Upgrade Your Shady Garden Spots with These Low-Maintenance Outdoor Plants

Shade can be tricky in the garden, but the right plants make all the difference. If you're looking for truly low-maintenance plants that like shade, this list has you covered.

No fussy perennials that need dividing or constant cleanup, just easy-care shrubs that thrive with minimal effort.

These low-maintenance outdoor plants only ask for the right zone, proper placement in terms of light and soil, and the occasional trim of a dead branch.

And yes, even the toughest plants need watering! There's no such thing as a “set it and forget it” plant!

Not all shade is created equal, and understanding your light levels is a key to success. Here are some handy links to help you decode what’s going on in your landscape:

Part Shade Definition: What Does Part Shade Mean?

Full Shade Definition: How Much Shade is Full Shade for Plants?

Full Sun to Part Shade Definition: What Does Full Sun to Part Shade Mean?

Whether your garden gets dappled morning light or deep afternoon shade, you’ll find an option here to suit your space.

These low-maintenance outdoor bushes will bring greenery, structure, and in some cases, flowers - without demanding much in return.

Now, let’s take a look at these 10 low maintenance plants that like shade!

1. October Magic® Pink Perplexion™ Camellia

Botanical name: Camellia sasanqua 'Green 02-019'

Zones: 7-9

Size: 4-5 feet high and wide

Light requirements: Full sun to part shade

Soil and Water: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Attributes: Evergreen; soft pink double flowers in autumn; blooms heavily, even as a young plant.

Tip: If soft, pale pink isn’t your vibe, no worries. Camellias come in a dazzling array of options, with blooms in white, pink, red, and even yellow.

soft pink camellia flowers and evergreen leaves of a pink perfection bush growing in the shade — **October Magic® Pink Perplexion™ Camellia, a low maintenance outdoor plant.** *Image courtesy of The Southern Living Plant Collection/Plant Development Services via NGB.*

2. Fizzy Mizzy® Virginia Sweetspire

Botanical name: Itea virginica 'SMNIVMM'

Zones: 5-9

Size: 2-3 feet high and wide

Light requirements: Full sun to full shade

Soil and Water: Moist, fertile soil; can tolerate wet spots and occasional flooding.

Attributes: Compact deciduous shrub; deer-resistant; red fall color.

Tips: Lightly fragrant flowers last up to six weeks, from late spring through early summer. Want more info? Read our ultimate guide to Fizzy Mizzy Virginia Sweetspire.

spiky white flowers and green leaves of fizzy mizzy virginia sweetspire growing in the shade — **Fizzy Mizzy® Virginia Sweetspire, a shade-loving outdoor bush.** *Photo courtesy of Proven Winners, www.provenwinners.com.*

3. Spreading Japanese Plum Yew

Botanical name: Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’

Zones: 6-9

Size: 2-3 feet high and wide, sometimes larger

Light requirements: Part shade to full shade

Soil and Water: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates clay and sandy soils too.

Attributes: Creeping ground cover; tolerates high heat and humidity; deer-resistant.

Tips: A great problem-solving shrub and landscaper favorite that is often overlooked by home gardeners. Read our in-depth guide to Spreading Japanese Plum Yew here.

a closeup of evergreen needles lining stems of the spreading japanese plum yew — **Spreading Japanese Plum Yew, a low maintenance plant that likes shade.**

4. Ruby Spice Summersweet

Botanical name: Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’

Zones: 4-8

Size: 4-6 feet high and 3-5 feet wide

Light requirements: Full sun to full shade

Soil and Water: Consistently moist, acidic, fertile soil

Attributes: Bright pink summer flowers; pollinator favorite; deer-resistant.

Tip: Summersweet loves moisture. Plant one on the shady side of your house and direct a downspout or gutter extender toward its base, so it can soak up the water draining from gutters.

pink spiky flowers and green leaves of ruby spice clethra with a bee drinking from flower — **Ruby Spice Summersweet, a low maintenance outdoor bush.**

5. Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea

Botanical name: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Brother Edward’ Gatsby Moon®

Zones: 5-9

Size: 6-8 feet tall and wide

Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Soil and Water: Moist, fertile, well-draining soil

Attributes: Bold, tightly packed white flower heads turn green as autumn approaches; strong stems; burgundy red autumn leaves.

