As much as we may want to, we can’t force sun-loving trees or shrubs to flourish in the shadier corners of our property. This can be extra challenging for homeowners with lots of tall trees or in densely populated neighborhoods.
Perhaps the front of your house could really use an evergreen tree, but it only gets a few hours of morning light. Maybe you have an opening in the garden for an evergreen shrub, but your neighbor’s house shades the spot.
Thankfully, there are plenty of evergreen trees and shrubs that grow in partial or full shade. What exactly does this mean? “Partial shade” typically translates to two to six hours of direct sunlight per day, while “full shade” plants can get by with two hours or less. The following trees and shrubs can all thrive in one of these sun exposure categories, covering a broad range of sizes, foliage textures, colorful flowers, and more.
Boxwood
Versatile evergreens are perfect for shaping and low maintenance.
Boxwoods are classic evergreens that have been cultivated for thousands of years. There are more than 100 species and cultivars to choose from, with varying light needs. In general, boxwoods can handle direct sunlight and prefer partial or dappled shade.
These shrubs are often shaped into hedges or borders. They even make great topiaries. Because there are so many cultivars and countless ways to shape them, boxwoods really are a versatile option. They’re also super low-maintenance beyond the aesthetic pruning. Some cultivars are even hardy down to zone 4.
Blue Pacific Juniper
It is a low-growing evergreen with blue foliage, perfect for ground cover.
Blue Pacific juniper is a low-growing evergreen shrub that’s known for tolerating quite a bit of shade. It barely reaches two feet in height, with a trailing and spreading growth habit. It’s an excellent selection when you’re seeking evergreen ground cover.
As the name suggests, Blue Pacific juniper has foliage with a blue hue, which grows out of yellow stems. This perennial tolerates most soil types as long as they drain well. In fact, Blue Pacific juniper can be grown in rock gardens, and this perennial tolerates drought.
Plumleaf Azalea
Large, colorful blooms attract pollinators to this hardy shrub.
Plumleaf azalea is a large shrub that can be evergreen or deciduous, hardy in zones 5 through 9. This perennial shrub gets fairly large, reaching about 12 feet in height and eight feet in width. It produces bold, showy flowers in shades of orange, pink, and red that attract pollinators, including hummingbirds and specialized bees.
These shrubs are best grown in acidic soils and will not survive in dense clay. They’re easy to care for as long as they’re planted in well-draining soil. Plumleaf azaleas don’t require much pruning or fertilizer.
Skylands Spruce
It’s a tall evergreen with unique yellow-green needles and red cones.
If you’re looking for something that will get pretty tall and offers unique color, consider a Skylands spruce. This cultivar eventually reaches up to 35 feet, though it’ll take a few decades to get there, and it has yellow-green needles that stand out among other dark green winter foliage.
Skylands spruce trees also produce red pollen cones in the spring that contrast the yellow needles. While the classic P. orientalis prefers full sunlight, this cultivar will be more than happy in some shade. It also grows in poor-quality soils and can handle some drought.
Camellia
They have bold blooms in vibrant colors and glossy green leaves.
If it’s flowers you’re after, you can’t go wrong with camellias, which have large, 3-6 inch blooms available in many colors, including yellow, pink, red, and white. Even variegated cultivars exist. These flowers pop next to dark, shiny green leaves.
Camellia shrubs or small trees can reach 13 feet in height. These perennials can flower in fall, winter, or spring, depending on the species and climate. Some cultivars, like ‘Kramer’s Supreme,’ bloom specifically in the winter. Given their size and bold blooms, they can really make an evergreen statement.
Dwarf Mugo Pine
It is a compact, low-maintenance shrub with a rounded, mounding habit.
Dwarf mugo pine is a compact shrub that only reaches about four feet in height and in width, with a mounding, rounded growth habit. It grows slowly and is known for being super low-maintenance as long as you plant it in well-draining soil.
This shrub is also a breeze to transplant because it has shallow roots. These roots also won’t be a problem when it comes to damaging nearby structures. Dwarf mugo pines can suffer from wind damage, so planting them near a building is a good idea.
Mountain Laurel
Striking blooms attract pollinators to this rounded shrub.
Mountain laurel, also known as Sarah mountain laurel, is a cultivar with absolutely striking blooms. Clusters of these bubble gum pink flowers emerge in spring and summer. You can also find this plant with orange, red, and white flowers.
At its mature size, mountain laurel forms a rounded shape of five by five feet. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and all sorts of pollinators will flock to this shrub when it’s in bloom. Avoid planting mountain laurel in clay or wet soils, and it should grow without issue.
Common Yew
The versatile evergreen shapes beautifully into hedges or topiaries.
The common yew tree, also known as English yew or European yew, is a conical-shaped evergreen conifer that can reach 60 feet at maturity. There are many cultivars of common yew available, including those that are smaller, columnar, and even variegated. Some have yellowish leaves.
These trees can grow in full shade, though partial shade is preferable. You can use common yew trees for many purposes, depending on how you prune them. You can use common yew to form hedges, to grow as tall, thin trees, and even to create topiaries.
Purple Rhododendron
Gorgeous pastel blooms and dark green leaves add elegance.
Purple rhododendron shrubs are also called mountain rose bay or Catawba rhododendron. These shrubs have gorgeous spherical clusters of pastel purple blooms that lean pink among dark green leaves. You can also find this perennial with white or bright pink flowers.
