Plenty of shrubs love full sun, but selecting shrubs that do well in shade conditions can be tricky. Plant tags and descriptions refer to terms such as “full shade” or “part shade,” but what does that really mean when it comes to the amount of light a plant needs? “Overall, part shade or part sun is considered 4 to 6 hours of bright sun each day, or filtered light throughout the day, such as under a high, open tree canopy,” says Stacey Hirvela, horticulturist with Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. “Full shade is considered fewer than four hours of sun each day.”
In hot climates, sun intensity matters, too. If a site meets the definition of part sun/part shade but the sun exposure occurs during the hottest part of the day (roughly noon to 4 P.M.), treat the area more like a full sun spot in terms of plant selection and care, says Hirvela.
Also, remember that most shrubs need a little sun to do their best. For those varieties that grow in full shade, expect that their form to be less dense and more open and airy. If they flower, there also will be fewer blooms, says Hirvela.
If you aren’t sure how much sun or shade an area gets, watch the area for a few days and think about how you’d feel sitting in that spot. On a hot and sunny summer day, how many hours can you comfortably spend in that location? “A full shade spot will be comfortable nearly all day, while a part sun/part shade spot will be comfortable for at least half of the day, ideally during the hottest part of the day,” says Hirvela.
Azalea
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Botanical name: Rhododendron sppSun exposure: Part shadeSoil type: Slightly acidic, well drained; does not tolerate heavy clay
Azaleas are the darlings of the South, with good reason. They’re heat tolerant and offer masses of blooms in bright saturated colors ranging from pure white to salmon to pale yellow to hot pink. Newer, reblooming types bloom in spring and again in the fall.
Varieties for the South: Perfecto Mundo Reblooming series (such as Orange, Double White, Red, Double Dark Pink)
Summersweet
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Botanical name: Clethra alnifoliaSun exposure: Part shadeSoil type: Slightly acidic, average to wet
This deciduous native plant is naturally suited to shade gardens. The gorgeous upright panicles of fragrant flowers appear in mid to late summer, attracting pollinators such as butterflies.
Varieties for the South: Vanilla Spice
Sweetspire
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Botanical name: Itea virginicaSun exposure: Part to full shadeSoil type: Average, well-drained, moist
Also known as itea, this native species is covered in fragrant flower spikes in summer. Pollinators adore it! In full shade this deciduous shrub typically produces fewer flowers.
Varieties for the South: Fizzy Mizzy
Fothergilla
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Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty
Botanical name: Fothergilla sppSun exposure: Part shadeSoil type: Acidic, moist
This handsome deciduous shrub has fragrant white bottlebrush-like spring flowers and colorful fall foliage. Some types reach up to 6 to 10 feet tall, but dwarf varieties that max out at 2 to 3 feet tall so they work in smaller gardens.
Varieties for the South: Legend of the Small
Sweet Box
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Botanical name: Sarcococca hookerianaSun exposure: Part to full shadeSoil type: All types, well-draining
Sweet box is a broadleaf evergreen with late winter to early spring thread-like blooms that attract pollinators. It’s typically used as a tall groundcover or planted at the front of borders. It’s also deer-resistant.
Varieties for the South: Sweet & Lo
Viburnum
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Southern Living/Adrienne Legault
Botanical name: Viburnum sppSun exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil type: All types, moist, well-draining
There are many species of viburnum, with some that will tolerate part shade conditions. They range in size from 2 to 15 feet tall and are excellent low-maintenance shrubs. Read the plant tag to make sure a variety you’re considering tolerates shade.
Varieties for the South: Moonlit Lace, Red Balloon
Oakleaf Hydrangea
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Botanical name: Hydrangea quercifoliaSun exposure: Part shadeSoil type: Slightly acidic, well-drained
These native hydrangeas make a beautiful addition to gardens with their large leaves and dramatic flowers. They’re the only type of hydrangea that offers autumn foliage color.
Varieties for the South: Li’l Annie Oakleaf, Autumn Reprise Oakleaf
Mahonia
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Southern Living/Vlasova Evgeniya
Botanical name: Mahonia sppSun exposure: Part to full shadeSoil type: All types, moist, well-draining
Mahonia is a lesser-known shrub that deserves a spot in your shade garden for its evergreen foliage and cheery yellow flowers in later winter to early spring. New hybrid varieties have even more colorful foliage and flowers.
Varieties for the South: Groovy Glow, Funky Flow
Boxwood
Credit: Roger Foley
Botanical name: Buxus sppSun exposure: Full sun to full shadeSoil type: All types, especially sandy and well-drained
Boxwoods are a favorite deer-resistant shrub for many landscapes. They will tolerate full shade, but be aware that their color will be muddy green, rather than bright green. They also will appear more open and sparse.
Varieties for the South: Sprinter, Wintergreen
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