33 Evergreen Shade Loving Shrubs for Garden Landscaping

Evergreen shade-loving shrubs are ideal for adding color, texture, and structure to your shade gardens. Shrubs with evergreen foliage that survive in low-light conditions provide year-round color in landscapes. Broadleaf evergreen shrubs, flowering shrubs, and coniferous shrubs can transform your front or backyard into a lush oasis, even in the darkest corners.

Whether you’re looking for a ground cover, a focal point, or a backdrop for other plants, these shade-loving evergreen shrubs can provide the beauty and functionality you desire.

This article explores some of the best evergreen shrubs that thrive in partial to full shade. You can find the best ones to enhance your garden’s aesthetic and overall appeal.

How to Choose the Best Evergreen Shrubs for Shade in Your Garden

Choosing the right evergreen shrubs for shade in your garden can be a tricky task. Depending on the amount of sunlight that your yard receives, you should select plants that thrive without much direct light. It’s also vital to consider your USDA hardiness zone, soil type, drainage, and mature plant size.

Different Types of Shade

Shade shrubs are categorized by the hours of direct sunlight they get daily. Shrubs suitable for shade can thrive on two to four hours of sun. Other shrubs perform well in ambient light or grow in constant shadows.

Here is a brief guide to shade levels in gardens:

Dappled shade: This shade level—also called dappled sunlight—occurs when sunlight filters through foliage, creating blotchy shadows on the ground. This type of shade commonly occurs near trees or large shrubs with open canopies.

Partial shade: Areas of a yard that receive four to six hours of sunlight daily are classified as part or partial shade. Usually, direct sunlight falls in the morning when it is less intense.

Full shade: Plants and shrubs that thrive on two hours or less of direct sunlight daily are called deep shade plants. They grow well without direct sunlight, only surviving on ambient light.

Evergreen Shrubs for Shade

Let’s look in detail at the best shade-loving evergreen shrubs that keep their leaves throughout the year.

Boxwood (Buxus)

Boxwood is a group of popular evergreen shrubs that thrive in partial and full shade. Boxwood shrubs are known for their small oval, glossy green leaves, dense, compact foliage, and versatility in shade gardens. Boxwood has various cultivars, offering varied sizes, shapes, and leaf colors.

Small boxwood shrubs typically grow up to 4 or 5 ft. (1.2 – 1.5 m) tall. The easy-grow, low-maintenance shrubs are ideal landscaping solutions for evergreen hedging, foundation planting, garden dividers, topiary, container planting, or accent plants. Additionally, the broadleaf evergreen shrubs are resistant to deer and rabbits.

Here are three evergreen boxwood shrub varieties suitable for small shade gardens:

Dwarf English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’): This evergreen, shade-loving shrub is slow-growing and grows up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide.

Boxwood ‘Silver Beauty’ (Buxus sempervirens ‘Silver Beauty’): This elegant, evergreen shrub is perfect for shade garden landscaping. It has variegated foliage that grows in a pyramidal or rounded shape up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide.

Green Velvet Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’): This easy-grow evergreen shrub performs well in deep shade. Its glossy green leaves and dense foliage are ideal for creating a low hedge. It grows in most soils 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall and wide.

• USDA Planting Zones: 5 to 9
• Light: Full sun, partial shade, heavy shade
• Mature Size: 1 to 5 ft. (0.3 – 1.5 m) tall and wide

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)

Wintercreeper is a small evergreen shrub prized for its colorful, glossy, variegated foliage. The shade-tolerant grows as ground cover, a climbing vine, or a low-growing evergreen shrub. It produces small, inconspicuous flowers in the spring, followed by ornamental red berries that persist throughout the winter.

Wintercreeper can grow up to 10 feet (3 m) tall, depending on the cultivar. The spreading shrub is exceedingly versatile and performs just as well in full sun as in heavy shade. Its rapid growth makes it an excellent choice for filling bare areas or providing coverage on slopes.

Landscaping uses for evergreen wintergreen shrubs include foundation planting, ground cover for shade, edging, or a low hedge. Its climbing habit means it can be trained to climb walls, fences, or trellises, adding vertical interest to the garden.

