Shrubs that Grow in Shade

1. Boxwood

2. Inkberry Holly

3. Hemlock (dwarf c.v's include 'Jeddeloh' 'Cole's Prostrate')

4. Azalea/Rhododendron

5. Yew

6. Oakleaf Hydrangea

7. Burning Bush

8. Pieris

9. Virginia Sweetspire

10. Euonymus

11. Summersweet


These are the best shrubs to grow in shade that are all hardy to at least USDA Zone 5. Boxwood, Inkberry Holly, Yew, Rhododendron (not Azalea), Pieris, and Euonymus are all evergreen. The others are deciduous. Very few good landscaping shrubs can grow in full shade. The common question is "What can I grow in my shaded labdscape???" Now you have a few really good options! There may be a few more I didn't list, but these are about it. Leave a comment if I left any out that are hardy to at least zone 5.

Happy planting!

NatureMan 🌿

Most Cold Hardy Palm Trees

1. Needle Palm

The most cold hardy Palm tree on Earth! Matures to 6' tall and wide'. Slow growth rate. Mature established specimens can withstand temps down to -10°F. Young specimens may die near zero if not protected. USDA Zones 6-11

          2. Sabal Minor Palmetto

This Palm shrub is hardy to around 0°F when mature and established. Matures to 8' tall and wide. One variety that may be almost as cold hardy as the Needle Palm is the "McCurtain" variety. It has been said to survive sub-zero temps with no winter damage. USDA Zones 7-11

         3. Saw Palmetto

Famous Palm known for it's medicinal uses. It has been known to treat, and some say cure prostate cancer. This shrub is hardy to around 0°F when mature and established. Matures to 6' tall and wide. It may be slightly less cold hardy than the Sabal Minor, but only by a few degrees. Most success in growing Saw Palmetto comes when temps do not dip below 5°F. Temps near or below 0°F can be fatal. USDA Zones 7-11

         4. Pindo Palm

The most cold hardy pinnate leaved Palm tree. Matures to 20' tall and wide. Hardy to 5°F. Temps in tbe single digits for any prolonged periods will kill this Palm though. USDA Zones 7-11

         5. Windmill Palm

This is the most cold hardy tree form next to Pindo Palm. The better thing about this Palm is that the Windmill Palm is much faster growing than the Pindo Palm. Matures to 30'-40' tall by 5'-10' wide. Hardy to 5°F with severe winter damage. Hardy to 10°F with little or no damage. USDA Zones 8-11 (warmer regions of Zone 7)

         6. Sabal Palmetto

This beautiful tree is the state tree of Florida and South Carolina. Matures to 25'-80' tall by 10'-20' wide. Hardy to 10°F with no damage whatsoever when established. Can withstand brief periods in the upper single digits for brief periods as well when established.  USDA Zones 8-11 (warmer regions of Zone 7)

 

Cold Hardy Bamboo

Bamboo is famous for being a tropical plant in the jungles of China and Asian countries. You may have also heard Panda's eat Bamboo in Tropical China. While yes, these are true, there are other Bamboo plants that are not tropical and are more subtropical or warm temperate hardy plants. These grow in the mountains of China where it is still very warm in the summer, but winter's are much colder. These plants have adapted to temps below freezing, and even below zero. In this post I will only share the most cold hardy kinds. These being hardy to between -10 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. They are broadleaf evergreen plants. While many will call them trees, they are actually grass. I won't go into the science on trees vs grass, but just know they are not trees. There are many articles online that explain the difference. These plants add a great tropical vibe to the landscape. Tall green plants outside in the brutal cold and snow makes you feel like you are in a warmer place.

The two most cold hardy genera of Bamboo are Fargesia and Phyllostachys.

Some popular species in these genera include Fargesia nitida, Fargesia sp. 'Rufa', Fargesia sp. 'Rufa' Green Panda, Phyllostachys nuda, Phyllostachys bissetii, Phyllostachys aureosulcata, Phyllostachys atrovaginata 'Incense Bamboo' just to name some of my favorites.

When temps are below zero, winds may burn the foliage. The cold wind dries the leaves, and they die. When it is -10 degrees and there is little to no wind the plants will be unharmed, but when there is dangerous wind that may cause severe winter burn on the foliage. Since these plants are very cold hardy, they usually send up new shoots in the Spring and will regrow rapidly the next summer. If you plant gets burned, wait until Spring to look for new growth at the base before considering removing your Bamboo plants.

I took this picture of a grove of Bamboo probably 20' or 30' or so tall in Bloomington, IN. Bloomington, IN is in USDA Zone 6a. Coldest average temperature is -5 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. I am unaware of what genus or species it is, but is definitely one of the two genera I mentioned above. This photo was taken in January, 2019. The weather is forecasted to be below zero next week, I expect at least some winter burn to the foliage, but will likely re-shoot next Spring if there is any severe winter damage. I can see some dead stalks, most likely from winter damage from last year, or a few years back. The owner just didn't cut it down. At the time of taking these photos there hasn't been temps cold enough to cause winter damage. Coldest temp so far was right around zero with minimal wind. As I said earlier I expect cold the cold and strong winds next week to cause some or severe winter burn. They have very aggressive root systems, and almost always recover. I suspect in years past this grove may have completely died off to the ground, especially after the 2014 winter which was historically cold. Lows down to near -20 with strong winds. It fully recovered and spread quickly.

