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It can be tough designing a garden in a shady area.
You have to see to it youchoose the right shrubsfor the conditions.
Deep shade can even kill your plants unless they are species that naturally grow in shade.
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The following plants are able to grow in at least part shade, and some can handlefull shade.
They give off a fragrance that reminds some of Kool-Aid, inspiring the common name of Kool-Aid bush.
The leaves are reminiscent of rosemary.
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It can be trained into a small tree.
Also known asSaskatoon serviceberry, they produce purple-blue pomes that are edible and a popular wildlife food.
Varieties generally offer superb fall color that lasts a long time.
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This understory shrub is prone to forming suckers or shoots which should be removed to retain shape.
Some cultivars will thrive in warmer climates but native plants are found in zones 5 to 9.
Both the male and female shrubs produce berries, but the female berries are inedible.
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Fully frost hardy, be sure to select a cultivar such asR.
laurifoliumfor shade as many require full sun.
All currants require fertile well-drained soil.
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Cut out older shoots and give straggly old plants a hard pruning in winter or early spring.
Watch for aphid infestations during wet, humid weather.
Gold Dust Plant (Aucuba japonica)
This evergreen shrub is usually planted for its striking leaves.
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Choose both male and female shrubs to produce the pretty red berries that appear in autumn.
Aucuba is toxic, so it might not be the best choice for gardeners with young children or pets.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.)
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Azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the same genus,Rhododendron,and include both deciduous and evergreen shrubs.
All Rhododendrons and Azaleas feature showy, brilliantly blooms in a full palette of colors.
In addition to being shade plants, they also like acidic soil which is often prevalent in shady areas.
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Plants are shallow rooted so good drainage is essential.
Dead head spent flowers to encourage blooming.
Watch for weevils and powdery mildew.
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A popular landscape plant this bush provides nesting habitat for many small birds.
A summer bloomer, the shrub produces fragrant purplish red flowers with multiple strap shaped petals.
Sweetshrub tolerates light shade but will produce better foliage and bloom with some sun exposure.
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The leaves are picked at all stages of development.
It is a hybrid (‘Carol Mackie’ is the cultivar) that grows best in partial shade.
The flowers on this evergreen shrub can be white, yellow, or red, depending on the variety.
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Blooms appear in late winter and early spring.
Like most other varieties of yew, this shrub can be heavily pruned without sacrificing shape.
It can grow from 2 to 15 feet tall, depending on the variety.
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This versatile shrub will tolerate many different types of growing conditions but does poorly in wet soil.
Many beauty products include extracts from the witch hazel shrub, due to its astringent property.
Full sun, though, will bring more abundant tiny fragrant white flowers in early spring.
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Color carries through into autumn with the dark blue-green leaves turning to a brilliant red.
Gardenias (Gardenia spp.)
They need humidity or they will falter.
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In cooler climates, gardenias must be grown indoors and can be maintained with appropriate water and humidity.
They can handle full shade in warm locations, but flowering may be affected.
Prune after bloom by shortening strong shoots to maintain shape and habit.
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Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Glossyabeliais the result of crossingAbelia chinensisandAbelia uniflora.
Shade tolerant, this shrub will produce a greater abundance of blooms in full sun.
Abelias do best against a south or west facing wall.
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Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)
Heavenly bamboo is named for its resemblance tobamboo plants.
It is also poisonous, especially for cats and livestock.
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Many cultivars of Hydrangea are available today but two main types persist.
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Hortensias produce domed, dense heads of flowers while Lacecap blooms appear as clusters of flat open heads.
Flower color can be altered by adding acid to the soil.
Removal of deadwood encourages new growth.
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Pieris japonica produces drooping clusters of red-budded, deep pink blooms in spring.
Several other cultivars produce differently colored leaves and blooms including reds, whites and yellows.
Frost tender at 45 F, the plant thrives in milder climates.
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Planting against a south or west facing wall in colder conditions will improve survival.
Japanese Pittosporum grows in a dense bushy-headed habit and can be pruned to small tree form.
Star-shaped white flowers open in late spring later turning to a creamy yellow.
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Gracefully arching branches oval, sharply toothed, bright green leaves can reach 10 feet in height.
), and the plant does belong to the honeysuckle family,Caprifoliaceae.
It is prized for its white and golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers which are often very fragrant and attract pollinators.
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Check with your local cooperative extension office or agriculture officer before planting.
Showy panicles of four-petaled dark red flowers appear in early summer to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
The poisonous seeds ripen in the fall and should not be consumed by humans.
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Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
Thered tip photiniaresults from a cross betweenPhotinia glabraandPhotinia serrulata.
The blooms are not fragrant, and most gardeners prune the plant to prevent flowering.
It is atoxic shrub, due to the alkaloid skimmianin present in all parts of the plant.
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The berries can cause cardiac arrest if ingested in large quantities.
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Toyon is also commonly known as California holly or Christmas berry.
This plant may be pruned to form a small tree and kept as a smaller spreading shrub.
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Plant in a sheltered in area in colder climates.
The showy blooms are large, cup-shaped, single or semi-double, with incurving petals.
They often show a dark basal chocolate maroon blotch and are often quite fragrant.
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If you do plant it in a sunny location, be sure to water regularly.
Viburnums (Viburnum spp.)
Varieties that do well in full shade include leather leaf, arrowwood, and mapleleaf.
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