Shade shrubs

[southernnaturelover]

Only problem with growing gardenias in full shade is sometimes whitefly infestations can get severe. I have to use a product like Bayer Advanced to keep them in check.

Tea Olive is a good evergreen shrub for fragrance, but they maybe too large for your needs.

[paperhouse]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Only problem with growing gardenias in full shade is sometimes whitefly infestations can get severe. I have to use a product like Bayer Advanced to keep them in check.

Tea Olive is a good evergreen shrub for fragrance, but they maybe too large for your needs.

I've already got a tea olive. I planted it for privacy where I intend to build a deck this summer. At the garden center, the tea olives are in the back corner. That smells hits me when I walk through the door. I love it. Intoxicating.

I'm going to give the gardenias a try. And maybe the small magnolia.

[normie]

Kerria Japonica. It's a beautiful bush that nobody seems to know about. Grows about 4-6 feet high, has beautiful yellow flowers. Flowers are profuse in the spring, then intermittent throughout the summer. Brilliant lime green stems in the winter look cool in the snow.

There are two forms. Everyone raves about the one with multiple ruffled petals (they look like marigolds). But I actually think the single petal flowers are prettier (look like dogwood blossoms).

Go online and check it out. It's a great plant, and does well in shady spots.

[normie]

Sorry, just realized you wanted an evergreen. American Holly is the holly that takes the most shade.

[paperhouse]

Kerria Japonica

Holy Cow. That's nice. I think that's what one of my neighbors has in his yard. It bloomed almost all last summer. It doesn't have to be all evergreens, but some of it does.

[Art123]

There are a few types of mahonia that do well in the shade and are not widely used, but very available. I like Leatherleaf mahonia myself, but a lot of people like Oregon Grape Holly. They are thorny, so maybe not so good where people may brush up against it, but excellent as a barrier to prevent people from traveling through certain areas (like near your windows, e.g.).

Skimmia is another option for a low growing evergreen shrub, but does not do well where it is exposed to a lot of winter sun and/or wind.

Japanese holly (look like boxwoods), nandina, rhodies, camelias, and hollies are other options.

[teatime]

Yeah, I planted gardenias in an area like you described and under my kitchen and dining room windows so we can enjoy the fragrance! Otherwise, if you didn't care about fragrance, I have Burford Dwarf Holly on another side. The ones that get full sun aren't doing as well as those that are shaded. It's fun to have the bright evergreen and red berries for the holidays! I bring some cuttings inside for decorating!

[sandra jordan]

shrubs that will grow with mornin shade and evening sun zone 8

[kinkytoes]

Ilex glabra may be a good choice for evergreen shrub depending on the zone, amount of moisture etc.