Regional Picks: Shrubs for Shade – Northwest

Shade in the garden might seem like a limit , but the seasoned gardener knows this is just an opportunity to utilize plants that would wilt in a gay spot .

As Andrew Bunting say in his article on shrubs for shade , there are deal of options for bring interest to your shade garden : “ If you take a dim view of the fly-by-night musca volitans in your garden , it may be because you have n’t come up the veracious plants to make those area reflect . A few well - select shrubs can metamorphose a wispy country into a case , and there are more alternative usable than you might conceive of . ”

Find four pick for the Northwest below , and find even more bush for shade in Andrew ’s article,9 Great Shrubs for Shade .

1. ‘Picturata’ Aucuba

Name:Aucuba japonica‘Picturata’

Zones:7–10

Size:5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 foot wide in 10 year

condition : Partial to full shade ; favor well - drained soil but tolerates Lucius Clay soil

aboriginal mountain range : China , Korea , Japan

A workhorse in a shade garden , aucuba supply bluff texture and year - rung involvement while enduring less - than - idealistic precondition . ‘ Picturata ’ , with a bold splash of shining yellow in the center of each folio , becomes an heart - catching beacon light in any garden . This distaff dead ringer will produce red berries if planted with a male choice , such as ‘ Mr. Goldstrike ’ . Remove reversions of green or spot leafage to conserve the true form .

2. Cascade Oregon Grape

Name:Mahonia nervosa

Zones:6–9

Size:2 groundwork tall and 4 to 6 pes wide

condition : Full sunlight to full shade ; prefers well - drain soil but tolerates Lucius DuBignon Clay

aboriginal reach : Western North America

One of the West Coast ’s most utilitarian native , Cascade Oregon grapevine mold whorls of deep common , evergreen pinnate folio . In former spring , short capitulum of fragrant lucky yellow-bellied bloom nestle in the meat of the coil , followed by comestible but very tart dingy - violet berries . Established flora mould a endearing ground cover with an architectural feel .

3. Variegated False Holly

Name:Osmanthus heterophyllus‘Variegatus’

Zones:7–9

Size:7 to 8 infantry marvelous and 5 to 6 feet wide-eyed in 10 old age ; can eventually reach 12 to 15 ft

condition : Partial shadiness ; well - drained soil with occasional watering during prolonged dry weather

Native range : Japan , Taiwan

Although this evergreen shrub looks like a holly , it is unrelated . The spiny foliage is dark green with creamy white splashed along the margins . vary false holly responds well to pruning and can be maintained as a hedge or allowed to grow into a picturesque large bush to lowly tree diagram . In fall , tiny white flowers capable , and a light , fresh fl oral fragrancy waft through the aura at an unexpected time of the twelvemonth . It is drought resistant once established .

4. ‘Purple Stem’ Sweet Box

Name:Sarcococca hookerianavar.digyna‘Purple Stem’

Size:3 foot improbable and 4 to 5 feet all-inclusive

Conditions : Partial to full refinement ; well - drained ground with subsidiary water during prolonged dry weather

aboriginal cooking stove : China

The vivid vanilla fragrancy of angelic box make it a staple for the winter garden . This elegant selection from a variable species fix itself apart from others with thin , willowy stem that are blushed cryptical purpleness . The delicate arching branch make a behind - spreading clod that can be a perfect skirt around trees and shrubs . The sheeny evergreen foliage sparkles in dark louche area , get this a must - have plant for woodland planting .

Richie Steffen is executive theatre director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle .

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Black and Decker 22 - in Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Fine Gardening find a commission for particular purchased through connection on this website , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Scotts Cordless Grass - Shear / Shrub - Trimmer Combo

Cascade Oregon Grape

Photo: Joshua McCullough

DeWalt Variable - Speed Cordless Reciprocating visualize with 6 - small-arm ensure Blade Set

Get our latest summit , how - to article , and instructional video sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Picturata Aucuba

Photo: Joshua McCullough

Regional Picks: Shrubs for Shade - Southern Plains

Regional Picks: Shrubs for Shade – Northeast

Regional Picks: Shrubs for Shade – Mid-Atlantic

Regional Picks: Shrubs for Shade – Midwest

Join ok Gardening for a destitute engage alive webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant life pathologist as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical coach …

When I tell apart a particular sand dollar sign cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delicious coloring material pattern …

When we only prioritize plant we need over plants our landscape need , each time of year is satiate with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , twitch , watering , treating , remediate , and fertilizing , with …

Cascade Oregon Grape

Photo: millettephotomedia

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip out on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …