Small Evergreen Shrubs For Shade (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
Small evergreen shrubs for shade are perfect for adding year-round color and texture to a shaded garden. Low-growing shade-tolerant shrubs are ideal for filling small spaces and creating a lush, green backdrop for other plants. Evergreen shrubs that thrive in partial or full shade require little maintenance, making them a great choice for busy gardeners.
Whether you’re looking for a shade-tolerant hedge plant for a shady spot in a backyard or a small shrub for the front of your house, there’s an evergreen plant that will thrive in your shaded garden. The most popular small evergreen shrubby plants for shade are wintercreeper, Japanese camellia, boxwoods, and mountain laurel.
This article describes identifying features of the best small evergreen shrubs to grow in shaded areas. Descriptions and pictures of shade-loving dwarf shrubs with evergreen leaves will help you choose the best plants to add greenery and color to your garden landscape. Additionally, you’ll learn about the care and maintenance of these shrubby plants for the shade.
How to Choose Small Evergreen Shrubs for Shade
Selecting the right small shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs for shaded areas is not easy. Some sunlight is necessary for all plants to flourish and blossom. However, some small varieties of shrubs can survive with only an hour or two of sunlight daily. And a few dwarf, evergreen shrubs are suitable for deep shade where they don’t get any direct sunlight.
How Much Sunlight Do Small Shade-Tolerant Evergreen Shrubs Need
To ensure evergreen shrubs grow well in shaded areas, it is essential to determine the amount of sunlight your front or backyard receives. Generally, shade-tolerant shrubs are categorized as partial sun, partial shade, and full (deep) shade. Some shrubs also perform well in dappled shade.
The following are descriptions of the shade levels that shade-tolerant shrubs require:
Full shade or deep shade: Shrubs that thrive in complete shade typically require only a few hours of sunlight from early morning to late afternoon. They also tend to do well in areas with dappled sunlight.
Part shade: To thrive, shrubs for part or light shade require four to six hours of morning sunshine. Typically, they require moderate shade during the hot afternoon sunshine to prevent burning the leaves.
Dappled shade: This type of shade is when sunlight filters through trees or other foliage, creating a patchy pattern of light and shadow.
Types of Small Evergreen Shrubs For Shade (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
Please read on to discover some of the best shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs for shaded garden landscapes.
Small Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua)
Evergreen dwarf camellia japonica shrubs are one of the most popular shade-loving landscaping plants
Small Japanese camellias are some of the most popular shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs. The spectacular low growing evergreen shrubs thrive in part or full shade and produce beautiful, showy flowers in shades of pink, red, and white. The eye-catching camellia flowers measure 2” to 4” (5 – 10 cm) in diameter and bloom from spring through fall.
Camellia japonica and camellia sasanqua are popular species of small Japanese camellias that grow well in partial shade or constant shadows.
Camellia japonica: These small evergreen ornamental shrubs grow 6 to 12 ft. (1.8 – 3.6 m) tall, depending on the cultivar. They are characterized by showy flowers and double blooms in shades of pink, red, and white. You can plant these evergreen shrubs as specimen plants, foundation plantings, or flowering hedges. Camellia blooms are also stunning cut flowers, ideal for creating indoor floral arrangements.
Camellia sasanqua are typically faster growing than camellia japonica with slightly smaller flowers and leaves, and bloom a bit earlier in autumn until late winter
Camellia sasanqua: These low growing evergreen shrubs for shade are fast-growing and produce stunning showy white, pink, or red flowers. These small shrubs thrive in light shade to full shade and can reach up to 10 feet tall (3 m). They have dense green foliage of glossy leaves, perfect for hedges and privacy screens. The blooms of Camellia sasanqua appear in late fall, adding a splash of color to your garden landscape during the winter months.
USDA growing zones: 7 to 9
Sun exposure: Partial sun or full shade
Soil type: Moist, acidic, well-drained soil
Small Evergreen Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)
Japanese skimmia is a small flowering evergreen shrub that is easy to care for and loves shade
Small evergreen Japanese skimmia is a low-growing flowering broadleaf evergreen shrub that thrives in partial shade. This ornamental plant produces clusters of fragrant star-shaped white or pink flowers in spring, followed by bright red berries in fall and winter. The glossy, dark green leaves and colorful berries make it an attractive landscaping choice in shaded landscapes.
