Hello! I'm in zone 5 and looking for an evergeen shrub that will grow to about 5' in constant shade. It's for foundation planting. To make things more difficult, there's a fair amount of clay in the soil. Am I looking for the non-existant?
Shrubs for Shade
Loropetalum - I grow some of mine in shade facing north in clay against a house -not sure about its compatibility with colors of foundations but I know it looks great against taupe / grey of our foundation.
Ours grow tall but can be trimmed to height. Some (I think are low growing) (google to see) and can be found anywhere (like Lowes / Home Depot) Not sure about your zone - you will need to check that out. Also on that side we have Sweet Betsy (Calycanthus) and it grows to about 4 -5 feet perhaps on that site -- when it rains heavy it falls over and even looks good like that. Makes a dark maroon flower that looks like wood. Sweet fragrance to leaves when crushed.
I have a japanese maple that does well there too.
hope this helps. I am sure there are many others and you will hear from other DGs.
Could you grow hydrangea?
I think loropetalum will grow anywhere! I have a hard time keeping under control in the sun, but those I have in the shade are much better behaved. Everything else I have in the shade is marginal in 7b, so won't do for NY.
I don't have it in full sun but in shade on the north and part shade on an east wall. All are well behaved and no invasiveness. I like to keep at a certain height so I do trim. The shrubs surprise me with blooms when I don't think they should. Blooms are attractive but don't overwhelm. The plums and cranberry coloration is very attractive and no disease that I can see. And for me the fact that the deer leave it be is super good.
Loropetalum survives here in my 6a garden, but 'survives' is about as enthusiastic as I can be about it.
It's certainly not very happy here. I doubt it would perform well in zone 5.
I can't think of any broadleaf evergreens that thrive in zone 5.
As for conifers, Taxus is hardy, tolerant of variety of soil conditions and shade tolerant,
but it doesn't really like full shade. It certainly would perform better with some sun.
So, does it really have to be evergreen? There are plenty of deciduous shade loving options.
I agree with Weerobin, it's a stretch to bring Loropetalum through a Zone 6 winter so definitely wouldn't work in Zone 5. About the only evergreens I can think of that would work in your situation would be Holly (Ilex opaca or one of the Ilex x meservae cultivars), Rhododendrons or an evergreen Viburnum, all of which would require pruning to keep them under 5'. Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Nana' http://www.tinytreasuresnursery.com/Plant%20Pages/Crypto%20j%20Elegans%20Nana.htm might be another choice with some reports of hardiness to Zone 5. We have it growing in 'almost' full shade and it does well.
Thank you all so much for your help! My house is brick with a deep overhang, so that's where the shade issue comes in. Our trees lose their leaves by late October and don't start reblooming until April, so that's why I'm looking for evergreens!
After reading your suggestions, I've done some research. Sounds like Loropetalum may not make it in our cold environment. I do like the Sweetspires and am looking into those some more. Love the hydrangeas, and I know Annabelle is hardy around here. I'd actually planned to plant it in the same bed on the slightly sunnier side.
I think I've found a perfect Viburnum: Blue Muffin. Takes up to full shade, grows only 3.5' high, and has blue berries - which will look great next to my blue door when they're blooming. I'm not sure if it's evergreen, so will have to talk to the local nursery.
I'm not real keen on rhododendrens because I don't like the leathery leaves. I do plan on looking into the hollies further!
I've only been outdoor gardening a few years and still have a lot to learn, but I sooooo enjoying planning gardens for my new home. Thank you!!! again.
Hydrangeas don't do well in deep shade judy. They like to have at least some morning sun. They'll struggle along though and probably won't do much. Rhodies may not be appealing individually but they are a great asset in the shade, especially if you are wanting evergreen. Hellebores would be perfect although they don't get that big you might be able to use them in the planting.
