Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — white bracts flowers and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
- Home
- By state
- Washington, D.C.
- For shade
Washington, D.C. · Zone 7
Native Plants for Shade in Washington, D.C.
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. Every species here is genuinely native to Washington, D.C. and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Washington, D.C.'s humid, four-season climate across Northern Piedmont & Potomac fall line, not a generic list. Local standouts include Flowering Dogwood and Woodland Phlox. 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.
The plants
16 native species for Washington, D.C.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, for loam ground — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, good through zone 8, flowering as it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, reaching 3–5 ft and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, reaching 12–18 in and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, for loam ground — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — good through zone 8 and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; spreading 12–18 in and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, happy in loam soil and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, sky blue flowers and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, happy in loam soil, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; reaching 6–12 ft and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, good through zone 9, 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, good through zone 9.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — good through zone 9.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, spreading 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington, D.C.
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.