Small evergreen Japanese skimmia grows 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall and 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide. Its compact growth, dome-shaped habit, and attractive features make it an ideal evergreen shrub for small gardens, borders, foundation planting, or hedges. The low-maintenance plant is also deer-resistant.
USDA growing zones: 6 to 8
Sun exposure: Partial shade or full shade
Soil type: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained
Small Japanese Pieris Shrub (Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’)
The small flowering Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’ shrub looks beautiful in any partially shaded front or backyard
The Japanese Pieris shrub ‘Cavatine,’ is a compact evergreen shade-tolerant shrub that doesn’t grow more than 2 feet (0.6 m) in height. Thriving in partial shade, the shrub produces clusters of small, fragrant, white cup-shaped flowers in early spring. These contrast with glossy, dark green leaves.
The Japanese Pieris ‘Cavatine’ cultivar grows 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and 3 ft. (1 m) wide. Its compact, rounded shape makes it the perfect shrub for landscaping small front or backyards. It’s ideal for foundation plantings, mixed beds, and in front of shrub borders. You can also grow the shrub in containers for patios, decks, and balconies.
USDA growing zones: 5 to 8
Sun exposure: Partial shade
Soil type: Moist, moderately fertile soil
Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica)
The spotted laurel is an attractive small shrub for partial sun and shady areas. It’s also an excellent evergreen hedge.
Spotted laurel is an eye-catching low growing evergreen shrub that thrives in partial to full shade. Also known as gold dust plant or variegated laurel, the ornamental feature of the small shrub is its glossy, dark green leaves adorned with yellow spots. The shrub also produces small clusters of shiny red berries in the fall and winter.
Spotted laurel grows 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall and 5 to 9 ft. (1.5 – 2.7 m) wide. The shade-loving shrub is an excellent choice for planting along a fence line, an evergreen hedge, foundation planting, or shady shrub borders. Spotted laurel is also a low-maintenance shrub that tolerates various soil types and drought conditions.
USDA growing zones: 6 to 10
Sun exposure: Partial sun to full shade
Soil type: Organically rich, well-drained
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’)
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald Gaiety’ is a shade tolerant small evergreen shrub with variegated white and green leaves
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald Gaiety’ is a versatile small evergreen shrub suitable for partial shade or dappled sunlight. The ornamental features of the small shrub are its glossy green leaves with irregular white edges that turn pinkish in winter. The low-growing shrub grows 4 to 5 ft. (1.2 – 1.5 m) tall.
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald Gaiety’ is ideal for planting as a ground cover, specimen plant, or low hedge. The drought-tolerant shrub is also suitable for growing in containers or hanging baskets. Although its flowers are inconspicuous, the bright variegated leaves add a pop of color to garden landscapes.
Other types of evergreen wintercreeper shrubs that don’t grow more than 2 feet in shaded gardens include the following:
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’: The low-growing evergreen shrub grows 1 to 2 ft. (0.3 – 0.6 m). It features yellow and green variegated leaves.
The colorful foliage of small evergreen Euonymus shrubs adds ornamental element to any garden
Euonymus fortunei ‘Moonshadow’—This small shrub reaches 3 ft. tall (0.9 m) and has brightly colored yellow center and green edged foliage. Grow as a small border shrub wherever you need bold colors in your front or back garden.
Euonymus fortunei ‘Moonshadow’
USDA growing zones: 5 to 9
Sun exposure: Partial shade to full shade
Soil type: Medium moisture, well-drained
Boxwood (Buxus)
Grow small evergreen boxwood shrubs in the front of house to increase the curb appeal or as a decorative element in sunny or shaded areas
Boxwood is a slow-growing compact evergreen shrub perfect for creating formal hedges in shade gardens. The low-growing dense shrubs feature small, glossy green leaves that stay on the shrub throughout the year. Boxwood shrubs are typically low maintenance, and they respond well to pruning.
Most boxwood shrubs grow between 3 and 5 ft. (1 – 1.5 m) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) wide. The shrubby plants are ideal for creating borders, defining garden spaces, or adding structure to a landscape design. Once established, the landscaping shrubs are drought-tolerant.
