Shady spots are hard to fill in a landscape. If you’d like to liven up a sun shy area of your yard or garden with native shrubs, then these selections will help you decide which ones are right for you.
Aesculus parviflora Walt. (Bottlebrush buckeye)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Sapindales –
Family Hippocastanaceae – Horse-chestnut family
Genus Aesculus L. – buckeye
Species Aesculus parviflora Walt. – bottlebrush buckeye
This shrub grows from 6-12 feet high and prefers shady locations. It has four-petal white flowers that give off a honey like fragrance, and fruits that have a nutlike appearance. This was used as a treatment for colic and whooping cough traditionally. Its wood is used for packing crates.
Clethra alnifolia L. (Coastal Sweetpepperbush, Summersweet)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Ericales –
Family Clethraceae – Clethra family
Genus Clethra L. – sweetpepperbush
Species Clethra alnifolia L. – coastal sweetpepperbush
This shade tolerant deciduous shrub will grow up to 8 feet tall. It has lovely reddish-brown bark. This shrub is mainly used purely ornamental due to its incredibly fragrant white flowers that appear July to August. It will fruit from September to October, but has little value to livestock and deer.
Dirca palustris (Eastern Leatherwood)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Myrtales –
Family Thymelaeaceae – Mezereum family
Genus Dirca L. – leatherwood
Species Dirca palustris L. – eastern leatherwood
This shrub gets 4-8 feet tall and requires a spacing of 4-8 feet. It prefers light to full shade. It is a generally healthy plant, free from pest and disease. There are pale yellow flowers in late winter to early spring. It has deciduous smooth leaves and is a generally nice looking plant. The Native Americans used this wood for basket weaving. BEWARE: Handling it may cause a skin irritation. Parts are poisonous and the fruit is narcotic and may be poisonous.
Euonymus americanaL. (Strawberry Bush, Brook Euonymus, Hearts a Burstin’)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Celastrales –
Family Celastraceae – Bittersweet family
Genus Euonymus L. – spindletree
Species Euonymus americana L. – strawberry bush
This shrub has some unique color. With its hot pink seed capsules and its orange red seeds, late summer is an explosion of day-glow delight. It will get up to 2-6 feet tall and needs spacing of 15-24 inches. It prefers partial to full shade. There are yellow or pale green blooms from mid spring to early summer. It is drought tolerant and good for xeriscaping. You can propagate this by semi-hardwood cuttings. Early folklore had the strawberry bush’s bark as a treatment for laxative effects. BEWARE: Seed and other parts are poisonous if ingested.
Hydrangea quercifolia Bartr. (Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Rosales –
Family Hydrangeaceae – Hydrangea family
Genus Hydrangea L. – hydrangea
Species Hydrangea quercifolia Bartr. – oakleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub that will grow 4-8 feet tall and is wider than it is high. It has dark green coarse leaves and white flowers that will turn pink and then tan in the course of its lifespan. Plant this in partial shade, and mulch well. This shrub has wonderful showy fall color from October to November.
Ilex opaca Ait. (American holly)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Celastrales –
Family Aquifoliaceae – Holly family
Genus Ilex L. – holly
Species Ilex opaca Ait. – American holly
This is an evergreen shrub/small tree that will reach maturity at up to 50 feet. Greenish white flowers start in April and orange/red four-seeded fruits appear September to December. This fruit is loved by over 18 species of game and song birds, so this is a favorite for people creating birding sanctuaries. The holly is very shade tolerant but heavy shade will affect its crown area.
Photinia pyrifolia (Lam.) Robertson & Phipps (Red Chokeberry)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Rosales –
Family Rosaceae – Rose family
Genus Photinia Lindl. – chokeberry
Species Photinia pyrifolia (Lam.) Robertson & Phipps – red chokeberry
This deciduous slow growing shrub loves well drained soil and partial shade. It will grow up to 6-10 feet tall. It is good for putting wonderful red fall color into your garden and for attracting birds. It will flower from March to May with white or pink flowers.
Rhododendron calendulaceum (Michx.) Torr. (Flame Azalea)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Ericales –
Family Ericaceae – Heath family
Genus Rhododendron L. – rhododendron
Species Rhododendron calendulaceum (Michx.) Torr. – flame azalea
This shrub gets up to 6-8 feet tall with an equal spread. It likes partial shade and acidic soil. Its red, orange, or yellow fragrant flowers will appear in late winter to early spring. Too much shade on this one will lessen the blooms. It has average water needs. You can propagate this by semi hardwood cuttings. BEWARE: Parts are poisonous if ingested.
Rhododendron catawbiense Michx. (Catawba Rosebay)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Ericales –
Family Ericaceae – Heath family
Genus Rhododendron L. – rhododendron
Species Rhododendron catawbiense Michx. – Catawba rosebay
This shrub gets up to 6-10 feet tall and has a spread of 6-8 feet. It prefers light shade and acidic soils. There is shiny evergreen foliage and has average water needs. There are pink, red, or violet flowers in spring. BEWARE: Parts are poisonous if ingested.
Rhododendron periclymenoides (Michx.) Shinners (Pink Azalea)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Ericales –
Family Ericaceae – Heath family
Genus Rhododendron L. – rhododendron
Species Rhododendron periclymenoides (Michx.) Shinners – pink azalea
This shrub gets up to 3-6 feet tall and has a 3-8 foot spread. It likes partial shade and acidic moist soil. It has fragrant pink flowers in mid spring to early summer. Its deciduous foliage is leathery. It’s a good solid azalea choice for blooms and foliage. BEWARE: Parts are poisonous if ingested.
Rhododendron viscosum (L.) Torr. (Swamp Azalea)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Ericales –
Family Ericaceae – Heath family
Genus Rhododendron L. – rhododendron
Species Rhododendron viscosum (L.) Torr. – swamp azalea
This shrub gets up to 4-6 feet tall and has an equal spread. It prefers light shade and acidic moist soil. Its fragrant pink, white, or yellow flowers appear in late winter to early spring. There is deciduous foliage. You can propagate this by semi hardwood cuttings. BEWARE: Parts are poisonous if ingested.