Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, hardy in zones 3–8 and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Texas · Zones 6–9
Native Plants for Shade in Texas
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. Texas sits in a landscape of Hill Country, Blackland Prairie & Gulf Coast, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its hot, dry west to humid east character. The list below — led by Wild Columbine and Virginia Bluebells — is filtered to species genuinely native to Texas and the wider flora of the South-Central region and hardy through zones 6–9. 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 Texas
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–9 · see this collection in other states.
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; hardy in zones 3–8 and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Made for shade — 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
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 6–12 in tall, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, for loam ground; it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 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
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, 3–5 ft wide and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
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
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — spreading 15–25 ft and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, creamy white flowers and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; happy in loam soil and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, hardy in zones 3–7, and 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 — spreading 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 spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, spreading 10–20 ft, flowering as 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, spreading 1.5–2.5 ft.
- 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 — for clay and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Texas
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.