Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
For the dappled north side and under trees, it 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
- Home
- By state
- Mississippi
- For shade
Mississippi · Zones 7–9
Native Plants for Shade in Mississippi
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 Mississippi and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 7–9 — proven performers for Mississippi's hot, humid subtropical climate across Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie, not a generic list. Local standouts include Flowering Dogwood and Turk's Cap. 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
17 native species for Mississippi
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, reaching 2–5 ft and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; cold-hardy to zone 3 and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, spreading 1.5–2 ft, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, happy in loam soil, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; spreading 6–10 ft and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, reaching 10–15 in, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Made for shade — 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 Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — 12–18 in tall and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
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
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, hardy in zones 5–9 and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — 6–12 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, spreading 12–18 in — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, 10–20 ft wide; it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, for rocky and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; for clay and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Mississippi
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.