15 Gorgeous Flowering Shrubs That Thrive In The Shade

Many of the most beautiful plants we want in our gardens are sun lovers that require warm temperatures, dry soil, and consistent sunlight. Tropical plants with large blooms and bright foliage typically cannot survive in shaded sites that force them to lose their leaves or produce fewer flowers. Not only does the light become a problem, but shaded areas of your garden usually have poor and moist soil, cooler temperatures, and competition from larger plants such as trees. While this is a death sentence for drought-tolerant, warm-weather plants, it is the perfect environment for flowering shrub species such as hydrangeas, Diervilla, and dogwood, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.

Creating a garden in the shade, especially one that shows off gorgeous flowers, can be a challenge. You must choose the right plants for the job or else you will be left with leggy, non-flowering, and dying bushes, flowers, and groundcovers that only make the shaded parts of your garden even less welcoming. Here, we have done our research and found many of the best shade-tolerant shrubs that will flower each year beneath structures or tall trees.

The sasanqua camellia bush (Camellia sasanqua) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that shows off dark green leaves and fragrant red blossoms that persist from fall to the beginning of winter, as per Oregon State University. Though the plant grows best in partial shade, it should not be planted in USDA zones below seven. It needs mild winters and warm weather during the spring and summer.

Bloom Season: Fall to early winter

USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 9

Growing Conditions: Partial shade

Soil Type: Organically rich, moist, and well-draining

Size: 6 to 10 feet tall

Winter daphne (Daphne odora), which is native to China and Japan, blooms in the spring with clusters of white and red to purple flowers among long, glossy leaves. Missouri Botanical Garden points out that these flowers are fragrant and last from January to March. In the summer, the blooms give way to red berries that are not edible.

Bloom Season: Spring

USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 9

Growing Conditions: Partial shade

Soil Type: Rich, moist and well-draining

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide

Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), also known as wild hydrangea, is a cold hardy plant that produces large clusters of flowers that can be white, green, or pink, states North Carolina State Extension. The bush grows best in partial shade. Though it can be grown in full sun, the conditions may cause it to lose foliage due to dry soil. Smooth hydrangeas are very intolerant of drought.

Bloom Season: Spring and summer

USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 9

Growing Conditions: Partial shade

Soil Type: Moist and well-draining

Size: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide

The oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a shade-loving, flowering bush that needs little maintenance once it is established. Typically, this deciduous and multi-stemmed plant grows to 8 feet tall and wide, so be sure to plant it in an area where it can spread as it grows. Clemson University mentions that the oakleaf hydrangea bush grows best in southern states such as Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana.

Bloom Season: Summer to winter

USDA Growing Zone: 5 to 9

Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade

Soil Type: Fertile and well-draining

Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and wide

The spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica) is a flowering shrub that thrives in partial or full shade. In the spring, this plant produces fragrant, dark purple flowers that show off four or five pointed petals. Later, the flowers give way to red berries that will brighten your garden in the winter. Oregon State University notes that the spotted laurel is most often grown for its variegated leaves; however, the flowers and fruit are still ornamental.

Bloom Season: Spring

USDA Growing Zone: 6 to 9

Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade

Soil Type: Well-draining

Size: 6 to 10 feet tall

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) can be identified by its rounded shape, glossy dark green foliage, and spring-blooming flowers, as said by the University of Connecticut. The shrub can grow in full shade; however, it will bloom more profusely if it is planted where it will receive some sunlight. In direct sun exposure, the foliage may change color or it can burn if it's too intense.

Bloom Season: Spring

USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 9

Growing Conditions: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade

Soil Type: Rich, moist, and acidic

Size: 5 to 12 feet tall and wide

Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis), as warned by Missouri Botanical Garden, has foliage that can be bleached to white in direct sunlight. It's in a gardener's best interest that this member of the Hydrangeaceae family is planted in some shade so the leaves of the plant stay green. Though the slender deutzia shrub can be planted in full shade, it does need some sunlight to flower with fragrant white blossoms in the spring.

Bloom Season: Spring

USDA Growing Zone: 5 to 8

Growing Conditions: Partial shade

Soil Type: Moist and well-draining

Size: 2 to 5 feet tall and wide