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Plants and Flowers that are Able to Grow in Full Shade

There are many different levels of shade that you may have to contend with in your garden

Most garden stores and nurseries will only carry a very limited stock of Plants and Flowers that will grow in Deep Shade If you want to find the really unique and special shade plants, you will need to find a local nursery that specializes in shade plants and will be able to help you choose suitable shade plants for your area.

Common Name:
Algerian Ivy
Botanical Name: Hedera canariensis
Height: Vining Plants
USDA Zones: 4-7
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic or poisonous
Algerian Ivy's glossy 4-8" foliage and the vines ability to crawl, creep and climb just about anywhere makes this a great ground cover or privacy screen
Common Name:
Autumn Fern
Botanical Name: Dryopteris erythrosora
Height: 15-24"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
The fronds of the Autumn Fern begin to emerge in early spring as a copper to reddish color and mature to dark green by mid summer. In the fall months, Autumn Ferns once again change colors. They should be planted in evenly moist, compost rich soil and grown where they will receive partial to full shade.
Common Name:
Bears Breeches
Botanical Name: Acanthus species
Height: 3-4 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsNo DeerWhite flowering plantPink flowering plant
Bear's Breeches are huge, mound forming perennials with dramatic, deeply cut, bright green leaves that can reach one foot wide and two feet long. From late spring until mid summer, they produce impressive, 2-3 foot tall spikes of hooded, white or light pink flowers.
Common Name:
Begonia Rex
Botanical Name: Begonia rex-cultorum
Height: 4-12"
USDA Zones: 10-12
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering This can be grown as a House Plant White flowering plantPink flowering plant
The Rex or Painted-Leaf Begonias are rhizomatous, clump forming, tender perennials that are normally grown as house plants. Their leaves vary considerably in texture, size, shape, patterns and colors. The inconspicuous, small, pink or white flowers may appear at any time of the year
Common Name:
Black Mondo Grass
Botanical Name: Ophiopogon planiscapus
Height: 6-12"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering No Deer White flowering plantPink flowering plant
Black Mondo Grass grows as neat, slowly spreading, 4" tufts of ¼" wide, sweetly fragrant, straplike leaves. New foliage emerges dark green in spring then changes to dark purplish-black by summer.Loose spikes of small, light pink or white, bell shaped flowers appear in mid summer.
Common Name:
Bleeding Heart
Botanical Name: Dicentra spectabilis
Height: 2-3 ft.
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Hummingbird PlantNo Deer White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plant
Bleeding Heart is a mound forming plant with finely cut, fern-like foliage on graceful 2-3 foot arching stems topped with pretty, heart shaped, 1" flowers in late spring or early summer. Excellent plants for any shade garden or woodland setting
Common Name:
Blue Bugleweed
Botanical Name: Ajuga genevensis
Height: 4-6"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer blue flowering plant
Typical Ajuga with 8" blue flowers in the Spring. Deer Resistant ground cover
Common Name:
Blue Corydalis
Botanical Name: Corydalis flexuosa
Height: 12-18"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Hummingbird Plant blue flowering plant
Blue Corydalis is a slow growing, evergreen perennial that will eventually form a dense 18" clump of elegant, 12" tall, lace-like green foliage. Eighteen inch spikes of dangling, tubular, sky blue flowers will adorn the plant from late spring until fall in regions with cool summers
Common Name:
Brass Buttons
Botanical Name: Leptinella squalida
Height: 1-2"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Yellow flowering plant
The interesting feathery, fern like foliage of the New Zealand Brass Buttons may give the impression that it is a delicate plant, but in reality, it is a tough enough ground cover that it can take light foot traffic and is even used as a lawn substitute in many areas.
Botanical Name: Justicia carnea
Height: 3-5 ft.
USDA Zones: 9-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions HousePlant Icon White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantYellow flowering plantPurple flowering plantorange flowering plant
The Brazilian Plume Flower is a shade loving, tropical evergreen perennial shrub with large deep green leaves. It produces a never ending show of large spikes of brightly colored, tubular flowers from spring to fall.
