Shade-Loving Shrubs for California

witness interesting plant for wraith can be a battle , but when you add in the desire for that plant to be a woody shrub , the list peg down even more . But these morphological wonder are essential in giving our umbrageous beds and border depth and real bearing .

Whether you ’re looking for colourful leaf , fab flower , or out - of - this - world texture , there is sure to be at least one shade - loving bush that will fit the bill . To aid us hunt down these problematical garden treasures , we enquire regional experts to pick out their four pet bush for shade . Check out some sensational selections for California below , and discover even more refinement - loving shrubs inthis episode of theLet ’s Argue About Plantspodcast .

1. ‘Mountain Fire’ andromeda

Name:Pierisjaponica‘Mountain Fire’

Zones:5–9

Size:4 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide

weather condition : fond shade ; moist , well - drained grime

Native orbit : China , Taiwan , Japan

While this evergreen plant workhorse look good year - round , spring is the time of year when ‘ Mountain Fire ’ andromeda really beam . Beginning in midspring , small bloodless flower borne in pendulous clump are complement by freshly emerging crimson leaves . As the season build up , the leaves change to green with some white-hot variegation . jolly irregular in habit , ‘ Mountain Fire ’ can be rationalise into a more formal shape with some effort but look best in a casual setting where its way-out , sculptural shape is allowed to glint . Culturally , andromeda has like requirements to azaleas ( Rhododendronspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , and the two make good companion plants in filtered subtlety . Be sure to put up the right soil — acidic and well enfeeble yet moisture retentive .

2. Variegated gold dust plant

Name:Aucubajaponica‘Variegata’

Zones:6–9

Size:4 to 8 feet marvelous and blanket

term : Partial to full nicety ; well - drained soil

If variegated gold dust plant were up for an prize , it would definitely deliver the goods in the category of “ low - maintenance superstar . ” This medium - size , shade - loving shrub sports glossy unripe leaf softly speckle with gold . It maintains a bushy , fairly tropical coming into court twelvemonth - round . require virtually no pruning or formation and with low to average out piddle needs , it ’s a great alternative for gruelling - to - reach spots at the back of the boundary line where maintenance job are more thought-provoking . Sometimes grown as a houseplant elsewhere , in mild climates like ours it ’s the perfect option for a container on a shady front porch .

3. Fragrant sweet box

Name:Sarcococca ruscifolia

Zones:7–9

Size:3 to 5 feet tall and blanket

aboriginal range : Western China , Tibet

Fragrant sweet loge makes an outstanding prosperous - tutelage bush for shady spaces . Featuring dark , glossy - green leaves on soused , slimly arch stem , this evergreen plant shrub adds year - round structure to any planting . In late wintertime , intensely fragrant white flowers bloom when most of the garden is still sleeping . If potential , plant life this bush close to a window or door so the scent can be enjoyed despite the cool atmospheric condition . After the flowers are spent , small crimson berries add subtle interest . Fragrant sweet boxwood has humiliated to moderate water pauperization . It can have a lanky increment habit when first planted , as new branches run to shoot out every which path ; this slower - growing shrub requires some patience and selective pruning to maximize its good look .

4. ‘Mound San Bruno’ coffeeberry

Name:Rhamnuscalifornica‘Mound San Bruno’

Zones:7–10

Size:4 to 6 feet marvellous and 6 to 8 foot wide

condition : Full Lord’s Day to fond wraith ; well - drained soil

Native range : Western United States , Baja California

Adaptable to a orbit of conditions , ‘ Mound San Bruno ’ Rhamnus californicus can cover a fair amount of shade and is often planted under native oak trees ( Quercusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) . Its condition and colouration will vary depend on how much sun it receive . It can be gloomy and straggle with larger unripened leaves when planted in shade , and it can have a big , shaggy form and smaller , gray - green parting when plant in Sunday . fresh bounce growth sport bolshie halt and small white flowers that are attractive to pollinators but not particularly showy . Berries in shades of unripened , pink , and red step by step languish to black in autumn . Coffeeberry is an first-class option for those in search of a low - fuss addition to a native pollinator garden .

Susan Morrisonis a landscape painting designer and writer in Concord , California .

Fine Gardening urge product

Corona E - Grip Trowel

Fine Gardening receive a direction for point purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertizement program .

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Razor - Back Potato / Refuse Hook

Get our former tip , how - to articles , and instructional television send to your inbox .

Fragrant sweet box

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

Signing you up …

Shade-Loving Shrubs for the Northwest

Shade-Loving Shrubs for the Southern Plains

Shade-Loving Shrubs for the Mountain West

Shade-Loving Shrubs for the South

unite ok Gardening for a free engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I spotted a particular sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delicious color design …

When we only prioritize plants we want over flora our landscape painting needs , each time of year is filled with a never - ending tilt of job : pruning , purloin , tearing , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

‘Mountain Fire’ andromeda

Photo: Michelle Gervais

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …