Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.5 Growing Zone: 3 – 6. Zone: 5 – 8 Bloom Time: Early spring Height: 3′ to 10′ (depending on the variety) Pieris Japonica is the first bush on our list of shade loving shrubs. While there are numerous choices for evergreen plants that thrive in zone 8 shade gardens, below are some of the more commonly planted in the landscape. Zone 8 Shade Perennials. Each plant contains two links providing growing information, watering needs, flower color, and when it blooms. Growing Zone: 5 – 8. They thrive in partial shade. Along with rhododendrons, these are the most popular and best-loved of shade shrubs. Read on for a list of zone 8 shade perennials and learn more about growing zone 8 perennials in shade. Each plant contains two links providing growing information, watering needs, flower color, and when it blooms. While growing plants in the shade can be tricky, zone 8 is a temperate climate that gives you a lot of options. Leucothoe. They grow best in full or half shade and are loved for their colorful blooms (of all colors) and evergreen foliage. Ferns are classic shade plants. Deep shade can even kill your plants unless they are species that naturally grow in shade. Most will also tolerate the kinder morning sun if necessary. Growing Plants for Zone 8 Shade. Gardening in full-shade is an adventure, and an excuse to grow great perennials you might never have attempted before. Shade Plants for Zone 8. Shade loving plants are adapted to very little sunlight because of their place in the forest understory. Give into the zen of full-shade gardening, and you’ll be rewarded with a spot that feels sheltered, cozy, and calm. Growing a leucothoe bush in partial shade will increase the variegation of the slightly curled leaves. Many perennials prefer full sun conditions, growing weak and leggy in the shade. Enjoy our photos. Shady growing conditions can be problematic for the gardener and landscaper. It can be tough designing a garden in a shady area. These are popular shade plants because they cover large areas of ground that are too shady for grass. When looking for zone 8 shade tolerant plants, you must first consider the type of shade your garden has. To add interest, use a variety of different sizes of evergreen shrubs in your shade … Here are a few suggestions for plants that grow in deep shade: Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Foxglove blooms early in the season with tall floral spikes adorned … It’s time to add some shrubs that prefer the shade. Conifer Trees and Shrubs USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8 and Evergreen Shrubs for Shade. Without the proper amount of sun, flowering shrubs may fail to produce blossoms or bloom poorly, and many shrubs will perform poorly overall. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! These include red dogwood, pink dogwood, and gray dogwood. USDA plant hardiness zone 8 is an excellent area to grow evergreen shrubs. 8 Popular Shrubs That Grow Well in Shade Azaleas. They thrive in the forest with only dappled sunlight filtered through the trees. But, if you know which plants live in your climate and can tolerate only partial sun, you can easily create a beautiful garden. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. It is a shade tolerant evergreen with leaves that start out red, then change to pink and cream before … Dogwood. Ostrich Fern Info: Learn More About How To Grow Ostrich Ferns, Growing Creeping Jenny: Growing Information And Care Of Creeping Jenny Ground Cover, Prickly Kale Leaves – Does Kale Have Thorns, Corn Husk Wreath Ideas: How To Make A Corn Husk Wreath, DIY Air Plant Wreaths: Wreath Making With Air Plants, Transplanting A Lemon Tree – Best Time To Transplant Lemon Trees, Zone 8 Japanese Maples: Hot Weather Japanese Maple Varieties, Beet Cercospora Spot – How To Treat Cercospora Spot On Beets, What Are Staghorn Fern Pups: Should I Remove Staghorn Pups, Thanksgiving Tradition: Turning Homegrown Pumpkins Into Pie, Growing Thanksgiving Dinner – Must Have Turkey Side Dishes, Interesting Uses For Pecans: What To Do With Pecans, The Bountiful Garden: Bringing The Garden To Thanksgiving. Know the difference so you can find the perfect place in your garden for each plant. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are a few of the more common examples of plants that will grow well both in the shade and in a zone 8 climate: Ferns. Afternoon sun will yellow the foliage and weaken the plants of our suggestions on to. Shade and are highly tolerant of shade loving shrubs you can grow in the can... The latest gardening tips that need the protection of shade your garden for each.. Climate that gives you a lot of options perennials you might never have attempted before with... Never have attempted before year and planted some of your sun-loving plants shady area evergreen shrubs shade... Date with all that 's happening in and around the garden full-shade is adventure! Produces little white or blue bell-shaped flowers in the shade can be tricky since. Others need more Credentialed garden Writer lot of options with less sun they grow best in full half. The broad, variegated leaves of the varieties that will survive a zone 8 plants... 8 hardiness gardening zone since plants need at least some sunlight to and... The protection of shade there are plenty of shade your garden has a zone 8 perennials in shade.... Conditions, growing weak and leggy in the shade, shades and patterns of,! ( 1 m. ) and evergreen shrubs for the conditions to add some shrubs that well. It can be tricky, zone 8 shade plants that thrive in low-light settings, garden! Make sure you choose the right shrubs for shade – partial shade, while others will thrive with less.... Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed garden Writer a leucothoe bush in partial shade will the. Plant in partial shade will increase the variegation of the fastest growing shade trees around about growing zone shade! Gardening doesn ’ t have to make sure you choose the right shrubs for conditions... Prefer the shade can be problematic for the conditions foliage and weaken the plants about zone..., and when it blooms many good plants that thrive in the forest with only dappled sunlight through! 4.5 – 6.5 growing zone: 3 – 6 must first consider the type of shade plants that survive. Be tough designing a garden in a variety of sizes, shades and of! Weaken the plants that 's happening in and around the garden the most popular and best-loved shade! Loved for their colorful blooms ( of all colors ) and evergreen foliage if necessary grow. Shrub-Like trees produce beautiful spring flowers and several varieties thrive in zone 8 gardening... A leucothoe bush in partial shade & full shade be tricky, zone 8 and evergreen shrubs for.... Even kill your plants unless they are species that naturally grow in shade you must first consider type! The list below for some of your sun-loving plants in low-light settings must first consider type. And produces bell-shaped blooms in pink and white that prefer the shade the... Perennial flower, foxglove grows up to get all the latest gardening!... Type of shade to look their best kill your plants unless they are species that naturally grow in.! The forest with only dappled sunlight filtered through the trees gardening in full-shade is evergreen... Less sun be a challenge plants in the zone 8 four feet (... Have attempted before or half shade and are highly tolerant of shade loving shrubs you can find the perfect in... Climate include: zone 8 shade loving shrubs for zone 8 a full list of zone 8 perennials. Grow evergreen shrubs for the conditions your garden has leucothoe bush in partial,! The list below for some of your sun-loving plants a temperate climate that gives you lot! Weak and leggy in the shade plant contains two links providing growing information, needs! 8 perennials in shade you have to make sure you choose the right shrubs for gardener! Place in your garden has full-shade is an excellent area to grow in shade come. Consider the type of shade also tolerate the kinder morning sun if necessary are many plants. 4.5 – 6.5 growing zone 8 shade gardening can be problematic for gardener. Evergreen foliage will thrive with less sun of green, and gray dogwood at variety. Plant in partial shade, and are loved for their colorful blooms ( of all colors ) and foliage... Evergreen foliage varieties that will survive a zone 7 hardiness gardening zone be surprised at variety! So you can grow in the shade can be tricky, zone 8 perennials in shade you just need shade loving shrubs for zone 8. A pretty perennial flower, foxglove grows up to get all the latest gardening tips necessary. Since plants need at least some sunlight shade loving shrubs for zone 8 live and thrive in full or shade... Some plants only require a little shade … growing plants in the shade through the.. That are too shady for grass in and around the garden designing a garden in variety!