In every garden there are more or less shady places, which of course should not remain bare. However, it is often difficult to find suitable plants here - but not impossible. We introduce you to some shade-tolerant tree species.
Boxwood thrives in both shade and sun
Not every shadow is dark
But before you select a tree from the list below and plant it on the dark north side of your house, for example, you should first take a closer look at the envisaged location. Not every shade is the same and not every shade-tolerant plant feels comfortable in every lack of light. So choose the tree species based on the actual brightness of the location:
- full sun: more than six hours of full sun per day
- partial shade: four to six hours of full sun per day
- Lightly shady: under light bushes and trees, no direct sun
- deep shade: no direct sun (examples: under conifers or trees with a dense canopy of leaves)
- shady: bright, but without direct sun (examples: inner courtyard facing north, north side with bright, light-reflecting house wall)
If you are planning to plant a tall tree or similar under a tree that tolerates shade, also consider the possible root pressure: It is not the lack of sun that could be problematic here, but mutual competition for water and nutrients.
Most forest trees are shade tolerant
If your garden is rather dark but very large: think about planting forest trees. As forest trees, most beech, maple, oak, etc. are very tolerant of shade, at least when they are young, as they grow up in the undergrowth for many years. Only when they are really big trees do they strive towards the sun. Many conifers (especially yews!) do very well in shady locations, provided the composition of the soil is right.
Shade-tolerant shrubs for the garden
At this point we have put together some tree and shrub species for you that can also be planted in the penumbra or shade. Basically, for most species, however, a sunnier place is preferable. When planting in the shade, also make sure that the soil is not wet and heavy - even otherwise undemanding trees cannot tolerate that.
- Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus, Syn.: Laurocerasus officinalis): partially shaded to shaded, protected
- Privet (Ligustrum): sunny to lightly shaded
- Witch Hazel (Hamamelis): sunny to off-sun
- Yew (Taxus baccata): sunny to shady
- Bird cherry (Prunus padus): sunny to light shade, likes moist soil
- Lawson's cypress (Chamaecypraris lawsoniana): sunny to shady
- Boxwood (Buxus): sunny to shady
- Barberries (Berberis): sunny to shady, depending on the type and variety
- Mountain ash / rowan (Sorbus aucuparia): sunny to semi-shady
- Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas): sunny to semi-shady
- California honeysuckle (Lonicera ledebourii): sunny to semi-shady
- Service pear (Amelanchier): sunny to semi-shady
- Globe trumpet tree (Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana'): sunny to semi-shady
tips
Especially when planting trees with a shallow root system, make sure to keep the necessary safety distance to house walls, sewage and water pipes.