Hedge plants for shade / partial shade – List of 20 species

Basically, you should imitate the natural conditions as well as possible so that the hedge plant feels at home. Another important point: the same sun shines all over the world, but not with the same intensity in every place. For example, a hedge plant that is generally at home in very cool climes, but is primarily in the sun there, needs more shade in the German garden.

If you live in mountainous regions and want to plant a hedge, you often have to look around for plants that thrive in partial shade or shade. But this can also be necessary in the lowlands, for example if the garden is shaded most of the time – due to the location or high houses nearby. Fortunately, there are some plants that grow as hedges and can also develop very well in shady areas. Before 20 suitable species are briefly presented, a few tips on what to consider when choosing.

Basic tips on choosing

Regardless of which hedge you choose for partial shade or shade, the following points should be considered:

• always calculate a diameter of at least 2 m
• in the case of large shrubs, even 2.5 to 3 m apply as a guideline
• Plants: at least 1 m from paths / property boundaries
• Leave space in front of the hedge for later hedge border flora

Hedges for partial shade

Field maple
(Acer campreste)
The field maple barely makes it into the list of hedges suitable for partial shade. But he is also very happy when he sees more than less sun. Otherwise the plant is relatively undemanding – almost any soil is possible.

To be positively emphasized are the inexpensive purchase and the rapid growth of the hedge. The field maple is between three and five meters high. It also tolerates radical cuts back into the wood. It is also resistant to strong winds, drought and heat.

Important: The field maple is not suitable as a year-round privacy screen. In autumn, its leaves change color and fall off.

False cypress
(Chamaecyparis)
The false cypress likes the partial shade as well as the sun. It grows quickly and defies even strong winds. Since its needles grow very densely, the false cypress forms a compact hedge and thus a perfect privacy screen – all year round, as it is an evergreen hedge plant.

They should be pruned twice a year, but not too heavily, because they don’t tolerate heavy pruning so well. The false cypress, whose branches are flatter and cones smaller than those of a “real” cypress, grows two to four meters high.

Tip: There are different varieties with flowers in beautiful colors such as green, yellow or blue.

Barberry
(Berberis vulgaris)
The barberry (also called sea buckthorn) is an evergreen shrub that gets along well with a partially shaded location.

Thanks to its delicate leaves, the plant is very popular with many hobby gardeners. They make the barberry appear less bulky and constricting

The yellow flowers and red to dark blue berries also create enthusiasm.

Don’t forget that the plant’s thorns are an effective repellent against intruders. The shrub reaches a height of up to four meters.

Tip: With the exception of the berries, the entire plant is poisonous, especially the roots. So be careful, especially if you have small children and / or pets.

Common snowball
(Viburnum opulus)
The common snowball is fascinating because of its white, sometimes almost spherical inflorescences, which also earned it its German name. When in bloom, the hedge is a feast for the eyes. In addition, it is up to five meters high and thus provides optimal privacy protection.

Like most plants that are considered for partial shade, the snowball is not averse to the sun. The latter can shine a little more intensely on him.

Tip: The bark, leaves, and unripe snowball fruits contain toxins. On the other hand, you can conjure up various delicacies from the ripe fruits, such as jam or jelly.

Common hazel
(Corylus avellana)
The common hazel has two great advantages: On the one hand, the green leaves offer good privacy, which makes it an excellent hedge plant. On the other hand, the fruits are great pleasure: Hazelnuts are healthy and versatile.

Since the shrub as a hedge reaches a height of six meters and also expands properly in width, you have to allow for a lot of space. The hazel is not suitable for small gardens. In addition, because of its sensitivity to salt, it should not stand on roads that are gritted in winter.

Tip: For a hazelnut hedge you need two to three bushes per meter. It is better not to plant these too densely in order to make pruning easier later.

Hunds-Rose
(Rosa canina)
The Hunds-Rose is an enchanting solution for a functionally effective and at the same time visually appealing hedge. Although it is one of the light plants, the dog rose also thrives very well in partial shade. It grows up to three meters high.