Common Name:
Bugleweed
Botanical Name: Ajuga reptens
Height: 4-6"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions blue flowering plant
Ajuga grows well in full shade to full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions as long as soil is well drained.
Common Name:
Bunchberry
Botanical Name: Cornus canadensis
Height: 4-6"
USDA Zones: 3-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Bird Plant or Flower White flowering plant
Bunchberry Dogwoods are probably the ultimate ground cover plants for growing in moist, woodland areas or in your shade garden. These short, bright green plants only reach six inches tall. They produce bright red berries that are eaten by many species of wild birds.
Common Name:
Coastal Wood Fern
Botanical Name: Dryopteris arguta
Height: 18-24"
USDA Zones: 4-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
Coastal Wood Ferns can be grown in most average garden soils as long as it is well draining. They grow best in partial or full shade, but can be grown in full sun if they are kept moist.
Common Name:
Black Mondo Grass
Botanical Name: Ophiopogon planiscapus
Height: 6-12"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering No Deer White flowering plantPink flowering plant
Black Mondo Grass grows as neat, slowly spreading, 4" tufts of ¼" wide, sweetly fragrant, straplike leaves. New foliage emerges dark green in spring then changes to dark purplish-black by summer.Loose spikes of small, light pink or white, bell shaped flowers appear in mid summer.
Common Name:
Bleeding Heart
Botanical Name: Dicentra spectabilis
Height: 2-3 ft.
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Hummingbird PlantNo Deer White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plant
Bleeding Heart is a mound forming plant with finely cut, fern-like foliage on graceful 2-3 foot arching stems topped with pretty, heart shaped, 1" flowers in late spring or early summer. Excellent plants for any shade garden or woodland setting
Common Name:
Blue Bugleweed
Botanical Name: Ajuga genevensis
Height: 4-6"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer blue flowering plant
Typical Ajuga with 8" blue flowers in the Spring. Deer Resistant ground cover
Common Name:
Blue Corydalis
Botanical Name: Corydalis flexuosa
Height: 12-18"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Hummingbird Plant blue flowering plant
Blue Corydalis is a slow growing, evergreen perennial that will eventually form a dense 18" clump of elegant, 12" tall, lace-like green foliage. Eighteen inch spikes of dangling, tubular, sky blue flowers will adorn the plant from late spring until fall in regions with cool summers
Common Name:
Brass Buttons
Botanical Name: Leptinella squalida
Height: 1-2"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Yellow flowering plant
The interesting feathery, fern like foliage of the New Zealand Brass Buttons may give the impression that it is a delicate plant, but in reality, it is a tough enough ground cover that it can take light foot traffic and is even used as a lawn substitute in many areas.
Botanical Name: Justicia carnea
Height: 3-5 ft.
USDA Zones: 9-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions HousePlant Icon White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantYellow flowering plantPurple flowering plantorange flowering plant
The Brazilian Plume Flower is a shade loving, tropical evergreen perennial shrub with large deep green leaves. It produces a never ending show of large spikes of brightly colored, tubular flowers from spring to fall.
Common Name:
Bugleweed
Botanical Name: Ajuga reptens
Height: 4-6"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions blue flowering plant
Ajuga grows well in full shade to full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions as long as soil is well drained.
Common Name:
Bunchberry
Botanical Name: Cornus canadensis
Height: 4-6"
USDA Zones: 3-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Bird Plant or Flower White flowering plant
Bunchberry Dogwoods are probably the ultimate ground cover plants for growing in moist, woodland areas or in your shade garden. These short, bright green plants only reach six inches tall. They produce bright red berries that are eaten by many species of wild birds.
Common Name:
Coastal Wood Fern
Botanical Name: Dryopteris arguta
Height: 18-24"
USDA Zones: 4-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
Coastal Wood Ferns can be grown in most average garden soils as long as it is well draining. They grow best in partial or full shade, but can be grown in full sun if they are kept moist.
Common Name:
Creeping Buttercup
Botanical Name: Ranunculus repans
Height: 9-12"
USDA Zones: 8-11
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantYellow flowering plant
In many places, especially my gardens, Creeping Buttercups are considered to be a noxious and invasive weed! However, they may have their place in a poorly drained, shady area of your garden. They have green, deeply cut, snowflake foliage and bright yellow flowers in spring.
