Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — 12–18 in wide and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
- Home
- Collections
- For shade
Collection
Native Plants for Shade
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house.
Tip: open your state below for the version of this list filtered to plants native to your region and hardy in your zone.
The plants
19 native species in this collection.
Shade is an opportunity, not a problem — the eastern woodland flora is one of the richest in the world. Most shade natives evolved under a deciduous canopy, so they do their growing in cool, moist spring soil and want a yearly mulch of fallen leaves rather than bare, raked dirt. Match the depth of shade to the plant, and a bare patch under a maple becomes the loveliest part of the garden.
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, happy in loam soil and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, foamy white flowers, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, red & gold flowers and it blooms Apr through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, rose pink flowers and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — 1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, hardy in zones 3–8 — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, spreading 12–18 in — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; cold-hardy to zone 3 and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — white cones flowers and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; 3–5 ft wide and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, reaching 3–5 ft and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, good through zone 9 and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, 6–12 ft wide and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, cold-hardy to zone 3, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, for clay, rocky, and loam ground, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, 2–3 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, for rocky and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Browse by state
For shade, near you.
Native ranges differ across the country — open your state for the list that actually applies to your yard.
AlabamaALArkansasARConnecticutCTDelawareDEFloridaFLGeorgiaGAIllinoisILIndianaINIowaIAKentuckyKYLouisianaLAMaineMEMarylandMDMassachusettsMAMichiganMIMinnesotaMNMississippiMSMissouriMONew HampshireNHNew JerseyNJNew YorkNYNorth CarolinaNCOhioOHOklahomaOKPennsylvaniaPARhode IslandRISouth CarolinaSCTennesseeTNTexasTXVermontVTVirginiaVAWashington, D.C.DCWest VirginiaWVWisconsinWI
Sourcing
Where to find for shade plants
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.