Shade-loving flowering shrubs. Shade-loving shrubs for the garden, perennial, blooming all summer long description and photo. Flowers and ornamental plants in the shade

In any garden there is a shady corner, or even several, that I would like to transform with the help of planting. Suitable for these purposes shade-tolerant plants for gardens that do not need sunlight as much as most others.

What plants grow in the shade?

To arrange a shaded area of the garden, you need to know plants that love shade. Many gardeners are interested in whether there is a difference between shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants. There is no difference, we are talking about a group of plants that have enough indirect sun rays, but scattered or reflected sunlight. Shade-tolerant plants for the garden are varied. It can be:

shrubs;
flowers;
climbing plants;
lawn;
conifers;
deciduous;
fruit plants;
trees.

Shade-tolerant flowers for the garden

When choosing shade-tolerant flowers for a flower bed, you should take a closer look at the most durable and beautiful options. In addition, it is important to know about flowering time in order to organize a flower garden that will be decorated with flowers from early spring to late autumn.

Shade-tolerant lawn

As you know, a lawn is an area where grass grows, performing decorative and landscaping functions, or, less commonly, for growing grass as food. A bright green lawn looks very good in combination with other plants. It serves as a contrasting base, but that's not all lawn grass are equally photophilous. When choosing plants that love shade, you need to take care of the lawn, which does not need direct sunlight. There are a huge number of types of lawns, but we will focus on the two most popular.

Shade-tolerant shrubs

Many people use shade-tolerant garden shrubs to decorate their plots, which decorate the space by playing decorative role, although they can also be functional plants. From the many types of shrubs that love shade, you can choose one that will ideally fit into the overall landscape and decorate it.

Shade-tolerant heather plants for the garden will decorate any garden during the flowering period.

Barberry. This shrub grows quickly, is not afraid of frost and bears fruit with healthy berries.

Forsythia. An unpretentious drought and frost-resistant plant of bright lemon color will decorate any garden. This plant is very bright and accentuated, so it is planted with careful consideration of the neighborhood.

Jasmine. A beautiful and fragrant plant that is loved by many gardeners for its unpretentiousness. In addition to decorating an area, jasmine can be used as a tasty and healthy tea additive.

Euonymus. A beautiful and bright shrub that looks impressive not only in summer, but also in winter.

It's not only beautiful, but also useful plant. One of the peculiarities of cultivation is intolerance to acidic soil, so if the soil in which hazel is planted is still acidic, then sand must be mixed into it.

Gooseberry. This shrub feels equally good in the sun and in the shade. Gooseberries do not require abundant watering, so they are often planted in summer cottages.

Shade-tolerant climbing plants

When deciding for yourself which shade-tolerant and climbing plants are suitable for the garden, you should take a closer look at the proposed options.

Shade-tolerant coniferous plants for the garden

When choosing shade-tolerant coniferous plant species, you need to decide on the height and care features. There are several low-growing coniferous representatives that you should pay special attention to, because these shade-tolerant garden plants from the order of conifers look very beautiful and unusual, especially if you choose a worthy company for them.

Shade-tolerant trees

Separately, you should consider shade-tolerant trees for the garden, which can serve as a beautiful design for the site, a hedge, or provide additional benefits in the form of fruits. There are many options and much of the final choice depends purely on personal preferences and climatic features, which are not always favorable for the trees you like.

Shade-tolerant deciduous trees

There are a lot of deciduous trees that tolerate shade well, but they are not always appropriate on the site. Before making a choice, it is important to decide on the functions that the trees being planted should perform, their size and care features. Many representatives of deciduous trees are shade-tolerant trees, but we have selected the most unpretentious of them.

Shade-tolerant fruit trees

If fruit plants are shade-tolerant and do not require special care, then they can be planted on a summer cottage, in the shaded part of it, and not worry. Such plants are loved not only for their visual attractiveness, but also for their fruiting. Combining the beauty and usefulness of such trees, you can kill two birds with one stone, which is why owners of private land plots love them. Among fruit trees, which have gained the greatest popularity, you can choose something suitable for yourself.

Shade-tolerant coniferous tree

Knowing which shade-tolerant trees are best suited for the garden, you can create a real piece of Paradise. Among the coniferous options, you can choose very interesting ornamental trees that will make the site unique and unusual.

It is impossible to imagine any garden without shrubs, flaunting either impeccable decorative foliage, ideally trimmed forms, or a scattering of luxurious inflorescences. And when garden bushes are mentioned, the first ones that always come to mind are the most popular species growing in sunny, sun-drenched areas - roses, deutias, junipers.

It should be borne in mind that there is also a place for shrubs where the lighting is much more modest. They can become a real lifesaver when decorating shaded areas, creating not only a secluded atmosphere, but also effectively filling the space.

Shade-tolerant oakleaf hydrangea. © Carolyn

Where conditions are unfavorable for planting most herbaceous perennials, shade-tolerant shrubs will perform not one, but several tasks at once, without being inferior in decorativeness to their more popular sun-loving competitors.

Among garden plants there are many crops that can tolerate poor lighting. At the same time, sparse or more saturated shade, dryness or, conversely, excess humidity of the place affects the selection, but still allows you to find your ideal soloist or partner for almost any task.

At the same time, being shade-loving does not mean that you will not be able to admire the spectacular beautiful flowering shrubs. After all, many of the most beloved and colorful stars belong to plants that do not lose their ability to bloom profusely even in shade.

Barberry (Berberis).

All plants that can be classified as shade-loving shrubs are found in nature in forest areas and are accustomed to being content with literally minimal lighting.

Let's get to know the 8 main stars among fans of secluded places.

List of the best shade-tolerant shrubs see next page.

