University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
SHRUBS FOR SHADE
Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont
Many of us have at least some, if not
most, of our landscape in shade.
Although perennials are most often thought of for shady sites, there are
some good shrub choices as well.
Rhododendrons and azaleas are most often thought of for a shade garden,
but other hardy shrub choices include daphne, Caroline allspice, drooping
leucothoe, dwarf fothergilla, mountain laurel, mountain pieris, redvein
enkianthus, Virginia sweetspire, and witch hazel.
Caroline allspice (Calycanthus
floridus) is native to the southeastern U.S. so is hardy only to USDA zone
5 (-10 to –20F average minimum) where it can reach about eight feet high and
wide. It will tolerate full sun to part
shade, and moist soils to some drought once established. The main attractions are the yellow fall
color, and the reddish brown flowers in late spring with a scent of
and ‘Michael Lindsey’ are two cultivars (cultivated varieties) you might look for.
Daphne (Daphne burkwoodii) is most
often seen as the cultivar (cultivated variety) ‘Carol Mackii’. Although often short lived (five to ten
years), its creamy-margined leaves brighten up part shade and its sweetly
scented flowers are effective near patios and windows. It reaches two to three feet high and wide,
and is effective in masses. Daphne needs a moist, but well-drained soil in USDA
zone 4 or warmer (-20 to –30F average minimum).
Redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus
campanulatus) is named for the red veins in the urn-shaped flowers which
are otherwise creamy with reddish tips.
These hang in clusters in spring from ends of branches where the leaves
are clustered as well. Plants can reach
six to ten feet high and a bit less wide.
‘Red Bells’ is a cultivar with more red in flowers and in the bright
fall colors. Consider this shrub if you
live in USDA zone 5 or warmer.
Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla
gardenii) is a multi-stemmed shrub two to three feet high, with deep green
leaves in summer which turn reds to yellows in fall. Slightly fragrant
bottlebrush flowers appear before leaves in spring. This plant forms a nice thicket in masses in
moist, well-drained soils in USDA zone 5 and warmer. ‘Appalachia’
is a slightly shorter cultivar.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis) has
several species and cultivars which reach six to ten feet. They are noted for their late winter yellow,
strap-like and scented flowers and yellowish fall color. These prefer moist, acid, and well-drained
soils but will tolerate poor soils.
Plants are more dense in sun, more open in part shade. While ‘Pallida’ with pale yellow flowers is
marginally hardy in USDA zone 5, others such as ‘Arnold Promise’ with gold
flowers, ‘Diane’ with russet red flowers, and ‘Jelena’ with copper flowers
should be hardy to zone 5.
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is
named from the spires, up to six inches long, of sweetly-scented white flowers
in late spring to early summer. This
species is found in the south, where it is native, along ponds which indicates
it can take periodic flooding even though it prefers well-drained soils. Tolerating part shade, the fall colors are
brighter in full sun. It can reach eight
feet tall, but usually the species and cultivars are three to four feet
high. Marginally hardy in USDA zone 5,
the cultivars ‘Henry’s Garnet’ with wine red fall leaves, and ‘Morton’ with
scarlet fall leaves are slightly more hardy.
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
is an evergreen shrub from the eastern U.S. which can reach
8 to 15 feet high and wide, but generally is a bit less. Depending on cultivar
and location, you may see flowers in late spring to mid summer. These are the main attraction, found in
clusters near branch tips. White to pink
in nature, flowers in the many cultivars may also have reds and combinations of
bud and flower colors. This evergreen needs protection from winter winds, and
from reflected light if in full sun.
Dappled shade is best, as is an acid, well-drained soil. The species and cultivars may be marginally
hardy in USDA zone 4.
Drooping leucothoe (Leucothoe
fontanesiana) has arching stems about three feet high and six feet
wide. It is attractive at woodland edges
in part shade with its dark green pointed evergreen leaves, and white
urn-shaped flowers drooping along stems. Plant where this species can grow
naturally with no pruning, where it is protected from winter winds which cause
leaves to brown, and in acid soils. The species, the shorter cultivar ‘Nana’,
and the variegated ‘Girard’s Rainbow’ all are hardy to USDA zone 5.
Mountain pieris (Pieris japonica) is an
evergreen shrub that may be hardy to USDA zone 4 (floribunda) or zone 5
(japonica). While the former is native to the southeastern U.S., most
cultivars are of the latter species.
Clusters of white, scented flowers in spring resemble lilies-of
–the-valley. These plants prefer part
shade, but tolerate some sun. They
prefer moist, well-drained, acid soils but will tolerate some alkalinity
(higher pH). Most reach about three to
five feet high and wide. Some of the
cultivars to look for include the dwarf ‘Cavatine’, ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ with rosy
winter buds opening light pink, ‘Mountain Fire’ with bright red new growth, the
pink flowered ‘Valley Valentine’, and the dwarf ‘Prelude’ with pink buds
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