Shrubs for Shade and Part Sun
 We carry two types of deciduous shrubs that can take full shade (Daphne and Hydrangea). Look to broadleaf evergreen shrubs such as Euonymus, for additional choices for shade.
The rest of the shrubs listed below grow well in what is considered 'bright shade'-- a morning sun location or in dappled light—as under the canopy of an open-branched tree. Except for Daphne and some Hydrangeas, the other shrubs listed here are versatile and can also be planted in full sun. (see shrubs for full sun)
Shrubs help add structure to the garden. They vary from small spreading groundcover types to large specimens that can grow 12 feet or more! As you consider which to plant, know that many offer more than one season of interest. These woody plants can flower, produce ornamental or edible berries, offer colorful foliage or even spectacular fall color.
Beautybush (Kolkwitzia)
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Height: 6'-10'
Spread: 6'-10'
Flowers: Pink, bell-shaped flowers in summer
Fall Color: Yellow
Other Notes: Broad, rounded shrub with dark green leaves. Will also grow in full sun.
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Daphne
Photos Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Carol Mackie Daphne
Height: 2'-3'
Spread: 3'-4'
Flowers: Fragrant, pink, ½" flowers in late spring.
Fall Color: Red berries 1/3" wide.
Other Notes: Variegated green leaves with cream margins. Small, mounded shrub. Must be grown in part sun in Colorado. Well-drained soil is a must. Holds its leaves for a long time into winter. Can be planted in shade or part sun.
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Buckthorn (Rhamnus)
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Fine Line Buckthorn
Height: 5'-7'
Spread: 2'-3'
Flowers: No
Fall Color: No
Other Notes: Need a shrub for a skinny spot?...this is the one! Columnar, sturdy, drought tolerant. Mediterranean looking. Slow growing. Can also grow in full sun.
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Contorted Filbert (Corylus)
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Red Majestic Corylus
Height: 10'-12'
Spread: 10'-12'
Flowers: Dusty rose pendulous catkins
Fall Color: Bright red foliage in spring turns to deep burgundy and matures to a deep green in fall.
Other Notes: Corkscrew-like stems add winter and early spring interest. Can also be planted in full sun. Prune sucker roots.
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Dogwood (Cornus)
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Red Twig Dogwood
Height: 6'-8'
Spread: 6'-8'
Flowers: White flowers in Spring
Fall Color: Red purple
Other Notes: Bright red stems in winter! Can also be planted in full sun.
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Ivory Halo Dogwood
Height: 5'-6'
Spread: 5'-6'
Flowers: White in spring
Fall Color: Insignificant
Other Notes: Bright red stems in winter. Leaves are white and green during season. Compact, rounded shape. Can also be planted in full sun locations.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Yellow Twig Dogwood
Height: 6'-8'
Spread: 6'-8'
Flowers: White in Spring
Fall Color: Red purple
Other Notes: Bright yellow stems in winter! Can also be planted in full sun.
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Elderberry (Sambucus)
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Black Lace Elder
Height: 8'-10'
Spread: 8'-10'
Flowers: Pink, lacy blossoms in early summer
Fall Color: Deep purple all season. Has deep blackish-red fruit in Fall.
Other Notes: Large rounded shrub with lovely deep purple lacy foliage. Can also be planted in full sun. Does best in a moist spot.
Photo Courtesy Leo Gentry Nursery
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Photos Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Golden Elder
Height: 8'-10'
Spread: 8'-12'
Flowers: White lacy flowers in early summer.
Fall Color: Leaf color insignificant. Has cherry red fruit in Fall.
Other Notes: Large rounded form with golden yellow leaves that deepen to green during the season. Can also be planted in full sun. Does best in a moist spot
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Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Arnold's Red Honeysuckle
Height: 6'-8'
Spread: 6'-8
Flowers: Deep pink-red blooms in late spring followed by large red berries in June and July.
Fall Color: No
Other Notes: A shrub form of honeysuckle. Upright habit. Blue-green leaves. Can also be grown in full sun. Requires well-drained soil.
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Hydrangea
Annabelle Smooth Hydrangea (arborescens)
Height: 4'-5'
Spread: 3'-5'
Flowers: Large (up to 10"), profuse white blooms mid-summer to frost
Fall Color: No.
Other Notes: Deep green leaves and rounded form. Can grow in shade or part sun locations. Will also grow in full sun with consistent moisture.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Bella Anna (arborescens)
A pink Annabelle type
Height: 3'
Spread: 3'
Flowers: Magenta pink flowers from mid-summer to frost
Fall Color: Yellow
Other Notes: A mop-head type. Can grow in shade or part sun locations. (Endless Summer Series) Blooms on old and new wood so deadheading will encourage more flowers.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Endless Summer Bigleaf Hydrangea (macrophylla)
Height: 3'-5'
Spread: 3'-5'
Flowers: Pink due to our alkaline soil OR blue if you use a fertilize that acidifies the soil.
