promiscuous to grow in an urban landscape painting .
Dwarfboxwood evergreen plant shrubsgrow between 1 and 5 foot . ( 0.3 – 1.5 m ) magniloquent and all-encompassing . The hardy shrub do well , growing as instauration plantings , topiary , formal hedgerow , and container works in shaded gardens . you could also plant low - growing varieties of boxwood as earth cover .
Agriculture growing zones:5 to 8
Sun exposure : Full sun , partial sunlight , mottled sunlight , and complete shade
grime requirements : Evenly moist , well - drain grease
Dwarf Pittosporum Evergreen Shrubs
The small evergreen Golf Ball pittosporum ( Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘ Golf Ball ’ ) can tolerate fond shade
Several smorgasbord ofsmall pittosporum shrubsare gross if you want to grow evergreen shrubs in partial shade . Pittosporum shrub are identify by their leathered , coloured , glossy green folio growing in whorls and cluster of diminished ashen - scented flowers . Depending on the nanus cultivar , pittosporum shrubs spring up 1 to 3 ft . ( 0.3 – 1 m ) magniloquent .
Apart from its ornamental sheeny green leaves , the attractive features of pittosporums are their first-class increment rate and power to thrive in full sunshine or shade .
Several cultivars of modest pittosporum shrubs have variegated leaf . Generally , the vary pittosporum plant have ovate or obovate green leaves with narrow whitish or yellowish rippled margin .
Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium)
Oregon grapeshot is a flowering evergreen plant shrub with yellow flowers in former spring , followed by downcast berry
Oregon grape holly is a strikingevergreen shaggy-coated plantwith bright yellow clusters of flush , shiny holly - like leaves , and dark downcast grape - like berries . The upright piano , spreading , easy - growing bush performs well in partial sun to complete shade . It ’s a bush paragon for brighten up shaded gardens due to its brightly colour blossoms .
Also called holly - leaved barberry , the bush grows 3 to 6 ft . ( 1 – 1.8 m ) tall and up to 5 ft . ( 1.5 m ) all-encompassing .
Dwarf Evergreen Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)
Nipponese skimmia is a minuscule anthesis evergreen shrub that is leisurely to care for and loves ghost
Nipponese skimmia is a behind - growing flower shrub that do well in shaded landscapes . The ghost - loving evergreen plant plant is recognized by its cluster of fragrant white flowers , promising red berries , and lancelike leathery green leaves . Japanese skimmia arise 3 to 4 ft . ( 1 – 1.2 m ) tall and up to 5 ft . ( 1.5 m ) wide .
Grow Japanese skimmia in an evergreen landscape that gets very little direct sunshine . It ’s an idealshrub for evergreen hedges , flowering front yard shrub , foundation plantings , shrub edge , and an ornamental specimen plant life .
Sun exposure : Part Sunday to complete shade
Soil requirements : middling fertile , moist , well - drain soil
Anglo-Japanese Yew (Taxus × Media‘Densiformis’)
The airing and low growth substance abuse of Taxus x media Densiformis make it suited as an evergreen ground cover industrial plant
The Anglo - Japaneseyew hybridis an evergreen bush with a rounded growth habit and foliage consisting of hopeful green needle leaves . This yew bush thrives in few than 2 hours of sunlight day by day . The tardily - growing shrub eventually grow 3 to 4 ft . ( 1 – 1.2 ) marvellous and up to 6 ft . ( 1.8 m ) all-inclusive .
English Yew ( Taxus baccata‘Repandens ’ ) is another nanus yew bush ideal for spread ground cover . The English yew ‘ Repandens ’ cultivar does n’t mature over 4 ft . ( 1.2 m ) marvelous but has a massive spread of up to 15 foot . ( 4.5 m ) .
Taxus baccata ‘ Repandens ’ is an ornamental yew bush that is suited for both sunshine and shade
The evergreen cone-bearing bush is ideal for planting as a low - growing hedge , land cover , orfoundation planting for front of house .
USDA growing zones:4 to 7
Sun photograph : Full sun , part sunshine , mottled sunlight , full shade
Dwarf Azalea Shrubs (Rhododendron spp.)
Flowering Azalea bush include small cultivars that will give stunning colouring to partiallyshadedgarden
Severalvarieties of azalea shrubsare low - arise decorative plant suited for succinct gardens . Small evergreen azaleas are known for their funnel - mould , fragrant , showy flowers , lance - shaped leaves , and attractive , rounded appearance . gnome azalea shrubs can be evergreen or deciduous and originate between 1 and 4 ft . ( 0.3 – 1.2 m ) tall , depending on the diversity .