It happens that on the territory of a dacha or garden plot there are shaded places. And at the same time, there are not so many well-lit places. The reasons for the fact that there are many shaded places on the site can be very different. So, for example, shrubs and trees grow in large numbers on it. They, of course, produce delicious fruits and berries, but they take up quite a lot of space and cast a rather voluminous shadow. Therefore, plants growing under them are almost completely deprived of sunlight. However, few summer residents would not want the whole country cottage area was beautiful and originally designed. The way out of this situation is very simple. So, in shaded places you only need to plant shade-loving perennial garden shrubs.

How to choose shade-tolerant shrubs for the garden

Shade-tolerant perennial shrubs are conventionally divided into 3 various groups, namely: berry, flowering, and decorative foliage. Each of these plants has both certain pros and cons. And there are also types of shrubs that not only look very impressive, but also produce healthy, aromatic and incredibly tasty fruits. Experienced gardeners and summer residents categorically do not recommend buying planting material at spontaneous markets, since there is a high probability that it will be of very low quality. It is best to purchase seedlings in special stores that have a good reputation. Among various types Shrubs can be identified as the most popular and widespread.

Shade-tolerant flowering shrubs

Rhododendron

This shrub has a very impressive appearance, especially during the flowering period, when it is almost completely covered with inflorescences consisting of flowers of rich color. Its leaf blades are fleshy. Rhododendron feels great in the shade created by tall trees and shrubs, in which many other plants may simply die.

Garden jasmine

This shrub is very popular among gardeners and summer residents. This is very beautiful plant will be an excellent decoration for almost any area. Jasmine looks especially impressive during the flowering process. At this time, its branches are covered with snow-white lush inflorescences, from which a very pleasant and quite strong smell emanates. An important advantage of such a shrub is its undemandingness to the place of growth, as well as to the quality of the soil. Garden jasmine can adapt to absolutely any growing conditions. So, it can withstand dry periods well, and it is also not afraid of fairly frosty winters. However, in order for your site to be decorated with a compact and neat bush, it will need to be trimmed systematically and often enough.

Shade-tolerant berry bushes

Such perennial plants are suitable for those gardeners and summer residents who want the plants they grow to be not only very beautiful, but also to bring certain benefits.

Barberry

This shrub is quite popular in eastern countries. It is fast-growing and frost-resistant. It is quite easy to care for and also tolerates dry periods very well. This shrub has small, very beautiful leaf blades, which in the fall change their green color to rich burgundy. Barberry produces berries with high taste qualities. They are used in cooking to prepare a variety of dishes.

Gooseberry

It can grow in both sunny and shaded places. And such a shrub needs to be watered quite rarely and moderately, and it can withstand a dry period. The plant produces very tasty berries, which are often used to make jam.

Hazel

This plant prefers to grow only in non-acidic soil. If the soil is acidic, then it is recommended to add sand to it. Quite tasty nuts grow on hazel.

Shade-tolerant decorative foliage plants

This group includes many plants. Here are some of them.

Forsythia

This plant has spectacular leaves of a rich lemon color. It can be planted either together with other shrubs or alone. It is frost- and drought-resistant, and also easy to care for.

Euonymus

This shrub grows very quickly and does not require special care. In winter, it also looks quite impressive. Leaves of rich color will certainly add zest and unique charm to your garden.

Mahonia

This evergreen shrub loves moisture. If there is systematic watering, it will become very lush and can even bloom.

Such shade-tolerant shrubs will be a wonderful decoration for any site.

The presence of shade-tolerant shrubs in the garden is important not only for decorative purposes. Such plants are perfect for arranging a recreation area in a shady corner. There are quite a few species of these shrubs. You will be able to choose something from the extensive list to suit your taste.

What you need to know before planting shade-tolerant shrubs

There are many shade-loving plants in nature. They prefer to grow out of direct sunlight. Shade-tolerant are a wider group. It also includes crops that, if necessary, adapt to the shade of large trees or buildings. However, they still need about 5-6 hours of light.

The areas around future shrubs can be occupied with ground cover and flowering plants. Among them there are also many who love shade. For example, lily of the valley. It is beautiful, low maintenance and grows quickly.

In the absence of sun, shade-tolerant shrubs need correct composition soil. The homeland of these crops, as a rule, is forest, so they need appropriate land: with a neutral pH and a good level of fertility. Each type has its own nuances. An indicator that you have chosen the right soil will be lush growth and full flowering.

Advice. It is best to grow those shrubs that are specific to your region. They are adapted to the climate and other natural features.

Other aspects of growing shade-tolerant shrubs:

They don't like close quarters. Maintain the recommended distance for each species.
Use low-growing species to strengthen and decorate embankments.
The shape, height, and abundance of flowering of many shrubs are controlled by conventional pruning.

Fruit bushes for shady corners of the site

There is a small group fruit and berry bushes, which are capable of producing crops without intense lighting. With a lack of light, most varieties of raspberries and blackberries develop quite normally. This is due to the origin of cultures. In the wild, shrubs grow in dense thickets and damp ravines. Blackberries and raspberries adapt to deep partial shade, when the rays hit the branches for only a few hours a day.

Advice. Gooseberries and barberries cope well with low light levels. They are often planted next to raspberries. So you can create a berry corner in your shady garden.

Modern selection has brought out individual shade-tolerant species among other fruit bushes and trees. It's not difficult to choose from them. Check with local nurseries and garden stores for details about which varieties are ready for planting in your region, which ones can grow in the shade, and how tasty and productive they are. Beware of fakes. Work only with trusted sellers, experts and manufacturers.

Types of shade-tolerant shrubs for decorating a site: names

The plants most adapted to shade have interesting external characteristics:

Lilac. The culture familiar to the urban landscape has long been adapted to high content harmful gases in the air, frost and drought. She will be able to easily tolerate planting in the shade, except that the abundance of flowering will decrease somewhat. The description of lilac is widely known. It can reach a height of 5 m.
Elder. TO decorative varieties This culture includes black, red, and Canadian. The bush is beautiful both when it blooms and when it bears fruit (pictured). Elderberry, like lilac, is highly resistant to negative environmental factors, including low light levels.

