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Gardening in Shade FAQ

What evergreen shrubs will grow in shade?

11 years ago

Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) are well known for blooming in the shade, but many, especially the small-leaved species, can grow in sun. In general the larger the leaves the more shade is needed. For warmer zones evergreen azaleas (Rhododendrons) will grow in part shade. Mountain and Sheep Laurel (Kalmia spp.) will grow in full shade, but will flower better in part shade.

Other broad-leaved evergreens include Andromedas (Pieris spp) as well as Leucothoe spp, Mahonia spp, Gaultheria spp, Hebe spp. and Skimmia spp. Boxwood (Buxus spp.) and small leaved hollies (Ilex spp.) can be useful in foundation plantings and in hedges. Among the needled evergreens, dwarf forms of Cypress (Chamaecyparis spp.) and Hemlock (Tsuga spp.) are useful in the rock garden with light to nearly full shade. The Yews (Taxus spp.) are useful, but are often overused.

Many of these shrubs have forms that are native to North America and are available in species and cultivars (cultivated varieties improved for size, fragrance, beauty or other desirable characteristic). Not all shrubs listed here are hardy to all zones, please evaluate them carefully for your site and conditions.

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My two recommendations, based on my own experience only (in Austin), would be ligustrum or boxwood. Although these are both "part sun" plants, mine live in basically full-shade conditions (the shade is from cedar elm and ash juniper, so it is not the dark shade like from large oak trees). The boxwood grows very slowly in these conditions, but stays green and healthy-looking. The ligustrum can get a little leggy, but if you prune in the spring it will fill out within the year. Ed.
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And you live where? and your zone is?
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OP is back ;-) I appreciate all the answers I've gotten and I realize that I didn't give you enough to work with. In the first picture, you see the spot. The distance between the house and the hedge is 5 feet and 9 inches. The window is facing north and there's a public walk/bike path on the other side of the hedge (so more or less right outside the window) as you can see in the second picture: The hedge is carpinus betulus and not particularly dense, especially not in the winter: The room (behind the window) is going to become our bedroom. The window sits rather low (knee-height) and it gets very dark here in the winter (from 3.30pm to 8.30am), so when the lights are on, we'd feel rather exposed :-( Blinds would be ok, but I'd also like some kind of plant outside the window that together with the hedge would make it less easy to see every little detail in our bedroom when the lights are on and the blinds open. I'm afraid I have no idea whether I have acidic soil... I'll look up the suggestions you've all given me, but please feel free to share your opinion now that you have more information.
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I know you say that, Gardengal, but I grew up in a zone 5 midwestern town and saw many years worth of established Hick's yews blasting out upward growth every Spring. Later, throughout the summer would come more, and all this easily added up to a decent foot of growth. Where you are, 4" to 6" may be all you get, but it's not what is typical of Hick's in the upper Midwest. Here's a picture I snatched off of Google and you can see that there is easily more than 6" of new growth. It is not fully expanded and will become even taller. It is merely one flush of growth whereas there would be 2 more lesser ones coming before the summer growing season is finished. It adds up. It really doesn't matter what "reputable conifer sources" say when one can see endless examples to the contrary right in front of their eyes.
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