What kind of trees grow well in shade?
Robert Miller
Published Feb 24, 2026
What kind of trees grow well in shade?
Trees
| Common and Scientific Name | Light Shade | USDA Hardiness Zone |
|---|---|---|
| American holly, Ilex opaca | X | 5-9 |
| Sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana | X | 5-9 |
| Black gum, Nyssa sylvatica | X | 4-9 |
| Ironwood, American hophornbeam, Ostrya virginiana | X | 3-9 |
What small trees grow in full shade?
12 Shade Trees for Small Landscapes
- Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) joins azaleas and magnolias as Southern staples.
- American Hornbeam.
- Washington Hawthorn.
- Saucer Magnolia.
- Flowering Dogwood.
- Kousa Dogwood.
- Japanese Snowbell.
- Paperbark Maple.
What trees dont need sunlight?
10 Best Indoor Low Light Trees: Tall Plants that Don’t Need…
- Areca Palm Tree.
- Rubber Tree.
- Parlor palm.
- Banana tree.
- Fig Tree (Ficus Bonsai)
- Fiddle leaf fig.
- Citrus.
- Weeping fig.
Which evergreens do well in shade?
Some evergreens for shade include:
- Aucuba.
- Boxwood.
- Hemlock (Canada and Carolina varieties)
- Leucothoe (Coast and Drooping species)
- Dwarf Bamboo.
- Dwarf Chinese Holly.
- Dwarf Nandina.
- Arborvitae (Emerald, Globe, and Techny varieties)
Can a magnolia tree grow in shade?
The larger native American evergreen magnolia, M. grandiflora, tolerates shady conditions. ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ and ‘Little Gem’ are a couple cultivars that are especially attractive in shady locations.
What is a good shade tree that doesn’t get too big?
What Is a Good Shade Tree That Does Not Shed Its Leaves and Doesn’t Get Too Tall?
- Japanese Evergreen Oak. A rare evergreen among the Quercus genus, the Japanese evergreen oak (Q.
- Rubber Tree.
- Fiddleleaf Fig.
- Bay Laurel.
Are rubber trees low light?
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) also is known as India Rubber Tree or Fig. The Rubber Plant grows well in full sun or low light in warm to average indoor temperatures. Just make sure you don’t move it from one extreme to the other rapidly or it will lose its leaves.
Do dwarf conifers grow in shade?
Most conifers will tolerate a bit of shade as long as they are growing in moist soil, however, there are a few varieties that will grow happily in more shady areas and many of these can be shaped into topiary forms so the possibilities of shape and form are endless.
What are the worst trees to plant?
Trees to Avoid
- Red Oak. Red oak is one messy tree.
- Sweetgum Trees. Sweetgum Trees are known for their lovely fall colour.
- Bradford Pear.
- Lombardy Poplar.
- Ginkgo biloba.
- Eucalyptus.
- Mulberry.
- Weeping Willow.
What are the best low light plants?
1) Ferns (Pteridophytes) 2) ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) 3) Ivy (Hedera helix) 4) Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) 5) Heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron cordatum) 6) Lucky bamboo (Dracaena braunii) 7) Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
What do plants need no sun?
Outside Plants That Require No Sun Hostas. A hosta is for locations with little to no sunlight. Hydrangea. A hosta is for locations with little to no sunlight. Violets. The plant thrives when little to no sunlight is present. According to Nature North, there are several types of violets.
Why do indoor plants need light?
Light is needed for plants to conduct a chemical process that turns it into sugars using light, water and carbon dioxide. The right light level for plants is so important as too much light might hurt your plant as much as too little.
What are low light plants?
Snake Plant. Known by some as the Sansevieria,this stiff,upright plant grows best in dry soil and only needs some sun to survive.