Privet. Its dense branches are used as material for living fencing. Gardeners also use similar planting in shaded areas. Privet is ready for such conditions. The bush has beautiful foliage. It just doesn't tolerate frost well enough.
Common dogwood. For many years it has been successfully used by landscape designers to create hedges and in group green compositions. Dogwood blooms in spring with yellow inflorescences. During this period, the bush is especially fragrant. In autumn, bright fruits form in place of flowers. And in winter, dogwood or dogwood looks quite attractive.
Junipers. Very beautiful representatives coniferous plants. Fits well with most landscape solutions Location on. The bushes look elegant when planted alone, surrounded by flowers. Juniper does not care how much sun it grows in.

Juniper

Garden jasmine, or Chubushnik. A popular shade lover. Tolerates winters, is not capricious during care - shade-tolerant, unpretentious, winter-hardy. In summer it is covered abundantly with flowers with a thick, strong aroma.

Other varieties of shade-tolerant shrubs

The range of plants suitable for planting in the shade is not limited to the listed species. Among other crops:

weigela;
wisteria;
forsythia;
snowberry;
rhododendron.

Weigela is another one bright representative shrubs that prefer shade. Blooms beautifully starting in late spring. Planting weigela is practiced to decorate space near fences or as part of a hedge. She will also be able to grow under a large tree.

Wisteria is very beautiful during its lush flowering. This crop is used to decorate garden pergolas, arches, gazebos, and planted along walls or fences. During the flowering period, forsythia is covered with bright yellow inflorescences. It will visually “warm up” a dark place in the garden.

Attention! This shrub sheds its leaves before winter.

Snowberry is especially valuable during fruiting. The fruits grow on it for a long time, until the first frost. The berries are white, with a little green or pink tint and blush. Rhododendron is another popular shrub in the Russian climate. It grows, even if shaded, in ascetic conditions. It has very beautiful flowering.

Shade-tolerant plants will help decorate the most unsightly places. personal plot. The gardener has 3 options for arranging such a corner: fruit, flowering or decorative deciduous shrubs. All of them have an attractive appearance.

Shrubs for a country house: video

Wisteria (Wisteria Nutt.)

Very decorative, beautiful blooming liana up to 18 meters high. Wisteria is a subtropical plant native to China. In Russia, wisteria is cultivated on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

Wisteria blooms profusely in spring, from the end of March. The flowers are white, pink, purple, collected in large hanging racemes up to 30 cm long. They have a pleasant aroma.
In ornamental gardening, wisteria is widely used to decorate arches, pergolas, and walls of houses. Remember the famous Japanese bridge entwined with wisteria in Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny. Dogwood (Cornus L.)

A genus of trees and shrubs that are decorative all year round thanks to their beautiful flowers, dense foliage, bright fruits and beautifully colored shoots.

Common dogwood (Cornus mas L.) (pictured right) blooms in April before the leaves appear. The flowers are golden yellow, collected in umbellate inflorescences. The fruits ripen in late summer - autumn.

Dogwood is winter-hardy and tolerates drought well.
In ornamental gardening, dogwood is used in single plantings, in groups and to create hedges. Lilac (Syringa L.)

A beautiful flowering shrub up to 5 meters high. Hardy, unpretentious, frost-resistant, drought-resistant. Grows well in city conditions. Blooms profusely from the end of May for 20 days. The flowers are collected in inflorescences 10-20 cm long. The color of the flowers ranges from white to purple. Has a pleasant aroma. Loves sunlight, but tolerates partial shade. When there is insufficient lighting, it blooms worse.

About 10 types of lilac and hundreds of varieties are used in ornamental gardening. Weigela (Weigela Thunb.)

Shade-tolerant ornamental shrub 70-80 cm high. Blooms profusely at the end of May. The flowers are pink or purple and shaped like bells.

In ornamental gardening, weigela is used in single plantings, in groups and to create hedges. Grows well under the canopy of trees.

In the photo on the right: weigela blooming ( Weigela florida(Bunge) A.D.C.)

Deytsia (Deutzia Thunb.)

Shade-tolerant, beautifully flowering ornamental shrub up to 2 meters high. It blooms for a long time and abundantly from late spring - early summer. The flowers are white, pink, lilac-purple. Terry varieties of deutia have been developed. Deutia flowers have no scent.

In ornamental gardening, deutia is used in single plantings and in groups. Elder* (Sambucus L.)

Unpretentious shrubs 1.5 - 5 meters high. Decorative in the flowering and fruiting stages.

In ornamental gardening, the most common 2 types are:

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)

The flowers are small white-yellow, collected in large inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter. Blooms in May-June. The fruits ripen at the end of summer. The flowers are used for medicinal purposes. Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa L.)

The flowers are small, collected in paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm in size. Blooms in May-June. The fruits ripen from the end of July.

Kalina (Viburnum L.)

Genus unpretentious shrubs, has more than 150 species. Viburnum is frost-resistant, shade-tolerant, not demanding on soil, and resistant to air pollution.

Blooms profusely for 2-3 weeks in late May - early June. The flowers are white, collected in panicles with a diameter of 5 - 8 cm. Honey plant.
In ornamental gardening, viburnum is used in single plantings, in groups and to create hedges. Viburnum is decorative in the flowering and fruiting stages and has beautiful foliage. Many beautifully flowering ornamental varieties of viburnum have been bred, for example Buldenezh. Chubushnik or jasmine (Philadelphus L.)

A beautiful flowering shrub up to 3.5 meters high with large white flowers with a diameter of 2.5 - 7 cm. It has a pleasant aroma. Blooms in June-July. Blooms profusely throughout the month. Unpretentious, winter-hardy. Tolerates partial shade well.

The photo shows a mock orange variety “Beauclerk”.

Spirea (Spiraea L.)

Shrubs up to 2.5 meters high. There are spring-blooming, summer-blooming and late-blooming species of spirea. Flowering is abundant. Flowers range from white (spring-blooming species) to purple (late-blooming species). Honey plant.

Spiraea are widely used in ornamental gardening to create hedges.

Hydrangea* (Hydrangea L.)

Very beautiful flowering shrubs and small trees up to 3 meters high. They bloom profusely and continuously throughout the summer. The flowers are white, pink, blue, lilac, collected in large spherical inflorescences.

Hydrangeas are used in group plantings. Hydrangeas are often grown in containers or planters that can be moved around the garden.
Large caps of hydrangea flowers are popular in floristry. They make bouquets of flowers and floral compositions. Large hydrangea inflorescences remain decorative for a long time in dry bouquets. Honeysuckle (Lonicera L.)

An unpretentious ornamental beautifully flowering shrub up to 3 meters high. Blooms in early summer. The flowers have a variety of colors - from white to dark red. The fruits are bright red or orange, inedible in most species. Honeysuckle is decorative in the flowering and fruiting stages. A good honey plant.

Suitable for growing in the shade Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica L.), alpine honeysuckle (Lonicera alpigena L.) and edible honeysuckle (Lonicera edulis Turcz.).

In the photo on the right: Tatarian honeysuckle. Kerria japonica (Kerria japonica DC.)

Decorative shrub up to 2 meters high. Has thin and long shoots. Blooms profusely and continuously in spring - early summer. The flowers are bright yellow. It has many varieties, including those with double flowers.

Tolerates partial shade well, but open place blooms better. Bladderwort viburnum (Opulaster opulifolius(L.) Kuntze)

Decorative shrub up to 3 meters high.

The flowers are white or pink, small, 6-8 mm in diameter, collected in corymbose panicles. Blooms from late May to July.
Unpretentious, tolerates shade well. Many varieties of viburnum leaf have been bred with different colored foliage from golden to purple, but in the shade the leaves are not brightly colored.
Used to create tall hedges, in single and group plantings. Snowberry (Symphoricarpos Dill. ex Juss.)

An unpretentious shade-tolerant shrub 1-2 meters high, not demanding on soil, winter-hardy, resistant to air pollution, tolerates pruning well.

Snowberry blooms all summer, from May to September. The flowers are small, bell-shaped, white, pink and red. Honey plant. Snowberry has decorative fruits. Snow-white berries up to 1 cm in diameter remain on the bush all autumn and winter. The berries are inedible.
Snowberry is used in group plantings and to create hedges.

Photo: Sakaori, Ximeg, Andrey Korzun, JoJan, Sebastian Wallroth, Meneerke bloem, Calimaq, Epibase, Neelix, Donar Reiskoffer, Juha Kallamäki, Père Igor, Wouter Hagens, Dinkum.

Maiden grape five-leaf or wild grapes (Parthenocissus quinquefolia Planch.).

Liana up to 30 meters high. Attached to the support using antennae. Used for vertical gardening. Unpretentious, frost-resistant. Suitable for growing on balconies and loggias. Especially decorative in autumn. From the end of summer, its leaves acquire a beautiful burgundy color.

Hazel or hazel (Corylus L.).

Shrub up to 7 meters high. Blooms in early spring before the leaves appear. The fruits ripen at the end of summer. Unpretentious. Prefers to grow in shaded areas. In ornamental gardening it is used for landscaping in groups or single plantings.

It is used for securing the slopes of ravines and slopes, for planting in forest shelter belts. Privet (Ligustrum L.)

An unpretentious shrub 2-4 meters high. Used to create hedges. Resistant to environmental pollution.

In the photo: a formed privet hedge.

Juniper (Juniperus L.)

Junipers are a genus of evergreen coniferous shrubs and trees. Used for decorative plantings in gardens and parks in the form of tapeworms and in groups. Junipers are used to create hedges and are planted in forest shelter belts. These plants are extremely useful as they purify the air well.

Boxwood* (Buxus L.)

A genus of evergreen shrubs and trees. Boxwood has been known in ornamental gardening since ancient times. Valued for its dense crown and beautiful shiny foliage. It tolerates cutting well and retains its shape. Boxwood is used to create hedges and topiary.

Euonymus* (Euonymus L.)

Deciduous shrubs or small trees up to 2 meters high. Decorative in the fruiting stage, they have bright red-orange fruits.

Euonymuses are especially prized for their fall foliage color.
Used to create hedges, decorate fences and other outbuildings in the garden plot.
You can grow in shady areas of the garden winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Siebold) and Euonymus warty (Euonymus verrucosus Scop.).

In the photo on the right: winged euonymus, summer and autumn color foliage.

Cross-paired microbiota (Microbiota decussata Kom.)

Low evergreen coniferous shrub with creeping branches. Height is 20-50 cm, while the crown size can reach 2-5 meters in diameter. Microbiota is endemic to the Russian Far East and grows naturally on the Sikhote-Alin plateau. Listed in the Red Book of Russia. Winter-hardy. Grows well in the shade.

It has been used in ornamental gardening for a short time and is still not widely used. Microbiota is grown in gardens and parks as an evergreen ground cover shrub. Barberry Thunberg (Berberis thunbergii DC.)

Decorative shrub up to 2.5 meters high. It is especially decorative in the fall due to its rich carmine-purple foliage and bright red fruits. Many varieties of Thunberg barberry have been bred with different foliage colors, including variegated (i.e., with multi-colored leaves) varieties.

Used for creating hedges, planting in groups, and decorating borders.

