Shade gardening in Maryland
Maryland spans the Atlantic coastal plain, the Piedmont and the Appalachian west, with hardiness zones that range roughly from 5 to 8. Summers are humid and winters moderate. Native woodland plants of the Mid-Atlantic fit this climate well, and many also support pollinators. Maryland extension programs and native plant organizations publish native plant lists that are worth consulting for specifics. For a general overview of shade types, see our indigenous shade plants guide.
Which plants do well in full shade?
Foliage and spring-blooming plants generally work best in deep shade:
- Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides): evergreen fronds for year-round structure.
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense): a spreading groundcover.
- Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
- Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
- Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Native perennials and groundcovers
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica): blue spring flowers; goes dormant in summer.
- Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata): fragrant spring flowers.
- Golden ragwort (Packera aurea): yellow flowers; tolerant of average to moist shade.
- Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): attracts hummingbirds and is typically avoided by deer, though no plant is entirely deer-proof.
- Hairy alumroot (Heuchera villosa) and coral bells (Heuchera americana): foliage plants with flowers that bees use.
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Ferns and sedges
Christmas fern and Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) are widely recommended for dry to average shade. Cinnamon fern and sensitive fern suit damper spots.
Native shrubs for shade
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
- Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia): evergreen with spring flowers; prefers acidic soil.
- Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium): tolerates dry shade.
- Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica): adaptable, with fragrant white flowers.
- Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): native to the Southeast and commonly grown in Maryland.
Shady rain gardens
A rain garden in partial shade needs plants that handle both occasional flooding and dry spells. Options include cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), Virginia sweetspire and swamp milkweed in sunnier edges. Local guidance on rain garden design, such as from county extension programs, is useful for sizing and placement.
What plants are commonly found in Maryland?
Common native trees include tulip poplar, oaks, red maple and American beech, which create the shade many gardens deal with. Native shade plants often grow best near their canopy trees, which supply leaf litter.
Care tips
- Leave the leaves. Fallen leaves act as free mulch and shelter overwintering insects.
- Water new plants weekly during dry spells in the first year.
- Control invasive species such as English ivy and Japanese stiltgrass, which can crowd out natives in shade.
- Plant in fall when possible so roots establish before summer heat.
Related guides
Neighboring states have similar plant palettes. See shade plants for Virginia and the list of perennials for shade.