• USDA Planting Zones: 5 to 9
• Light: Full shade to partial shade
• Mature Size: 2 to 10 m (0.6 – 3 m) tall and wide, depending on the variety

Spotted Laurel (Aucuba Japonica)

Ideal for shade gardens, spotted laurel is a versatile evergreen shrub with eye-catching speckled leaves. The shrub’s glossy foliage consists of lance-shaped leaves covered in yellow spots. Small purple flowers bloom in mid-spring, followed by bright red berries. The evergreen foliage and clusters of red berries add interest to shade gardens in winter.

Spotted laurel grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. The no-fuss shrub performs well in low-light conditions, growing along foundation lines, shrub borders, or hedges. You can also plant the shade-loving plant in containers to brighten a patio or deck. It tolerates drought and pollution.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 10
• Light: Full shade to partial shade
• Mature Size: 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall and 5 to 9 ft. (1.5 – 2.7 m) wide

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Wintergreen is a small evergreen shrub that thrives in shade gardens, not growing taller than a foot (0.3 m). Highlights of this shade lover are its glossy, dark green, leathery leaves, bell-shaped white or pinkish flowers nodding on stems, and scarlet-red berries that persist through winter.

Wintergreen’s bright red fruits and evergreen leaves add color and interest to the winter landscapes. The shade-loving shrub is perfect for city gardens, underplanting trees, shade borders, and foundation planting. The evergreen shrub also covers bare ground on slopes. It tolerates dry conditions once established and is deer-resistant.

• USDA Planting Zones: 3 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 3” to 6” (7.5 – 15 cm) tall and 12” (30 cm) wide

Anise (Illicium Parviflorum)

Anise is a shade-loving evergreen shrub that brightens shaded fall landscapes thanks to its bright green golden foliage. Evergreen anise features glossy, dark green leaves that turn golden yellow throughout the season. The aromatic leaves emit a fragrance reminiscent of anise or licorice when crushed. Anise shrubs bloom in spring, followed by small, brown seed capsules.

Anise is a versatile shrub growing up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall. The part shade lover performs well in foundation planting, in shrub borders, or as a hedge. It can also be grown in containers to add interest to a patio or deck. Its tolerance to damp soil makes it ideal for planting in shade gardens with poor drainage.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 4 to 8 ft. (1.2 – 2.4 m) tall and up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) wide

Dwarf Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’)

Dwarf Burford holly is a compact evergreen shrub that thrives in partial shade. This shade-loving shrub features dark green, glossy lanceolate leaves, inconspicuous white flowers, and vibrant red berries that persist throughout winter. The ornamental shrub has dense foliage with a rounded, spreading growth habit.

Dwarf Burford holly has medium growth and typically grows up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall. It’s drought-tolerant and withstands salt spray. The deer-resistant shrub performs well as an evergreen privacy hedge, foundation planting, barrier, or specimen plant. Its fragrant flowers and berries attract wildlife like bees, butterflies, and songbirds.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall and wide

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)

Heavenly bamboo is a popular shade-loving evergreen shrub that adds beauty and interest to any garden. This versatile shrub features pinnately compound, lance-shaped leathery leaves with serrated edges. These turn red, burgundy, or purple in the fall. The shrub blooms in spring with clusters of white flowers, followed by bright red berries.

Heavenly bamboo grows up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall, making it ideal for borders, hedges, or a focal point in shade gardens. It also grows well in containers to add interest to a patio or deck. This low-maintenance shrub is drought-tolerant and resistant to salt spray, deer, and rabbits.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 8 ft. (0.9 – 2.4 m) tall and 2 to 5 ft. (0.6 – 1.5 m) wide

Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)

Japanese skimmia is an attractive evergreen shrub for year-round greenery in shade gardens. The ornamental features of the plant are its glossy, dark green leaves, clusters of fragrant creamy white spring flowers, and abundant bright red berries. The red fruits persist throughout winter, providing color and attracting birds.

Japanese skimmia has compact growth and grows up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. The full shade lover grows easily and is simple to maintain in moist, fertile soils. You can plant it as a foundation planting, evergreen hedgerow, or shrub border in partial or deep shade. In container gardens, the shrub also grows well in planters.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 8
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) tall and 4 to 5 ft. (1.2 – 1.5 m) wide

Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica)

Japanese aralia is a medium-sized shade-loving evergreen shrub with large palmately lobed leaves. The palm-shaped leaves grow at the end of long, arching stems, giving the plant a distinctly tropical feel. It blooms in spring with small clusters of white flowers followed by small black berries.

