Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, 4–8 ft wide and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Tennessee · Zones 6–8
Native Plants for Shade in Tennessee
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. For Tennessee, the right natives are shaped by Cumberland Plateau, Ridge & Valley, cedar glades and a humid, four-season climate. Every species below, from Oakleaf Hydrangea and Wild Bleeding Heart to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Tennessee and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. 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 Tennessee
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, cold-hardy to zone 3 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, 10–15 in tall; 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
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; good through zone 9 and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, lavender-pink flowers, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A woodland native that 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
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
For the dappled north side and under trees, 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
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, reaching 6–12 in — 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 — for clay and loam ground and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, hardy in zones 5–9 and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 12–18 in wide; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — good through zone 9 and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 10–20 ft wide — 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 — spreading 2–3 ft.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Tennessee
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.