Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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shade tolerant evergreen trees

Finding the right plants for shady spots in your garden can feel challenging, but shade tolerant evergreen trees provide the best of both worlds: year-round greenery and the ability to thrive with limited sunlight. Whether you’re looking to create a lush understorey, screen out neighbours, or simply add a fresh layer of foliage, these hardy trees are an excellent solution for New Zealand gardens. With a range of native and exotic options, you’re sure to find a perfect match for your shady site.

Alectryon excelsus

Alectryon excelsus, commonly known as the Titoki tree, is a handsome New Zealand native tree valued for its lush, glossy foliage and tidy, rounded form. Growing 6–10 metres tall, it makes an excellent shade or specimen tree in both urban and rural settings. Titoki is wind-tolerant, frost-hardy in most areas, and well-suited to coastal conditions.

Buy Alectryon excelsus

From $14.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Trees

Height: 8.00 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Shade, Wind

Garden uses: Hedging, Parks, Ponds, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Modern, Native

Laurelia novae-zelandiae

Laurelia novae-zelandiae, commonly known as Pukatea, is a magnificent NZ native tree admired for its glossy green leaves, fluted trunk, and ecological significance. This evergreen tree produces clusters of small, fragrant flowers in spring and summer, followed by seed capsules that support birdlife.

Buy Laurelia novae-zelandiae

From $589.90

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Trees

Height: 25.00 m

Spread: 10.00 m

Tolerances: Shade, Wet

Garden uses: Ponds, Screening

Garden styles: Native, Riparian

Why Plant Shade Tolerant Evergreen Trees?

Shade tolerant evergreen trees are ideal for areas under larger trees, near buildings, or in south-facing gardens. Their ability to withstand lower light levels means you can maintain a healthy, vibrant landscape in even the trickiest spots. These trees keep their leaves all year, ensuring consistent cover, shelter for wildlife, and reduced maintenance compared to deciduous varieties. Shade is no longer a limitation—it's an opportunity for creative planting.

Top Shade Tolerant Evergreen Trees for New Zealand Gardens

Laurelia novae-zelandiae

Often called the Pukatea, Laurelia novae-zelandiae is prized for its tall, stately form and glossy, aromatic leaves. It tolerates a range of conditions, including partial shade and wet soils, making it a reliable feature tree in sheltered corners.

Alectryon excelsus

The native Titoki, Alectryon excelsus, is perfect for dappled shade. This evergreen provides dense foliage, delicate flowers, and bright red fruit, attracting birds to your garden while providing structure in spots with filtered sunlight.

Carpodetus serratus

Known as Putaputaweta, Carpodetus serratus excels under partial shade. Its elegant weeping habit and attractive patterned bark bring visual interest, while its tolerance to shade and damp makes it a fuss-free addition to woodland borders and stream edges.

Hoheria populnea

The Lacebark, Hoheria populnea, thrives in sheltered, lightly shaded spots. Admired for its clusters of white flowers and lush, evergreen leaves, this tree makes an excellent screen or specimen for areas that receive limited direct sunlight.

Companion Plants for Evergreen Success

Enhance the effect of your shade tolerant evergreens by underplanting with low-maintenance perennials and grasses. Lomandra Evergreen Baby is a resilient, compact grass perfect for the shady, moist conditions at the base of your trees. Its fine, arching foliage complements bolder tree shapes and continues the theme of year-round green.

Design Tips for Shady Spaces

When designing with shade tolerant evergreen trees, consider layering plants of different heights and textures to maximise interest. Combine upright trees with groundcovers and mid-size shrubs to fill space and minimise weeds. Remember, many shade-tolerant natives also support local birdlife, making your garden both beautiful and biodiverse.

Start Your Shade Garden

Embrace the challenge of shaded areas with a diverse range of shade tolerant evergreen trees. Explore options like Laurelia novae-zelandiae, Alectryon excelsus, Carpodetus serratus, and Hoheria populnea, and complete the look with Lomandra Evergreen Baby. With the right selection, your shady spaces will become the most inviting areas of your garden.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

shade tolerant evergreen trees

Alectryon excelsus

Laurelia novae-zelandiae

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Why Plant Shade Tolerant Evergreen Trees?