Shaded areas can be effectively used by planting them with fruit and ornamental plants. Various shade-loving shrubs for the garden will be a real boon. They will decorate the area with lush foliage and flowers, divide it into zones, and also delight with generous harvests of juicy berries.

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Features of garden breeds

Some shrubs feel comfortable in the shade. In a darkened area they are brightly colored and bloom long and thickly. In conditions of plenty of light, shade-loving plants are not entirely comfortable. Their delicate leaves can be burned by direct sunlight. Places unprotected from the sun are not suitable for shade-loving species. However, such plants need light. Constant deep shadow under the northern wall of the house will be a difficult test for them. The best option is diffused light under the treetops.

Unlike shade-loving species, shade-tolerant shrubs prefer areas that receive direct sunlight. But they feel quite good in dark areas. Under the shade of trees they may have less bright colors and fewer flowers.

Since most shade-loving shrubs naturally live in the forest, appropriate soil should be prepared for them. It should be fertile and neutral in acidity. These conditions are suitable for most species. Although there are some shade-tolerant shrubs that prefer acidic soil. When the soil meets the plant's requirements, it will be lush and vibrant. If you choose a plant that grows well in a given region, you will not need to create special conditions for it.

To plant a shade-loving bush, you need to choose a free area so that the plant is not crowded. It is better to place low-growing specimens on a hill; this is done to strengthen and decorate the embankments. Their shape, height and flowering are regulated by pruning the branches.

Between the trees, the soil can become very dry, as the tree crowns shelter it from the rain. If the space around the bushes is filled with creeping shade-tolerant plants, drying out of the soil can be prevented.

Tall views are suitable for zoning a garden, disguising unattractive buildings and creating cozy recreation areas.

Shrubs for the garden can be planted in multi-stage cascades, placing taller species in the back and lower ones in front. Alley planting looks beautiful when the plants are planted at an equal distance from each other in 1 or 2 rows.

Typically, seedlings are sold with a closed root system, so they can be planted in the ground at any time. But the optimal period of rest is late autumn or early spring.

Barberry and blackberry

Red elderberry is perfect for planting in a shady area of the garden. It is not picky about soil and can grow in almost any soil, even with excess moisture. In May or June, elderberry is covered with small white flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm in size. During this period, it looks very impressive. From the end of July, red berries begin to appear on the plant. The fruits of the bush are eaten and used for medicinal purposes. Red elderberry has the ability to repel mice. It is better to choose a place protected from the wind for it. Decoctions are prepared from young shoots and flowers of the bush to protect plants from pests.

Barberry planted on a personal plot will become a source of valuable and tasty sour berries. The plant has wonderful leaf color. Depending on the variety, it can be yellow, violet, purple, green, variegated and with edging around the edges. This is a suitable plant for creating garden compositions (mixborders) and single planting. It can be planted on slopes and on the banks of reservoirs. Barberry makes a wonderful hedge. Due to the abundance of small thorns, it will become impenetrable to animals. Dwarf varieties of barberry can be used to create a magnificent border hedge. The shrub lends itself well to artistic curly (topiary) cutting. Balls, pyramids and other shapes are formed from it. This shade-tolerant plant is drought-resistant and wind-tolerant, but does not like stagnant water in the soil.

Spreading gooseberry bushes feel great under the canopy of trees. They can easily tolerate soil drying out and are resistant to weather conditions. They bear fruit consistently. Ripe gooseberries are red in color. Their scattering stands out colorfully against the green background. An excellent amber jam is prepared from the fruits.

You can plant blackberries in the garden. This honey plant is covered with raspberry-like black berries in August. They have a great sour taste. The branches of the bush can reach a height of 2 meters, so it must be planted at a distance of at least 2 meters from other plants.

Hazel will easily take root in a garden plot in the shade of trees. The bush is unpretentious and with minimal care will regularly produce generous harvests of hazelnuts. Cultivated varieties can have different leaf colors and will decorate the garden.

Ornamental crops

The bright colors of the leaves and flowers of the bush will transform a gloomy area of the garden covered with shadow.

In terms of beauty and abundance of flowering, few plants can compare with rhododendron. They are literally buried in flowers from June to July. The shrub has beautiful glossy dark green foliage. The color of flowers reaching 3.5-4 cm in diameter can be very different. The plant doesn't like wet soil and intolerant of winds. For rhododendron, neutral soil must be acidified with special peat. The shrub easily tolerates early spring and late autumn frosts. But for the winter, most varieties should be covered.

Luxurious hydrangea attracts attention with the size of the caps of inflorescences. Lush and openwork balls reach 25 cm in diameter. Hydrangea blooms from July to September, when other shrubs have already faded. Looks great alone or in a composition with evergreen ornamental shrubs. The plant loves abundant watering, especially during dry periods. Not all hydrangea varieties tolerate winter easily. Therefore, it is advisable to plant them closer to buildings. Tree hydrangeas can withstand the harshest winters and deep shade. It is better to plant ornamental shrubs for the garden on lawns, near terraces and garden gazebos, at the entrance to the house or to the front garden.

Dogwood blooms in early spring, in mid-March or early April, when there are no leaves on the trees yet. For a whole month it will delight you with many lush pink or golden-yellow flowers densely covering the crown. The flowering dogwood looks stunning. Its early flowers attract many insects. This is an early honey plant. All summer the shrub decorates the garden with emerald foliage, and by autumn it is covered with scarlet berries. They make wonderful jams and compotes. Dogwood is undemanding to growing conditions and is practically not susceptible to disease. But it is recommended to cover it for the winter.

In spring, magnificent mahonia will decorate the garden with large golden inflorescences. Its flowers look great against the backdrop of shiny dark green leaves. By the end of summer, the bush is covered with purple berries, similar to grapes. Mahonia is easy to care for. The plant tolerates pruning well. To ensure that the bushes are thick and do not stretch upward, they are cut after flowering. Mahonia is resistant to pests. Shrubs for the garden are used in the design of rocky hills, borders and low-growing compositions. Mahonia looks beautiful as a single plant.

Evergreen species

Shade-loving evergreen shrubs will decorate the garden all year round. They are used to create hedges, borders, curtains, ornamental stripes (arabesques) and even garden figures.

Yew berry does not require careful care. It is resistant to frost and wind. Grows in poor soils and easily tolerates drought. Various shapes are formed from bushes, creating hedge. It looks good in a group and as a separate plant. Yew berry does not tolerate excess moisture in the soil.

Holly holly looks like a real Christmas tree. On winter holidays it can be dressed up and turned into christmas tree. The resilient plant easily takes root in different soils. During drought it should be watered generously. It can grow even in deep shade. The branches of the bush grow slowly and very densely. The plant is formed after the fruiting period. If you plan to collect fruits, then you need to plant several plants, since the shrub needs cross-pollination. Holly reaches the peak of its beauty in late autumn. In winter, it is covered with green leaves and blood-red fruits.

Popular garden plant is boxwood. It needs to be planted in places protected from the wind. The shrub is especially vulnerable to spring winds. Boxwood is heat-resistant and grows on any soil. If the soil is poor, the bush will grow small but very dense. Boxwood is used to form figures, borders and hedges. It is recommended to cover the plant for the winter. For spherical shapes, special boxes made of wood or plastic with holes are used. Hedges and borders can be covered with fabric. Bushes should be tied up for the winter so that they do not break under the weight of snow. With the onset of warmth, the insulation must be quickly removed so that the boxwood does not lock up and get sick.

Kalmiya is a favorite garden shrub in the USA, Canada and European countries. The evergreen leaves of Kalmia resemble bay leaves. The shrub blooms beautifully with large inflorescences of soft pink and white flowers. Kalmiya is drought tolerant, but during hot weather it needs to be watered frequently. She needs acidic soil.

How to choose a shrub

It is recommended to give preference to disease-resistant and unpretentious plants that do not require special care. Many species require regular pruning to control shape and size. If you do not want to do pruning, it is better to choose a plant that does not require it. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the maximum height of the variety so that the plant does not grow beyond the boundaries allocated for it.

The shrub must be adapted to the existing climatic conditions and soil. In unsuitable conditions, the plant will be weak or die.

It is advisable to choose a plant that will decorate the garden all year round. The most suitable option would be evergreen. Among deciduous shrubs especially popular are those that bloom profusely all summer, have attractive flowers, beautiful and delicious berries, have a fragrant aroma. Such shrubs need to form a beautiful crown so that it looks aesthetically pleasing in winter.

Conifers and juniper

In addition to shrubs, you can use coniferous plants for the garden. Thuja is one of the most favorite plants landscape designers. Interesting architectural forms are created from its crown. It is planted to create alleys and hedges. Look better dwarf species thuja. The rounded dwarf shrub Danica grows very slowly. It is great for small garden plots.

Juniper can grow in the shade of trees. The plant will fill the garden plot with a stunning aroma that has healing properties. The horizontal juniper, creeping along the ground, looks interesting. It is planted to decorate alpine slides.

Gray spruce looks very romantic. Its needles can have shades from light green to blue and golden. Dwarf coniferous trees are usually planted in gardens.

Shade-tolerant trees will help decorate a shady area. Large dissected maple leaves acquire a surprisingly beautiful color in the fall. The tree grows quickly and forms a round, spreading crown. Hornbeam and beech are also planted for landscaping. There are special garden varieties and forms. They are easy to trim and shape. Look great in a group or individually.

What you need to know before planting shade-tolerant shrubs

The space around future shrubs can also be occupied by flowering plants. Among them there are also many who love shade. For example, . It is beautiful, low maintenance and grows quickly.

In the absence of sun, shade-tolerant shrubs need the correct soil composition. The homeland of these crops, as a rule, is forest, so they need appropriate land: with a neutral pH and a good level of fertility. Each type has its own nuances. An indicator that you have chosen the right soil will be lush growth and full flowering.

Advice. It is best to grow those shrubs that are specific to your region. They are adapted to the climate and other natural features.

Other aspects of growing shade-tolerant shrubs:

They don't like close quarters. Maintain the recommended distance for each species.
Use low-growing species to strengthen and decorate embankments.
The shape, height, and abundance of flowering of many shrubs are controlled by conventional pruning.

Fruit bushes for shady corners of the site

There is a small group of fruit and berry bushes that are capable of producing crops without intense lighting. With a lack of light, most varieties of raspberries and blackberries develop quite normally. This is due to the origin of cultures. In the wild, shrubs grow in dense thickets and damp ravines. Blackberries and raspberries adapt to deep partial shade, when the rays hit the branches for only a few hours a day.

Advice. Gooseberries and barberries cope well with low light levels. They are often planted next to raspberries. So you can create a berry corner in your shady garden.

Types of shade-tolerant shrubs for decorating a site: names

The plants most adapted to shade have interesting external characteristics:

. A culture familiar to the urban landscape has long adapted to the high content of harmful gases in the air, frost and drought. She will be able to easily tolerate planting in the shade, except that the abundance of flowering will decrease somewhat. The description of lilac is widely known. It can reach a height of 5 m.
Elder. Decorative varieties of this crop include black, red, and Canadian. The bush is beautiful both when it blooms and when it bears fruit (pictured). Elderberry, like lilac, is highly resistant to negative environmental factors, including low light levels.

