Shade Gardening

• Shady spots often have dry soil. Tree canopies or overhanging structures that don't let light reach the ground also prevent rainfall. Plants and trees in shady spots often compete for moisture, with large trees and shrubs usually taking the most. This leads to root competition and nutrient-poor soil. Most shade plants prefer well-drained, rich soils, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. Amend soil in shady spots with organic matter, such as peat moss or compost.
  
  

Full Shade

• Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) blooms in full shade. This deciduous shrub produces long-lasting yellow flowers in April and May that sometimes return during the growing season. Japanese kerria prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows to 6 feet tall. The red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Cardinal') tolerates heavy shade. This hardy, deciduous shrub grows to 10 feet tall with an equal spread. Red-twig dogwoods produce clusters of small, white blossoms in late spring through early summer. Plant this shrub in moist, well-drained soil. Other flowering shrubs for full shade include the Garden Glow dogwood (Cornus hessei 'Garden Glow'), bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) and leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei).
  
  

Partial Shade

• The summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia) thrives in partial shade. This deciduous shrub grows from 3 to 8 feet tall. Summersweet clethra produces aromatic, white, pink and rose blossoms in late July and August. This shrub prefers moist, acidic soil. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) tolerates partial shade. This deciduous shrub grows to 12 feet high and has 8 inch long leaves. The oakleaf hydrangea produces foot-long, white flower clusters in May and early June. This shrub needs rich soil. Other flowering shrubs that prefer partial shade include buttercup winter hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora), Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica) and Glenn Dale azalea (Rhododendron hybrida).
  
  

Light Shade

• Certain dogwood species prefer shady conditions.Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  The witch alder (Fothergilla gardenia) grows to 3 feet tall. This slow-growing shrub produces showy, white plumes in midspring. Its foliage turns red, orange and yellow in autumn. Plant witch alder in moist, acidic soil. Aaronsbeard St. Johnswort (Hypericum calycinum) produces yellow July blossoms. This deciduous shrub prefers light shade and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 8. Other flowering shrubs for light shade conditions include the cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) and box honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida).