Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, for loam ground and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wisconsin · Zones 3–5
Native Plants for Shade in Wisconsin
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. For Wisconsin, the right natives are shaped by Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna and a cold continental climate. Every species below, from Virginia Bluebells and Woodland Phlox to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Wisconsin and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 3–5. 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 Wisconsin
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, good through zone 8; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
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
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, 1.5–2 ft tall, flowering as it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, reaching 6–10 ft 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, reaching 15–25 ft and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, reaching 6–12 in — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; 1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where 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
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, spreading 10–20 ft, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, hidden maroon flowers, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 1–2 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, spreading 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Wisconsin
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.