. Its dense branches are used as material for living fencing. Gardeners also use similar planting in shaded areas. Privet is ready for such conditions. The bush has beautiful foliage. It just doesn't tolerate frost well enough.
ordinary. For many years it has been successfully used by landscape designers to create hedges and in group green compositions. Dogwood blooms in spring with yellow inflorescences. During this period, the bush is especially fragrant. In autumn, bright fruits form in place of flowers. And in winter, dogwood or dogwood looks quite attractive.
Junipers. Very beautiful representatives of coniferous plants. Fits well into most landscape solutions on the site. The bushes look elegant when planted alone, surrounded by flowers. Juniper does not care how much sun it grows in.

Juniper

Garden jasmine, or. A popular shade lover. Tolerates winters, is not capricious during care - shade-tolerant, unpretentious, winter-hardy. In summer it is covered abundantly with flowers with a thick, strong aroma.

Other varieties of shade-tolerant shrubs

The range of plants suitable for planting in the shade is not limited to the listed species. Among other crops:

weigela;
wisteria;
forsythia;
snowberry;
rhododendron.

Weigela is another bright representative of shrubs that prefer shade. Blooms beautifully starting in late spring. Planting weigela is practiced to decorate space near fences or as part of a hedge. She will also be able to grow under a large tree.

Attention! This shrub sheds its leaves before winter.

Snowberry is especially valuable during fruiting. The fruits grow on it for a long time, until the first frost. The berries are white, with a slight green or pink tint and blush. Rhododendron is another popular shrub in the Russian climate. It grows, even if shaded, in ascetic conditions. It has very beautiful flowering.

Shady corners of the garden are a favorite place to relax in the hot summer, so the desire to decorate them is natural. And someone wants to arrange beautiful flower garden under the trees growing on the site, or plant plants in the shade of a fence or buildings. Shade-tolerant and shade-loving representatives of the flora are suitable for this.

Requirement for light is one of the criteria by which plants are selected for planting in a shaded area. Flowers and shrubs that are in dire need of the sun will not be able to gain strength there or will die completely.

Other plants may be:

Shade-tolerant, that is, preferring partial shade.
Shade-loving, growing well with minimal lighting.

This must be taken into account when planning plantings. Typically, decorative deciduous species love shade, although there are many beautiful flowering exceptions. When selecting plants, it is important to pay attention to soil preferences and moisture content.

What plants to plant in the shade (video)

Popular shade-tolerant groundcovers

Spreading along the ground like a green carpet, ground cover plants will become excellent neighbors to taller inhabitants of the garden, They will help decorate the soil around trees and shrubs, decorate the slopes of an alpine hill and fit into a rock garden composition. Moreover, many of them cope well with a lack of sunlight.

Creeping tenacious

A plant often found in forests, which has become a garden plant light hand flower growers. This is a perennial with shoots spreading along the ground. It blooms early - back in May. The tenacious inflorescences are spike-shaped: small blue or light blue flowers are collected in axillary whorls. Such “candles” rise 7–12 cm above the ground. Many have been withdrawn decorative varieties with fancy colored leaves, thanks to which the survivor looks original and noticeable, despite its small height.

Creeping tenacious

Saxifrage

This perennial, less often biennial or annual. When planted alone, it forms green cushions, usually from 5 to 20 cm high, in rare cases reaching 70 cm. Flowers with 5 petals, colored pink or White color. The main advantages of saxifrage are its unpretentiousness(the plant is frost-resistant and grows without problems on poor soils) and long flowering that lasts all summer.

Gallery: shade-tolerant plants for the garden (25 photos)

European hoofweed

Another option for decorating the soil in a shady corner of the garden is hoofed grass, which grows up to 30 cm in height. It has cute leaves, the upper side of which is glossy and the lower side is matte. Blooms in spring, with the establishment of heat, maroon bells.

European hoofweed

Cuff

Cuff attracts attention primarily with its airy flowers, filling the garden with a honey aroma in June and July. The multi-lobed leaves of the plant in many species have a silvery droop with bottom side leaf. Winters well in the middle zone, but for better preservation, it is still recommended to mulch the cuff bushes with peat.

Sphagnum moss

In the wild it is an inhabitant of swamps, but due to its high decorative value, it is also used in garden compositions. Traditionally white and gray in color, but there are red, pink and ginger specimens. The height of the stems ranges from 10 to 20 cm, from which branched shoots extend in bunches.

All these plants do an excellent job with the main task: decorating the surface of the soil with pretty greenery. Despite their small height, they definitely will not go unnoticed.

Sphagnum moss

Choosing shade-tolerant flowers for the garden

If there is not enough sunlight in some corner of the site, this does not mean that there is no place for beautiful flowers. At least 5 plants are ready to fill the shade with their colors.

Dicentra

People often call it a “broken heart” due to the characteristic and very unusual shape colors. They are literally suspended in the air on long peduncles. The voluminous dicentra bush grows quite large in size: up to 1 m in height.

Doronicum eastern

The plant has bright yellow flowers, similar to daisies. Doronicum begins its flowering, which lasts more than a month, at the height of May. There are terry and dwarf varieties.

Doronicum eastern

Clematis

A very beautiful flowering vine, undemanding to lighting. In floriculture it is used for vertical decoration. The main wealth of clematis is its large flowers all kinds of colors: starting from white and ending in dark purple.

Colchicum

Or, as it is called, colchicum. This is a bulbous plant about 20 cm in height that blooms in autumn. You need to be careful when handling colchicum because it is poisonous.

Lily of the valley

The modest and well-known lily of the valley readily grows in the shade. Its snow-white bells usually appear in May. This is a perennial plant that does not require care.

In order for plants to bloom abundantly, they need to be fed with special fertilizers. In hot weather they will need watering.

Flowers for shady areas of the site (video)

Shade-loving ornamental shrubs and trees

If herbaceous plants reign on the lower tier of the shady corner, then the upper tier consists of trees and shrubs. Some of them do not suffer from a small amount of light while maintaining decorative characteristics.

