Evergreen Shrubs That Bloom in Mostly Shade

Less Than 6 Feet

• For aroma and blossoms, plant a fragrant sweetbox (Sarcococca ruscifolia). This evergreen grows to 4 feet tall and wide and blooms in spring with white flowers. It's hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9, where it thrives in partial to full shade and acidic, well-draining soil. When grown in shrub form, English ivy (Hedera helix "Arborescens") reaches heights to 3 feet and blooms through the fall with white blossoms. This broadleaved evergreen is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and tolerates dense shade. Plant this ivy in moist, well-draining soil and protect it from heat and winter winds.

To 6 Feet

• The Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium) blooms with fragrant, yellow spring flowers. This North American native grows to 6 feet tall and thrives in partial to full shade. The Oregon grape bears edible blue-black fruits in late summer and has lustrous, dark leaves. It grows in USDA zones 5 to 8 and grows best in acidic, well-drained soils. Rhododendrons (Rhododendron maddenii subsp. crassum) also grow to 6 feet tall. These shrubs bloom from late spring through early summer with showy, white-purple flowers that offset their long, dark leaves. Plant rhododendrons in acidic, fertile soil in part shade to full shade in USDA zones 8 to 10.

To 10 Feet

• The spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica) prefers partial to full shade. This broadleaf evergreen has tough, shiny foliage and blooms with red-purple flowers in early spring. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and tolerates drought, pollution and clay soil. Plant the spotted laurel in moist, fertile soil and it can grow up to 10 feet tall. Purple anise (llicium floridanum), a southeastern U.S. native, grows to 10 feet tall with a 16-foot spread. This shade-loving shrub blooms with showy, aromatic red blossoms in spring and has shiny, olive-green foliage. Purple anise is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10, where it grows best in partial to full shade and moist soil.

Taller Than 10 Feet

• The Japanese aralia or glossy-leaved paper plant (Fatsia japonica) grows to 16 feet tall with a similar spread. A broadleaved evergreen, this shrub has lobed, dark green foliage and blooms with white flowers in fall. It grows best in partial to full shade and requires protection from summer sun. The Japanese aralia is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10. For large, shady planting sites in USDA zones 6 to 8, try an English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). This shrub grows to 18 feet tall and 30 feet wide, with dense, dark foliage. It blooms with fragrant, white flowers in spring, followed by black berries. English laurels grow well in partial shade and moist, fertile soil.