Most gardens will inevitably contain some areas of shade, whether cast by a building, fence, wall, or tree. Thankfully, there are plenty of hedging plants and shrubs that will positively thrive in dimly lit areas. Whether you’re after something quick growing, colourful, flowering, or compact, read on to discover your perfect match.
Before we go any further, it’s worth understanding the different types of shade to help match you with the right plants. Yes, getting outside with a compass is important, but also make a point of observing the spot over the course of a day.
Not all north-facing aspects are equal – some may be in full shade for the entire day, others may receive a little light at various times. An east-facing aspect will receive mostly cool, morning sun then have an afternoon of shade, and an area near a tree might receive anything from light, dappled to full shade, depending on the height and density of its canopy.
Next, check what kind of soil you’re dealing with, as dry and damp shade are very different beasts. The space immediately in front of a wall or building is often bone dry, as the structure can create a ‘rain shadow’, as well as absorbing moisture from the soil.
The presence of mature trees can also spell drought conditions, as their vast root systems thirstily slurp up all available water. Damp shade tends to occur in areas of heavy, clay soil or in spots where water collects in the garden. Sticking your finger in the soil and rolling a bit around in your hand should give you a general sense of moisture content.
Now you’re an expert on your particular brand of shade, it’s time for the fun bit – choosing what to grow! Read on for our in-depth guide to hedges and shrubs that grow well in shade.
Semi-shaded sites
Cherry Laurel hedging (Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia)
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Has the potential to reach up to 5m or more, though easily kept smaller with pruning
Soil: Any reasonable soil (which means not bone dry or waterlogged)
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Prune annually after flowering
One of our most popular hedging plants, and with good reason. This fast-growing hedge has dense, handsome, glossy foliage, fragrant spring flowers, and later in the year glossy red berries. Cherry laurel has a fantastically robust approach to life, unfazed by strong winds, coastal conditions, or freezing temperatures.
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Has the potential to reach 30m or more, though can be kept as small as 2m with regular pruning
Soil: Almost any soil type
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Prune up to three times per growing season. Check for nesting birds before each trim, delaying if necessary
Our fastest-growing hedge, popular for its quick results and dense foliage. Leylandii has an astonishing lust for life and will romp away in almost any situation, even when exposed to strong winds. This makes it a quick and easy way to create screening, though does mean it needs to be pruned frequently to keep it from growing too huge.
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Can grow up to 4m, though easily kept smaller with an annual prune
Soil: Any moist yet well-draining soil
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Prune in early summer. For longer-lasting colour, trim a further two times during the growing season
Hard to beat when it comes to foliage colour, our range of evergreen photinias include the popular ‘Red Robin’ form and a more unusual, variegated version, ‘Pink Marble’. Photinia enjoys a warm, sheltered spot as, whilst hardy, its new spring growth can be hit by a late frost. The most intense colour comes in spring and early summer, though with clever pruning this can be extended right through the year.
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Has the potential to reach 3-4m, though if coppiced each year this is more like 1-2m
Soil: Any soil other than very dry
Type: Deciduous
Maintenance: Either trim in spring as you would any other hedge, or for colourful stems (see below) coppice in March. Don’t be too keen to do this straight away though – coppicing should only be done once the plant has been in the ground for two years and looks strong and healthy
As a hedge, this reliable and easy shrub can be treated in two ways: either grown as a permanent framework and given a light annual trim, or, to get the best winter stem colour (usually the reason for choosing this type of dogwood), cut down each year to just above ground level. The latter approach makes for a more informal hedge (more a row of multi-stemmed shrubs) and of course means there will be a yearly ‘bare’ period, but the shoots regrow quickly, and the spectacular autumn and winter display is surely worth it!
Full-shade sites
Light: Full shade to full sun
Height: As a free-growing tree, yew can reach up to 12m, though regular pruning can easily keep it as dinky as 1m
Soil: Any soil other than waterlogged
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Yew is remarkably tolerant of all pruning. Hard pruning and even coppicing can be done in winter, and a light trim can be done whenever you like (apart from in freezing conditions)
The Rolls-Royce of hedging! Yew is one of the only hedging plants to grow equally as well in deep shade as it does in full sun, making it the perfect choice for a run of hedging which spans a range of light levels (as many do). When clipped, its fine, evergreen foliage makes for exceptionally crisp results (making it the top choice for many high-profile gardens). Yew is fast growing when young then slows with maturity, which means quick establishment yet low ongoing maintenance. Perfection!
Light: Full shade to full sun
Height: Can grow up to 3m, or kept to half this with annual pruning
Soil: Any soil other than very wet
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Prune once each spring
With its long, glossy, yellow-spotted leaves, spotted laurel makes a handsome, bushy hedge, loved for its ability to thrive in deep shade. This tough, hardy shrub will easily cope with air pollution, coastal winds, and dry soil. It does struggle in waterlogged conditions, but we all have to draw the line somewhere! Allow it plenty of space, as it doesn’t like to be kept much narrower than 1.5m.
