A shady yard doesn’t have to stop you from having a gorgeous, lively landscape. Flowering shrubs that thrive without direct sun are a perfect choice for jazzing up your landscape, and there are many varieties to choose from. Here are our top 7 choices for flowering shrubs that work well in Zone 9:
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia species)
With its spikes of beautiful white flowers and distinctive oak tree-shaped leaves, this shrub attains an impressive height and width of six to 10 feet and is partial to moderate shade. In late summer, its blooms change to a pinkish purple, and come fall, the leaves take center stage and put on an impressive show of orange-red, purple and brown, which lasts well into winter.
Rhododendron (Rhododendron species)
A shrub with its own fan club, there are more than 900 species of the Rhododendron. Most grow to a height and width of eight to 10 feet, bloom in late spring, and then present attractive foliage after that. This is the shrub to choose if you’re looking for colorful shade flowers – and with all the different varieties on the market you’ll have no problem finding your favorite color.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier species)
Another shrub with multiple varieties to choose from, you’re sure to find one that meets your yard’s aesthetic needs. The company running serviceberry is a compact four to six-foot shrub that’s perfect for smaller landscape layouts. A year-round winner, blooms debut in the spring and edible berries make a June appearance. Those who love low maintenance shrubs will love that it requires little pruning.
Japanese Kerria (Kerria Japonica species)
Slow to start but followed by rapid growth, this three to six-foot shrub is the one to choose for year-round color. Bright green leaves that appear in summer last through most of the fall, when attractive yellowish green or bright green stems appear to brighten up your winter landscape. Gorgeous, bright yellow blooms make a spring appearance.
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea Virginica species)
With vivid red leaves that last well into the fall, these four to five-foot shrubs burst with fragrant summer flowers and are extremely resistant to disease or insect problems. The Little Henry is a popular choice that gives better-known shrubs such as the burning bush a run for their money.
Red Chokeberry (Aronia Arbutifolia species)
Stunning crimson leaves in the fall and bountiful red berries that brighten up even the drabbest of winters, these shrubs grow from six to 10 feet high. The red chokeberry is a resilient shrub that does well even in poor soil, and it tolerates both wet and dry conditions. Glossy summer foliage complements the small white or red-tinged blooms that make their appearance in the spring.
Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
A versatile classic, this moderate-shade shrub continues to gain popularity due to its xeriscaping properties. It works well in dry to damp soil and grows from four to six feet tall. The sweetshrub’s maroon flowers bloom from spring to summer and are often highly fragrant; the leaves on these shrubs have a coarse texture. If you have a yard that sees frequent visits from deer, this is the shrub for you.
Finding just the right shrubs to plant in the shady areas of your landscape may seem like a challenge, but as these selections show, there are plenty of varieties to choose from. Whether you choose one particular species as a show-stopping focal point or mix and match several kinds, these recommended shrubs should bring some beautiful color and life to even the most sun-deprived areas of your yard. Contact us for consultation on your gardening project.