Fall Color: Bronze
Other Notes: A mop-head type that blooms most of the season. Blooms on old and new wood—so deadheading will encourage more flowers. Can grow in shade or part sun locations.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Twist-n-Shout Bigleaf Hydrangea (macrophylla)
Height: 3'-5'
Spread: 3'-4'
Flowers: Lacy, deep pink centers are surrounding by pink OR periwinkle blue depending on soil pH. (Colorado soil will naturally keep the blooms pink) If you want blue, use a fertilizer to acidify the soil.
Fall Color: Burgundy red leaves
Other Notes: Upright, rounded form. Red stems add additional interest. Can grow in shade or part sun locations. (Endless Summer Series)
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Limelight Hydrangrea (paniculata)
Height: 6'-8'
Spread: 6'-8'
Flowers: Large (6"-12") bight green flowers bloom mid-summer and flush to pink when cooler weather comes
Fall Color: No
Other Notes: Blooms on new wood so deadheading will encourage more flowers. Soil pH does not affect bloom color. Can grow in shade or part sun locations. Will even grow in full sun with consistent moisture.
Fall Color
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Photo Courtesy Leo Gentry Nursery
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea (paniculata)
Height: 6'-7'
Spread: 4'-5'
Flowers: Enormous flowers, emerge cream in mid-summer, change to pink and then deepen still in fall. Can have a 3-color effect toward the end of the season.
Fall Color: NO
Other Notes: Red stems add additional winter interest. Can grow in shade or part sun locations.
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Ninebark (Physocarpus)
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Center Glo Ninebark
Height: 8'-10'
Spread: 8'-10'
Flowers: Creamy white flowers in spring
Fall Color: Burgundy leaves
Other Notes: Burgundy leaves—new growth is yellow/green. Great shrub to use for color contrast.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Dart's Gold Ninebark
Height: 4'-5'
Spread: 4'-5
Flowers: Creamy white flowers in Spring.
Fall Color: Red fruit in fall.
Other Notes: Bright yellow leaves during the growing season. Compact rounded shape. Great shrub to use for color contrast.
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Snowberry (Symphoricarpos)
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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White Snowberry
Height: 5'-6'
Spread: 3'-6'
Flowers: Small pink flowers mid-Summer
Fall Color: Blue-green leaves with large white berries in Fall
Others Notes: Broad rounded shrub. Prefers a moist location. Performs well in part sun.
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Spirea (Spiraea)
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Anthony Waterer Spirea
Height: 2'-3
Spread: 4'-5
Flowers: Rose pink in summer
Fall Color: Red-purple
Other Notes: Upright rounded shrub. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Goldflame Spirea
Height: 2'-3'
Spread: 3'-4'
Flowers: Crimson blooms in summer.
Fall Color: Red-bronze
Other Notes: Leaves are ever-changing color. Bright red new growth changing to yellow and then to green. Low, mounded shrub. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Gold Mound Spirea
Height: 1'-2'
Spread: 2'-3'
Flowers: Pink blooms in summer
Fall Color: Yellow foliage tinges red.
Other Notes: Great pop of color for small spaces. Yellow foliage throughout season. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Little Princess Spirea
Height: 2'-3'
Spread: 3'
Flowers: Pink flowers in summer.
Fall Color: Dark red.
Other Notes: Low mounded shrub. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Mellow Yellow Spirea
Height: 3'-5'
Spread: 3'-5'
Flowers: Small white blooms in spring.
Fall Color: Yellow
Other Notes: Arching stems with bright lime-yellow leaves make this a GREAT contrast plant. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Photos Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Renaissance Spirea
Height: 5'-7'
Spread: 6'-8'
Flowers: Profuse white flowers in spring.
Fall Color: Orange-red leaves.
Other Notes: Vase-shaped shrub. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Snowmound Spirea
Height: 3'-4'
Spread: 3'-4'
Flowers: Masses of pure white flowers in spring.
Fall Color: No
Other Notes: A dwarf, rounded shrub with dark green foliage. Can also be grown in full sun.
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Willow (Salix)
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Hakuro Nishiki Willow
Height: 4'-6'+
Spread: 4'-6'+
Flowers: No
Fall Color: White/Green/Pink leaves
Other Notes: Variegated (white, green, and pink) leaves on arching slender stems. Can also be grown in full sun.
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