A short account of the various evergreen shrubs used for shade is presented below. The list presented in the article provides information about various flowering plants, and those which are commonly used in landscaping.

Shrubs are plants which have a small expanse and grow to a moderate height. Many evergreen shrubs are used for the purpose of shade. The evergreen shrubs list provided in the article should help in choosing the right plant. Growing shrubs in full shade gives them the stability that is required in the early stages.

Here is a description of some of the evergreen plants that are used for shade because of the dense foliage that they possess. Some of these plants are flowering shrubs.

Rhododendron
The rhododendron genus has more than 1000 species and it is used as one of the small shrubs for shade. Height of rhododendrons ranges from 1-30 meters; Rhododendron giganteum is the tallest with a 30 meter height. These plants flourish in temperate zones; regions like the Pacific coast of the USA and northwestern Britain are known to have large areas under rhododendrons. A well-drained and acidic soil is what the rhododendrons require to get established properly. In the early stages of growth, the rhododendrons need to be protected from the harmful effects of direct sunlight. Chilly winds in the winter can also pose a problem for these evergreen shrubs.

Camellia
The camellia is an evergreen plant which grows in the southeastern United States. It produces red and white-colored flowers which bloom in winter. This plant prefers well-drained and acidic soil. It is recommended not to grow camellia in soil with shallow-rooted plants; this is because the camellia plant itself is shallow-rooted and it leads to competition for obtaining nutrients from the soil.

Boxwood
A genus containing around 70 species of evergreen shrubs, boxwood is found in southern and eastern Asia, southern and western Europe, Africa, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean islands. Height of various species of boxwood ranges from 2-12 meters; leaves can be rounded to lanceolate with a 0.3-2.5 cm width and 1.5-5 cm length. Commonly used as a hedge and topiary plant, the boxwood can act as one of the nice shade-giving plants.

Aucuba
The aucuba genus, which is native to eastern parts of Asia, contains 10 species of flowering plants. The shrubs of this genus have a height in the range of 2-13 meters. The leaves of the aucuba are lanceolate in shape, 8-25 cm in length and 2-7 cm in width. These plants are commonly used for shade and ornamental purposes.

Fetterbush
This plant is naturally found in swamps, bays, bogs, low pinelands, and wet woodlands. The fetterbush has smooth leaves (1-2 inches and 1-3 inches) and flowers that are oval-shaped. This evergreen shrub grows in the region between Florida and Louisiana. The fetterbush can also be found in the northern parts of Virginia. This plant grows 3-9 feet tall and has an arching shape. The base of the fetterbush produces branching stems, while twigs on the outward portion are alternately arranged.

Techny Arborvitae
One of the evergreen shrubs used for landscaping, the Techny Arborvitae is also used for shade. It is native to southeastern Canada and northeastern United States. Production of dense foliage is the specialty of this plant and therefore, it is used as an ornamental and hedge plant. A mature Techny Arborvitae reaches a height between 15-20 feet; the expanse of the shrub is around 6 feet.