Conifers in shade?? (i.e., north side of house)

12 years ago

Hi all!!

I need your help!!--I have a general question about conifers, regarding light exposure...

I'm planning a shade garden--a 5' wide strip running along the north side of my house--and I would absolutely LOVE to have a few conifers (dwarf ones) in it. For a long time, I've just been assuming that this area would be considered FULL shade--and I know that most conifers are labeled as "sun to PART shade"...

But I recently read an article online that said that the area on the north side of a building is actually LESS than full shade (i.e. brighter), because it's still "open to the sky" (provided there are no trees/foliar canopies in the area--which there are NOT, on the north side of my house--nothing that would block the sunlight)...

So I took that to imply that the area would therefore be considered PART shade...??? Can I treat it as part shade??

My main question being, WOULD I BE ABLE TO GROW CONIFERS IN THIS AREA?!? (those that ARE labeled as "part shade")--an area where, depending on how far out from the house/wall they're positioned, they MAY receive VERY LITTLE direct sunlight?--or MAYBE even NONE at ALL?? (but again, even if it was only INDIRECT light, that indirect light would be very BRIGHT!)...???

In the summer, the area MAY get some direct sun in very early morning and/or in late evening--but I'm NOT SURE, as I didn't pay enough attention last year... (I live in zone 5--FAR southern Wisconsin, 10 miles from Illinois border--if that gives you an idea of my latitude...)

If I CAN get away with having some conifers in my shade garden, will they just merely SURVIVE (but look kind of "sad"), or is it possible they might actually THRIVE and perform very well???

Finally... I realize Tsuga is the most shade-tolerant kind of conifer, but I am MUCH more interested in the other types--mainly chamaecyparis, thuja, pine, juniper, & cryptomeria, but also abies, picea, & some others (again, dwarf cultivars)... So when I say I want to grow conifers in my shade garden, these are what I'm referring to.

So, not to be redundant, but can I grow these kinds of conifers on the north side of my house??? (And if so, will they perform well??)

Thanks!!

Shanna

P.S. Please forgive the length of this post--I apologize for all the rambling questions!! :)

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Comments (7)

wisconsitom
12 years ago
Shanna, you more or less have it right-this area can be considered 'part-shade'. One correction-Balsam fir-Abies balsamea is actually more shade tolerant than Tsuga. There may be a few mini cultivars of that one for you to check out. Also, it is nearly certain that your north side of house does indeed get some direct sun during the long-day time of year.

+oM
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
sounds like the front of my house.. and it actually gets a few hours of sun in late afternoon ...

you should try .. but it might not work.. some yellows ... they may not color well ...

who knows.. you are really just going to have to try it out..

rich's foxwillow is somewhere between you and chicago ... and you ought to visit ... [well, maybe.. lol, he looks like a NW chi burb ...] ... make an appointment.. for personal service ...

you are within driving distance of a LOCAL expert.. go for it.. take your camera .. and post us some pix .. please

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
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Sara Malone Zone 9b
12 years ago
There are a few that require shade, like Cryptomeria j. 'Knaptonensis' (Google it - it's quite pretty but it's a smaller variety). Cryptomeria j. 'Sekkan Sugi' can also take shade and gets large - 35' or so at maturity. Both of these have very light-colored new growth which is striking against the older, darker green. Concur that local advice good to secure at this point. Both of these are lovely plants and I think you would find them interesting. They also work well with Japanese maples and other non-conifers for a diverse and satisfying shade garden. Have fun with it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Form and Foliage
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
Cryptomeria

is not zone appropriate for zone 5 .. but for a very good z6 micro climate ....

near ann arbor.. with our prevailing winter winds from the NW ... the north of the house is not protected enough.. on my prairie ...

hey FF.. our reality is not z9b.. lol ...

ken
Sara Malone Zone 9b
12 years ago
Yeah, that's why I agreed on the local advice. The lit says zone 5 on both the ones I mentioned but the plant doesn't know what the tag says!
brentm
12 years ago
Picea abies - many cultivars with open forms do well in part shade or just 2-3hrs a day

Picea orientalis and its cultivars do great in shade

Chamaecyparis (Xanthocyparis) nootkatensis - have had this living in 80% shade.

Sciadopitys - though your snow load will disfigure them without careful attention

Taxus and it's cultivars - many will live in 80-90% shade.

Avoid any 2 or 3 needle pines, and most firs.

second on the Abies balsamea recommended above
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
Sciadopitys -- umbrella pine

not in my z5 ... but for extreme micro climate ...

ken

Conifers in shade?? (i.e., north side of house)

Comments (7)

wisconsitom

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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