Evergreen Plant for the Shady Part of a Porch

Trees

• Trees planted near a porch provide shade in the summer, but also block winter sunlight. The English yew (Taxus baccata) grows well in partial shade. This evergreen grows slowly from 30 to 60 feet tall with a 15-to 25-foot spread. It prefers moist, well-draining soil and in hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 7. English yew trees have feathery, glossy needles and produce yellow flowers and red fruits. The Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) grows well in partial shade. Hardy in zones 4 to 7, this narrow-leaved evergreen has white-striped needles and pendulous branches. It grows from 30 to 70 feet tall with a 25-foot spread. This native North American tree prefers moist, well-draining soil.

Shrubs

• Shrubs create privacy screens or act as foundation plantings alongside your porch. Shade-tolerant species include the Yak rhododendron (Rhododendron yakusimanum), which grows from 2 to 3 feet tall with a similar spread. This broad-leaved evergreen blooms in late spring with pink, rose or white bell-shaped blossoms. It thrives in partial shade and well-draining soil and is hardy in USDA zones 5b to 8. The Chinese abelia (Abelia chinensis) grows to 7 feet tall with a 6-foot spread. This evergreen has dark- to light-green leaves with serrated margins and produces clusters of aromatic, white flowers from summer through fall. It attracts butterflies and is hardy in zones 7 to 9. Chinese abelias prefer moist, well-draining soil and grow well in partial shade.

Ground Covers

• Shade-tolerant groundcovers prevent weed growth around your porch. The Japanese ardisia (Ardisia japonica) grows from 8 to 12 inches tall and forms a spreading mat of glossy, dark, serrated foliage. It thrives in full shade and moist, cool soil. Japanese ardisia is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and produces pink and white spring flowers followed by long-lasting red fruits. Wintergreen cotoneaster (Cotoneaster conspicuous) spreads up to 4 feet wide but only grows a few inches tall. This evergreen has tiny, black-green leaves and blooms with white spring flowers. It produces long-lasting, red-purple berries and is hardy in zones 6 to 7. Wintergreen cotoneaster grows well in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.

Grasses

• Ornamental grasses offer a low-maintenance alternative to woody plants on the shady side of your porch. Morrow's sedge (Carex morrowii) thrives in light shade and moist soil and grows to 16 inches with an 18-inch spread. This evergreen grass has dark green fronds with white margins and grows in stiff clumps. It tolerates drought and is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9. Blue oats grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) also grows well in light shade. Hardy in zones 4 to 8, this versatile plant grows slowly to 2 feet tall with a 3-foot spread. It has narrow, arching evergreen foliage and blooms with blue flowers. Blue oats grass tolerates drought and thrives in well-draining soil.