Finding the right plants for shady spots in North Carolina gardens can be tricky, especially when you need something with height. Our state’s unique climate, with hot summers and mild winters, creates special considerations for shade gardening.
Tall plants can transform those dark corners into beautiful garden spaces, adding structure and visual interest where sun-loving flowers simply won’t thrive.
1. American Beautyberry
Growing up to 6 feet tall, this native shrub thrives in the dappled shade common under North Carolina’s tall pines. The striking purple berries appear in fall, creating spectacular color when most shade gardens look tired.
I’ve noticed how well beautyberries handle our clay soils without complaint. They need almost no care once established, which makes them perfect for busy gardeners or natural woodland settings.
Birds absolutely love the berries, making this plant a wildlife magnet. My neighbor’s beautyberry became the neighborhood bird hotspot last autumn, drawing everything from cardinals to thrashers.
2. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Standing proudly at 6-8 feet tall, oakleaf hydrangeas offer year-round interest in shady North Carolina gardens. The large, lobed leaves resemble oak trees, turning brilliant burgundy in fall after summer’s white flower panicles fade.
What makes this plant special for me is its peeling cinnamon bark that shows up in winter. During a January garden walk in Chapel Hill, I was amazed at how beautiful these looked even without leaves.
Unlike their fussier mophead cousins, oakleaf hydrangeas handle our state’s occasional droughts with minimal complaint once established.
3. Japanese Aralia
When most shade plants stay low to the ground, Japanese Aralia stands tall at 6-10 feet with tropical-looking, glossy leaves. The umbrella-like foliage creates a bold statement in dark corners where other plants struggle.
My aunt’s garden near Asheville features several of these architectural plants. They’ve survived multiple harsh winters there, proving they’re tougher than they look despite their exotic appearance.
Small white flowers appear in late fall, followed by black berries – providing interest when most garden plants have gone dormant. Just keep it sheltered from harsh winter winds.
4. Carolina Silverbell
Native to our mountain regions, this graceful tree reaches 20-40 feet tall while happily growing in partial shade. Each spring, dainty white bell-shaped flowers dangle from branches before the leaves emerge, creating a magical effect.
The smooth gray bark develops interesting ridges as it ages. Walking through the NC Arboretum last year, I stopped in my tracks when I spotted a mature silverbell’s distinctive trunk pattern.
Yellow fall color makes this a multi-season performer. Carolina Silverbell works particularly well at the edges of woodland gardens where it can get morning sun and afternoon shade.
5. Sweet Pepperbush
Also called summersweet, this native shrub grows 6-12 feet tall and produces fragrant white flower spikes in mid-summer when most shade plants have finished blooming. The honey-like scent carries across the garden, attracting butterflies and bees.
During a particularly dry August in my Raleigh garden, this was one of the few plants that kept looking fresh without extra watering. The yellow fall color provides an extra season of interest.
Sweet pepperbush grows naturally in our state’s coastal plain and piedmont regions. It handles wet spots beautifully, making it perfect for those shady areas where water tends to collect after rain.
6. Japanese Maple
Many Japanese maple varieties reach 15-25 feet tall while preferring the dappled shade common in North Carolina gardens. Their delicate, lacy leaves create a sense of elegance that few other shade plants can match.
Red-leafed varieties like ‘Bloodgood’ hold their color best with some morning sun. I’ve seen stunning specimens in Charlotte gardens where they’re protected from hot afternoon rays by taller trees.
Fall brings spectacular color changes ranging from golden yellow to deep crimson. These trees are worth their higher price tag, developing more character and beauty with each passing year in the garden.
7. Bottlebrush Buckeye
Reaching 8-12 feet tall with an even wider spread, bottlebrush buckeye creates a commanding presence in shaded areas. The white flower spikes that appear in early summer resemble bottlebrushes, standing upright against the dark green foliage.
A slow grower that rewards patience, this native shrub eventually forms impressive colonies. While hiking near Lake Norman last year, I came across a natural stand that had clearly been there for decades.
Golden fall color adds seasonal interest. Plant this where it has room to spread, as it will gradually form a dense, deer-resistant thicket perfect for privacy or woodland garden edges.
8. Anise Tree
Florida anise (Illicium floridanum) grows 8-10 feet tall with aromatic foliage that smells like licorice when crushed. The unusual star-shaped flowers appear in spring, followed by decorative star-shaped seed pods.
The glossy evergreen leaves keep their deep green color all winter. After the ice storm we had in Wilmington last winter, these were among the first plants to bounce back without damage.
Deer avoid this plant completely due to its strong scent. Consider planting it along property boundaries in shady areas where browsing animals are a problem – it forms an attractive natural barrier over time.
9. Mountain Laurel
This native evergreen shrub reaches 10-15 feet tall and produces clusters of intricate pink or white flowers in late spring. The blooms look almost artificial with their unique pentagon shapes and delicate markings.
Mountain laurel grows naturally in the North Carolina mountains but adapts well to piedmont gardens if given acidic soil. Walking the trails near Asheville in May, you’ll spot these beauties growing under the forest canopy.
The twisted branches develop character with age, looking sculptural in winter. Plant mountain laurel where you can appreciate its form year-round – it’s too special to hide in a back corner.
10. Red Buckeye
Growing 15-20 feet tall, red buckeye offers stunning red tubular flowers in spring that attract hummingbirds to shady gardens. The palm-shaped leaves emerge early in the season, making this small tree one of the first to leaf out.
Unlike many shade plants that struggle in our heavy clay, red buckeye seems right at home. In a friend’s Durham garden, it’s thrived for years in a spot where other trees failed to establish.
The shiny brown nuts produced in fall fascinate children but aren’t edible. This native plant drops its leaves earlier than most trees, usually by late summer – a small trade-off for its spectacular spring show.
11. Devil’s Walking Stick
Also called Hercules’ club, this unusual native grows rapidly to 15-20 feet tall with a tropical appearance. The stems are covered with sharp thorns, while the enormous compound leaves can reach 3-4 feet long, creating a bold texture in shady spots.
Huge clusters of white flowers appear in summer, followed by purple-black berries that birds adore. I’ve counted five different bird species visiting the one in my neighbor’s Greensboro garden in a single afternoon.
Despite its fierce appearance, this plant is part of our native ecology. It colonizes by suckers, so give it space or plant it in a contained woodland area where it can naturalize.