Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs For Shade (With Pictures) – Identification Guide

Small evergreen shrubs that are tolerant of shade add color to shaded gardens. Many types of shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs also produce wonderful flowering blooms in shades of red, white, yellow, orange, purple, and pink. In addition, planting small shrubs that grow in the shadow of trees, buildings, walls, or larger shrubs prevent your front or backyard from looking sparse, without any greenery or natural elements. 

Choosing the best small or dwarf evergreen shrubs for shade can be tricky. Some shrub varieties perform best in partial shade or dappled sunlight. In contrast, other small shrubs need full shade—fewer than two hours of sunshine daily—to thrive. 

This article is a guide to picking dwarf or low-growing shrubs for a shaded garden landscape. Descriptions and pictures of shade-loving low-growing bushy plants will help you choose the best varieties for your front or backyard.

How to Choose Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs for Shade

To decide which small evergreen shrubs to plant, consider the amount of sunlight, soil type, and maintenance needs. For example, shrubs for partial to full shade only need a few hours of sunlight daily. Also, check your USDA hardiness zone to pick dwarf bushes and shrubs that thrive in your climate.

Full Shade, Partial Shade, Dappled Shade And Light Shade

For shrubs to thrive in shaded landscapes, it’s crucial to know how much sunlight your front or backyard gets. Typically, light requirements are classified as partial sun, partial shade, and full shade. Additionally, dappled sunlight is when patches of sunlight and shadows fall on shrub foliage.

Here are descriptions of levels of shade shrubs require:

• Full sun—Shrubs receive direct sunlight for at least six hours a day, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Partial sun—Shrubs require a minimum of four and six hours of sunlight daily.
• Partial shade—These shrubs benefit from four to six hours of sunshine, especially morning sunlight. Therefore, it’s typically vital to ensure shade in the intense heat of the late afternoon sun. 
• Dappled sunshine—Sunlight that filters through branches of taller shrubs or trees. This is a mixture of light and shade. 
• Full shade—Usually, full-shade shrubs perform best with no more than a couple of hours of early morning to late afternoon sunlight. These shrubs are generally suited to dappled sunlight as well.

The Best Small Evergreen Shrubs for Shade

The best low-growing or small shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs depend on your landscape needs. For example, boxwood and English yew are ideal for evergreen hedges in partial shade to dappled sunlight. But dwarf Japanese camellia and azalea shrubs have year-long foliage and stunning showy flowers in shaded gardens. 

Types of Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs For Shade (With Pictures) – Identification Guide

There are many dwarf or small evergreen shrubs that thrive in shaded conditions. Here are 15 types of shade-tolerant shrubs with evergreen foliage, some of which are also small flowering shrubs. 

Wintercreeper ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’)

Wintercreeper is a low-growing, shade-tolerant spreading shrub that grows in thickets. The attractive evergreen shrub has beautiful heart-shaped, variegated dark green leaves with creamy margins. The ovate leaves measure 1.75” (4.5 cm) in diameter. The small evergreen bushy plant blooms with clusters of tiny star-shaped greenish-white flowers.

Also called spindle ‘Emerald Gaiety,’ the small shrub with its attractive foliage grows 4 to 5 ft. (1.2 – 1.5 m) tall. The vigorous shrub is ideal for growing as a low hedge, foundation planting, or evergreen ground cover in partial shade.

USDA growing zones: 5 to 9

Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil requirements: Medium moisture, well-drained soil

Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis ‘Spreading Star’)

The spreading Pacific silver fir is an evergreen shrub-like conifer with lush, dense fuzzy green foliage. The slow-growing coniferous shrub thrives in partial sun to full shade, and it can also survive full sun. The shrub’s foliage consists of needle-like green leaves with a silvery underside growing on arching branches. 

Pacific silver fir ‘Spreading Star’ grows up to 3 ft. (1 m) tall and 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide. The low-growing shrubby conifer is ideal for small gardens, containers, or ground cover in full shade. 

USDA growing zones: 6 to 8

Sun exposure: Full sun to complete shade

Soil requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

Dwarf Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua)

Dwarf Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) is a flowering evergreen shrub that prefers part shade or shade. The slow-growing, bushy plant is identified by its leathery, lanceolate, glossy green leaves and showy double blooms covering the compact foliage from late winter until early spring. The attractive flowers measure 3” to 5” (7.5 – 10 cm). 

Also called peony camellia, this is one of the most popular shade-loving landscape plants. When in full bloom, the dwarf shrubs produce an outstanding floral display. Japanese camellia shrubs are perfect for growing in shrub borders, mixed beds, containers, or as a living screen or flowering hedge. 

Sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) is native to China and Japan and has spread to the West with various dwarf cultivars. They are typically faster growing and low maintenance. Their flowers and leaves are slightly smaller, and they bloom a bit earlier in autumn until late winter. Sasanqua camellia can grow in full sun and shade.

USDA growing zones: 7 to 9

Sun exposure: Partial sun to full shade

Soil requirements: Consistently moist ground with excellent drainage

Evergreen Compact Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’)

Compact Japanese holly is a low-growing evergreen shrub known for its rich dark green foliage and globose shape. The compact easy-to-grow landscaping bush performs well in partial shade. This shrub has small fragrant greenish-white spring flowers, obovate glossy green leaves, and small black drupes from summer through fall. 

Also called boxleaf holly, the compact Japanese holly shrub grows around 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall and wide. The shade-tolerant shrub also performs well in full sun. You can plant the evergreen shrub as a shrub border, foundation plant, medium-sized hedge, or tall ground cover. 

USDA growing zones: 6 to 8

Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

Boxwood (Buxus)

Compact evergreen boxwood shrubs perform just as well in full shade as in full sunshine. The dwarf boxwood varieties have densely-growing ovate, glossy green leaves that keep their color throughout the year. In addition, the dwarf, low landscaping shrubs typically have a globose habit and are easy to grow in an urban landscape.

Dwarf boxwood evergreen shrubs grow between 1 and 5 ft. (0.3 – 1.5 m) tall and wide. The hardy shrubs perform well, growing as foundation plantings, topiary, formal hedgerows, and container plants in shaded gardens. You can also plant low-growing varieties of boxwood as ground cover.

USDA growing zones: 5 to 8

Sun exposure: Full sun, partial sun, dappled sunlight, and complete shade

Soil requirements: Evenly moist, well-drained soil

Dwarf Pittosporum Evergreen Shrubs

Several varieties of small pittosporum shrubs are perfect if you want to grow evergreen shrubs in partial shade. Pittosporum shrubs are identified by their leathery, dark, glossy green leaves growing in whorls and clusters of small white-scented flowers. Depending on the dwarf cultivar, pittosporum shrubs grow 1 to 3 ft. (0.3 – 1 m) tall. 

Apart from its ornamental glossy green leaves, the attractive features of pittosporums are their excellent growth rate and ability to thrive in full sun or shade.

Several cultivars of small pittosporum shrubs have variegated leaves. Generally, the variegated pittosporum plants have ovate or obovate green leaves with narrow whitish or yellowish wavy margins.

USDA growing zones: 5 to 8

Sun exposure: Full sun, partial sun, dappled sunlight, and complete shade

Soil requirements: Evenly moist, well-drained soil

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium)

Oregon grape holly is a striking evergreen bushy plant with bright yellow clusters of flowers, lustrous holly-like leaves, and dark blue grape-like berries. The upright, spreading, slow-growing shrub performs well in partial sun to complete shade. It’s a shrub ideal for brightening up shaded gardens due to its brightly colored blossoms.

Also called holly-leaved barberry, the shrub grows 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall and up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide. 

USDA growing zones: 5 to 8

Sun exposure: Partial sun to full shade

Soil requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

Dwarf Evergreen Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)

Japanese skimmia is a slow-growing flowering shrub that performs well in shaded landscapes. The shade-loving evergreen plant is recognized by its clusters of fragrant white flowers, bright red berries, and lanceolate leathery green leaves. Japanese skimmia grows 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall and up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide.

Grow Japanese skimmia in an evergreen landscape that gets very little direct sunlight. It’s an ideal shrub for evergreen hedges, flowering front yard shrubs, foundation plantings, shrub borders, and an ornamental specimen plant. 

USDA growing zones: 6 to 8

Sun exposure: Part sun to complete shade

Soil requirements: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Anglo-Japanese Yew (Taxus × Media ‘Densiformis’)

The Anglo-Japanese yew hybrid is an evergreen shrub with a rounded growth habit and foliage consisting of bright green needle leaves. This yew shrub thrives in fewer than 2 hours of sunlight daily. The slow-growing shrub eventually grows 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2) tall and up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide.

English Yew (Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’) is another dwarf yew shrub ideal for spreading ground cover. The English yew ‘Repandens’ cultivar doesn’t grow over 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall but has a massive spread of up to 15 ft. (4.5 m).

The evergreen coniferous shrub is ideal for planting as a low-growing hedge, ground cover, or foundation planting for front of house. 

