purchased this home in february and now looking for help choosing a foundation hedge for my full shade landscaping beds.
the side of the house does get a little morning sun, mostly dappled, and the front of the house might get a tiny bit of afternoon sun so it isn’t deep shade. i’m having a hard time finding an anchor plant to go against the house.
i really really wanted Paisley Pup Leucothoe but i don’t think i’m getting enough sun in either spot for it :/ i’m also considering virginia sweetspire (little henry) but it’s a bit wilder looking than i was wanting.
suggestions? i want something that maxes at 4ft so it doesn’t cover any windows too much.
**editing to add my zone 7a
by danawinehouse
4 Comments
You have a dark house but those scattered hostas are giving you a restless polka dot effect instead of a grounded landscape. When you have black siding you need bright crisp green structure to make the house pop out of the shade. You were right to skip the Sweetspire because it gets leggy and wild in deep shade. You need to pull that bed edge out another two feet so your new plants are not suffocating against the foundation and trapping moisture on your wood siding.
For a tight four foot anchor in shade you want Plum Yew or a dwarf Pieris japonica. Plum Yew gives you a phenomenal rich evergreen texture that spreads beautifully without getting unruly and it handles shade perfectly. If you want something more rigid to contrast the rustic wood go with a solid continuous sweep of Green Velvet Boxwood. Plant them in one connected mass so they grow together into a single architectural layer rather than looking like isolated meatballs.
Before you go buy fifteen shrubs you should load a photo of your house into the GardenDream web app. It acts as a safety net where you can overlay different hedge layouts directly onto your yard to see exactly how a formal boxwood compares to a softer plum yew against that black siding. It will save you from guessing at the nursery and ending up with a wild looking bed you have to rip out in three years.
I’m not sure where you’re located but our state university has fantastic native plant/shrub/tree resources that detail each in terms of sun requirements. I’ve found starting there has been so helpful in prioritizing native plantings that naturally do well in our zone and, of course, planting native has so many benefits for native insects and birds!
Shrubs like Densa Inkberry Holly, compact Kalmia latifolia or dwarf Clethra might work. Native azaleas like Alabama (white) or Cumberland(orangish) would provide color in spring. Oak leaf hydrangeas like PeeWee or munchkin are short, like shade and moisture.
A taller foundational evergreen at corner could distract from downspout. Like American Holly?
My Leucothoe survive in shade but wouldn’t enjoy blasting afternoon sun. I think Itea’s white plumes and fall color against your house’s dark exterior would look nice – maybe a taller variety by the door?
Are deer a problem?
btw – beautiful home
Since the house is painted quite dark, I’d go for lighter or brighter green shrubs to create contrast and keep the front from looking too heavy. Plant options like boxwood or Japanese holly work well for a clean, structured look, while something like dwarf hydrangea can soften it with a bit of texture and lighter tones. I’d avoid darker foliage since it’ll just blend into the house, fresh greens or even slightly variegated plants will stand out more and make the space feel balanced.