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Landscape Design Shrubs Gardening in Shade

Looking for shrubs that will grow in shade/late afternoon sun

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

We have had the worst luck growing anything in front of our house. It only gets late afternoon sun but I think there may be some other problem. I’m no expert but wonder if there is something wrong with the soil, or if chipmunks are causing a problem. Just a hunch but whatever is hanging on to life is struggling. We have planted, azaleas, mountain laurel, Japanese holly, inkberry, rhododendron. The last rhododendron was thriving last year and after a mild New England winter is hanging on to life. The only thing that has done well are arborvitae. Please help!

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
i dont understand the premise ...

it looks to me.. like you have the right number of plants already .... what more do you need??/

there is a low window between the front door and the truck.. right.. does that need to stay clear???? ... as in emergency exit???

what is our soil type.. does it drain/perk ... have you ever had a soil test .... do you see holes from chippies ... aka ADHD hyperactive rats with racing stripes ...

how many hours of sun ,... and during what hours????

and i note.. it is what i might call bright shade ... as compared to a grotto or some such ....

more info ... plz ....

ken
bcon268
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Ken,

The photos below are a little better...

The inkberry and holly are growing but aren't full and look dead in the fall/winter. The first pic shows the rhododendron and azalea that are struggling and in the second picture is the stick of a mountain laurel that we planted last year. Also, the arborvitae, are a little too tall now but I'm afraid to do anything to them. We thought about making the bed bigger and adding a small tree... really looking for advice.

I would like to fill these spots with plants that thrive and look beautiful and healthy. We've spent a lot of money trying things (all based on advice from different nurseries in pour area) and replacing dead shrubs.

Just beyond the truck is a walkway. I'm really just concerned with the front of the house.

I don't know the soil type. I would have it tested, not sure how. It does drain well. And chipmunks are a problem. we have holes all around the yard, front & back.

The front gets sun around 4pm and in the summer is about 3 hours.
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How about dwarf yaupon holly? Some cultivars include: Ilex vomitoria 'Stoke's Dwarf' (which appears to be the smaller) and 'Nana' which is larger. 'Schillings Dwarf' is another one. This is a native shrub that is popular in nurseries and should do well in NC. Here is a link that might be useful: 'Nana'
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the issue is.. whether a newbie can ID transplant shock .... water properly.. and wait to see how it all works out next spring.. its October .... plants look like carp ... you transplanted.. or planted.. perhaps a few weeks earlier than i would have ... so there is some shock involved ... hence the leaf coloration ... all are deciduous ... meaning they lose their leaves ... which they will do in 2 to 3 weeks ... or so they will grow new roots all winter long... or until the soil freezes ... you MUST insure PROPER water... late into the fall.. without freezing them into an ice cube ... most shrubs are nearly bulletproof ... you risk killing them with too much love rather than benign neglect... AND MOVING THEM AGAIN... IS .... TOO MUCH LOVE .. PROPER water .. is all they need .. ask if you dont know what that means ... ken
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'shade' means little ... on words alone bright shade.. cave ... very bright.. etc ... its hard to be definitive.. w/o being able to understand such ... i have some full sun plants.. in near all day shade.. from 60 foot trees.. but there is clear blue sky above.. apparently.. they get enough light.. that said.. the bigger the flower.. usually means.. the more energy they need.. and as light declines.. its ability to make a lot of large flowers starts to falter.. i guess when it all boils down.. you are just going to have to try things.. also... for most of the growing season.. 4 to 9 or 10 pm.. is a heck of a lot of sun ... presuming that is what you meant ... when 8 hours is usually considered full sun ... there isnt really much that will out and out die ... its all about vigor and performance.. and if something struggles.. you move it to more light ... if you have it ... i am sure our friends will come up with many specific suggestions ... and also keep in mind that a lot of the 'shade' plants are just shade tolerant ... and can take a lot of sun.. usually based on how well they are watered.. its all about whether the plant has enough water.. to offset increased sun.. e.g. hosta... its when they transpire more water than they are able to process .... that they start getting real ugly ... ken
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Comments (6)
Your county extension office can test your soil for you. You can either find them on your county's website, or if you're a technophobe or just can't find the dang folk, call your library and they will be able to get you in touch with them. There are a lot of really nice morning plants. How big would you like them to get? Loropetalum is a great shrub; it's purple leaved, semi-evergreen, touch and flowers bright pink. There are several varieties available that get different sizes. Gardenias, camelias and azaleas are all nice plants but they require special site preparation and fertilizers. There are some nice hollies out there, some with berries that feed the birds. I saw a great-looking variegated holly at Calloway's the other day. If you want stuff that stays low, say under a window, part-sun perennials can work too. Crinums, ginger, balloon flower, columbine, elephant ears for a tropical look ... Lots of really great options! I would get your soil tested, think about how much you're willing to do in terms of site preparation and care (fertilizers and water), what size plants you need, whether you want to deal with pruning, and maybe what kind of colors you're going for.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
If the plants you have used in the past are fully hardy for your area and are suited to the available light conditions, then I would encourage you to have your soil tested. Something is causing the poor performance and plant failures and that is most likely soil related - poor drainage, improper soil pH, lack of nutrients, etc.

You can contact your local extension office and they will tell you how to gather soil samples and where to send them for testing. Or you can just send them to the UMass soil testing lab.
bcon268 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
5 years ago
See if a local nursery will do a pH test for cheap/free, or talk to the local Soil & Water people about your pH. All the plants you say are struggling prefer/demand a low pH, but there are lime pockets around with much higher pH.
bcon268 thanked mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years ago
Your Rhododendron looks like almost every other in New England. I don’t know what happened this past winter, but despite going into the winter with adequate hydration in most of the northeast and relatively mild temperatures, there is more damage to rhodies than I have seen in New England since I moved here almost 40 years ago. Yours looks healthy enough that I would expect it to leaf out again.
bcon268 thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH

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