I agree, most of the Hydrangeas won't do well in deep shade. They'll grow but with the lack of sun their flowering won't be as nice. However, I have seen Oakleaf Hydrangea growing in full shade and it's a beauty. Although it tends to get leggy in deep shade it's easy enough to prune back but again it's not evergreen :( Unfortunately, Viburnum 'Blue Muffin' isn't evergreen either and don't believe the reports of it being a dwarf/compact - had them growing in pots and in one growing season were easily 5' tall before even getting them planted in the ground! As far as Rhododendrons, like you I'm not keen on some of those with the larger leaves but there are some very pretty small leaf varieties you might like better.
I just realized you're in Averill Park - I have a friend (DG member dawndoll2) who has a nursery in Averill Park http://www.outoftheordinarynursery.com/. Sweet lady and very knowledgeable, maybe she'd be able to give you good advice on what would work for you?
Again, thanks for your feedback!! This garden I'm planning does get sun on one side, so that's why I was thinking the hydrangea might work. It'd get afternoon sun on one side, shade on the other because it'd be up against the house. That might not work...
Thans, rcn48, for the info about that Blue Muffin! I think that a 5' plant would be overwhelming in the spot I'm thinking about...sigh.
And, I have to tell you, your friend's nursery is very close to my house. Can't believe I didn't know about it, but I'm definitely going!!
I looooove the hellebores; was looking at them earlier tonight!
You're more than welcome, just didn't want you to be disappointed - 'Blue Muffin' is a beauty, but definitely not what I'd consider "dwarf"! Yay, I'm not sure if Dawn does much in the way of shrubs but she should be able to offer some advice for your area :)
Judy -
I have deep house overhangs on a wooded lot. Make sure you allow for either natural rainfall or supplemental watering when you site your shrub. I tried a little 'Mohican' viburnum against the house but it just didn't get enough water. If you want evergreen, what about hollies? I have a pair but they're not up against the house. They rarely get direct sun where they're sited but I still get some red berries in the fall.
Judy, What about Viburnum Prague? It's evergreen for me. Kalmia Latifolia (Mountain Laurels) are hardy several hours north of here and also at high elevations with winter long snow. How about Pieris Japonica? "Valentine" is in bloom now with beautiful deep red flower racemes. Daphne "Carole Mackie", is varigated but keeps it's leaves year round even in the Lake Erie area. Daphne "BowlesWhite" is evergreen here and has beautiful deep red buds now and glossy waxlike bright green leaves. These are all fairly shade tolerant.
I'm liking all of these ideas since I desperately want to tear out some old scraggly yews original to my 70's house but have always wondered what to replace them with. Keep those ideas coming.
With Daphne, don't you have to be careful with snow load opening up the centers? Or are some of the new varieties better at holding up under snow?
Cindy, I don't know as we don't normally get a lot of heavy long lasting snow here. RCN would be a great person to answer that. The snow combined with high winds and long below normal cold snaps this year were tough on shrubs that are usually fine here.
Daphnes are blooming here now. I just got a Daphne Genkwa, which I've wanted for awhile (but I don't know yet where I'll put it)
Daphnes require shelter here in winter. And all parts of the plants are extremely toxic. My dogs are nibblers, so I don't put Daphne in the back yard where they hang out.
How do you think a vaccinium ovatum (evergreen huckleberry) would do there? You'd get the added bonus of fruit.
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Vaccinium_ovatum.html
This message was edited Apr 7, 2009 2:56 PM
My daphne genkwa is in a pretty sunny spot.
I have lost a number of other daphnes, but the genkwa has been a reliable plant for me.
In fact, it's in bloom right now!
Here it is.
Nice!
It's funny, but I was looking back at some old pix and I think I liked my genkwa better when it was little.
Here it is 5 yrs ago. Isn't it cute?
