Hedge Plants that Grow Well in Shady Locations

Need a hedge for a shady location in your yard? Finding a shade loving hedge plant is a bit tricky, since all hedges require at least some filtered light or a few hours of sunlight. While there aren’t any hedge plants that will grow in deep, dark shade, there are a few species that can get by with minimal sunlight,

If you are wanting to plant a hedge in a shady part of your yard, one of these varieties may work for you.

Boxwood. Boxwoods are a very adaptable hedge plant that can grow in areas ranging from full sun to almost total shade. They do well in all kinds of soil, and are dense and evergreen which makes them ideal for creating year round privacy in a yard. Boxwoods can reach height of 8-10 feet and are extremely easy to prune into a compact width for a hedge that doesn’t consume too much of your available yard space.

Red Twigged Dogwood. This deciduous, broadleaf hedge loses it leaves in the fall to expose a brilliant red network of branches and twigs in the winter. This popular shade hedge has white blooms in the spring, followed by blue-black berries which the local wildlife find quite attractive. The red twigged dogwood needs plenty of water, minimal sunlight, and can reach heights of up to 10 feet to create a lovely, privacy hedge.

Rhododendrons are yet another variety of deciduous hedge that do quite well in shady locations. These flower producing plants can reach heights of up to 6 feet and can add a spot of color to the shady part of a yard.

Yew shrubs are one of the most popular of all hedge plants because they can do so well in shade. Yews are dark evergreen and can reach heights of about 5-6″ feet. I have several yews in my yard, and discovered that they are fantastic for making Christmas wreaths and other Christmas decorations. These plants are slow growers and unfortunately, toxic to pets and kids who might be attracted to the bright red berries.

Euonymous are one of my favorite of shrub hedges because they have large leaves and white blossoms in the spring which provides color beneath my canopy of shade trees. There are many varieties of euonymous, the one best suited for creating a privacy hedge is the Green Boxleaf which is evergreen and can be pruned easily into a hedge. The Green Boxleaf can grow as high as 8 feet.

Mountain Laurel. If you prefer a hedge that fits well into a woodland setting, the evergreen Mountain Laurel is a fantastic choice for a hedge plant. The Mountain Laurel has pinkish white blossoms, grows in filtered sunlight, and is an excellent hedge variety from growing beneath a canopy of trees. As a hedge, the Mountain Laurel can reach heights of about 6 feet and is popular with small birds. The Mountain Laurel is pretty finicky about location however, and can be a challenge to grow. Worth noting is that the leaves are highly toxic, which makes them not a suitable plant to have around small children and pets.

resources:
landscaping.about.com
allexperts.com