Shrubs for Shade: Top 6 UK Picks

Shrubs are often thought of as a sort of everyman of the gardening world – solid, dependable and unlikely to cause a fuss. We think this does them a disservice, however, because there are loads of seriously impressive shrubs out there, and many perform nicely even in shadier conditions. In this post, we’ll be delving into some of the very best shrubs for partial (and full) shade, so buckle up – things are about to get shrubby.

Jump to:

• Best evergreen shrub for shade
• Best flowering shrub for shade
• Best large shrub for shade
• Best small shrub for shade
• Best wildlife-friendly shrub for shade
• Best low-maintenance shrub for shade

Best evergreen shrub for shade

Viburnum tinus

If you want year-round interest from your shady shrub, then you should look to Viburnum tinus (otherwise known as laurustinus). With its dainty white flowers springing from pinkish red buds, striking black berries and glossy evergreen foliage, this viburnum helps ensure your garden looks good throughout the year, and not just for a singular season. Suited to both partial and deep shade – as well as full sun – this shrub is the very definition of an all-rounder.

Best flowering shrub for shade

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Annabelle’

‘Annabelle’ is a mophead (a kind of bigleaf) hydrangea whose eye-catching flower snowballs are held aloft against a backdrop of lush green foliage. Hydrangeas grow well in all kinds of garden, including coastal and cottage schemes, but it’s their woodland suitability that we’re really interested in for the purposes of this article. Varieties like ‘Annabelle’ need a bit of sun for best flower production, but like to be kept relatively cool, meaning that a spot in partial shade is, to quote Goldilocks, just right.

Best large shrub for shade

Photinia ‘Red Robin’

Better suited to partial shade than deep shade, ‘Red Robin’ is a perennially popular shrub of the suburbs, gracing gardens up and down the UK and dazzling with its fiery red foliage. A recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit and often growing to around four-and-a-half metres tall and wide, and sometimes larger still, this shrub is bold, beautiful and utterly brilliant. Oh, and if you leave it unpruned, you’ll get lots of lovely cream flowers, too!

Best small shrub for shade

Euonymus ‘Emerald Gaiety’

Growing to just a metre or so in height, ‘Emerald Gaiety’ is a lovely little shrub that you can even grow in a large patio container. Boasting both cream-margined leaves and an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS, this fully hardy plant is an ideal pick for those gardens more limited on space. Preferring partial shade, plant your euonymus (sometimes known as spindle) somewhere it receives between three and six hours of direct sunlight per day.

Best wildlife-friendly shrub for shade

Ilex 'Argentea Marginata'

Hollies can be grown as both shrubs and ornamental trees, but however you grow them, one thing is for certain – they offer brilliant wildlife appeal. ‘Argentea Marginata’ is an RHS-award-winning cultivar whose possession of Plants for Pollinators status indicates just how valuable to wildlife this spiky shrub is.

Its foliage boasts a wonderful cream margin which contrasts wonderfully with the racing green leaf interior. In autumn and winter, shiny red berries are produced in abundance which birds love to feast on. And while the springtime greenish-cream blooms are relatively inconspicuous, they’re loved by bees.

Best low-maintenance shrub for shade

Fatsia japonica

You might think that, with their highly architectural, deeply-lobed leaves, fatsias would be fiddly to look after. The reality, however, couldn’t be more different. Also known as the Japanese aralia, Fatsia japonica is as low-maintenance as it is visually striking, and can be grown in all light conditions.

Once established, your fatsia will need very little by way of ongoing care, and it’s also hardy enough to withstand British winters, as well as being generally resistant to pests and diseases. Add to that its Award of Garden Merit and Plants for Pollinators status, its charming white flowers and highly-ornamental black berries, and you’ll see why we’re such fans…

Final thoughts

So, there you have it! A shady shrub to suit every occasion. While you’re here, make sure to check out some of our other guides, including how to grow hydrangeas and our top 10 plants for shady conditions. And if for whatever reason you’re feeling a little blue while reading this, then may we gently guide you to one of the great shrub-based scenes from British comedy…