Small Shrub For Mostly Shady Area

Nandinas

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Nandinas

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Agree 100%. The smaller version of the Nandina is a beautiful small shade bush that is virtually maintenance free.

I think they will all do well in partial to mostly shade. I have lots of blush nandinas (the common greenish to purplish color) in partial to almost full shade. Most were planted 15 to 20 years ago and they are all doing great. They grow faster in partial shade. I had a few that were skimpy growing after a few years and when I checked them a good bit of the soil was gone around the roots. I think the nursery used too many wood chips in the soil instead of quality mulch/soil. I just replanted them and packed in some garden soil and those took off.

We also have quite a few bamboo nandinas and those do well in shade also but they get pretty tall and are not as pretty as the smaller blush nandinas. We've never had any of the pink blush nandinas but I assume they would do just as well in the shade.

Hydrangeas might be bushes you might want to consider. I noticed someone else "beat me to the draw" with hydrangeas. :)

Anyway, below is a quote from a linked article by the LSU AgCenter, which contains much more information about hydrangeas.

"Locate hydrangeas in a spot where they receive some shade during the day. A shady (two hours of direct sun) or partly shaded (about four hours of direct sun) bed is ideal. Avoid hot, sunny, dry areas or beds that are baked by the afternoon sun. Morning sun is much preferred by these plants, so an eastern exposure is excellent." LINK