LINKS to learn more on cold hardy Bamboo:
http://www.bamboogarden.com/cold%20hardy%20bamboo.html

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-bamboos-in-cold-climates-2132863

Most Cold Hardy Holly Trees

I will list the most cold hardy Holly trees used for hedges or as screening, not the shrubs. All these are hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20°F). There are many more Holly trees, but are hardy to Zones 6, or 7 at the coldest. Zone 5 people still have hope for that broadleaf evergreen tree hedging!

'Steed's' Japanese Holly

6'-10' tall by 5'-6' wide

Makes the perfect hedging tree, or simply placed in the garden or along your house. Looks like a boxwood than a Holly.

'Sky Pencil' Japanese Holly

8'-12' tall by 1'-2' wide

Very upright. Perfect for blocking unwanted areas like power boxes, or great for along front of buildings for design. Branches bend and get deformed or snapped in heavy snow. In areas prone lots of snow wrap your plant with twine or rope to prevent this. Resembles Boxwood than Holly.

'Castle Spire' Holly

8'-10' tall by 3'-4' wide

This is one of the only true Holly looking plants with the spikes in the foliage. It is one of the only varieties that reach tree size that is hardy to Zone 5. Other varieeties are hardy toto zones 6 or 7 for coldest. Great for hedges, or around a buildings for design.

American Holly

20'-60' tall by 15'-35' wide

Next to 'Castle Spire' one of the only tree hollies for Zone 5. Perfect for hedging or larger screenings.



Longleaf Pine

The Longleaf Pine is perhaps the most interesting tree in all the world. Longleaf Pine forests are one the most biologically diverse forests on Earth. A single Longleaf Pine forest can contains nearly 1000 species of plants, and over 300 animals endemic to Longleaf Pine Ecosystem, several of the animal species are endangered. It is the most diverse forests next to tropical rainforests. Many of the grass plants hold up the dead Pine needles from the ground, and makes for better fires, that can spread easier. Fires are essential to the survival of the Longleaf Pine forests. The pine cones won't open up to release their seeds until extreme heat by fire roles by. Even the grasses and hundreds of other plant species require fire in order to reproduce. The Longleaf Pine forests require wildfires every 2-5 years or so. Fires naturally would start by lightning stirkes in Spring and early summer thunderstorms. With logging that began in the mid-1800s and through the early 20th centrury brought the Longleaf Pine forests to a dwindle. The remaining forests were threatened by wildfire bans by the government. The remaining forests either didn't reproduce and died from lack of fire, or the forests lost plant life and were unhealthy for future generations. Before logging and fire supression began, there were over 90 million acres of Longleaf Pine forests. Now less than 5 million acres remain, and only a fraction of that is old growth forests. Now many people and are working hard to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. Millions of Longleaf Pine seedlings are germinated to be sold to people with private land and preserved forests to restore this once great ecosystem. Even the grass and plants that only exsist in a Longleaf Pine forest are being grown and planted in the new restoration areas. Every couple of years there are prescribed burns to keep the Longleaf Pine ecosystem healthy. Prescribed burns are done by the nature conservationists in the government, or by private land owners by getting burn permits.


                               Native Range

Longleaf Pine Ecosystem endemic plants

          Rare undisturbed Longleaf Pine forests

Photos from the 1800s of old growth Longleaf Pine Forests and Logging

Colorized

Longleaf Pine Plantations

Prescribed burns on Longleaf Pine Forests

Alternatives to Blue Spruce

The Colorado Blue Spruce has susceptibility to needlecast in portions of the the U.S. It can be deadly to millions of tree planted in the landscape. You still want that blue frosted look, but can't plant the Blue Spruce. Here are some trees that make a great substitute!

Concolor Fir (White Fir)

'Blue Cloak' This variety has been cultivated to be smaller than the traditional version, and to have a more silvery blue color. 

Mature size: 25'-30' tall by 10'-15' wide

'Candicans' This variety is known to have the bluest of any White Fir. At a distance it may appear to be a Blue Spruce due to its deep blue color. Smaller than the traditional White Fir.

Mature size: 25'-30' tall by 15'-20' wide

USDA Growing Zones: 3-7

'Paul's Select' Norway Spruce

This variety of Norway Spruce is the only Norway Spruce to have Blue needles. A dwarf compared to the traditional Norway Spruce. 

Mature Size: 15'-20' tall by 5'-10' wide

USDA Growing Zones: 3-7

Blue Atlas Cedar

Has deep silver blue needles. Doesn't form the traditional pyramid Christmas tree shape. Varieties include weeping, dwarf, fastigiate, and the traditional one has outward growth to add a unique look to the landscape. It is less hardy than all the others listed and the Blue Spruce. 

