Trees for shade
Few, if any, trees do better in shade than sun but some trees tolerate it much better than others. Shade is generally interpreted to refer to spots that receive less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day; semi-shade between 3 and 6 hours of direct sunlight; and dappled shade being under fairly open canopies of larger trees where some light gets through in different places through the day. We’ve hand picked the best trees for shaded spots that compliment a range of different planting schemes. These trees will add much needed height and colour to dark corners of the garden with a mix of attractive foliage, beautiful flowers and vibrant berries. Keep in mind that the trees in this section are shade tolerant but not necessarily shade loving. They will survive in the shade but may lose some of their decorative features, for example flower less profusely or offer more muted autumn foliage colour displays than they may demonstrate in brighter spots. You can use the filters below to further refine your search by soil type, growth rate, eventual height and spread, hardiness and more.