Jacqueline H riteau, in her book "Complete Trees, Shrubs & Hedges," recommends that you study the shade patterns throughout year in the area you have chosen for planting. You may find the shade patterns change. Knowing whether you have full or partial shade, or shade that changes throughout the day or year will help you choose the best trees and shrubs. Pay attention to the soil needs of the trees and shrubs you choose for shady spots. Some like it moist while others prefer a drier, sandy soil.
Understory trees
Many trees that thrive in shade are understory trees. In forests, these small trees grow in the shadow of larger trees. These deciduous trees make good players in a shady landscape. The flowering dogwood is an example of understory tree that is happy in partial shade. Blooming white or pink in the springtime, it fruits in red clusters in autumn. Serviceberry trees not only show white flowers in he springtime but offer edible blue berries. Ohio buckeyes produce a prickly fruit with shiny buckeye seeds inside. They show yellow to orange in autumn.
Deciduous Shrubs
Deciduous shrubs also thrive in shade. Leatherwood does well even in full shade. Its small, yellow flowers arrive in early spring. The foliage is yellow-green. The sweet pepperbush is good choice for some scent in full shade and wet soil. The fragrant flowers, white to pink, bloom in summer. Winterberry is another deciduous shrub. It is a kind of holly, with bright-red berries autumn through winter, but because it is deciduous, it loses its leaves as the same time.
Broad-Leaved Evergreens
Evergreens come in both broad-leaved and needle-leaved varieties. Most can be used as shrubs and some as small trees. Broad-leaved evergreens do well in shade because they like some wind and sun protection. Canada hemlock can be used as a shrub or medium-sized tree. Choose these for your north- or east- facing landscapes. Japanese holly is hardy but slow growing, as are many shade shrubs and trees. Both of these broad-leaved evergreens produce berries when pollinated.
Shade-Loving Needled Evergreens
Needled-leaved or narrow-leaved evergreens grow in the shade and offer greenery all year round. Dennis Schrock of the Department of Horticulture at the University of Missouri-Columbia says that the many sizes, shapes and colors available of the needle-leaved evergreens add to their popularity. Yew is one of the most popular. It is easy to shape through pruning. You can find upright or spreading varieties. Russian arborvitae has flat, feathery, bright-green needles that turn bronze in autumn. Yellow Hinoki cypress is a pyramid-shaped shade seeker with flat yellow needles.
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