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Gardening in Shade

help choosing small tree shrub plant for shaded area

6 years ago

Hi all i live in brooklyn. i need some ideas for a small space (probably around 7 feet wide) framed out by a boxwood hedge. it faces north so some morning sun but mostly shade. not the best soil but grew some lavender there which died do to tons of snow this last winter. would love some ideas that are colorful, and/or sweet smelling, and small. something i could prune and keep under 5 feet tall or so. any ideas would be very helpful

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

6 years ago

Lavender won't grow in shade :-) It's a full sun, hot summer plant.

You could try a daphne - they will tolerate a partially shaded location nicely and offer wonderful fragrance. I'd look at one of the summer blooming ones, like Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice' or 'Eternal Fragrance' or 'Carol Mackie'. They tend to have a very long bloom season and are relatively easy to care for - will stay under your height requirement but spread out to fill the space. Semi-evergreen in your climate and just need very well-drained soil (which hopefully you had for the lavender).

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Comments (9)

PRO
glasshouse
Original Author
6 years ago
pretty much exactly what im looking for. the only concern is online they say its very toxic. is this anything to really be concerned with? i have 2 kids 2 and 4 years old , not big plant eaters. also upstairs neighbor has a dog
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TF... not sure which block wall you are referring to. Other side of the two taller block walls (on the right side of the picture and the top of the picture) are neighbors yards. the small 3-4 foot retaining wall that sits underneath the large block wall in the back of the yard is part of my yard and has some sort of shrub that I don't know the name of. It was recommended by a nursery when i moved here knowing nothing about plants. Whatever it is, I don't care for it and will eventually replace those as well. Probably with Natal Plum, which I already have a few of growing on that very same ledge, but to the left out of the picture. They seem to do well in that spot, ever-green and have flowers that smell nice. I thought I read on some other thread about figs that somebody in the Phoenix area had that Bordeaux variety (among quite a few others) and said it was the best producer and their favorite of them all. I could be imagining that though.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Unless the kids and dogs are inclined to eat woody branches or stems, the toxicity is pretty much centered with the berries and as hybrids, these varieties are unlikely to produce berries........I have never seen them do so.
PRO
glasshouse
Original Author
6 years ago
perfect thank you!
PRO
glasshouse
Original Author
6 years ago
im never smelled a daphne curious what it smells like. will have to find one around here
User
6 years ago
Maybe check out Osmanthus.
poaky1
5 years ago
THis is an old thread, but, just wondering what shade plant have you chosen glasshouse? I was wondering because I would like to know if you chose something that was in zone 6a hardiness zone, which I am guessing is the warmest that Brooklyn, NY gets in winter. But, even if Brooklyn is 6b or 7a, I would love to know that Brooklyn is 6b or 7a. And what shade plant you have chosen. If you haven't chosen anything yet, there are many clumping Bamboos that are zone 6a hardy, and will grow in shade.
User
5 years ago
I think this is a perfect spot for a couple of small hydrangeas. There are newer, shorter varieties that have strong, sturdy stems, so the blooms don't flop.
violetsnapdragon
5 years ago
Rhododendron--evergreen, too! And no deer in Brooklyn to eat it!
poaky1
5 years ago
Mountain Laurel. I just purchased one, there are many fancy named varieties, I just got a species one, like those growing in the wild.

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