Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, good through zone 8 and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Virginia · Zones 6–8
Native Plants for Shade in Virginia
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. Virginia sits in a landscape of Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Tidewater, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid, four-season character. The list below — led by Wild Bleeding Heart and Wild Geranium — is filtered to species genuinely native to Virginia and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic 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 Virginia
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, lavender-pink flowers, flowering as 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, cold-hardy to zone 3 and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; turban red flowers and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 1–2 ft wide; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
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
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, white domes flowers and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; 15–25 ft wide and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
For the dappled north side and under trees, it 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
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — reaching 1–2 ft and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, for loam ground and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, happy in loam soil; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
A woodland native that 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
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, inconspicuous green flowers, flowering as 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, reaching 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
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
Sourcing
Where to find these in Virginia
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.