Japanese aralia can grow up to 13 ft. (4 m) tall. Its bushy appearance creates an eye-catching focal point in shaded gardens. However, the evergreen shrub is a versatile landscaping option for growing a screen, foundation planting, or windbreak. In cooler climates, the shade-tolerant plant is a tropical houseplant.

• USDA Planting Zones: 8 to 11
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 6 to 13 ft. (1.8 – 4 m) tall and wide

Gilt Edge Oleaster (Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’)

Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’ thrives in the shade, where its variegated foliage brightens shady corners. The outstanding feature of this shade lover is its glossy, dark green lanceolate leaves with striking golden-yellow margins and silvery-gray undersides. Small, fragrant white flowers bloom in fall, followed by red berries that attract birds.

Also called Ebbing’s silverberry, the bushy evergreen shrub grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. It’s an ideal solution for shade gardens for growing an evergreen hedge, privacy barrier, or windbreak. ‘Gilt Edge’ oleaster tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including poor drainage, and is resistant to deer and rabbits.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 8 to 10 ft. (2.4 – 3 m) tall and wide

Golf Ball Pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’)

‘Golf Ball’ pittosporum is a compact evergreen shrub that thrives in partially shaded gardens. This low-maintenance shrub features small, oval, glossy green leaves, inconspicuous honey-scented, dark purple flowers, and a compact, rounded shape. It’s an excellent choice for shaded formal gardens or as a border plant.

‘Golf Ball’ Pittosporum doesn’t grow taller than 4 ft. (1.2 m). It’s an ideal evergreen landscaping solution for gardens that get a mixture of sunshine and deep afternoon shade. Its compact size and dense foliage make it ideal for planting a low hedge, foundation planting, border shrub, or accent plant. Once established, the shrub is drought-tolerant, withstands salt spray, and is resistant to deer and rabbits.

• USDA Planting Zones: 9 to 11
• Light: Full sun or partial shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) tall and wide

Isu Tree (Distylium racemosum)

The isu tree is a large all-season shade-loving shrub with leathery broadleaf foliage and showy purple flowers. The shrub is ideal for gardens with limited sunlight due to its tolerance for shade. Its graceful, arching branches create a stunning focal point in shaded areas.

The isu tree is a slow-growing shrub that grows up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall. It’s popular in shade gardens as a foundation plant, in shrub borders, or as a privacy hedge. The shrub’s compact size also makes it suitable for container planting on patios or decks. However, it tends to grow tall, so regular pruning is necessary to maintain its height.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 10 to 15 ft. (3 – 4.5 m) tall and 3 to 8 ft. (0.9 – 2.4 m) wide

Flowering Evergreen Shrubs For Shade

Flowering evergreen shrubs for shade add year-round beauty to gardens with limited sunlight. The lush, yearlong foliage offers an attractive backdrop to colorful. They enhance visual appeal, thrive in various climates, and require minimal care.

Japanese Andromeda (Pieris Japonica)

Japanese Andromeda is a shade-loving ornamental shrub with evergreen foliage and attractive white or pinkish-red flowers. The bushy evergreen shrub blooms in spring with clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers. These contrast nicely with glassy, dark green leathery leaves. The foliage emerges bronze-red in spring, turning to dark green in summer.

Japanese Andromeda shrubs grow up to 7 ft. (2.1 m) tall. However, some dwarf evergreen varieties have a lower growth of 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m), making them ideal for compact shade gardens. Landscaping uses for Andromeda shrubs in gardens with little sunlight include accent plants, mixed borders, flowering hedges, or foundation plantings.

• USDA Planting Zones: 5 to 8
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 2 to 7 ft. (0.6 – 2.1 m) tall and wide, depending on the cultivar
• Bloom Time: Early spring

Evergreen Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)

Many evergreen azaleas are small shrubs that thrive in gardens with four to six hours of direct sunlight. Part shade lovers, evergreen azaleas have elliptic, glossy green leaves and showy, trumpet-shaped flowers. Not growing taller than three feet (0.9 m), the evergreen shrubs bloom prolifically in mid-spring and then sporadically in summer and fall.

Evergreen azaleas are easy to care for in shade gardens, are cold-hardy, and are perfect for landscaping small gardens and tight spaces. After brightening gardens with abundant flowers in spring, the ornamental shrubs bloom again in summer and fall.

