Low-Light Plants to Block the View

Shrubs

• Choose shade-tolerant shrubs to block a view, such as the "Carrierei" wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei "Carrierei"), a broadleaved evergreen 8 feet tall and wide. This mounding shrub -- which will climb when given support -- has lustrous, dark foliage offset by red-green fruits. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 and grows well in full shade. The Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) also tolerates shade. Reaching heights of 10 to 40 feet, this shrub has shiny needles and produces red, bird-attracting berries. The Japanese yew is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7 and requires well-draining soil.

Trees

• When selecting shade-tolerant trees, consider mature height and spread. For large spaces, plant a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). This conifer grows from 40 to 80 feet tall and 20 feet wide and has aromatic, white-banded needles. It's hardy in USDA zones 3 to 6 and thrives in lightly shaded sites with moist, well-draining soil. Douglas firs grow about 24 inches per year. The Eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) grows to 60 feet tall with a 25-foot spread. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7, this narrow evergreen has aromatic, scale-like foliage and attracts birds with its cones. Plant the Eastern arborvitae in partial shade and moist soil, where it will grow from 1 to 2 feet per year.

Vines

• Evergreen vines grown on trellises or other support systems block a view while providing year-round color and texture. Choices include the Armand clematis (Clematis armandii), a fast-growing vine that grows from 15 to 25 feet long. Hardy in USDA zones 7b to 9, this twisting vine has glossy, dark foliage offset by aromatic white blossoms in spring. Plant the Armand clematis in partial shade. The Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) also grows in partial shade. This evergreen reaches lengths to 20 feet and blooms with aromatic yellow flowers in spring. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and tolerates drought and wind.

Grasses

• Tall grasses block a view and add vertical interest to the landscape. In light shade, plant pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana). This 10-foot-tall grass grows in clumps of fine, dark-green foliage and produces dramatic pink-white plumes that last well into the winter. Pampas grass is hardy in USDA zones 7b to 10 and grows best in rich, moist soil. Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Karl Foerster") grows to 7 feet tall in upright clumps of stiff foliage. It blooms in summer with pink inflorescences and spreads with underground roots or rhizomes. Feather reed grass is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, where it grows in light shade and tolerates a variety of soil conditions.