Plant guide
Evergreen shrubs for shade
Shady beds on the north side of a house or under trees can be hard to fill, especially with plants that look good in winter. These evergreens keep their leaves year-round and grow in part shade, and several handle full shade.
Use the zone list below to see which ones grow where you live.
Gartenmeister® plants in this guide (19)
Spider's Web Fatsia
Photo coming soonFlorAmore® Lavender Azalea
FlorAmore® Red Azalea
Photo coming soonFlorAmore® Pink Azalea
FlorAmore® Hot Pink Azalea
Little Missy Boxwood
Flaming Silver Pieris
Katsura Pieris
Little Heath Pieris
Volcano Cherry Laurel
Greenfinity Cherry Laurel
Green Goblet Cherry Laurel
Impeditum Dwarf Rhododendron
Purple Gem Rhododendron
Emerald Beauty™ Cotoneaster
Photo coming soonEternal Fragrance Daphne
Photo coming soonCrown Jewel Gardenia
Etna® English Laurel
Photo coming soonCherries & Merlot Rhododendron
Shade evergreens by USDA zone
Tips for success
Part shade vs. full shade
Part shade means about 3 to 6 hours of direct sun, ideally in the morning. Full shade means less than 3 hours. Most flowering evergreens bloom more with some morning sun.
Soil
Pieris, rhododendrons and azaleas need acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Mulch to keep roots cool and moist.
Under trees
Tree roots compete for water. Water new shrubs deeply through their first two summers.
Frequently asked questions
What evergreen shrubs grow in full shade?
Spider's Web fatsia, Little Missy boxwood and Green Goblet cherry laurel tolerate full shade. Pieris and dwarf rhododendrons do best in part shade.
What evergreen shrubs grow in shade in zone 5?
In zone 5, try Little Heath and Flaming Silver pieris, Little Missy boxwood, and Impeditum, Purple Gem and Ramapo dwarf rhododendrons.
Which shade evergreens flower?
Pieris, rhododendrons, FlorAmore® reblooming azaleas, cherry laurels and Spider's Web fatsia all flower.