Light: Full to partial shade
Height: Up to 1.5m
Soil: Any soil other than waterlogged
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Clip lightly in spring for a formal shape, or leave alone for a loose, bushy hedge
This handsome shrub makes for a spectacularly undemanding hedge. A naturally neat and compact habit and relatively small size means there is no need to prune if you’re happy with an informal shape, in which case you can plant it and pretty much leave to its own devices (apart from regular watering during the first year). Spring sees an eruption of scented flowers, sometimes followed later in the year by glossy berries.
Small shrubs for shade
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Up to 1m
Soil: Any soil apart from very dry or very wet
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Prune annually in spring
In The Hedgers opinion, this is one of the best substitutes for box (Buxus sempervirens) for those trying to avoid the dreaded box blight disease. This small, hardy plant clips nicely into a topiary ball or hedge in just the same way as box. It is occasionally known to lose its leaves in very cold winters, though these regrow in spring.
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Up to 1.5m
Soil: Any moist, well-draining soil
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: Prune annually in spring
Another fine alternative to box, Japanese holly is very hardy, so suitable for northern or colder areas. It will happily regrow from old wood, so can be regenerated if looking tired or a little neglected. A slightly looser shape gives it less tightness than box, though it still makes an attractive low hedge or clipped shape.
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Up to 1.5m
Soil: Any soil apart from waterlogged
Type: Deciduous
Maintenance: If grown as an informal, freestanding shrub this barberry requires minimal pruning – just thin out the oldest stems every few years to promote new, brightly coloured growth. If a clipped shape or hedge, trim in summer after flowering, (though don’t expect any autumn berries!)
Like all berberis, the compact barberry is thorny and vividly coloured. In spring there is a profusion of yellow flowers, and autumn sees a mass of scarlet berries with spectacular fiery red and orange foliage. An easy blast of colour for a shady spot, whether grown as a hedge or shrub.
Flowering shrubs for shade
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Height: Up to 4m, though can be kept smaller with regular pruning
Soil: Any soil apart from waterlogged
Type: Evergreen
Maintenance: If you are growing pyracantha as a freestanding shrub it can be left to its own devices, apart from the occasional tidy up of dead, diseased, or damaged branches in mid-spring. If grown as a hedge, trim one to three times between spring and the end of summer, depending on whether you’re aiming for large and informal, or compact and neat. You will invariably lose some of the berries in doing this, though should find a decent enough quantity remains. Nesting birds enjoy the protection of pyracantha’s dense, thorny stems, so remember to check before each trim
This prickly shrub has something to offer throughout every season and is a particularly good choice if you’re looking for a wildlife-friendly solution. Spring sees it erupt in tiny white nectar-rich flowers, then in autumn an explosion of berries in bright, vibrant shades of red, orange, or yellow. Very drought-tolerant and, we think, deserving of a spot in every garden.
Light: Full shade to full sun
Height: Up to 6m, though can be kept smaller with regular pruning
Soil: Tolerant of most soils, though happiest in moist, well-drained conditions
Type: Deciduous
Maintenance: Elder can be left alone to grow as a large, freestanding shrub, or coppiced every few years in early spring to restrict size. It can also be grown as a hedge, in which case trim in autumn or early spring.
Elder is a highly versatile native plant which can be a beautiful freestanding shrub or informal hedge. It is loved for its large flat heads of fragrant, creamy white, early-summer flowers often used to infuse food and drink, with the following berries useful for jam and baking. Elder is one of the first deciduous plants to come into leaf (January), and, in a sheltered site, can drop as late as November. A tolerance of any light level makes it a sure bet for any situation.
Light: Best in light shade
Height: Size can vary so check individual descriptions to choose the right one for you
Soil: Moist, well-draining soil that doesn’t dry out (they’re not named ‘hydrangea’ for nothing!)
Type: All in our range are deciduous
Maintenance: Resist the urge to snip off faded flowers before winter, as they do a grand job of insulating the stems from frost damage. In spring, follow each stem down from the bloom and cut just about the first or second pair of strong, healthy buds you meet.
Early in the growing season, hydrangea’s attractive foliage makes a handsome backdrop to perennials or lush underplanting to trees, then mid to late summer sees it step into the spotlight with a display of large and long-lasting flowers. In shades of blue, pink, cream, or white, these take on a luminous quality in a dimly lit spot. No wonder it is one of our most popular flowering shrubs for shade!
We hope you’ve found our guide to shade-tolerant hedging plants and shrubs useful and are feeling inspired to transform your shady spots. For more ideas, check out our Hedging Plants for Shade section, and find out how to fill the space around them in our blog about underplanting hedges and trees.
