Shrubs for shade

Shrubs that grow in a north-facing or shaded border.

Shrubs that tolerate shade solve one of the trickiest problems in a garden: giving a shaded border permanent structure and bulk when most flowering shrubs demand full sun. The hardest case is dry shade under trees, where shrubs must compete with thirsty roots, so dig in plenty of leaf mould and organic matter and water faithfully through the first two or three summers until they establish. Many shade shrubs earn their place on foliage and form rather than a brief flush of flower, with glossy evergreens particularly valuable for lifting a dark corner year round. The mistake is expecting heavy bloom in deep shade. These shrubs are selected to give reliable structure and presence out of direct sun.

Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 92 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.

92 plants for this

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Shrubs for borders Shrubs for full sun