Landscaping uses for shade-tolerant evergreen azaleas include accent plants, foundation planting, pathway edging, mixed borders, and container gardening. For optimal growth, plant the evergreen azaleas in dappled shade or where they get plenty of afternoon shade.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 10
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 0.9 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Spring and on and off during summer and fall

Camellia

Camellia is one of the most beautiful flowering evergreen shrubs that thrive in shade gardens. Camellia shrubs bloom in late winter with showy flowers of stunning blooms, some resembling roses or peonies. The pink, white, red, and multicolored flowers contrast nicely with the glossy, dark green leaves.

The most shade-tolerant evergreen camellia shrubs are Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica.

Camellia sasanqua: This fast-growing evergreen shrub blooms in partial or full shade. Its single or semi-double blooms measure up to 4” (10 cm) across and emit a wonderful scent. The flowers have fluted, ruffled petals and can be pink, rose, white, or red shades.

Camellia japonica: This ornamental evergreen shade shrub has showy flowers up to 5” (13 cm) wide. The beautiful shrub has a profusion of flowers blooming in late winter and early spring. It has a rounded habit, dense evergreen foliage, and gracefully arching branches.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 6 to 14 ft. (1.8 – 4.3 m) tall and up to 10 ft. (3 m) wide, depending on the cultivar
• Bloom Time: Winter to early spring

Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)

Cape Jasmine is a popular shade-loving evergreen shrub with fragrant white flowers and thick, lustrous foliage. The large shrubby plant has brilliant white double flowers up to 3” (7.5 cm) across. Its dark green lanceolate leaves create dense foliage. The shrub blooms in mid-spring for three months.

Dwarf cape jasmine shrubs for shade gardens don’t grow taller than three feet (0.9 m) tall. Larger shrubs can grow up to 8 ft. (2.4 m). In USDA Zone 8 and above, cape jasmine shrubs are ideal for planting in shady gardens. They are ideal specimen plants, foundation plantings, and container shrubs.

• USDA Planting Zones: 8 to 11
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 8 ft. (0.9 – 2.4 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Late spring to summer

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry laurel is a popular flowering evergreen shrub that thrives in shade gardens. It features upright cylindrical clusters of fragrant white flowers 5” (13 cm) tall and glossy, dark green leaves. Small black cherry-like berries appear in the fall. It has a dense spreading habit, ideal for planting as an evergreen hedge or privacy screen.

This shade-loving cherry laurel shrub grows up to 30 ft. (9 m) tall. It tolerates drought and sea spray, making it suitable for coastal gardens in deep shade. Landscaping uses for cherry laurel include windbreaks, evergreen living fence, privacy screen and ornamental shrubs. Its plum-scented flowers attract pollinators, and its fruits provide food for birds.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 9
• Light: Full sun, part shade, heavy shade
• Mature Size: 15 to 30 ft. (4.5 – 9 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Florida Hobblebush (Agarista populifolia)

Florida hobblebush is an attractive shade-loving evergreen shrub with fragrant, creamy-white flowers. The attractive tubular flowers open from orange buds and bloom under the arching branches. These look beautiful with the light green, leathery leaves. The flowers give way to attractive small round seed pods in the summer and fall.

Florida hobblebush grows up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) tall, making an ideal screening shrub for backyards. Thriving in part to full shade, the tall, multi-stemmed shrub is ideal for borders, privacy screens, or specimen plants. Its suckering stems and tolerance to moist soils make it a good option for soil erosion prevention alongside streams.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 10
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 8 to 12 ft. (2.4 – 3.6 m) tall and 5 to 6 ft. (1.5 – 1.8 m) wide
• Bloom Time: Late spring and early summer

California Barberry (Berberis pinnata)

California barberry thrives in deep shade with its evergreen foliage that looks stunning with bright, golden yellow flowers. This shrub features spiny, holly-like leaves, clusters of pea-like yellow flowers, and small blue-black rounded berries. Its lustrous foliage provides year-long greenery in heavily shaded gardens.

California barberry grows up to 7 ft. (2.1 m) tall. Its dense growth and thick, jagged leaves make it ideal as a security screen or privacy hedge in yards with little sunlight. It also performs well in foundation planting, coastal gardens, and shady borders.