The shrub makes no great demands on the soil. She just doesn’t like pure sand or pure rock, but such conditions hardly exist in any garden. You can let the Hunds-Rose grow continuously, so you don’t have to cut it every year.

Tip: The beautiful plant is intended more as a free-growing bird protection hedge and less as a strictly “box-shaped” design.

Mountain ash
(Sorbus aucuparia)
The mountain ash (also called rowanberry) belongs to the rose family and reaches a stately height of five to 15 meters. You can easily cut it if it gets too high. Rowan berries tolerate partial shade, but also do not say no to many rays of sunshine.

The orange-yellow to red-brown fruits act as visual highlights of the plant, which really shine out and are very popular with birds. But people can also consume the berries – but preferably in a strongly heated form to prevent stomach irritation.

Tip: Since the mountain ash is relatively insensitive to pollution such as autogas, it can easily be planted on a street.

Boxwood
(Buxus sempervirens)
The boxwood is a long-lived and pruning-compatible plant. It is ideal for smaller hedges, also in artistic and creative forms. Usually the shrub grows up to a meter tall, with a little patience it can reach two meters.

One pruning per year is sufficient for the boxwood, which can withstand everything from sun to shade. Advantage in partial shade: Under this condition, the plant is less prone to diseases, as it is not permanently exposed to strong temperature differences.

Tip: The box tree will not be tall enough for a perfect privacy screen. The combination with a garden fence can help here if necessary.

Holly
(Ilex)
The holly feels most comfortable in partial shade. Well protected and on a humus-rich and loose soil, it thrives optimally. It becomes one to two meters high. It should be noted that the plant grows quite slowly. So you have to be patient.

For this, it rewards the hobby gardener with a beautiful look. In fact, the holly is one of the hedges with the greatest decorative potential. Female plants offer bright yellow and red berries between deep green leaves with partly light green tips.

Tip: Due to the slow growth, it is sufficient to cut the evergreen holly only once a year (with a mechanical hedge trimmer!).

Yew
(Taxus baccata)
The yew appreciates partially shaded places. Basically, it is also suitable for fully shaded locations, but then it grows (even) more slowly. It is generally a rather slow-growing plant, but after many years it can even grow up to 15 meters high.

As long as the soil is not too dry, the yew does not make any great demands on the subsoil. It should be cut once a year. Even after a radical cut, it sprouts again. With proper care, the plant can live for over 1,000 years – impressive.

Tip: Don’t try anything from the yew tree, not even the fruit. Everything is highly toxic! Take care of young children.

Hedges for shade

Ivy
(Hedera helix)
Ivy is a fast-growing climbing and hedge plant that feels right at home in the cool shade. This is because in nature it is mostly found in forests. Ivy prefers a damp location without direct sun. However, a few rays don’t bother him.

It grows extremely dense, which makes it an excellent hedge. The plant is also evergreen. Another advantage: the ivy can withstand damage (such as brown spots from frost) without any major consequences. It recovers easily and then rises again wonderfully green.

Tip: Thanks to its growth habit, the ivy forms very narrow hedges. Therefore, it also harmonizes well with smaller gardens.

Grape elder
(Sambucus racemosa)
The grape elder (also called red elder or mountain elder) is characterized by its arched branches, some of which are heavily branched. Since it can be found in nature more in the cooler mountains than on the plains, it can cope well with shade in the garden. The shrub also likes partially shaded locations.

A low-lime and nutrient-rich loose soil is important so that the grape elder can thrive splendidly. It grows up to three meters high, which is sufficient for a hedge that is supposed to serve as a privacy screen.

Tip: The bright red berries of the plant look very inviting, but are considered to be slightly poisonous. If only because of the highly toxic kernels, it is better not to touch them.

Common beech
(Fagus sylvatica)
The common beech is a real all-rounder – it grows in both sunny and shady places. With regard to the soil, it is a bit more demanding: It should not be too dry, but rich in nutrients. The average height is one and a half to four meters.

One of the greatest advantages of the plant is its longevity. In addition, it grows very quickly and narrowly, which not least makes it ideal for smaller gardens. Heavy pruning is not a problem. In winter the beech is not as dense any more, but it still provides a reasonable privacy screen.

