Indigenous Shade Plants: A Native Shade Garden Guide

What “indigenous” shade plants means

“Indigenous” and “native” are used interchangeably in gardening. Both describe plants that evolved in a region over a long time and developed relationships with local soils, climate, insects and birds. A native shade plant is one that originally grew in the understory or woodland edge of your area, not simply any plant that tolerates low light.

This matters because nativeness is local. A plant that is native to the eastern United States may not be native to the Pacific Northwest, and the reverse is also true. The plants below are well-known examples from different regions. Before buying, check that a species is native to your own state or ecoregion using a regional native plant society, a state extension service, or a native plant database.

Start by understanding your shade

Shade is not one condition. Most plant tags use a few common terms, though definitions vary slightly between sources:

• Full or deep shade: little or no direct sun, often under dense evergreens or on the north side of a building.
• Part shade: roughly three to six hours of direct sun, often in the morning.
• Dappled or light shade: sunlight filtered through the canopy of high-branching trees.

Then consider moisture. Dry shade under mature trees, where roots compete with your plants, is a very different site from a moist, humus-rich woodland floor. Observing the spot at different times of day and in different seasons is worth the time. Many woodland plants get most of their sun in early spring before the trees leaf out.

Native plants that suit shade

Ferns

Ferns give structure and texture without relying on flowers. Commonly used natives include Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) in the East, lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), and western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) in the Pacific Northwest.

Groundcovers

Low, spreading natives can replace turf or bare soil under trees. Examples include wild ginger (Asarum canadense), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) and woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), all native to parts of eastern North America.

Wildflowers

Spring woodland wildflowers include wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) and various trillium species. Some, such as Virginia bluebells, go dormant by summer, so pair them with ferns or sedges that fill the gap.

Grasses and sedges

Grass-like plants are a good answer to the question of native grasses for shade. Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is often used as a lawn alternative in dry to average shade, and northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) handles part shade in many eastern gardens. Most true prairie grasses need more sun than these.

Shrubs and small trees

Understory shrubs add height and often fruit for birds. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), Oregon grape (Mahonia species) and salal (Gaultheria shallon) are options depending on region. Small trees such as serviceberry (Amelanchier) and eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) tolerate some shade at woodland edges.

Dry shade versus moist shade

For dry shade, look for tougher species such as Pennsylvania sedge, wild ginger, hairy alumroot (Heuchera villosa) and many sword fern or Oregon grape relatives. For moist shade, ostrich fern, cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), jewelweed and Virginia bluebells are among the natives that appreciate consistent moisture. Even drought-tolerant shade plants usually need regular water during their first growing season while roots establish.

Planting and care

1. Plant in fall or early spring so roots establish during cooler, wetter weather.
2. Improve the site by leaving leaves. A layer of fallen leaves feeds the soil and shelters overwintering insects. Shredded leaves or leaf mold work well as mulch.
3. Water through the first year, then reduce watering as plants mature.
4. Be patient. Many gardeners follow the “sleep, creep, leap” idea, meaning perennials often grow modestly in their first two years before filling out.
5. Buy nursery-propagated plants. Avoid digging wild plants, and ask nurseries whether stock is propagated rather than collected.

Choose plants for your region

Regional lists will give you better results than a generic one. These guides in this cluster cover specific areas:

• Shade plants for Michigan
• Idaho shade plants
• Shade plants for Maryland
• Shade plants for Oregon
• Shade plants for Virginia
• Southern plants for shade

If you want a broader, plant-by-plant reference, see our list of the best perennials for shade.

Common questions

What native plants prefer shade? Ferns, wild ginger, foamflower, columbine, bluebells and spicebush are common examples, but the right choices depend on where you live.

What grows in 100% shade? Almost no plant grows with no light at all. In very deep shade, ferns, wild ginger, sedges and some evergreen groundcovers tend to cope best, and growth will be slower.

Can I use these plants for Missouri or Wisconsin shade? Many of the Midwest and Eastern species mentioned here, such as wild geranium, Solomon’s seal and Christmas fern, occur in those states, but check a state-specific list before choosing.