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Small tree that tolerates shade

9 years ago

I'm looking for suggestions regarding this small shady spot. I put a watering can in the picture to give you some idea of scale. Bed depth is no more than 4 feet wide. I would like to put something tall in the corner, would a Japanese maple work, do you think? If not, do you have any suggestions of a tree that likes full shade nearly year round?

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Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
is that a sidewalk... or a driveway ... whats that door back under there????

how will you deal with a tree interfering with either????

does the sun EVER hit the stone work ...

how deep is the bed behind the can ... you dont have much space for a root mass of any size ...

what about a trellis and some vines.. like clematis.. or any of the more exotic available for your zone????

to my eye.. that gorgeous stone is screaming for some green ... but not a tree ... in any sense ...

perhaps if you gave us a pic of the greater area... we can come up with some other alternatives...

ken
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
That's not exactly full shade - full shade is created by some sort of overhang (roof, wide eaves, any overhead structure, tree canopy etc.). That looks more like indirect light (no direct sunlight), which can be quite bright, depending on any reflected light and exposure.

You need something tall and narrow. A clumping bamboo could work. A columnar evergreen, like Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' or 'Mariesii' (very slow growing - buy large). Columnar Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia Ã¢ÂÂFastigiataÃ¢ÂÂ), 'Graham Blandy' or 'Dee Runk' boxwood, Taxus baccata 'Stricta' or Taxus 'Beanpole'. Azara microphylla could work also if pruned periodically to keep spread within bounds.

All of these are pretty shade tolerant. Google the above and see what you like and what may be available in your area.
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Comments (8)
well ... hmmmm .... you are on the right track ... but working on the wrong variables ... i am going to come at it from another angle ... hosta are VERY HEAVY WATER USERS ... and they use the most water.. in the most heat .. which is why they struggle in the deep south ... they simply cant pump enough water to offset the loss ... and part of that is ... night temps.. they can cope better up here in MI because at night it cools considerably ... hosta actually sweat ... transpire ... in england.. which is above the 60th parallel.. or 2/3 of the way to the north pole.. they are ALL FULL SUN ... partly because the sun barely shines.. lol .. but also because of the declination of the sun.. the British are a pasty peeps.. because the sun is not as strong.. so the hosta can cope ... compare that to LA.. and you can see a stark difference. .. so.. hosta can grow in full sun .. hosta are only shade tolerant.. but the sun .. or conversely.. the shade is not really the issue.... its all about how effectively they can pump.. enough water. and if they have a recovery period to cope ... the fact that a hosta looks ratty in late summer.. is more a function of not enough water.. rather than too much light ... ken ps: zone.. which is.. in its simplest form.. MINIMUM WINTER TEMP ... has nothing to do with it .... pps: i have tons of wood hyacinths.. i dont know why you failed with those.. unless there are multiple plants under that common name ... ppps: hosta also have a requisite dormancy period.. and if you go too far south.. they dont get it ...
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Japanese maples are ideal choices for this type of planting.....accenting a water feature is a very common placement for a weeping JM in an Asian-inspired garden. And most are very shade tolerant and actually prefer to be in more shade than sun. Red leafed ones tend to lose coloring in a lot of shade so unless you don't care about that, selecting a green leafed form may be better. One of my favorites is Acer japonicum 'Green Cascade' - a very graceful weeping habit, wonderful delicate foliage and some splendid fall color with sufficient filtered sun. Here is a link that might be useful: Acer japonicum 'Green Cascade'
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
9 years ago
Why do you think you need a tree, or something tall, there?
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MK
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, it is a driveway. We have a very large driveway and the the door goes into the garage. I hadn't thought of a vine but I will give it some thought. I know I don't have much space for a tree (the bed depth is 4') and certainly don't want to have root disturbance since we just put in the driveway!
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
9 years ago
More work involved, but I would espalier a Fall blooming camellia there. But that's me!
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sc77 (6b MA)
9 years ago
My first choice would be Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls', but not sure if that can handle your z9. Since you mentioned Japanese maple, I'm thinking, maybe it can... If not, the already mentioned Cephalotaxus harringtonia Ã¢ÂÂFastigiataÃ¢ÂÂ is a great choice
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GrowerDon
9 years ago
Consider an Espaliered Japanese Maple. I think it would look wonderful their and meet all your concerns.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
Espaliered Japanese maple?? Oh, please no.....what an awful thing to do to those beautiful trees.

Find something that will work without having to exert all sort of contortions on the plant. Anything tall and narrow would suit the area well and if planted towards the back, would leave space for lower growing flowering accents.
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drrich2
9 years ago
Would some of the upright dwarf conifers look good there? The wall has fairly strong straight lines; something a bit formal in form?

At a place I used to live, I planted 2 Golden Hinoki False Cypress trees (Chamaecyparis obtusa Verdoni - 30-36" size). I don't know what the closest equivalent would be for zone 9; I'm 6b, so I'm not sured to California conditions.

Richard.
0

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