There are several Small Leaf Rhododendrons That are hardy in Zone 5 and will stay smaller than the big leafed ones Some of the best are Pioneer Silvery Pink, DoraAmateis, Jay Murray, and Angel Powder. They are available at several Mail Order Nurserys such as Rare Find www. support@rarefindnursery.com, Greer Gardens at www.@greergardens.com, and Whitney Gardens, info@whitney gardens.com
Saw this one Saturday at the Burpee/Heronswood Fordhook Farms open house. It's called Northern Starburst
Also saw this lovely deciduous one. Sign is hard to read, but it looks like Berg's Choice.
My beautiful Northern Lights "Flame" fell victim to the voles. . VOLE FOOD!
Hey Stormy! Sorry to see your destroyed "Flame" :( You've had such a tough time with these pests and I thought you might find this interesting. Holly's husband (Ric) had mentioned these on the MA Forum and I did a lot of research to check them out. I was skeptical at first but talked with someone this past weekend who swears by those he put in his landscape. The reviews are 50/50 - "Wow", "Waste of money", etc. but I found them here at a reasonable price, figured what have I got to lose? Ordered two yesterday and if they actually work, I'll need more! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005AH84/ref=asc_df_B00005AH84764046?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=dealt131224-20&linkCode=asn
Stormy - that's sad. I have ground squirrels/chipmunks but they never seem to bother anything. Also have a vole or two but thankfully no major damage. Used to have moles but neighbor years ago went on mole trapping quest and haven't had any problems since. Why they would want to stay in my yard anyway when there's woods all around is puzzling. Had found some small NL azaleas at Lowe's for $3.33/pot over the past few years. Bargain!
Pieris japonica will grow in zone 5 under judy40a's conditions with two caveats: Firs,t they would need the supplemental watering that CindyMzone5 cautioned about. Second, in severe winters the flowers are lost. I have a large (8') P. japonica planted under the eves on a north facing side of the house. It does well with regular supplemental watering. It's about 15 years old. When it flowers it blooms white. New growth is red. I've had it so long I can't remembr which Pieris it is. I should get it identified.
Well, identifying it took about 60 seconds in the PlantFiles. It's 'Mountain Fire'.
This message was edited Apr 8, 2009 10:18 AM
Snapple45 - Pieris is a nice plant and I've forgotten about including that in my dreams of pulling out worn out builders yews. I bought a small one at the box store for under $4 but it's in the backyard. I'd probably fork over more $$ for a larger one to plant in the front. Although evergreen, the leaves can get some brown winter damage just like rhodies. I used to use Wilt Pruf on the rhodies but haven't been routine about that. Wonder if it would help the Pieris since in my yard, it would get NW exposure to winter wind. For the additional water, I've run a soaker hose along the front under the roof overhang to water the yews and a corner planting with hostas. It's buried under mulch so it's not a visual distraction. It doesn't put out excessive water so I don't have to worry about it being too close to the house foundation.
Just wanted to thank everyone for your input! I finally remembered that I have to shovel snow off my walk in the winter - and it ends up in the garden, right where I was agonizing over where to put a shade-happy shrub. I ended up getting an Euonymus Emerald Gaiety and planting it out of the "snow zone". That means it'll get partial sun and still give me color throughout the winter.
The other thing I wanted to thank you for is reminding me that I have to water the plants under my overhang more frequently!
And you can plant annuals in the 'snow zone' and I bet you will start to look forward to planning that area each year. Trying out new flowers and arrangements will be fun knowing you don't have to live with them year after year. Once the plants are spent.... till them in ..... then
'feed' the area snow all winter.....and start anew in the spring. It will become your favorite place to get creative.
I had a pomegranate in my snow zone. I don't dump snow there ---but it slides off the metal roof and lands there (when we have snow and that isn't every year.) Anyway, that poor tree would get smashed but it grew fast and each year filled the small corner with bright green shoots and pretty hot orange flowers. It was a nice display. The fruit were not my favorite... a mottled yellow/brown/orange and sort of ugly. But with all the snow crashing every few years - the tree stayed small and I didn't have to deal too much with the fruit.