Posts

• Liriodendron Posts: 8,328

  1 March

  If you research golden yew the best they say is "shade tolerant".  However, I grew Taxus baccata 'Standishii' (slow-growing, golden young leaves, very upright) in the permanent shade of a shed in west Yorks and it didn't seem to mind - though admittedly the foliage colour would have been brighter in sun.  A reasonable sized specimen won't be cheap, because it is genuinely slow growing.  (A cutting I took before leaving for Ireland in 2019 is now only around 25cm tall.) 
  
  I'm not sure there are many shrubs which actually need dense shade to thrive, though.

  Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  1 March

  I agree most plants that like shade and flower are at their best in spring before the tree canopy develops. At that point many disappear underground. You could look at Euonymous Green Pillar again it is slow but it won't work as well as a shrub with golden leaves. 

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• Plantminded Posts: 3,580

  1 March

  Mahonia prefers full or part shade. It is evergreen, flowers in spring and would be happy in clay. It can easily be pruned into a narrow multi stemmed plant. 
  
  https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/mahonia-japonica/
  
  Aucuba japonica also thrives in shade but has questionable appeal! It dislikes cold wet soil and can develop blackened foliage as a result.

  Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  
  
  

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  1 March

  I think it depends on whether it is light shade, ie open to the sky with minimal overhang from other plants or buildings, or deep shade, ie with a dense canopy above.  

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• Marlorena Posts: 8,705

  1 March

  A couple I have experience of for this type of situation..
  
  Pyracantha 'Soleil d'Or'..  upright, to 6 feet or so, quick growing, evergreen.. fairly narrow habit.. profuse flowering and bright yellow berries.  Grew well on a north wall with no sun.
  
  Sambucus racemosa plumosa aurea.. a golden leafed Elder shrub, more lime-green in shade but equally good.. that looks best in a shady spot as the leaves can burn in sun.  Bright foliage, deciduous,.. very attractive when I grew it.. 

  East Anglia, England

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• Dovefromabove Posts: 88,147

  1 March

  Golden yew loses a lot of its ‘gold-ness’ in the shade. 

  
  Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• B3 Posts: 27,505

  1 March

  Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'

  This grows well in the shade in my garden. I keep it small but I'm sure it would manage 6ft if I let it.

  In London. Keen but lazy.

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• DaveGreig Posts: 189

  1 March

  Tree Peonies might be worth considering. Mine is east facing among shrubs and is perfectly happy. I’ve seen them grow in quite shady areas too.

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• Escarpment Posts: 53

  1 March

  Another vote for Pyracantha, I have a very old one growing against a north facing house wall with a 6ft fence behind it (West). The sun never touches that corner, but it reliably flowers and produces berries.

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• ddd77 Posts: 25

  1 March

  My sarcococcus is thriving in almost total shade. It's been rather slow to grow though.... Only about 1 metre after 2 years 

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