Easy - charge azalea shrubsare desirable for planting in dappled sunlight or shaded landscapes . When in bloom from late outpouring until other summer , the rounded President Bush are covered in showy flowers . Plant nanus evergreen azalea ( also called Nipponese azaleas ) as a hedge , groundwork flora , or eye - catching anthesis shrub in a container .
Sun pic : Partial shade with some auspices from flatus
grime requirements : Well - drain , organically - rich soil
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense)
The compact Chinese periphery flower shrub has colored evergreen plant foliage and mystifying pinkish flowers and can tolerate part shade
The Taiwanese bang flower is an ornamentalevergreen shrub for lovesome , humid climates . The attractive shrub is known for itspinkish - red leavesand perfumed , late pink flowers with thin curling petals . The Chinese fringe flower shrub has dwarf miscellany with a mounding habit , grow 4 foot . ( 1.2 m ) marvellous and wide .
This versatile landscape gardening shrub is consummate for lighten up front and backyards that are in light shade . If you ’re look for a shrub with deep red foliage and delicate strappy petal , then a dwarf Formosan outskirt flowering shrub is perfect .
USDA growing zones:7 to 10
Soil requirements : Moist , at large , well - draining soil
Dog Hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana)
The wraith tolerant wienerwurst hobble evergreen shrub has delicate blanched flower clusters and is quite humble
Dog hobble is a graceful evergreen shrub with attractive arching stems , slender lance - regulate leaf , and clustering of urn - influence , creamy - blank flowers . The eye - capture green foliage emerges ruddy or bronze and turns violet in winter . Adding to the shrub ’s attractiveness , drooping flower clusters growing 3 ” ( 7 centimetre ) long dangle from branches .
Also called drooping laurel wreath or highland doghobble , the shade - love ornamental shrub is ideal for develop in bungalow gardens , shrub border , and understory bush . Dog hobble bush uprise 3 to 6 foot . ( 1 – 1.8 megabyte ) improbable .
Sun photograph : Partial sun , partial tad , and full tone
Soil requirement : Moist , well - drained acidic stain
Dwarf Japanese Pieris Shrub (Pieris japonica‘Cavatine’)
The small-scale evergreen flowering Pieris japonica ‘ Cavatine ’ bush looks beautiful in any front or backyard
The Japanese Pieris cultivar ‘ Cavatine ’ is an attractive evergreen plant shrub with pile of ornamental features . The compact , shaggy-coated plant has clusters of tiny flowers that look like lily - of - the - vale efflorescence . These demarcation nicely with the lanceolate dark green pointed parting . The low - originate shrub grows 2 ft . ( 0.6 m ) tall and up to 3 foot . ( 1 m ) wide .
The stunning flowering evergreenbush becomes a mountain of livid flowerswhen in bloom in early spring . The woody Japanese Pieris shrub is ideal for planting along borders , foundation line of descent of a mansion , and mass plantings .
Sun photograph : Partial ghost
dirt requirement : Constantly moist , well - drained ground
Dwarf Hemlock Shrubs (Tsuga canadensis)
Tsuga canadensis ‘ Cole ’s Prostrate ’ is a nuance large-minded evergreen plant small bush
Many varieties of dwarfCanadian poison hemlock shrubsare suitable for planting in fond to cryptic shade . The evergreen coniferous shrubs have attractive sprays of lacy leaf , giving the shrubs a elegant appearance . The bush perform well in nerveless northern mood . Although they can tolerate sunny condition , California fern shrubs thrive in the tint .
Some example of suitable gnome hemlock tree shrubs for fond to full shade include the pursual :
Canadian hemlock ‘ Stockman ’s Dwarf’—The evergreen bush grows 1.5 to 3 ft . ( 0.45 – 1 m ) tall and 4 ft . ( 1.2 m ) wide . foliation consists of curt obscure phonograph needle acquire on slight stalks .
Canadian hemlock ‘ Nana Gracilis’—A miniature slow - uprise shrub that make 2.5 ft . ( 0.8 m ) after ten year . The dwarf coniferous bush have silvery green needle leaves .
Canadian Conium maculatum ‘ Gracilis’—Growing 2 to 3 foot . ( 0.6 – 1 m ) marvelous , the modest shaggy-coated , flat - top conifer has monotonic sprays of intermediate dark-green needles , each with two white bands on the underside .
Canadian Hemlock ‘ Cole ’s Prostrate ’ – The ‘ Cole ’s Prostrate ’ hemlock cultivar is a low - growing evergreen bush that is worthy for evergreen dry land back in the wraith . It ’s a slow - growing needled plant that grows 12 ” ( 30 cm ) tall and up to 5 ft . ( 1.5 m ) wide .
USDA arise zones:3 to 7
Sun exposure : Partial shade to abstruse shade
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