Tip: Oakleaf hydrangeas need some sun to produce blooms, and flower color is not affected by the soil pH. Get all the details in our guide to The Elegant Oakleaf Hydrangea.

a glowing white flower head of the gatsby gal hydrangea growing in the shade with landscaping rocks and vines in background — **The large, dramatic flowers of the Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea glow in the partially shaded landscape and need little maintenance or pruning.**

6. Neatball® Boxwood

Botanical name: Buxus microphylla 'NSBBL' Neatball®

Zones: 5-9

Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide

Light requirements: Full sun to full shade

Soil and Water: Moist, fertile, well-draining soil. Does not like acidic or compacted soils.

Attributes: Small, compact evergreen shrub; naturally tidy habit; dark green glossy leaves.

Tip: This shrub naturally grows in a ball shape and brings low-maintenance structure to shaded areas.

a small globe shaped bush with tiny dark green glossy leaves — **Neatball® Boxwood brings low-maintenance, evergreen structure to the garden.** *Photo courtesy of Proven Winners, www.provenwinners.com.*

This blog is reader-supported and contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product using one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

7. Robin™ Holly

Botanical name: Ilex x 'Conin' Robin™

Zones: 6-10

Size: 15-20 feet high and 12-15 feet wide

Light requirements: Full sun to part shade

Soil and Water: Moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil.

Attributes: Pyramidal evergreen provides year round interest; glossy leaves; red berries; great for holiday decor.

Tip: This shrub naturally grows in a pyramidal shape and makes an excellent privacy screen or vertical accent.

a pyramidal evergreen holly growing on the shady side of a house with orange bricks, grey siding and cream trim with a front porch — **Robin™ Holly is a low maintenance plant for outdoors with glossy evergreen leaves.** *Image courtesy of The Southern Living Plant Collection/Plant Development Services via NGB.*

8. Delaware Valley White Azalea

Botanical name: Rhododendron ‘Delaware Valley White’

Zones: 5-8

Size: 3-4 feet high and wide

Light requirements: Part shade, dappled shade, high open shade under a tall tree canopy

Soil and Water: Moist, acidic, organically rich, well-draining soil.

Attributes: Evergreen leaves; lightly fragrant, white flowers in spring; attracts butterflies.

Tip: This azalea's pure white flowers complement any brick, siding, pavement, or paint color.

white bell shaped flowers and green leaves of an azalea bush growing in shade — **Delaware Valley White Azalea, an evergreen and low maintenance outdoor bush.** *Image credit @super_slug via Unsplash.*

9. Bluebird Mountain Hydrangea

Botanical name: Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’

Zones: 5-9

Size: 4-6 feet high and wide

Light requirements: Part shade

Soil and Water: Moist, organically rich, well-draining soil

Attributes: Lacy flat-topped flower clusters ranging in color from blue to purple, depending on the soil pH; blooms in summer; not susceptible to frost damage; bright red autumn leaves.

Tip: Mountain hydrangeas prefer dappled or filtered light, with protection from the intense hot afternoon sun. Find out everything you need to know in our guide to the Mountain Hydrangea.

a hydrangea growing in shade closeup of purple blue flowers and green serrated leaves — **The lacy, flat-topped flower clusters of the Bluebird Mountain Hydrangea, a low maintenance plant that likes shade.**

10. Sweet & Lo™ Sweet Box

Botanical name: Sarcococca hookeriana 'Purplerij1' Sweet & Lo™

Zones: 5-9

Size: 18-30 inches high and 24-36 inches wide

Light requirements: Part shade to full shade

Soil and Water: Moist, organically rich, well-draining soil

Attributes: Versatile ground cover shrub; glossy evergreen leaves; fragrant, late winter flowers.

Tip: This plant has a suckering habit and is perfect for filling in shaded areas, especially underneath tall trees. It gets off to a slow start and takes off in the 2nd-3rd year after planting. Worth the wait!