USDA growing zones: 5 to 9, depending on the variety
Sun exposure: Full sun, partial shade, or heavy shade
Soil type: Evenly moist, well-drained soils
Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium)
Oregon grape holly is a flowering evergreen shrub with yellow flowers in early spring, followed by blue berries, and is small enough for accenting front of house shaded areas
Oregon grape holly is a shade-loving evergreen shrub with spiny, holly-like leaves and clusters of showy golden yellow flowers. The fragrant flowers bloom in late winter and early spring, followed by blue-black berries in summer. The shrub has four-season interest, with reddish-purple leaves emerging in spring before turning dark green and deep burgundy in fall.
Perfect for adding a splash of color to a shaded landscape, Oregon grape holly grows 3 to 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m) tall and up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide. You can plant the shrub as a specimen plant, hedge, or foundation planting in areas with little or no direct sunlight.
USDA growing zones: 5 to 8
Sun exposure: Partial shade, full shade
Soil type: Organically rich, well-drained soil
Small Eastern Hemlock Shrub (Tsuga canadensis ‘Jeddeloh’)
The cultivar ‘Jeddeloh’ is a small eastern hemlock evergreen shrub suitable for partial or full shade
The small Eastern hemlock shrub cultivar ‘Jeddeloh’ is a compact evergreen shrub that grows 2 feet (0.6 m) tall. This evergreen plant is characterized by its small, bright green needles and graceful, arching branches. It also has a flat-topped, spreading habit that resembles a bird’s nest. The slow-growing evergreen shrub takes ten years to grow 2 feet.
The ‘Jeddeloh’ eastern hemlock is perfect for small gardens without direct sunlight. You can plant it as an evergreen ground cover in the shade, foundation planting, or understory shrub. It also requires little maintenance, making it an ideal plant for busy gardeners.
USDA growing zones: 4 to 7
Sun exposure: Partial shade, full shade
Soil type: Medium moist, acidic, humus-rich soils
Evergreen Compact Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’)
Evergreen compact Japanese holly is a small and slow growing shrub for sunny or partially shaded areas
The Japanese holly ‘Compacta’ is a small, slow-growing shrub that thrives in full sun or partial shade. The shrub is known for its lustrous, dark green leaves, clusters of fragrant white flowers, and small black berries in late summer and fall. The glossy leaves grow to 1” (2.5 cm) long and form a rounded, spreading shape.
The ‘Compacta’ Japanese holly cultivar is a low-maintenance shrub that requires occasional pruning to maintain its shape. The evergreen shrub grows 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall and up to 10 ft. (3 m) wide. Its lush evergreen foliage and an attractive shape make it an ideal plant for partially shaded gardens as a foundation planting, border plant, or evergreen hedge.
USDA growing zones: 6 to 8
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Soil type: Tolerant of poor, sandy soil but thrives in clay soil
Small Pittosporum Evergreen Shrubs
The small evergreen Golf Ball pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’) can tolerate partial shade
Small pittosporum evergreen shrubs are ideal for shade planting in compact spaces. These low maintenance evergreen shrubs feature glossy, dark green leaves, some of which have green, yellow or white variegation. Small, dark purple flower clusters appear in late spring and emit a sweet honey-like fragrance.
Pittosporum shrubs are perfect for planting as a foundation plant, border shrub, or specimen plant. Its tolerance to salt air means it’s also ideal for coastal gardens. The low-growing shrubs grow 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall and wide.
USDA growing zones: 5 – 8
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Soil type: Fertile, moist, well-drained
Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis ‘Spreading Star’)
The ‘Spreading Star’ Pacific silver fir is an evergreen shrub with spreading growth habit that can be grown in both sun and shade
Pacific silver fir ‘Spreading Star’ is an evergreen dwarf conifer shrub that grows around 2 feet (0.6 m) tall in shaded landscapes. The coniferous shrub spreads across the ground. Its soft, thick foliage on arching branches create a natural carpet in partial or full shade. The slow-growing shrub grows 3” to 4” (7.5 – 10 cm) annually.
Pacific silver fir ‘Spreading Star’ is an excellent shrub for small, compact gardens. The shrub is perfect as ground cover, foundation planting, or to add texture to evergreen shrub borders.
USDA growing zones: 6 to 8
Sun exposure: Full sun to dense shade
Soil type: Moist, well-drained soils
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense)
The compact Chinese fringe flower shrub has colorful foliage and deep pink or white flowers and can be grown in sunny or partial shaded gardens
The Chinese fringe flower is a shade-tolerant, evergreen shrub with showy white or pink spring-blooming flowers. Ornamental features of the shrub are its spidery flowers with slender, twisted petals and emerald-green leaves that persist all year on the mounding shrubby plant. Chinese fringe flower shrubs grow 1 to 6 ft. (0.3 – 1.8 m) tall and wide, depending on the cultivar.
White flowering Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Emerald Snow’)
The evergreen shrubs are perfect for planting as a hedge, border, or specimen plant in a sunny or shady landscape.
USDA growing zones: 7 to 10
Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil type: Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils
Anglo-Japanese Yew (Taxus × Media ‘Densiformis’)
The spreading low growth habit of Taxus x media Densiformis makes it suitable as an evergreen ground cover plant for sun or shade
The semi-dwarf evergreen Anglo-Japanese yew shrub ‘Densiformis’ is a shade-loving bushy plant. It is an excellent landscaping plant for formal shaded gardens due to its compact, dense habit. The evergreen shrub features bright, glossy green needles, coral-red seed-bearing cones, and slow growth. It grows 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) high.
The ‘Densiformis’ Anglo-Japanese yew is ideal for planting as a low-growing evergreen hedge, specimen plant, or foundation planting. The shrub thrives just as well in full sun as in deep shade.
USDA growing zones: 4 to 7
Sun exposure: Full sun, partial sun, full shade
Soil type: Well-drained soils with average moisture
Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
The white flowers of cape jasmine bush add beauty and fragrance to partially shaded landscapes
Cape jasmine is a group of white-flowering shrubs that thrives in dappled light or partial shade. The stunning features of the ornamental shrubs are its fragrant, white, double-petaled flowers, dark green, lance-shaped leaves, and small orange or yellow oval fruits. The spectacular brilliant white flowers bloom in early summer and rebloom later in the season.
Cape jasmine shrubs grow 2 to 8 ft. (0.6 – 2.4 m) tall, depending on the variety. The evergreen plants are ideal for planting in foundation beds, mixed borders, and as specimen plants. Additionally, the fragrant blooms make excellent cut flowers for dried floral arrangements.
Cape jasmine shrubs thrive with morning sun and afternoon shade. However, they can withstand full sun exposure in cooler areas of their growing zones.
USDA growing zones: 7 to 10
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Soil type: Consistently moist, organically rich soils with excellent drainage
Russian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)
Russian cypress is a low growing evergreen shrub which is hardy in cold winters and tolerates partial shade
Russian cypress is a shade-tolerant evergreen shrub that doesn’t grow more than 2 feet tall. The coniferous shrub features feathery, scale-like bright green leaves. In the fall, its evergreen foliage turns an attractive bronze to purple color. The shrub is more shade-tolerant than other evergreen ground cover coniferous shrubs.
Russian cypress grows up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and spreads 3 to 12 ft. (1 – 3.6 m) wide. Thanks to its low growth and spreading nature, it’s an excellent choice for evergreen ground cover in the shade, rock gardens, and borders. Russian cypress is also suitable for planting in containers or covering retaining walls where its soft, scaly foliage will spill over the sides.
USDA growing zones: 3 to 7
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Soil type: Moist, well-drained soils
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia Latifolia)
Mountain laurel is a flowering evergreen shrub that can tolerate some shade in the garden
Mountain laurel is a stunning evergreen shrub that thrives in partial shade. The ornamental plant produces clusters of pinkish-white cup-shaped flowers. The attractive, showy flowers have bright rose-pink spots and cover the shrub when blooming in late spring and early summer. The shrub’s glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round interest.
Mountain laurel grows 5 to 15 ft. (1.5 – 4.5 m) tall and wide. The slow-growing shrub is ideal for planting in partially shaded areas as a specimen plant, shrub border, or cottage gardens.
USDA growing zones: 4 to 9
Sun exposure: Partial shade
Soil type: Moist, acidic, humus-rich, well-drained
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