Most plants require light to grow, that is why they may not do well in heavily shaded areas. But, there are some exceptional plants that thrive in shaded sites.
The 5 plants we cover in this article are popular shade-loving plants because they tend to adapt exceptionally well to different shaded sites. They are evergreen and long-lasting.
If you are looking for evergreen shade plants to grow in pots or in the garden, you’ll love these 5 plants.
Bamboo plants for shade
There are different cultivars of bamboo plants, grouped into running and clumping varieties. They are hardy and extremely tolerant to shade. This is because most bamboos are native to subtropical and tropical Asia and the Pacific.
Bamboo plants usually grow under the forest canopy where there is little or no light.
Viburnum tinus is a dense, evergreen shrub that also grows well in shade. It has dark, glossy leaves.
The leaves contrast beautifully with the clusters of small pinkish-white flowers.
They appear throughout the winter and spring. It is a popular flowering shrub because it is easy to grow and adds greenery to the garden throughout the year.
You can use this beautiful plant for ground cover or hedging.
Ceanothus (Californian Lilac)
Ceanothus, also called Californian Lilac, is an evergreen flowering shrub.
This beautiful plant has scented flowers that appear late in spring through to summer.
It can grow in shade to part shade, adaptable and hardy – a fantastic shade hedging plant.
Apart from bamboo, which is grass, the other shade-loving plants are shrubs with beautifully scented flowers. In fact, they are bees and butterfly ‘magnets’.
All in all, if you want to grow a shade-loving plant, these 5 plants will not disappoint.
Evergreen bamboo privacy screens for balcony or terrace
Many people use the terms balcony and terrace interchangeably to mean an extended outdoor space that has a roof cover and comfortable seating area.
In fact, there is a slight difference between the two outdoor spaces. The balcony is smaller and has only one entry door whereas the terrace is comparatively larger with multiple entryways. Both are affixed to the main building structure.
So, what are the best bamboo plants for privacy screening on a balcony or terrace?
Firstly, find out the length of the space that needs screening, and how many pots or containers may be required.
Secondly, decide what containers are best for the space and how many you’ll need.
The third step is important – what type of bamboo plants to choose?
Both deck and patio are often used for large recreational activities and gatherings at home.
A deck is an elevated ‘roofless’ outdoor seating area whereas a patio may not be necessarily elevated and is made of paving stones, bricks and blocks.
Many homeowners prefer to use bamboo sticks (canes) and bamboo mats for deck and patio screening, but do you know bamboo plants are also great natural privacy screens and windshields?
You can even turn the deck into a private outdoor space and block out the unsightly features by screening it with bamboo plants.
The tall, upright and slender running bamboo and clumping bamboo plants that reach 2 - 4 metres in height are perfect for deck screening.
How to find the right bamboo plants for deck or patio privacy screening: We compiled a list of small to medium bamboo plants end of this article to give you an idea about the right plants to pick for screening patio and deck.
Bamboo privacy screen for porch or veranda
Porch and veranda do not vary a great deal.
Often these two enclosures may refer to a roofed entrance (or the front) of a house. However, a veranda can extend to the side or the back of the house. Whereas, a porch is located at the front of the house.
Many porches and verandas are long and narrow. Therefore, select a bamboo that will serve well in narrow spaces such as the clump-forming bamboo plants.
The upright bamboo plants grow without arching.
They have tough narrow canes (culms), slender leaves, and dense foliage - suitable bamboo plants for creating a natural privacy screen in narrow spaces.
10 small and medium bamboo plants for an outdoor screen
We identified the different outdoors areas and bamboo for privacy screens so far. In addition, we created an easy-to-use guide for selecting the right bamboo plants.
Growing bamboo plants for the balcony, deck, patio or porch needs careful planning.
We cannot stress enough to plant the bamboo in pots and containers, whether it is running or clumping bamboo. This is the best way to contain the bamboo plants from spreading to other spaces.
If you are going to grow a new bamboo purchase, bamboo cuttings, here are two articles to help you:
Why Bamboo Privacy Screen for Balcony, Deck, Patio and Porch?
Bamboo plants are fast-growing and can produce the evergreen dense privacy screen in 2 to 3 years.
The bamboo plants are tolerant to pests and variable weather conditions.
Some bamboo plants are extremely hardy and can withstand very low temperatures in Winter.
One reason why bamboo plants are ideal for small outdoor spaces is that they are undemanding plants. They thrive in small, confined spaces with well-drained soil and good moisture.
Also, you do not need to replace the bamboo plants or re-potting them unless they outgrow the pots after 5 - 10 years.
The balcony, deck, patio or porch screening plants will need fertiliser feed or a plant grower, at least, once a year.
So, give them a feed ideally early in Spring - just before the new plant shoots grow. This will give you lush greenery and a formidable privacy screen for many years.
Related articles on Evergreen Outdoor Privacy Screen
Readers' note: This article is so long that we split it into several parts. Here are the related parts that you may also like to read:
PART 1: EVERGREEN BAMBOO SCREENS FOR BALCONY AND TERRACE