Shade Loving Flowering Perennial Shrubs

Shade Plant Adaptations

• Shade loving flowering shrubs have special adaptations that allow them to take in enough light to produce flowers and seeds. Epidermal cells on the leaves are rounded like a lens to focus light more efficiently. Even the leaves themselves are set at an optimal angle not exceeding 60 degrees, in order to absorb light waves better. These plants may also contain concentrated chlorophyll, making them very dark green.

Hydrangea

• Hydrangea varieties tend to thrive in medium shade. Smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) produces fluffy white snowballs on 3 to 5 foot tall plants. Another small hydrangea, the big leaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), produces either lace cap or snowball-style flowers in a variety of colors. The PeeGee hydrangeas (H. paniculata) are the common, large variety, growing upwards of 15 feet and sporting white flowers. They can be used as a shrub or trained into a small tree form. Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) produce spectacular fall foliage and color-changing flowers on 4 to 6 foot plants.

Rhododendron and Azalea

• Rhododendron the genus contains the evergreen rhododendron and the deciduous azalea. They have the same growing requirements, but are different structurally. Rhododendrons tend to have bell-shaped flowers, while the azalea flowers are funnel-shaped. Both types have been bred into a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors, and all can adapt to moderate shade. Rhododendrons and azaleas planted in full sun tend to flower less than their shaded counterparts.

Viburnum

• Some varieties of viburnums can be grown in shady spots. This widely variable shrub sports white and pink umbels, which can make a striking statement in the landscape. Arrowwood (V. dentatum), blackhaw (V. prunifolium), European cranberry (V. opulus), nannyberry (V. lentago) and siebold (V. sieboldi) perform well in part shade. Mapleleaf (V. acerifolium) actually prefers dense shade, where in June it produces white to yellowish flowers. Mapleleaf viburnum grow to about 6 feet.

Witchhazel

• Witchhazel is a fragrant flowering shrub that tolerates partial shade. Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), is considered shade tolerant, but its cousin, Chinese witchhazel (H. mollis), can thrive in partial shade. Chinese witchhazel grown in the shade develop an open crown and do not become leggy. Witchhazel boasts unusually shaped yellow flowers that are very showy. Other witchhazels of note include Japanese witchhazel (H. japonica), Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) and hybrid witchhazels (H. x intermedia).

Other Flowering Shrubs

• Several other flowering shrubs can tolerate heavy shade. Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) produces yellow flowers on plants up to 6 feet tall and 9 feet wide. Sweet pepperbrush (Clethra alnifolia) is another compact bush that thrives in heavy shade. Its pink to white blooms are wonderfully fragrant, but the bush tends to sucker. Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) boasts colorful fall foliage as well as fragrant flowers held on inflorescents, an unusual form for shade-loving shrubs.