Native to mountain ranges, purple rhododendrons can grow in full shade and actually need protection from midday sun. These shrubs are the perfect choice to grow underneath much larger trees, where they’d get dappled sun throughout the day. Like other Rhododendron species, they prefer slightly acidic soil.
Threadleaf False Cypress
Bright, thread-like foliage makes a striking accent in gardens.
Threadleaf false cypress is the common name for the ‘Filifera Aurea’ cultivar of Sawara cypress. It’s appreciated for its thread-like, willowy foliage, which hangs down and has a chartreuse hue. This dwarf shrub usually only grows to be about 10 feet, but in ideal conditions, it can be double that height.
This smaller tree is ideal as an accent tree among others, especially since it has such bright evergreen foliage. You can also plant multiple to form a hedge or a privacy wall. Threadleaf false cypress grows well in most soils as long as they drain freely.
Eastern Hemlock
This tall, conical evergreen with droopy branches adds an elegant texture.
Eastern hemlock is native to Canada and the United States, where it grows up to 70 feet in ideal conditions: sun or partial shade, cool summer, and consistent moisture. While these trees don’t like wet feet, they prefer moist soil to dry soil and are not drought-tolerant.
This evergreen tree has a conical growth habit with droopy branches. You can find dwarf and compact cultivars for your home if you don’t have space for the standard tree. Maintaining a healthy Eastern hemlock is also great for local wildlife that use them for shelter.
Japanese Plum Yew
It is a spreading shrub with arching growth, perfect for evergreen coverage.
Japanese plum yew is a spreading shrub, also sometimes called spreading plum yew. Its arching growth habit has it growing up to 14 feet wide but only 10 feet tall. Of course, it’ll take a while for the plant to reach this size. There are also columnar Japanese plum yew cultivars if you prefer a different shape.
You can grow these shrubs in deep shade, so they’re an easy way to cover a lot of shaded space with evergreen color. Japanese plum yew is also drought- and heat-resistant, deer-resistant, and generally low-maintenance.
Great Laurel
Blooming clusters of light pink flowers attract native pollinators.
Great laurel, also known as great rhododendron or rosebay rhododendron, is a native shrub that can be found in multiple locations, including the Appalachian mountains. Like a typical Rhododendron, it prefers acidic, well-draining soil, tolerates shade, and has dark, leathery leaves.
These perennials have light pink, almost-white flowers that bloom in clusters in summer, usually from June to August. The blooms are attractive to native pollinators. Great laurel is ideal as an understory shrub, perfect for properties that have a lot of tall, mature trees.
American Holly
Bright red berries add winter color to evergreen foliage.
American holly, also known as winterberry, is naturally an understory shrub or small, so it flourishes in partial shade, offering its signature dark green leaves all year. Bright red berries stand out among the foliage throughout winter, hence the common name winterberry.
These shrubs grow in most soil types, preferring those that lean acidic as long as they drain well. They are also a great option if you have problems with deer eating everything you plant, as they won’t care for American holly.
False Holly
It is a compact shrub with fall blooms and tough, adaptable nature.
False holly is similar to American holly, but as the name suggests, it’s actually from a different genus: Osmanthus. Native to Asia, false holly has nearly identical leaves to American holly to the untrained eye, but it doesn’t offer showy berries.
However, false holly is a more compact option, reaching about 20 feet at maturity. It blooms in the fall, offering autumn interest, while true hollies bloom in spring and summer. False holly is also a seriously tough shrub, tolerating drought, high temperatures, and pollution.
Longstalk Holly
The compact, cold-hardy shrub with bright red berries in clusters.
A third “true” holly option, consider longstalk holly, which is another hardy, evergreen shrub. Longstalk holly is more compact than American holly, and it’s also more cold-hardy. You can grow longstalk holly in regions that have low winter temperatures of negative 30°F (-1°C).
Longstalk holly has signature dark green foliage and bright red berries, but the berries form in peduncle clusters or “stalks.” Note that these shrubs are dioecious, and female specimens need a male nearby in order to bear fruit.
Coral Bells Azalea
Bell-shaped blooms herald spring’s arrival beautifully.
Coral bells azalea is another Rhododendron species with a shrub growth form. Its name gives away its primary detail: coral-colored, bell-shaped flowers that emerge in early spring, signifying the change of the seasons.
Plant this azalea in moist, well-draining soil that leans acidic for best results. While this perennial doesn’t like wet feet, it also doesn’t tolerate drought. Keep it consistently watered without water-logging the soil.
Southern Magnolia
Glossy leaves and huge, fragrant blooms make a stunning tree.
Southern magnolia is a large, evergreen tree that grows best in the South. It’s also referred to as bull bay and large tree magnolia. This southern favorite is known for its green, glossy leaves, enormous foot-long flowers, and signature scent.
It’s the only evergreen in the magnolia family, so it offers truly unique winter interest. If Southern magnolia is too big for your space, consider growing one of its semi-dwarf cultivars, such as ‘Little Gem,’ ‘Kay Parris,’ or ‘Teddy Bear.’
Wheel Tree
Unique wheel-shaped blooms and glossy leaves make it distinctive.
Wheel tree is an evergreen shrub that stands out as the only remaining species of its genus. It has leathery, glossy leaves in a whorled shape and unusual flowers that are greenish yellow and look a little bit like a wheel.
These Asian natives grow best in moist, well-draining, loamy soil and can even handle some flooding. Just plant them somewhere where they are shielded from strong winds, which can damage the foliage.