Tip: Even if the soil must not be too dry: waterlogging is poison for the European beech and must be avoided.

Hornbeam

(Carpinus betulus)
The hornbeam (also called white beech) does not belong to the beech tree, but to the birch family. It looks similar to its namesake, but is much more robust and less demanding.

The hornbeam is ideal for one and a half to four meter high hedges in the shade. But she doesn’t mind the sun either. In addition, it can even withstand temporary drought or waterlogging. It is a fast growing plant that should be brought into shape twice a year.

Tipp: Die sommergrünen Blätter der Hainbuche ergeben einen wertvollen Humus. Sie fallen recht früh ab – im Winter bietet der Strauch kaum Sichtschutz.

Privet
(Ligustrum)
The privet is one of the most adaptable hedge plants. Therefore it can be placed in the shade without any problems. In summer as in winter it has green leaves and does its job of protecting privacy with flying colors.

Hobby gardeners appreciate the privet primarily because of its unpretentiousness. He can handle almost any soil. In addition, it is extremely robust and able to regenerate quickly and well. In this way, radical cuts can also be made, if desired or necessary.

Tip: Since the privet grows quickly, it has to be cut twice a year.

Single hawthorn
(Crataegus monogyna)
The single hawthorn (also called hawthorn) guarantees a very dense hedge. In addition to its shade tolerance, its advantages include the fact that it can withstand strong winds well and is undemanding in terms of the ground.

The shrub is useful for clearly delimiting plots or as wind protection. In addition, it can deter burglars: on the one hand by its height – it can be up to eight meters high – and on the other hand by the many strong thorns on the branches.

Tip: The plant offers a very beautiful habitat for numerous animals, such as birds, butterflies and bees.

Common buckthorn
(Frangula alnus)
The buckthorn is so named because its bark smells slightly putrid. But don’t let that put you off. If the soil conditions are good (rather moist), the shrub can become a seven or eight meter high hedge. Most of the time, however, it “only” reaches two to three meters.

The buckthorn does not mind whether it is in the shade, in partial shade or in the sun. It tolerates all degrees of lightness and darkness. The light green foliage grows less densely than other hedges, but still provides solid privacy.

Tip: The black berries that the buckthorn grows are poisonous and therefore not suitable for consumption.

Cherry laurel
(Prunus laurocerasus)
The cherry laurel is not picky about its location. Sun or shade, dry or deeply rooted soil – the plant is extremely uncomplicated. It forms a noble eye-catcher in a Mediterranean garden.

It should be noted that the hedge usually does not get very high. As a rule, it does not exceed one to two meters. If you want an explicit privacy screen, you should rely on the Herbergii or Rotundifolia varieties. Important: The leaves and seeds of the plant are poisonous.

Tip: The cherry laurel may only be cut by hand with mechanical hedge trimmers.

Black honeysuckle
(Lonicera nigra)
The black honeysuckle is a very rare shrub and therefore more expensive to buy than other hedge plants for the shade. Usually the plant does not grow taller than two meters. It is characterized by slender, dark brown branches and elliptical leaves.

The soil should be fresh, moderately rich in nutrients and tends to be low in lime. The flowers of the plant are mainly pollinated by bees. It forms black fruits, which are considered to be slightly poisonous. That means, stomach problems can definitely occur when consuming them.

Tip: The black honeysuckle is a real shade plant. So it must not only be planted in shady locations.

Oregon grape
(Mahonia aquifolium)
The Oregon grape can tolerate full shade as well as full sun. It is an evergreen wood that can be “processed” very well into a hedge. However, it is only about a meter high – therefore it serves more as an eye-catcher and less as a privacy screen.
There is not too much to pay attention to when it comes to the soil. The only thing that the Oregon grape is not so fond of is stagnant moisture. On the other hand, she is not worried about drought. The plant sprouts its beautiful, light green foliage in May. It is best cut in early June.

Tip: The ideal places for Oregon grape hedges are country house and natural gardens.