Hydrangea

Hydrangea is loved for its lush caps of hundreds of small flowers. Abundant flowering lasts from July to September. To give the bush beautiful shape, it is usually cut into a ball shape. It should be taken into account that in dry weather it will require abundant watering.

Hydrangea

Spruce

There are various decorative varieties of spruce. Some of them are creeping, bush-like and even have flowing branches, which looks very attractive. Even a spruce planted in the shade grows actively. If desired, you can trim the tree into a cone or pyramid shape.

Holly

Holly holly, whose leaves are topped with sharp thorns, is known as a Christmas plant in Catholic countries. Among gardeners, holly is famous for its grows even in strong shade. The plant shows itself in all its glory in winter and autumn: small berries appear red against the background of green foliage. This is true for those who want to admire the garden all year round.

Rhododendron

Beautiful bush, double flowers which reaches a diameter of 4 cm. The leaves are lanceolate-shaped, dark green with a glossy sheen. When planting rhododendron, you need to know that it does not tolerate cold winds and waterlogging of the soil. The plant prefers acidic soil, therefore into the ground with a neutral alkaline balance add peat.

Yew

Evergreen yew withstands any unfavorable conditions except stagnant water. The plant lends itself well to shaping, so it is often used to create figures or green hedges. Yew is suitable for both single and group planting, becoming a green background for other plants.

Ornamental trees and shrubs need care, as do herbaceous flowers. For example, application of nitrogenous fertilizers will be beneficial for foliage growth.

Shade-tolerant fruit trees and berry bushes

Those gardeners who want to use shady areas to harvest fruits and berries can plant certain crops. The harvest of most trees and shrubs suffers greatly from a lack of sun, but among them there are also those who can withstand the shade.

Barberry

This tall shrub is notable for its foliage, which can be yellow, green, or purple. Not far behind in beauty are the sour barberry berries, rich in vitamin C. The plant lends itself perfectly to shaping, and dwarf varieties are used for borders.

Cherry

One of the few fruit trees that tolerate partial shade relatively well. Cherry plum and plum trees are a little more demanding in terms of lighting. But the harvest from a shady area will still be inferior in taste to that grown under sufficient light.

Blackberry

This is a very tall shrub, the woody shoots of which often grow up to 2 m in height, which must be taken into account when planting next to a flower garden or vegetables. In midsummer, blackberries are covered with white flowers, and in August, almost black berries with a sour taste appear in their place.

Kalina

Viburnum is one of the people's favorite plants. An extremely unpretentious tall bush whose branches are covered carved leaves. The scarlet berries collected in clusters give viburnum a special charm. They remain to decorate the bush until late winter.

Dogwood

Dogwood blooms in early spring and attracts bees to the site for a month. Throughout the summer he decorates the garden with green foliage, and in the fall with red berries, which make delicious and healthy jam. The only drawback of dogwood is its love for warmth., so the plant needs to be covered for the winter.

To make the fruits and berries larger and tastier, it is recommended to use potassium fertilizers for fertilizing - this slightly compensates for the low amount of sun.

Flowerbed plants for the darkest areas in the garden

Some plants can be called the most “resistant of the persistent” because they grow even where very little sunlight reaches them. And this in no way worsens their appearance!

Arizema

The original plant attention-grabbing original flowers in the form of calla lilies of various, often fancy colors: white with pink, green with burgundy. The height of Arizema grown in the garden usually reaches 50 cm.

Astilbe

Lush astilbe bushes can grow up to 2 m. But this plant is notable not for its size, but for its panicle inflorescences. The flowering period occurs in June and July.

Fern

The beauty of ferns lies in their delicate green leaves. In the wild, the plant is located on the lower tier of dense forests, so shade is common for it. There are also groundcover species of ferns that cover the ground with their lace.

Fern

Tiarka

Tiara inflorescences are panicles of white, pink or purple. The most common tiara is cordifolia, having leaves in the shape of a heart.

Khosta

The plant has leaves collected in lush rosettes and often variegated in various shades of green and white. Hosta is very unpretentious, so there will be no problems with it.

These plants can be planted in the most secluded corner of the garden.

What vegetables can be planted in the shade at the dacha?

Shady places on the site are also suitable for growing vegetables. Here are some of them that grow well in such conditions:

root vegetables (radish, beets);
representatives of the legume family;
cruciferous vegetables: regular cabbage and broccoli, as well as cauliflower and Beijing cabbage.

The shade is also suitable for perennial onions and leafy plants such as sorrel, rhubarb, and lettuce. You can also plant fragrant mint, tarragon, or cilantro: spices will definitely be needed in the kitchen.

Shade-tolerant plants for the home

Flower growers are faced with a lack of light not only in their plots, but also in the house. What plants should you not be afraid to place in the far corners of the room?

Aspidistra, which is called the “cast iron flower” for its amazing durability. It is a plant with several leaves on long petioles.
Chamelodorea, reminiscent of a palm tree with its airy leaves.
Philodendron. Liana, stretching up to 2 m in length.
Sansveria(“Mother-in-law’s tongue”) is distinguished by high long leaves having a dense structure and pointed at the edges. Sansveria has a variegated color and often a yellow border along the edges of the feather-like leaves.
Anthurium- a beautiful flowering plant of various colors.

In order for indoor plants to feel good and develop, they need to choose a suitable pot and soil; and then ensure proper care.

Sansveria

Examples of combinations of shade-loving plants in landscape design

How to create harmonious composition from flowering plants? You need to analyze each “candidate” and its characteristics, and try to create the ideal flower garden. Here are some of the successful examples:

green fern in one corner of the flower garden and hosta in the other will become a wonderful green background for a blooming tiara cordifolia. If you add a small stone or driftwood to the composition, this will add spectacularity to the flowerbed.
Cuff and coffin They will be good neighbors on the alpine hill.