Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, reaching 15–25 ft and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Florida · Zones 8–11
Native Plants for Shade in Florida
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. For Florida, the right natives are shaped by Florida flatwoods, scrub & subtropical south and a subtropical to tropical, wet summers climate. Every species below, from Flowering Dogwood and Arrowwood Viburnum to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Florida and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 8–11. 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 Florida
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 8–11 · see this collection in other states.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Made for shade — 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 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
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, for loam ground — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, 4–8 ft wide and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; 12–18 in wide and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, lavender-blue flowers — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — white domes flowers and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, good through zone 8 and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, spreading 12–18 in and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — cold-hardy to zone 4 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, hardy in zones 3–9, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — happy in clay and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, reaching 6–12 in.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Sourcing
Where to find these in Florida
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.