If you have a shady yard, it can be tough to find plants that will grow and thrive in a shadier environment. For a beautiful shaded yard, you’ll want to choose plants that are built to withstand an environment with less sun exposure. Fortunately, there are several types of gorgeous plants that are suited for the shade and can make your yard a spectacle! We came up with a list of 6 plants that love shade in the Chattanooga area to make the search easier. 

Here are 6 plants we recommend for your shady yard.

1. Royal Standard Hosta 

‘Royal Standard’

This low-maintenance perennial does best in part shade or dappled sunlight, but can also do well in full shade. It’s important to keep the soil moist, especially when first planted. This large hosta grows in a mound to 1-2 feet and spreads to 3-5 feet wide. The showy, fragrant flowers that appear attract hummingbirds. Be sure to fertilize this plant early spring each year, and this plant will thrive and be beautiful in your shaded yard. 

2. Winter’s Snowman Camellia

Camellia x ‘Winter’s Snowman’

This evergreen shrub keeps a tall, columnar form that’s good for tight spaces. It’s cold hard and produces 3 inch wide, ruffled semi-double flowers from November to December. Be sure to water it deeply and regularly during the first growing season. You can expect it to grow to a height of 11-12 feet and a spread of 4-5 feet. Make sure to fertilize mid-spring and early summer to keep your plant thriving.

3. Big Blue Liriope

Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’

This hardy, small plant is commonly known as monkey grass and comes back year after year. Be sure to remove the dead leaves to make room for the new growth. This slow-spreading, semi-evergreen plant can be used on either the border or in the flowerbed. While we’ve added it to our shade list, this plant technically can grow in full and partial sun as well. It will produce lavender flower spikes and dark blue-to-black berries that persist into winter. This drought-resistant grass will do best if fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer in early spring and will grow to a height of 12-15 inches and a spread of 12-15 inches. 

4. Hoogendorn Holly

Ilex crenatata ‘Hoogendorn’

This dense, mounding evergreen shrub produces shiny green leaves that are tinged with burgundy in the winter. This deer resistant bush does well with mass planting and can handle full sun, but is best planted in the shade in areas where it gets hot. Be sure to fertilize it in spring and fall and expect this holly to grow to a height of 18 to 24 inches and a spread of 24 to 36 inches. 

5. Gold Dust Aucuba

Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’

This evergreen shrub is a great choice for shade because the leaves will turn black if they get too much sun. With striking, glossy, variegated foliage and nice broad leaves this low-maintenance bush prefers to be fertilized every year in early spring and can grow to a height of 4 to 6 feet and a spread of 4 to 6 feet. 

6. Delaware Valley White Azalea

‘Delaware Valley’ White Rhododendron Hybrid

Azaleas love dappled shade with moist, well-drained soil. This large, spreading evergreen shrub can be planted on the border or in the bed. White, single flowers appear in spring and this bush is great in masses for a brilliant spring display. This wonderful, old-fashioned favorite should be fertilized right after the spring bloom and reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet and a spread of 3 to 5 feet. 

Do you need help with a landscape design for your shady yard? Contact Ray Lawns for a quote.