Gardening Question of the Week
What’s a Good Evergreen for Full Shade?
Thursday April 3, 2008
Deanna6 has a problem a lot of you probably share. She wrote into the About Gardening Forum: "Help, I need suggestions for evergreen type shrubs in 100% shade area.
I'm in zone 5, Fishers, Indiana and need to do some foundation gardening in a 100% shady side of our house. I'm looking for suggestions for evergreens type shrubs for the backdrop. Would prefer them to stay within the 3 - 4' height range and need a 7 - 10' suggestion to anchor each end. Any ideas?
We have used a lot of holly and boxwoods throughout our other landscaping areas."
Holly, boxwood and yew seem like the best bet for full shade. Although they’re not evergreen, I’ve seen Annabelle hydrangea and some of the shrub dogwoods grow well in shade. I know Deanna6 would be very grateful for any suggestions and I sure would be curious.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
I would suggest gardenias – I have one that is planted in shade and it is growing well. They will get to about 6 feet tall but can be trimmed back each year and have the beautiful, scented flowers. I am in Georgia so I am not sure if it is hardy in your area.
As far as needled evergreens go, I think you only have yews and possibly some of the shrubby forms of hemlock to chose from, but large leaf rhododendrons, mountain laurel, or inkberry might make good choices. Two things to keep in mind though is that you can’t have them growing where snow can fall on them from the roof in winter and soil around a foundation tends to be alkaline so it will need to be tested and probably acidified with aluminum sulfate and fertilized with something like holly tone. Perennials, hostas, and, like Marie mentioned, Annabelle hydrangeas are also good choices for foundation planting and since they can be cut back in spring or fall you don’t need to worry about winter snow fall.
Many shrubs that can grow in full shade also get “leggy” in full shade (our hollies are looking pretty sparse). Many of our neighbors have yew and it is full and looks great in full shade. I’ve also heard that skimmia japonica grows well in full shade, but it has poisonous berries, so I would avoid it if you have small children.
Gardenias won’t work that far north. I am in zone 7 (northern VA) ands even the so-called hardy versions haven’t been successful in our garden. A combination of evergreens and the hydrangea would be pretty. Even though you already have hollies, you could include a couple in this spot and prune them to be more open (a little like a Japanese garden. To round it out, ferns (especially the evergreen type), hellebores, and hostas would be great. Good luck and have fun. I am one of those who will try anything and if it doesn’t work-oh well-start again!
We live in a zone 7a. A hot part of zone 7a. Yes, there are different parts to this zone. Hydrangeas will only do well here if they are planted in the shade but do like a little morning son. We have tried some in full shade but they struggle unlike those that get an hour or two of sun. Sprry, I do not have a solution though ferns seem like a likely candidate if they will grow where you live. They will not do well here, it is too hot.
Buxus (boxwood) have been the best solution for us in the shady areas of our zone 5 garden. They are evergreen, are not bothered by deer and can be pruned into very formal shapes or left more naturally.
For variatian there is a variegated form and this year, in White Flower farm catalog and Park seed, some yellow leaved ones. If you were to go with yews, you could use some of the smaller box woods in front of them