The use of gray dogwood in the home landscape is limited somewhat by its suckering habit. It is an adaptable shrub which grows well in sun or shade and tolerates most soils. Arrowwood viburnum grows about 6 to 8 feet tall. Plants produce creamy white flowers in spring followed by blue fruit in the fall. Its mature height is 3 to 6 feet.
Alpine currant is one of the first shrubs to leaf out in the spring.
It tolerates pruning well and makes an excellent formal hedge. Only a limited number of evergreens do well in shady areas. However, they do require well-drained soils. Yews often die in wet, poorly drained soils. They are also prone to winter injury when planted in windy, exposed sites.