Gardening in the Shade
Grasses
Most turf grasses perform best in the sun. Some cultivars of cool-season grasses
such as fescues, ryegrass, and bluegrass have been selected for their tolerance
to shady conditions. See G6725,
Grasses in Shade, for a listing of shade tolerant turf varieties as well as
suggestions for improving turf growth in the shade. Several ornamental grasses
and grasslike plants perform well in the shade.
Bottlebrush grass
(Hystrix patula)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium
- Size
1 to 2 feet tall
- Green flower spikes resembling bottlebrushes rise 1 to 2 feet above the
foliage in summer. Flowers turn brown by late summer, and shatter by late fall.
Native woodland plant.
Hakonegrass (Hakenochloa macra)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium
- Size
1 to 2 feet tall
- Horizontal weeping foliage is similar to bamboo. 'Aureola' has yellow foliage
streaked with green. Prefers moist soil, but not wet clay.
Maiden grass, Silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
- Shade tolerance
Light
- Size
4 to 6 feet tall
- Surprisingly tolerant of shade. Variegated cultivars such as porcupine grass,
zebra grass, 'Variegatus' and 'Morning Light' are best with morning sun and
afternoon shade.
Sedge (Carex sp)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium
- Size
6 inches to 2 feet tall
- Clump forming grasslike plants that grow best in wet soils in the shade.
Foliage color ranges from medium green to blue green, yellow, brown, or nearly
black.
Soft rush (Juncus effusus)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium
- Size
1-1/2 to 2-1/2 feet tall
- Clumps of medium green grasslike foliage with tan flowers near the ends
of stems. Prefers wet, boggy soils.
Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium
- Size
1 to 3 feet tall
- A cool-season clumping grass. Panicles of light green flowers create almost
veil-like appearance. Prefers moist soil.
Woodrush (Luzula sp)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium
- Size
6 to 12 inches tall
- Clumps of gray-green to medium green foliage covered by downy hairs. Flowers
are white to tan. Prefers moist conditions.
G6911, reviewed April 2002
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