Half-shady locations are more difficult to plant than a shady location. There are some hardy shrubs that prefer a semi-shady location because they need some protection and will thank you with lush flowers.
In a nutshell
- Shrubs flowering almost all year round thanks to clever species selection
- partly evergreen or with attractive autumn colors
- Fruit ornaments often valuable food source for birds
- also grow in sunny or shady locations
- mostly hardy shrubs do without additional protection in winter
Table of contents
- Hardy shrubs from B – C
- Flowering shrubs from F – J
- Shrubs for partial shade K – M
- Shrubs with K
- R – S
- W – Z
- frequently asked Questions
Hardy shrubs from B – C
ball hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
The ball hydrangea does not tolerate full sun well. It blooms more profusely in penumbra.
- growth height: 100-150cm
- blossom: bulbous, pink, red, blue, violet, white
- heyday: June – September
- leaves: ovate, tapering, deciduous
- fruit decoration: no
- Floor: fresh, permeable, humic, likes to be sour
Tip: Do not remove faded flowers in autumn. They are still an eye-catcher in the garden when they have faded.
mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
The mountain laurel originally comes from the USA. The lush flowering shrub is characterized by a very good winter hardiness.
- growth height: 150-200cm
- blossom: simple, slightly cupped, pink, red, multicolored (depending on variety)
- heyday: May June
- leaves: glossy, elliptical, oblong, evergreen
- fruit decoration: no
- Floor: fresh, well-drained, humic, slightly acidic to acidic
China Losbaum (Clerodendrum bungei)
The China lottery tree is one hardy perennial, but should be somewhat protected at extremely low temperatures. It is sufficient if you cover the bushes with brushwood or a winter fleece.
- growth height: 80-200cm
- blossom: bulbous, simple, pink
- heyday: July September
- leaves: cordate, deciduous
- fruit decoration: red-blue small fruits
- Floor: well-drained, nutritious
Flowering shrubs from F – J
service pear (Amelanchier rotundifolia)
The flowers of service pear are an eye-catcher in spring. Her Fruits are edible and have a very good taste, but are also very popular with birds.
- growth height: 180 – 350 cm
- blossom: simple, white, clustered in small clusters
- heyday: April May
- leaves: oval, deciduous, attractive orange-red autumn colour
- fruit decoration: dark blue to black berries
- Floor: humic, likes rich in nutrients
meatberry (Sarcococca confusa)
The meatberry has rather small, but very filigree flowers, but an unusual flowering time. The fruit decoration that gives it its name is particularly attractive.
- growth height: 50-150cm
- blossom: creamy white, single
- heyday: mid-January – March
- leaves: elongate, oval, tapering, glossy, evergreen
- fruit decoration: Red berries
- Floor: fresh, normal garden soil
Japanese Azalea (Rhododendron obtusum)
The Japanese azalea is conditionally frost-resistant. The evergreen shrubs tolerate temperatures down to -10 °C and are ideal for climatically favorable locations where only light frost is to be expected.
- growth height: 60-80cm
- blossom: double, pink, white
- heyday: April – October
- leaves: oval, oblong, dark green, evergreen
- fruit decoration: no
- Floor: slightly moist, humic, well-drained
Tip: Due to its small size, the Japanese Azalea is very suitable for pot cultivation. If the temperatures drop too much, you can move the plant in the pot to a sheltered spot.
Shrubs for partial shade K – M
cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
The Cherry laurel is a popular hedge plant, which is suitable for all lighting conditions. But it is also an attractive solitary shrub when it only slightly cut will, with a very beautiful flower.
- growth height: 100-150cm
- blossom: white, candle-shaped
- heyday: May June
- leaves: rounded, dark green, evergreen
- fruit decoration: black berries
- Floor: slightly moist, humic, normal garden soil
cornel (Cornusmas)
Blooming profusely in spring, this hardy shrub has transformed from a wild plant into a popular fruiting shrub and thrives in partial shade. There are now refined forms whose sour fruits are even larger than the wild form and are processed into jams or sweet confectionery.
- growth height: 300 – 500 cm
- blossom: yellow, simple, gathered in clusters
- heyday: March April
- leaves: elliptic, deciduous
- fruit decoration: red oblong berries
- Floor: undemanding, likes lime
mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)
In terms of lighting conditions mahonia very flexible. It tolerates everything from sun to partial shade to shade.
- growth height: 80-120cm
- blossom: simple, racemose, golden yellow
- heyday: April May
- leaves: pinnate, thorny, dark green, occasionally reddish in autumn, evergreen
- fruit decoration: dark blue to black berries
- Floor: sandy, humic, normal garden soil
Shrubs with K
mother of pearl bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
The mother-of-pearl shrub is a magnet for bees. The hardy shrub likes to be in partial shade and has overhanging shoots that are covered in flowers.
