Flowering Shrubs for Shade

Gardenias are made for shade, with fragrant white flowers that emerge in late spring and dark green foliage that remains year round. Some newer varieties are also sun tolerant, making them a quite adaptable plant in the landscape.

Nothing says spring like the Azalea flower, and many varieties (like those from Encore and Proven Winners) have been bred to bloom more often AND with more sun tolerance. Despite the genetic advances, a shady or part-sun space in the garden will give an azalea the perfect environment to thrive.

Shade-loving hydrangeas offer some of the most vibrant colors on the market, with tones of deep-blue, violet-purple, and cherry-red present from some truly great varieties. Regardless of variety, there's surely a hydrangea you'll love for the shady landscape.

Terminology gets tricky here, as many plants are marketing as a "Camellia" or "Sasanqua" are hybridized varieties somewhere in the middle. What we do know is these plants THRIVE in the shady garden. The larger-leaf Camellia japonica offers massive spring flowers while the little leaf Camellia sasanqua has a dense habit and dainty autumn blooms. Both will love your shady or part-sun landscape.

New introductions of this plant have recently come onto the market, and we're here for it! Not only are the native varieties an easy option for privacy screening, but some of the new, hybrid varieties offer gorgeous flowers and a distinctive licorice-scented foliage.