Mature Size: 35'-50' tall by 25'-50' wide (traditional form)

USDA Growing Zones: 6-9 (can be successfully grown in Zone 5 in a sheltered area away from windy sites)

 'Boulevard' False Cypress 

Deep blue silvery foliage. Needles are bent and twisted, adds unique texture to the landscape. This is a dwarf tree/shrub. Matures to 10'-12' tall by 2'-4' wide.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-8

'Pacific Blue' Macedonian Pine

Outstanding blue Pine. Perhaps the bluest Pine tree out there! Soft long needles stay strong through strong winds, and winter cold.
Matures to 20' tall by 15' wide.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-7

   

                         'Candicans' White Fir

                         'Blue Cloak' White Fir

'Paul's Select' Norway Spruce

Blue Atlas Cedar

 

Boulevard False Cypress

Pacific Blue Macedonian Pine

Needle Palm Winter Protection

I wrapped my Needle Palm to protect it from the cold wind before the January subzero cold arrives. It has endured highs in the 20s, and coldest temp of 10°F. Still alive and well, with minimal damage. The Needle Palm is extremely cold hardy. It can withstand temps down to -10°F possibly colder for brief periods. The problem is that in Indiana it is cold for prolonged periods. Highs below freezing for days on end, and several nights possible of near or subzero temps with lots of wind. This can damage or kill the Palm. So I wrapped it in 3 layers of burlap, then doubled wrapped a tarp over that. I will probably uncover it come February once the coldest of winter has past.

Indianapolis, IN

USDA Zone: 5b/6a


NatureMan

       
                  Taken first week of December

Most Cold Hardy Broadleaf Evergreen Shurbs

In this post I will show you the most cold hardy Broadleaf evergreen shrubs, all of which are hardy to USDA Zone 5. A couple varieties are hardy down to USDA Zone 4. There are several more species hardy to USDA Zone 6 or warmer. But for those who live in Zones 4-5, you can still grow these tropical like plants for your landscape!

1. 'Blue Princess' and 'Blue Prince' Holly

The Blue Princess is the female that produces the berries, but the male one ("Blue Prince") is needed to pollinate in order for the female to form the berries. Both of which are one of the most cold hardy Holly bushes available. They are hardy to -30°F (USDA Zone 4)

2. 'Honey Maid' Holly

For those wanting a variegated Holly, but the famous variegated English Holly is not hardy to your area. Worry no more! "Honey Maid" Holly is a great alternative! Hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20°F). Have a "Blue Prince" nearby if you want berries on it come Christmas time.

3. Variegated English Boxwood

This outstanding plant is perfect for your landscape! With it's variegated leaves, it adds great contrast, and is for perfect Christmas decor! Hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20°F)

4. Boxwood

All Boxwood's are hardy to at least USDA Zone 5 (-20°F). There are a few hardy to USDA Zone 4 (-30°F). I am not going to name all Boxwood's (since there are so many!). I will name some of the most popular. "Winter Gem" is a Boxwwod with a bigger thicker leaf than it's cousins. It forms a light bronze in the winter, but doesn't harm the plant. It is hardy to USDA Zone 4 (-30°F). The rest I will name are hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20°F). "Green Mountain" Dee Runk" "Green Tower" "Sprinter" "Green Velvet" "Graham Blandy"

5. 'Sky Pencil' Holly

Sky Pencil Holly is a variety of Japanese Holly. Very similar to the "Graham Blandy" Boxwood. It has an upright growth, more so than the "Green Tower" and "Dee Runk" Boxwood. It is like a pencil growing straight up. Hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20°F).

6. 'Steed's' Japanese Holly

This Japanese Holly is an upright growing. It has a good spread to it, so it's nothing like the 'Sky Pencil' Holly or 'Graham Blandy' Boxwood. It can be formed into the perfect Christmas tree shape, or great to form tall hedges. Hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20°F)

7. 'Castle Spire' Holly

USDA Zone 5 (-20°F) is too cold to grow the popular tall growing Hollies like 'Oakleaf' or 'Nellie Steven's' Hollies. They grow to 10'+ to make a nice tall Broadleaf evergreen hedge, or dwarf broadleaf evergreen tree for the landscape. For those in USDA Zone 5 (-20°F) wanting to grow that kind of Holly, fret no more! The 'Castle Spire' Holly grow over 8' tall and a good spread to make the perfect hedge or dwarf tree

8. Inkberry Holly

This plant is a great alternative to boxwood, just like the Japanese Holly is. This is more cold hardy than most other Zone 5 Boxwoods. The Inkberry Holly has been known to withstand temperatures down to -30°F USDA Zone 4 for good periods of time. A North American and US native Boxwood alternative! It is native across a good chunk of the eastern US. There are several varieties available, some newer varieties offer a more compact look, instead of it's original kind that would get leggy over time.

                            'Blue Princess' Holly

'Castle Spire' Holly

'Sky Pencil' Holly

'Steed's' Japanese Holly

Popular Boxwood Shrubs in the Landscape

''Green Tower' Boxwood

'Dee Runk' Boxwood

Variegated English Boxwood

'Honey Maid' Holly

Inkberry Holly