- growth height: 250 – 300 cm
- blossom: simple, umbel-shaped, pink
- heyday: May June
- leaves: oval, tapering
- fruit decoration: no
- Floor: undemanding
pearl tail (Stachyurus chinensis)
The striking shape of the flowers gives it its name hardy shrub, which prefers the penumbra. The flowers look as if they were strung on cords like a pearl necklace.
- growth height: 300 – 400 cm
- blossom: green-yellow, simple, bell-shaped, long loose racemes
- heyday: February – April
- leaves: elliptic, deciduous
- fruit decoration: small reddish berries
- Floor: moist, fresh, humic, permeable
splendor bell (Enkianthus campanulatus)
The magnificent bell generally prefers locations without direct sun. Partial shade or even shade is ideal for them, because that is where the hardy shrub blooms most luxuriantly.
- growth height: 200 – 300 cm
- blossom: simple, small bells, gathered in clusters
- heyday: May June
- leaves: elliptical, blue-green, deciduous, yellow to reddish autumn colour
- fruit decoration: rare, small capsule fruits with seeds
- Floor: fresh, humic, slightly sour to sour
R – S
rhododendron (Rhododendron yakushimanum)
The rhododendron is considered a difficult and maintenance-intensive shrub in the garden. With the right location in the semi-shade, the effort is reduced, since the soil is usually much wetter there and you only have to make sure that the soil is slightly acidic.
- growth height: 70-120cm
- blossom: simple or filled, funnel-shaped, various colors (depending on variety)
- heyday: May
- leaves: narrow, elliptical, slightly felty hairy, silvery underneath, evergreen
- fruit decoration: no
- Floor: fresh, moist, nutritious, no lime
sour thorn (Berberis vulgaris)
The sour thorn is ideal for hedges in partial shade. It tolerates pruning and the fruit decoration of the wild form is popular with birds.
- growth height: 150 – 250 cm
- blossom: yellow, cupped, clustered in racemes
- heyday: May June
- Leaves: small, oval, deciduous
- fruit decoration: small oblong red berries
- Floor: undemanding, normal garden soil
Black elder (Sambucus nigra)
The elder also develops well in full sun, but prefers partial shade because it likes moist soil. He has a rather superficial and extensive root system, which is why he only with sufficient distance to other plants should be set.
- growth height: 300 – 900 cm
- blossom: white, simple, combined into umbels
- heyday: June July
- leaves: pinnate, deciduous
- fruit decoration: small black berries
- Floor: nutritious, moist
Notice: In order for the elder to remain a shrub, it should cut regularly become. Without pruning, it can develop into a tree of well over ten meters.
W – Z
Woolly snowball (Viburnum lantana)
The woolly snowball is particularly easy to care for. Its flowers have an intense scent and the fruits are popular with birds.
- growth height: 250 – 350 cm
- blossom: creamy white, simple, grouped in umbels
- heyday: May June
- leaves: dull green above, felty hairs below, deciduous
- fruit decoration: Red berries
- Floor: undemanding
witch hazel (Hamamelis intermedia)
The witch hazel can easily be planted in partial shade because it flowers at a time when there is hardly any competition for light, as most of the shrubs are still dormant.
- growth height: 100-160cm
- blossom: yellow, radiating, simple
- heyday: February – March (sometimes as early as December if there is no frost)
- leaves: ovate, deciduous
- fruit decoration: small capsule fruits
- Floor: fresh, moist, humic, slightly sour
cotoneaster (Cotoneaster microphyllus)
The cotoneaster is a particularly undemanding. It copes very well with heat and drought, but prefers partial shade, where it forms significantly more flowers.
- growth height: 30-50cm
- blossom: simple, plate-shaped, white
- heyday: May June
- leaves: oval, small, shiny, white hairy underneath, evergreen
- fruit decoration: small red berries
- Floor: normal garden soil
frequently asked Questions
As a rule, pruning is not necessary, especially if the bushes have fruit decorations. Only with hydrangeas can the first flower be removed, which promotes new flowering. From late summer there is no need to cut back, as the formation of flowers is no longer significantly stimulated. Normal pruning in early spring or autumn is sufficient for most shrubs.
Yes, in addition to the cherry laurel, the barberry or the cornel are very suitable as a wild fruit hedge. They can be combined with other trees such as hazel (Corylus avellana) or hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and serve as flowering highlights.
Yes, with a few exceptions that do not tolerate too low temperatures such as azaleas. For new plantings, you should cover the ground in the first year or if the bushes have very fine and fresh shoots, protect them with brushwood or winter fleece. From the third or fourth year, the shrubs are usually hardy without any problems and can also tolerate very low temperatures.