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University of Rhode Island GreenShare Factsheets

Woody Plants for Shady Places

 

Botanical Name Common Name Height (feet) Evergreen

 

Shade and Acid Soil

 
Amelanchier spp. Shadbush varies w/ species
Cyrilla racemiflora American cyrilla 10 -15 +
Daphne mezereum February daphne 3 - 5
Enkianthus spp. Red-vein enkianthus varies w/species
Ilex spp. Evergreen and deciduous holly varies w/species
*
Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel 7-15 +
*
Leucothoe fontanesiana Drooping leucothoe 3-5
*
Pieris floribunda Mountain andromeda 2-6
*
Rhododendron spp. Evergreen and deciduous azaleas varies w/species
*
Rhododendron carolinianum Carolina rhododendron 3-5
*
Rhododendron catawbiense Catawba rhododendron 6-10+
*
Rhododendron maximum Rosebay rhododendron 4-15+
*
Skimmia jaonica Skimmia 3-4+
*
Vaccinium angustifolium laevifolium Lowbush blueberry 1/2-2
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush blueberry 6-12

 

Shade and Dry Soil

 
Acanthopanax Sieboldianus Five-leaf aralia 8-10
Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry 3-6
Comptonia peregrina Sweet fern 2-4
Cornus racemosa Gray dogwood 10-15
Diervilla lonicera Gravelweed dwarf
Gaylussacia brachycera Box huckleberry 1/2 - 1 1/2
*
Hamamelis virginiana Common witch hazel 20-30
Hypericum caycinum St. John's wort 1 - 1 1/2
Hypericum prolificum Shrubby St. John's wort 1-5
Ligustrum spp. Privet varies w/species
Myrica pennsylvanica Bayberry 5-12
Physocarpus opulifolius Ninebark 5-9
Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn 18-25
Rhodotypos scandens Jetbead 3-6
Ribes alpinum Alpine currant 3-10
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Coralberry 2-5
Vaccinium pallidum Dry blueberry 3
Viburnum lentago Nannyberry 15-18+

 

Shade and Wet Soil

 
Andromeda polifolia Bog rosemary 1-2
*
Aronia arbutifolia Chokeberry 6-10
Calycanthus floridus Carolina allspice 6-9
Clethra alnifolia Summersweet 3-8
Comptonia peregrina Sweet fern 2-4
Cornus alba Tartarian dogwood 8-10
Cornus sericea Red-osier dogwood 7--9
Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' Golden-twig dogwood  
Cyrilla racemiflora American cyrilla 10-15+
Ilex glabra Inkberry 6-8, varies
*
Ilex verticillata Winterberry 6-10+
Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel 7-15+
*
Leucothoe fontanesiana Drooping leucothoe 3-5
*
Lindera benzoin Spicebush 6-12
Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay magnolia 10-20
Myrica pennsylvanica Bayberry 5-12
Rhododendron arborescens Sweet azalea 8-20
Rhododendron calendulaceum Flame azalea 4-15, varies
Rhododendron canadense Mountain azalea 3-4
Rhododendron periclymenoides (R.nudiflorum) Pinxter-flower 4-6, varies
Rhododendron vaseyi Pinkshell azalea 5-10
Rhododendron viscosum Swamp azalea 1-8
Sambacus pubens Scarlet Elder 12-25
Thuja occidentalis American arborvitae 40-60
*
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush blueberry 6-12
Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood 6-15
Xanthorhiza simplicissima Yellowroot 2-3

 

Shade and Normal Soil (Vines)

 
Akebia quinata Five-leaf akebia 20-40
Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental bittersweet 30-40
Celastrus scandens American bittersweet 20+
Clematis dioscoreifolia va. robusta Sweet autumn clematis tall
Euonymus fortunei vars. and cultivars Wintercreeper varies w/ type
*
Hedera helix English ivy 90
*
Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris Climbing hydrangea 60-80
Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' Hall's honeysuckle 15-30
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper 30-50+
Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston ivy 30-50+

 

Shade and Normal Soil (Ground Covers)

 
Euonymus fortunei vars. and cultivars Wintercreeper varies w/type
*
Mahonia repens Creeping hollygrape 1
*
Pachysandra terminalis Japenese spurge 1/2 - 1
*
Paxistima canbyi Canby Pachistima 1
*
Sarcococca hookerana Himalayan sarcococca 4-6
*
Vinca minor Common periwinkle 1/4-1/2
*
Xanthorhiza simplicissima Yellowroot 2-3

 

Shade and Normal Soils (Shrubs)

 
Abelia x grandiflora Glossy abelia 3-6
Acanthopanax sieboldianus Five-leaf aralie 8-10
Amelanchier canadensis Downy shadblow 6-20
Aronia arbutifolia Red chokeberry 6-10
Aucuba japonica Japanese aucuba 6-10+
*
Berberis x chenaultii Chenault barberry 3-4
*
Berberis julianae Wintergreen chokeberry 6-8
*
Berberis triacanthophora Threespine barberry 3-5
*
Berberis verruculosa Warty barberry 3-6
*
Buxus microphylla var. japonica Japanese box 3-6
*
Buxus sempervirens Common box 15-20
*
Chaenomeles speciosa Flowering quince 6-10, varies
Corylopsis spp. Winterhazel varies w/species
Cotoneaster salicifolius floccosus Willowleaf cotoneaster 10-15
*
Deutzia gracilis Slender deutzia 2-6
Enkianthus campanulatus Red-vein Enkianthus 15-30
Euonymus alata Winged Euonymus 15-20
Fothergilla spp.   varies w/ species
Hamamelis vernalis Vernal witch-hazel 6-10 +
Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora' Snowhill hydrangea 3-5
Hydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf hydrangea 4-6 +
Ilex cornuta Chinese holly 8-10 +
*
Ilex crenata 'Microphylla' Littleleaf Japanese holly 5-10 + or a small tree
*
Kerria japonica Kerria 3-6
Leucothoe fontanesiana Drooping leucothoe 3-5
*
Ligustrum amurense Amur privet 12-15
Ligustrum lucidum Glossy privet 20-25
Ligustrum obtusifolium regelianum Regal privet 4-5
Lonicera fragrantissima Winter honeysuckle 6-10 +
Lonicera morrowii Morrow honeysuckle 6-8
Lonicera tatarica Tatarian honeysuckle 10-12
Mahonia aquifolium Oregon hollygrape 3-6 +
*
Mahonia bealei Leatherleaf mahonia 10-12
*
Osmanthus heterophyllus Holly osmanthus 8-10 +
*
Philadelphus coronarius Sweet mockorange 10-12
Pieris floribunda Mountain andromeda 2-6
*
Pieris japonica Japanese andromeda 9-12
*
Potentilla fruticosa Shrubby cinquefoil 1-4
Prunus laurocerasus Cherry laurel 10-18
*
Pyracantha coccinea 'Lalandei' Laland firethorn 1/2 - 1 1/2
*
Sorbaria sorbifolia False spiraea 5-10
Spiraea thunbergii Spiraea, Bridal-wreath 3-5
Stephanandra incisa Cutleaf stephanandra 4-7
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Snowberry 6
Taxus baccata 'Repandens' Spreading English yew 2-4
*
Taxus canadensis American yew 3-6
*
Taxus cuspidata Japenese yew 10-40 + can be sheared
*
Taxus x media 'Hicksii' Hicks yew 20
*
Viburnum acerifolium Mapleleaf viburnum 4-6
Viburnum dilatatum Linden viburnum 8-10
Viburnum opulus European cranberrybush 8-12 +
Viburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf viburnum 10-15
*

 

Shade and Normal Soil (Trees)

 
Acer pennsylvanicum Striped maple 15-20 +
Amerlanchier laevis Allegheny shadblow 15-25 +
Cercis canadensis American redbud 20-30
Chamaecyparis obtusa Hinoki falsecypress 50-75
*
Clethra barbinervis   18
Cornus alternifolia Pagoda dogwood 15-25
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood 20-40, varies
Cornus mas Cornelian cherry 20-25
Hamamelis mollis Chinese witchhazel 10-15 +
Ilex aquifolium English holly 30-50 +
*
Ilex opaca American holly 15-30 +
*
Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay 10-20
Oxydendrum arboreum Sourwood 25-30 +
Prunus pensylvanica Pin cherry 25-40
Thuja occidentalis American arborvitae 40-60
*
Thuja plicata Giant arborvitae 50-70 +
*
Tsuga spp. Hemlock varies w/ species
*
Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw 12-30

 

 

Adapted from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 2001

Pesticides are poisonous! Read and follow all safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original containers out of reach of children, pets or livestock. Dispose of empty containers immediately, in a safe manner and place. Pesticides should never be stored with foods or in areas where people eat.

When trade names are used for identification, no product endorsement is implied, nor is discrimination intended against similar materials. Be sure that the pesticide you intend to use is registered for the state of use.

The user of this information assumes all risk for personal injury or property damage.

For more information, call the URI CE Gardening and Food Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-1011 or (401)874-2929 from outside Rhode Island; Monday-Thursday between 9 am and 2 pm.

 

University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension provides equal program opportunities.