The shrub is also deer-tolerant, making it suitable for rural gardens in its native West Coast of North America.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 10
• Light: Partial sun to deep shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 7 ft. (0.9 – 2.1 m) tall and 4 to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide
• Bloom Time: Spring

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Mountain laurel is a beautiful shade-loving evergreen shrub native to the eastern United States. It is known for its clusters of showy, bell-shaped flowers ranging from white to pink to deep red. Mountain laurel’s glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round interest in shade gardens.

This versatile shrub can grow up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall and is often used as a focal point or specimen plant in landscapes. It also works well in woodland gardens, as a foundation planting, or in shrub borders. Mountain laurel is deer-resistant and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

• USDA Planting Zones: 4 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: Up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Sweet Box (Sarcococca confusa)

Sweet box thrives in the shade, where its evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers brighten low-light conditions in early spring. Features of sweet box are its clusters of ivory-white flowers with wiry petals that emit a vanilla fragrance and glossy green lanceolate leaves with wavy margins. It’s ideal for planting in shady borders.

Sweet box is an easy-care versatile shrub that grows up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. In partial or deep shade, it is perfect for planting along walkways, in borders, or as container plants on a patio or deck. The shrub is deer and rabbit-resistant and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 9
• Light: Partial shade to heavy shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 5 ft. (0.9 – 1.5 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Late winter and early spring

Oregon Grape Holly (Berberis aquifolium)

Oregon grape holly is an evergreen shrub that thrives in gardens without direct sunlight. It is known for its spiny, holly-like leaves and clusters of golden-yellow flowers blooming in spring, followed by dark, blue-purple berries at the end of summer. The glossy, spiky leaves emerge bronze-red and turn deep burgundy in fall.

Also called holly-leaved barberry, this shade shrub doesn’t grow taller than 6 ft. (1.8 m). It has an upright, spreading habit, making it ideal for adding texture and color to shady areas of gardens. The evergreen shrub also performs well in foundation plantings, shaded borders, and as a privacy screen.

• USDA Planting Zones: 5 to 8
• Light: Full shade to partial shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m) tall and 2 to 5 ft. (0.6 – 1.5 m) wide
• Bloom Time: Early spring to summer

Dog Hobble (Leucothoe axillaris)

Dog hobble thrives in deep shade, blooming every spring with dropping clusters of creamy-white bell-shaped flowers. The showy flower clusters measure 3” (7.5 cm) and contrast nicely with the glossy, lanceolate leaves that grow 6” (15 cm) long. The shade-loving evergreen shrub adds beauty to shady garden landscapes.

Dog hobble grows up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall with a fountain-like appearance thanks to its gracefully arching branches. Landscaping uses for the shade-tolerant shrub include planting in shrub borders, along a foundation line, or on banks and slopes. The low-maintenance evergreen is deer-resistant, making it a landscaping option.

It’s good to note you can trim the shrub to grow as white-flowering ground cover, and it’s intolerant to drought or dry soil. It attracts bees and butterflies to wildlife gardens.

• USDA Planting Zones: 5 to 8
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Late spring and early summer

Winter Daphne (Daphne odora)

Winter Daphne is a stunning evergreen shrub for shade gardens to add fragrance, color, and lush texture throughout the year. The shrub features leathery, dark green leaves and clusters of pink or white spring-blooming flowers. Clusters of small red fruits decorate the shrub in late summer.

The highly fragrant flowers fill shaded borders, patios, and decks with sweet fragrances.

Winter Daphne grows up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall and wide. Its evergreen foliage is ideal for planting a flowering hedge or privacy screen. Additionally, the shrub performs well in partial shade growing as a foundation planting, borders, or specimen plant.

• USDA Planting Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Partial shade
• Mature Size: 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) tall and wide
• Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring

Coniferous Evergreens For Shade

Dwarf coniferous evergreens, like yews, hemlocks, and some cypress varieties, are excellent choices for shade gardens. Their needle-like foliage thrives in shaded environments, providing year-long texture and structure. The evergreen nature ensures consistent greenery in low-light areas, even during winter.

Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia)

Japanese plum yew is a coniferous evergreen shrub that thrives in deep shade. This slow-growing shrub features dark green, needle-like foliage that creates a graceful and unique texture. This small shrub produces inedible fleshy seeds that look like small plums.

Japanese plum yew grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. It’s an excellent landscaping option for foundation planting, a hedge, or a border plant in shade gardens. The low-maintenance shrub is resistant to deer, shade, heat, and drought.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 9
• Light: Full sun, partial shade, or deep shade
• Mature Size: 5 to 10 ft. (1.5 – 3 m) tall and up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) wide

Dwarf English Yew Cultivars (Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’)

The dwarf English yew cultivar ‘Repandens’ is a popular evergreen shrub for shade gardens. The no-fuss shrub has a spreading habit, featuring long, glossy, dark green needle-like leaves and red seed-bearing cones. The low-growing coniferous shrub doesn’t grow taller than 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall.

The dwarf English yews are perfect for small gardens or creating low hedges and borders in shaded areas. They also perform well as ground cover, foundation planting, and a specimen plant. Small yew shrubs are deer-resistant and low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning.

• USDA Planting Zones: 6 to 8
• Light: Full sun, part shade, or deep shade
• Mature Size: 2 to 4 ft. (0.6 – 1.2 m) tall and 6 to 15 ft. (1.8 – 4.5 m) wide

Anglo-Japanese Yew (Taxus media ‘Hicksii’)

Anglo-Japanese yew is a shade-tolerant coniferous shrub with green needle leaves that thrives in shade gardens. This versatile shrub has a narrow columnar habit and starts spreading with age. Its dense evergreen foliage and columnar shape are ideal for hedges, privacy screens, or windbreaks in shade gardens.

Anglo-Japanese yew grows up to 20 ft. (6 m). Ideal for planting in partial to full shade, the low-maintenance shrub performs well along a foundation line, creating a natural fence, or use in topiary designs. The easy-care shrub can withstand heavy pruning if needed.

• USDA Planting Zones: 4 to 7
• Light: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade
• Mature Size: 12 to 20 ft. (3.6 – 6 m) tall and 8 to 12 ft. (2.4 – 3.6 m) wide

Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis ‘Jeddeloh’)

Canadian hemlock ‘Jeddeloh’ is a shade-tolerant, low-growing bushy conifer elegance to shaded front and backyard areas. This compact Canadian Hemlock features soft, feathery foliage in beautiful shades of green. The dense foliage provides privacy and a lush backdrop for other shade-loving plants.

Canadian hemlock ‘Jeddeloh’ is a shade shrub not growing taller than 3 ft. (0.9 m). The dwarf, flat-topped conifer looks like a bird’s nest with its center depression. You can plant the small coniferous shrubs in small gardens or tight spaces that get little sunlight. It also performs well as a foundation plant, shrub borders, or evergreen ground cover.

• USDA Planting Zones: 4 to 7
• Light: Partial shade to full shade
• Mature Size: 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 0.9 m) tall and 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) wide

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’)

Dwarf Hinoki cypress ‘Nana’ is a compact evergreen coniferous shrub for planting in partially shaded gardens. Not growing taller than 3 ft. (0.9 m), this slow-growing conifer features scale-like leaves that retain color throughout the year. Mature trees have small brown seed cones.

Dwarf Hinoki cypress performs well in small gardens that get between four and eight hours of sunlight daily. You can plant the dwarf cypress as a foundation planting or a low divider hedge. The shade-loving shrub is deer-resistant and tolerant of a variety of soil types.

• USDA Planting Zones: 4 to 8
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 1 to 3 ft. (0.3 – 0.9 m) tall and up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide

‘Danica’ Globe Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Danica’)

The ‘Danica’ arborvitae is one of the smallest globe arborvitaes that grows in well-drained soils in both sunny and part-shaded areas. This miniature American arborvitae cultivar only reaches 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and the same width. The arborvitae ‘Danica’ has green foliage that turns bluish-green in winter. Its dense scale-like leaves grow in a spherical or globe shape.

Small globe arborvitaes such as the ‘Danica’ cultivar are best planted as border shrubs, foundation plantings, or evergreen edging plants. The emerald green arborvitae foliage keeps its color all year and develops a bronze tinge in winter.

Information about growing ‘Danica’ arborvitaes:

• USDA Planting Zones: 3 – 7
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 1 to 2 ft. (0.3 – 0.6 m) tall and wide

Related articles:

• Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs
• Flowering Evergreen Shrubs For Full Sun
• Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs