Plants That Take Sun and Shade for the Pacific Northwest

1. Chinese Kousa Dogwood

Name : Cornuskousavar.chinensis

Zones:5–8

Size:15 to 30 feet tall and 12 to 25 substructure wide

Conditions : Full sun to partial spook ; moderately moist , well - drained soil

aboriginal mountain chain : China

Flowering dogwood tree are among the most beautiful Tree you could grow , and this mixture is no exclusion . Formosan kousa dogwood is the last of the showy dogwoods to bloom , with the buds emerge lime tree green in tardy May to early June and then open milky white as the attractive bracts mature . This tree can bloom for up to four weeks if the weather does n’t get too hot . As the flush fade , they often take on a flush of garden pink . In late summertime , red cerise - like yield pay heed from the branch . Flowering can be light in mottled shade , but the elegant , layered limb structure will be more pronounced . Taiwanese kousa dogwood has great fall colour and splendid disease margin .

2. Yellowroot

Name : Xanthorhiza simplicissima

Zones:3–9

Size:1 to 3 feet tall and 6 to 10 foot wide

condition : Full sunlight to partial shade ; moist , well - debilitate land

Native range : Eastern United States

The spreading habit of yellowroot makes it an unusual and interesting earth back for West Coast gardens . In mid - spring , the lean , upright stem hold cluster chain of tiny , burgundy , champion - shaped flowers that warrant a closer review . The leaves are composed of small , lacy leaflets that are glistening and brilliant unripe in summer , later break out into a mingle-mangle of purple , orangish , and yellow in fall . This is one of the few plants that will provide good autumn color even if it is grow in shadowiness . busted or cut staunch reveal mustard greens - yellow interiors that are surprisingly brilliant .

3. ‘Tansu’ Dwarf Japanese Cedar

Name : Cryptomeriajaponica‘Tansu ’

Zones:6–9

Size:3 feet magniloquent and wide in 10 years

condition : Full sun to full specter ; fertile , well - drain grunge

aboriginal range : Japan

I was first drawn to this dwarf conifer by its taut , dark green foliage and the way its growth prompt me of cresting ocean waves . There are two engraft at the Miller Garden — one in burnished open shade on a dry slope and the other in a dry , intemperately shaded location . In both place they have thrived over the last four decades , putting on about 2 to 4 inches of increase per twelvemonth . The leaves are little , awl - shaped scales that can be a little prickly to the pinch . fortuitously , this evergreen needs almost no pruning to look its best . It is drought large-minded once established but appreciate occasional watering in full sun during the summer .

4. ‘Winter Sun’ Mahonia

Name : Mahonia×media‘Winter Sun ’

Zones:7–9

Size : 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide in 10 long time

Winter Sun Mahonia

Photo: Nancy J. Ondra

Conditions : Full sun to fond shade ; well - drain filth

Native range : Hybrid

There is a trend to relegate mahonias as barberry ( Berberisspp . and cvs . ) , but there is compelling enquiry that patronize the interval of these two genus . No matter what you call the plant , however , it is a must - have for the garden . Few evergreen shrubs can match the architectural smasher of ‘ Winter Sun ’ . It is one of the very best genus Mahonia cultivars , with its strong , unsloped increase and stiff horizontal parting giving it a stately comportment . In belated declension to former wintertime , abundant , brassy yellow racemes of flowers arch out over the deep green foliage . Overwintering Anna ’s hummingbirds find the ambrosia - rich , fragrant blooms resistless and will ferociously protect their favourite shrubs . ‘ Winter Sun ’ appreciates occasional piss during dry periods .

Chinese Kousa Dogwood

Photo: Nancy J. Ondra

Richie Steffen is a contributing editor in chief and the executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle .

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Winter Sun Mahonia

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