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Almost any tree will grow in this location if it receives at least 4 - 6 hours of sun per day. Of course, when choosing a tree, other factors such as soil pH, shelter and drainage must be considered as well for optimum health of that particular tree. A tree that does not receive a full days sunshine will grow at a much slower rate than normal until its top growth is above the shade of other trees.
The amount of available space must also be considered when choosing a tree. The new tree should be planted far enough away from the other trees so that when they have all reached maturity, the widest branches of each tree should only just touch each other. If the new tree is planted too close to the other trees, it will probablly develop into a very unbalanced specimen. Most of the branches will grow on the side farthest away from the other trees where there is more light and no interference from other tree branches. The new tree would also have to compete with the heavy feeder roots of the established trees, so proper watering and feeding must be administered to get it off to a good start.
So, if there is ample room, soil conditions are o.k. for the specimen chosen, and the tree will recieive at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, there is an unlimited variety of trees to choose from. If however, there is very little sun during the day (less than 4 hours), the following trees and tree-like shrubs will grow in partial shade. Very few trees or shrubs will survive in dense shade. One small tree that will perform well in deep shade is Prunus laurocerasus. The other trees listed perform well in direct sun or partial shade. There is, of couse, many others that will do well in partial shade, but the following list describes some of the finest ornamental specimens available.
A note on hardiness zones of trees and shrubs is that the zones mentioned are only guides as to the hardiness of a plant. Trees and shrubs will often survive winters in colder zones than the ones listed if micro-climates, good shelter from prevailing winds and snow cover prevail.
The height of the tree given is also an average size as trees will vary in size depending on the growing conditions of that location.
Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry laurel)
Hardy 6 US, 7 Canada Height 20' (') indicates feetA very shade tolerant broad-leaf evergreen. The leaves are large, dark, leathery and shiny. In mid-spring, single white flowers appear on racemes (typical of cherries) and develop into small red cherries which eventually darken to a purplish-black color. All parts of the plant are harmful if eaten.
There are many different Cornus species and their cultivars which grow well in shade, with some species performing better in shade than direct sun. The ones listed make excellent small trees.
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Cornus controversa (Giant dogwood)
Hardy 4 US, 5b Can Height 60'The branches grow horizontally or in tiers. Clusters of cream-colored flowers appear in late spring. Fruits are bluish-black in color in autumn. Leaf color in autumn is purple-red. A very beautiful tree. C. controversa 'Variegata' is slower growing than the species and has pale yellow, white or silver margins on the more pointed leaves.
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Cornus florida (Eastern dogwood or Flowering dogwood)
Hardy 5 US, 6 Can Height 40'This tree is often considered one of the very best ornamental small deciduous trees. An attractive feature of the tree is the horizontal positioning of the branches, giving the tree a flat top appearance. The flower clusters which appear in late spring are made up of four notched white bracts which surround the true inconspicuous flowers. Autumn leaf color is a brilliant scarlet red. Clusters of brilliant red berries are striking in autumn. There are many available cultivars of Cornus florida including these examples:
C. florida 'Apple Blossom' - pink and white flower bractsC. f. ' Cherokee Chief' - ruby red or deep rose red flower bracts
C. f. 'Cloud Nine' - large, showy white bracts
C. f. 'Fastigata' - upright habit of tree while young, later bending back to the horizontal position common to the species.
C. f. 'First Lady' - yellow variegated leaves
C. f. 'Gigantea' - very large flower bracts
C. f. 'Magnifica' - flower bracts are 3 1/2 - 4 inches across
C. f. 'Pendula' - as the name suggests, the tree has stiff pendulous branches
C. f. 'rubra' - young leaves sometimes reddish, flower bracts rosy red to pink, not as hardy as the species.
C. f. 'Rainbow' - large white bracts, deep yellow and green variegated leaves turning to purplish-red with scarlet in autumn
C. f. 'Spring Song' - rose red bracts
C. f. ' Sweetwater Red' - foliage often reddish, red flower bracts
C. f. 'White Cloud' - very showy with a large number of large creamy-white flower clusters. Young leaves are bronze colored in the spring.
C. f. 'Xanthocarpa' - notably different with yellow fruits
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Cornus kousa (Japanese dogwood)
Hardy zone 5 US, 6 Canada Height 21'This is a very elegant dogwood which has flower bracts that are pointed at the tips instead of being round and notched like most dogwood flower bracts. The numerous white flower bracts appear on the upper sides of the horizontal branches in June. Leaf color in autumn varies from crimsom to scarlet to bronze. The interesting fruits that hang from the stems in fall resemble either raspberries or strawberries. A very interesting feature of this tree is the trunk bark which exfoliates (peels) and exposes patches of lighter colored bark. A variety of C. kousa, chinensis (Chinese dogwood), is not as dense, is taller, and sometimes has slightly larger flower bracts and larger leaves than the species. 'Milky Way' is a beautiful, heavy flowering cultivar of the variety chinensis. Cultivars of Cornus kousa include:
C. k. 'Snowboy' - grayish-green leaves variegated with patches of white or yellowC. k. 'Gold Star' - The leaves are blotched with golden-yellow in the center. Autumn leaf color is red and purple.
C. k. 'Satomi' - pink flower bracts, purple-red leaf color in autumn
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Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry)
Hardy zone 4 US, 4b Can Height 24'This interesting small tree produces small yellow flowers on its twigs in winter. The bright red cherry like fruits are edible. Autumn leaf color in tones of purple or red. Cornus mas 'Variegata' has leaves margined with white and C. m. 'Flava' has yellow fruits.
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Cornus macrophylla (Largeleaf dogwood)
Hardy to zone 6, this beautiful tree often reaching a height of 45 feet is noted more for it's beautiful foliage than the small flower clusters. The leaves are often 3 1/2" wide and 3 1/2 - 7" long. Nevertheless, the flowers appear in July and August when most trees are not in flower, making it an outstanding tree in summer. Bluish-black berries follow the flowering period.
Viburnum Lantana (Wayfaring tree)
Zone 2 U.S., 2b CanadaThis small tree averaging 15 feet in height produces creamy white flowers in late sping followed by red, oblong fruits which blacken at maturity.
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V. lentago (Nannyberry)
Hardy to zone 2 U.S., zone 2 Canada and reaching a height of 30 feet, the tree produces shiny green leaves which turn purplish red in autumn. The small flowers are in large, flat clusters and are very showy. The fruits which follow turn from green to yellowish to red to blue and black.
V. sieboldii (Siebold Vieburnum)
Hardy zone 4 U.S., zone 5 Canada Height 30 feetThe tree is beautiful with it's lustrous, 3 - 5 inches long, dark, wrinkled leaves. Clusters of white flowers are followed by bright red fruits which turn black at maturity and fall off, but the red stalks remain on the tree for several weeks, giving the tree a red tinge.
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V. rufidulum (Southern Black Haw)
Hardy zone 6 U.S., zone 7 Canada Height 30 feetBeautiful lustrous, dark green leaves turn a rich red in autumn. White flowers followed by dark blue fruits.
V. prunifolium (Black Haw)
Hardy zone 3 U.S. and zone 4 Canada. Height 15 feetFlat clusters of white flowers followed by blue to black edible fruits. The leaves turn shiny red in autumn.
Thuja occidentalis (American Arborvitae)
A shade tolerant tree, the height of this species is 60 feet and the tree is hardy to zone 2.
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Thuja orientalis (Oriental Arborvitae)
Hardy zone 6. Height 50 feet.Now more popular in mild climates than T. occidentalis.
Tilia americana (American Linden)
Needs moist soil, but is shade tolerant. Hardy to zone 2 and grows to a height of 120 feet. The leaves are large, coarsely toothed and turn brownish quite early in the season. Flowers are small and fragrant. Not a tree for a small yard.
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Other trees tolerant of some shade include Amelanchier sp. (Serviceberries) - zone 2, height 25 - 55 feet; Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) - zone 4, height 36 feet; Ilex sp. (Hollies) - zones 5 -7, depending on the species, height 20 - 70 feet; and Prunus pensylvanica (Pin Cherry) - zone 2, height 30 feet.
