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
Indiana · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Shade in Indiana
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. For Indiana, the right natives are shaped by Eastern Corn Belt Plains & oak savanna and a humid continental climate. Every species below, from Flowering Dogwood and Wild Columbine to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Indiana and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7. 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
14 native species for Indiana
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, red & yellow flowers and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, foamy white flowers; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — for loam ground and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, hardy in zones 3–8, and 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; 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
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 1.5–2 ft tall — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, reaching 30–50 ft; it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, spreading 12–18 in, 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; chartreuse-gold flowers and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, 1.5–2.5 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 1–2 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, spreading 2–3 ft.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Indiana
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.