Shrubs for Dappled Sunlight

People whose yards have areas with dappled sunlight, the kind that filters through a canopy of leaves on a large tree, can choose plants requiring partial sun or partial shade. Both designations have the same meaning. There are many from which to choose, including shrubs. The University of Illinois Extension website lists 98 shrubs for partially shady areas. Gardeners can choose shrubs for these areas based on their characteristics.

Flowering shrubs provide extra color to the garden; also, some shrubs have fragrant blossoms for extra gardening pleasure. Carolina Rhododendron (Rhododendron carolinianum) has large, sweet-scented pink, white or rose-colored flowers that bloom in mid to late spring. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 7, but cultivars are available for zones 5 through 7. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) also has fragrant blossoms; it has large clusters of pink or white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Mountain laurel grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Flowering shrubs often attract butterflies and bees, providing even more interest to the garden.

Some shrubs are remarkable for their colorful foliage. Shrubs may have spectacular foliage during one season or several. An autumn favorite is the winged Euonymus, usually known as burning bush (Euonymus alatus). Its green leaves turn bright red in the fall, giving it its common name. Burning bush thrives in USDA zones 4 through 8. Dart’s Gold Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) has showy foliage during three seasons. In spring, the leaves are golden yellow; they turn lime green during the summer and in the fall, they turn yellow with a hint of bronze. Dart's Gold Ninebark also thrives in USDA zones 4 through 8.

Evergreen shrubs provide color throughout the year. While many evergreens are green, there is a variety in foliage colors. Wintercreeper euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) "Emerald 'n' Gold" has dense, shiny dark green leaves edged with gold which turn pinkish-red in fall and winter. This shrub is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8. Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9; it will lose some leaves when the temperature drops to 10 degrees, so it's considered semi-evergreen in zone 5. Heavenly bamboo's leaves are copper colored in the spring, green in summer and reddish-purple in fall and winter. In some Southern states it is considered invasive.

Instead of installing a fence for privacy, some people prefer to plant dense shrubs. Shrubs ideal for privacy in areas with dappled sunlight include Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), hardy in USDA zones 4 to 6. They grow fairly quickly and reach a height of 6 to 12 feet tall. Their dark green leaves release an aromatic scent and last into the fall. Common or American boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is an evergreen shrub often used for privacy. Its leaves are dark green on top and yellow-green underneath. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, it grows to be 5 to 15 feet tall.