3 Evergreens For Shade

Shaded areas in your landscape deserve color and texture just like the sunny spots do. Shade loving evergreens are a great choice for sections of your landscape with very little or no light. Some varieties also provide privacy as they mature. Read on to learn about three options that do well in the shadows.

Yew

A very hardy evergreen choice for shaded areas is the yew. Known to be drought, deer and rabbit resistant, the yew is relatively low maintenance. There are several varieties to choose from, so it is important to know the end result you are trying to achieve when purchasing one. Slow growing dwarf options work well around your home’s foundation. Fast growing types, on the other hand, work better in areas you are looking to have privacy hedges. The needled evergreen takes to pruning well and also works great in topiaries.

Boxwood

A longtime favorite in landscapes, the boxwood was first brought to North America from Europe in the 1600s. Today, there are about 90 different species and more than 300 cultivars, making for a wide selection to choose from. The boxwood can be grown as a standalone plant, in groups or as a hedge. Furthermore, the boxwood has been used in containers, topiaries and for bonsai purposes. They can thrive in light shade as well as full sun. When selecting a variety for your landscape, it is important to take available light into consideration so you choose one that will thrive in that location. Very low maintenance, the boxwood is prized for its foliage, which is best pruned in the winter months. Curious to know more about the boxwood, check out The American Boxwood Society.

Hemlock

Not to be confused with the poisonous hemlock plant, the hemlock tree is a fabulous choice for areas where you want hedging or privacy screening. Hemlocks generally grow to about 30 feet tall but some varieties are shorter. They do not tolerate dry or compacted soil and have very shallow roots when first planted, so they must be protected from strong winds or they could fall over.

Need help determining which type of shade you have? Check out my blog post on shade types. If you are looking for a tree to plant in a shady spot, read my blog post on six shade loving trees. Feel free to reach out to our experts with your shade and landscaping questions, or you can always request a quote online too.