deer?

Yews (evergreen) can grow in heavy shade, but they're not yellow.

a chlorotic rhododendron?

(sorry)

What kind of trees are causing the shade and what size do you want the plant to be? Any pix of the area?

tj

There are yellow or gold colored yews - Taxus baccata 'Watnong Gold' is a possibility. However, the gold color is most distinct with the new spring growth....it is mostly green otherwise. Other possibilities include Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold' or Taxus x media 'Huber's Tawny Gold' but both will be most strongly colored with a fair amount of sun.

Evergreen for shade is going to be hard to manage in a zone 5. Aralia 'Sun King' would be my first choice.

“Tall” order indeed! Maybe tree & shrub - whisperers will have some ideas.

If “ yellow evergreen tree” is elusive, also think about how you might get part of wishes via shade perennials that are “ bright” — think lighter greens, chartreuse, yellow flowers, bulbs, new variegated or lime foliage cultivars of traditional plants, underplanting more typical “ green” shrubs or tree that grows in shade if you need the bigger height/ mass. Lot of choices for those shorter plantings, adjusted for deer, moisture.

The trees just next to this area, within 20 to 40 feet both east and west, are 80' to 100' tall oaks, maples, some buckeye, linden (basswood), etc. Not cleared under, is a full, deep, shady woods on the east (morning) side. Mature trees on the west (afternoon) also. My house is on the south, is a tall two story, so causes shade. For lawn, only shade-mix grass grows here. Is a beautiful spot, just a very shaded (in the spring, summer & fall) place, maybe 40' (east-west) X 80'. Even Rhododendrons here are slow. Little Japanese Maple (weeping Crimson Queen, I think), has grown very slowly over it's 10 years, but it does stay deep red.

Have been here for years, tried red colors flowers, shrubs, besides the maple, but it's always sort of dark in the shade, red does not contrast well in the "dark", so I really want some yellow, or maybe bright white, to pop out and accent here. Plant or tree can be any size except tiny. I'll splurge for big or tall, if I can find the right one or two.

I'll send a photo tonight.

Thanks very much, all.

" Plant or tree can be any size except tiny. I'll splurge for big or tall, if I can find the right one or two. "

Deciduous possibilities are Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' or 'Autumn Moon'. I'd consider Cryptomeria japonica 'Knaptonensis' or 'Sekkan-sugi' as well. All are rather slow growing so get the largest you can afford.

Also too much or too heavy shade will impact the coloring. The more shade, the less gold, yellow or cream and more green tones.

Do Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki Cypress) survive in your neighborhood? If so, there are many gold cultivars that would also survive, with all of the caveats mentioned by others regarding gold or yellow plants grown in shade.

As a slightly different source of yellow you might consider Hamamelis or Cornus mas which are deciduous but would flower very early in yellow. Or winter flowering Mahonias.

I have gold chamaecyparus in shade which thrives.

You could try one of the golden Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). This is Golden Duke, but Golden Splendor is another one that gets larger.

I was thinking about gold chamaecyparis as well but didn't know enough about it to recommend it. Glad to see it suggested here though, because I too could use something bright in my shade as well, although I don't think it's as dark s the OP's.

:)

Dee

Very few yellow plants will color properly in deep shade...

And I think you said twice...it's deep shade....

You will probably have to experiment and fail repeatedly...to find your yellow unicorn

Ken

Ken

Not an evergreen shrub but Hakone grass does well in shade. it will die back in winter but its a bright yellow all spring summer and fall and coujd be planted in front of an evergreen.

The site you're describing sounds great for Ostrich Fern.

or else American Fringetree pic taken 05-11-24 flowers beautiful, fragrant and distinctive.

I do appreciates everyone's input and ideas, including the honesty about what may not really produce bight color in the shade. That's what I have learned over the years: instead of the expected color, often the yellow (or red) decreases over the summer as the tall heavy shading tree canopy to the immediate east or west "thickens", until by mid-late summer, much of the leaf color on these special plants or shrubs, has turned to green. This has proven to be true with my Emerald and Gold Euonymus, and Crimson Pygmy Barberry, experiments here in the past.

I had wondered about the Dwarf Burning Bush for red, but then I thought about trying for yellows. Now I will review all of your great "yellow" ideas. THANKS! Keep them coming.

To see the effect of Cornus mas in bloom ... this is a very dark February day. The picture doesn't really do justice to how the Cornus lit up the riverbank. (It's the Thames near Oxford btw)

I have burning bushes in shade that turn a very dull grayish red in fall. They are also highly invasive so they will be replaced.

A yellow aucuba wouldn't be hardy enough for the area, but FYI they do NOT fade out.