USDA growing zones: 4 to 7

Sun exposure: Full sun, part sun, dappled sunlight, full shade

Soil requirements: Medium moisture, well-drained soil

Dwarf Azalea Shrubs (Rhododendron spp.)

Several varieties of azalea shrubs are low-growing ornamental plants suitable for compact gardens. Small evergreen azaleas are known for their funnel-shaped, fragrant, showy flowers, lance-shaped leaves, and attractive, rounded appearance. Dwarf azalea shrubs can be evergreen or deciduous and grow between 1 and 4 ft. (0.3 – 1.2 m) tall, depending on the variety.

Easy-care azalea shrubs are suitable for planting in dappled sunlight or shaded landscapes. When in bloom from late spring until early summer, the rounded bushes are covered in showy flowers. Plant dwarf evergreen azaleas (also called Japanese azaleas) as a hedge, foundation plants, or eye-catching flowering shrub in a container.

USDA growing zones: 5 to 9

Sun exposure: Partial shade with some protection from wind

Soil requirements: Well-drained, organically-rich soil

Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense)

The Chinese fringe flower is an ornamental evergreen shrub for warm, humid climates. The attractive shrub is known for its pinkish-red leaves and scented, deep pink flowers with thin curling petals. The Chinese fringe flower shrub has dwarf varieties with a mounding habit, growing 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall and wide.

This versatile landscaping shrub is perfect for brightening up front and backyards that are in light shade. If you’re looking for a shrub with deep red foliage and delicate strappy petals, then a dwarf Chinese fringe flowering shrub is perfect.

USDA growing zones: 7 to 10

Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil requirements: Moist, loose, well-draining soil

Dog Hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana)

Dog hobble is a graceful evergreen shrub with attractive arching stems, slender lance-shaped leaves, and clusters of urn-shaped, creamy-white flowers. The eye-catching green foliage emerges red or bronze and turns purplish in winter. Adding to the shrub’s attractiveness, drooping flower clusters growing 3” (7 cm) long dangle from branches.

Also called drooping laurel or highland doghobble, the shade-loving ornamental shrub is ideal for growing in cottage gardens, shrub borders, and understory shrubs. Dog hobble shrubs grow 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall. 

USDA growing zones: 5 to 8

Sun exposure: Partial sun, partial shade, and full shade

Soil requirements: Moist, well-drained acidic soil

Dwarf Japanese Pieris Shrub (Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’)

The Japanese Pieris cultivar ‘Cavatine’ is an attractive evergreen shrub with plenty of ornamental features. The compact, bushy plant has clusters of tiny flowers that look like lily-of-the-valley flowers. These contrast nicely with the lanceolate dark green pointed leaves. The low-growing shrub grows 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and up to 3 ft. (1 m) wide.

The stunning flowering evergreen bush becomes a mass of white flowers when in bloom in early spring. The woody Japanese Pieris shrub is ideal for planting along borders, foundation lines of a house, and mass plantings. 

USDA growing zones: 5 to 8

Sun exposure: Partial shade

Soil requirements: Constantly moist, well-drained soil

Dwarf Hemlock Shrubs (Tsuga canadensis)

Many varieties of dwarf Canadian hemlock shrubs are suitable for planting in partial to deep shade. The evergreen coniferous shrubs have attractive sprays of lacy foliage, giving the shrubs a graceful appearance. The shrubs perform best in cool northern climates. Although they can tolerate sunny conditions, hemlock shrubs thrive in the shade. 

Some examples of suitable dwarf hemlock shrubs for partial to full shade include the following:

Canadian hemlock ‘Stockman’s Dwarf’—The evergreen shrub grows 1.5 to 3 ft. (0.45 – 1 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide. Foliage consists of short dark needles growing on slender stalks. 

Canadian hemlock ‘Nana Gracilis’—A miniature slow-growing shrub that reaches 2.5 ft. (0.8 m) after ten years. The dwarf coniferous bush features silvery green needle leaves.

Canadian hemlock ‘Gracilis’—Growing 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall, the small bushy, flat-topped conifer has flat sprays of medium green needles, each with two white bands on the underside.

Canadian Hemlock ‘Cole’s Prostrate’ – The ‘Cole’s Prostrate’ hemlock cultivar is a low-growing evergreen shrub that is suitable for evergreen ground cover in the shade. It’s a slow-growing needled plant that grows 12” (30 cm) tall and up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide.

USDA growing zones: 3 to 7

Sun exposure: Partial shade to deep shade

Soil requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

Related articles:

• Flowering Perennials for Shade
• Ground Cover Plants for Shade
• Flowering Shrubs for Shade