I believe balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and Abies amabilis, Pacific Silver Fir are shade tolerant, but they may out grow that desired size of 20'-15'x15'...

: )

J

Could you define "part shade" with a few more details?

tj

Sorry I was going to put that in there.

I'm estimating 1 hour morning sun and 2-3 hours late afternoon/early evening sun during the growing season.

Red Spruce (Picea Rubens) are VERY shade tolerant, especially when young. They too will grow out of your desired height range eventually though, however are slower to moderate in growth rate. In cultivation, they usually tend to the short end of their range which, which is 55-130+ feet tall. Keep in mind that the ones that get huge, are usually 2 to 300+ years old. I would expect that in an average human lifetime you might see it get around 50 to 60 feet tall at most. You are out of their native range, however I think they would do just fine there given proper water, occasional feeding, and decent drainage. They can tend to like moist environments, but not soggy / standing water. They are very cold hardy, good to around -50 or so (below zero). They can be subject to wind throw however as they have a fairly shallow / fiberous roots. They are beautiful trees, especially when not subjected to the constant, VERY STRONG winds, heavy ice and snow, that they are in much of their native environments in the high elevations of the eastern mountains of the U.S. When subjected to those conditions, they will often flag, or even go into complete Krummholz form. (Flagging is a form a Krummholz where the trees only grow branches on the leeward side of the tree, opposite of the direction the strong prevailing winds come from. Krummholz, is flagging, as well as the tree being extremely stunted to only several feet or so, or less. These both usually occur in very harsh alpine environs however.)

Not subjected to those harsh alpine conditions, they form conical, full, lush green crowns that are the classic spruce shape. Many consider the Red Spruce to be one of the the more beautiful native spruces, and the most beautiful spruce native to the eastern US.

Here are a couple photos of some Red Spruce in habitat. First one is probably 60+ years old. Second photo are likely a decade or so younger.

OK whaas, we're getting closer. Is the 15' ht limit and the shade due to nearby tree canopy? Is it open shade, dense shade, north side of a building shade, you know the drill. Even deciduous shade is different. Under Black Walnut my conifers do ok (save one) because the walnut leafs out late and drops leaves early. Even then, different cultivars can act differently. I have a Cham. obtusa 'Cripsii' that is lanky and stretching for the sun. Eight feet away (and actually in denser shade) I have a Cham. obtusa 'Torulosa' that is quite happy. Of the more common conifers that grow here, I'd rate Taxus, Abies balsamea and Tsuga (in that order) as most shade tolerant, perhaps even Thuja. Some Chamaecyparis (select obtusa and pisifera) and Picea (omorika and mariana) also do well.

tj

:-) Sciadopity's verticillata 'Wintergreen'

Dax

Any yew (Taxus sp.) will be shade tolerant. Hemlocks are also quite shade tolerant. I've had great success with most Hinokis (Chamaecyparis obtusa) in part shade as well as Cryptomerias - 'Sekkan Sugi' looks especially good in a part shade location.

Hello Whaas, you will not be able to grow any Cryptomeria. If the winter doesn't kill them, the summer for sure will. You might get 2-years from a Cryptomeria, at best. The only way in your's or mine climates is to build a brick wall around them 20 feet tall or, have them inside of a circular i.e. dense screen of conifers that too, are tall. And still, they could die at any time.

Dax

i am sorry.. i would not call your hours.. PART sun ...

how early in the morning is that one hour.. its all about intensity of the light.. and an hour at dawn.. is not the same as an hour at 11am ...

reduced sun.. usually will not kill a conifer.. but it will affect its annual growth rate ..

regardless .. i am doubting 3 hours is enough ... but that should not stop you from trying ....

i would start very small.. rather than moving a large transplant from full sun to low light .... a large one my never get 'established'

ken

In Ohio... Nootkensis/Alaskan Cypress do very well in less than full sun. See them all the time on North sides of houses and look great. Take a long time to get to the 20 foot range, some types are wider than others.

Canadian Hemlocks are great, should get more than 20 feet eventually for sure thou, but a beautiful ornamental tree just grown as normal species. There are bushy forms but I don't see the point personally.