Shade-Tolerant Privacy Plants

Shaded outdoor spaces often require privacy, and certain plant varieties are excellent at providing living screens. Small trees with low canopies and large shrubs with thick foliage are both capable of providing privacy barriers in landscaping. Areas around patios, decks and property borders can all benefit from shade-tolerant privacy plants.

The Autumn Brilliance is considered to be a small deciduous clump tree that can grow up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The canopy height of this tree is low, at about 4 feet from the ground, making it an effective planting where privacy is needed. Both partial shade and sun are tolerated by the Autumn Brilliance, which does not require much maintenance. Homeowners often plant this shrub-like tree around patios and along property boundaries to create natural screens. At the onset of spring, the Autumn Brilliance blossoms with white flower clusters, which are followed by blue berries. The leaves grow dark green during the summer and turn a dark shade of red in the fall.

Japanese yew is a small evergreen tree that looks like a shrub. This shade loving plant can grow up to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The canopy height of the Japanese yew grows very low to the ground, to about a foot away, which is what gives this little tree its shrub-like appearance. Both full shade and full sun are tolerated by the yew. Moist conditions are endured but standing water is not. While very successful in urban conditions, the Japanese yew is toxic when consumed and may not be suitable for unsupervised children or pets. The dark green foliage of this plant turns light green in the spring and bears red fruit in the fall. Since it responds well to pruning, the Japanese yew can be used easily for privacy hedges.

Red Mill Japanese Pieris is an evergreen shrub that does well in shaded areas. This plant can grow up to 11 feet tall and 7 feet wide. The Pieris can tolerate full shade and full sun, though shadier areas help this plant avoid potential pest problems. Well-drained acidic soil is a must, and standing water is problematic. The Red Mill blossoms with white bell-shaped flowers in the spring and red foliage in the fall. Outside of this fall color change, the foliage of this shrub remains dark green all year long. The Pieris does well in mass plantings and is ideal for landscaping privacy where height limits are necessary.