Common Name:
Creeping Lily Turf
Botanical Name: Liriope spicata
Height: 8-10"
USDA Zones: 4-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightOnce established this plant requires little or no supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering Bird Plant or Flower White flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Creeping Lily Turf is a grass like ground cover that grows as spreading clumps of fine, dark green leaves that turn to bronze-green in the winter. Lily Turf produces spikes of tiny flowers in late summer, followed by dark blue berries in late fall.
Common Name:
Deer Fern
Botanical Name: Blechnum spicant
Height: 18-24"
USDA Zones: 5-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer
Deer Ferns resemble miniature Sword ferns but smaller with rounded fronds. They are drought tolerate but do best if kept damp
Common Name:
English Ivy
Botanical Name: Hedera helix
Height: Vining Plants
USDA Zones: 4-7
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering
Fast growing, hardy evergreen vine for shade or partial sun, good for screening, ground cover, erosion control
Common Name:
Fairy Wings
Botanical Name: Epimedium
Height: 6-20"
USDA Zones: 4-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringOnce established these plants require little supplemental watering White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantYellow flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Fairy Wings (Bishops Cap) will survive in one of the most difficult situations in the garden; the dry shade beneath a tree.
Common Name:
False Aralia
Botanical Name: Schefflera elegantissima
Height: 4-6 ft.
USDA Zones: 10-12
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering HousePlant IconNo DeerYellow flowering plantGreen flowering plant
False Aralias are small, tropical evergreen trees that are native to the islands of the South Pacific. In their native environment, Schefflera elegantissima can grow up to 26 feet tall, but when grown in pots or planters they seldom reach more than 4-6 feet tall.
Common Name:
False Spirea
Botanical Name: Astilbe chinensis
Height: 6-24"
USDA Zones: 6
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantPink flowering plant
The fern like foliage and the showy plume flowers of False Spirea make them a favorite summer flowering perennial.
Common Name:
Fatshedera
Botanical Name: Fatshedera lizei
Height: Vining Plants
USDA Zones: 8-11
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering White flowering plant
Fatshedera is a hardy evergreen, non climbing vine that is the result of the cross between Fatsia japonica and Hedera helix. Fatshedera tends to grow upwards a few feet before falling and creeping across the ground
Common Name:
Fleabane
Botanical Name: Erigeron glaucus
Height: 6"-10"
USDA Zones: 3-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantPink flowering plant
Clump forming, small spoon shaped leaves; Daisy-like pink flowers
Common Name:
Foamflower
Botanical Name: Tiarella cordifolia
Height: 6-10"
USDA Zones: 3-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer White flowering plantPink flowering plant
Foamflowers are easy to grow, perennial wildflowers that form 6"-10" tall clumps of heart shaped leaves. They quickly spread to form nice two foot patches of this shade loving groundcover. Tiarella produce whispy plumes of creamy white or pale pink, ¼" star shaped flowers.
Common Name:
Forget-me-not
Botanical Name: Myosotis palustris
Height: 3-8"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer blue flowering plant
Dense mat of small green leaves covered with tiny blue flowers.
Common Name:
Fuchsia
Botanical Name: Fuchsia
Height: 1-4 ft.
USDA Zones: 7-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Hummingbirds use this plant for food or shelter White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Fuchsia care is often determined by where you live and your climate. Fuchsias can be seed grown or struck from softwood cuttings. Not all varieties are hardy
Common Name:
Gloxinia
Botanical Name: 8-12"
Height: Sinningia hybridus
USDA Zones: 10-12
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions This can be grown as a House Plant White flowering plantRed flowering plantYellow flowering plantPurple flowering plantorange flowering plantGreen flowering plant
Gloxinias come in a wide range of colors, with variations in both foliage and flower forms. They are tuberous plants which are usually grown as houseplants, but may also be grown in containers in a shaded part of the garden.
Common Name:
Golden Loosestrife
Botanical Name: Lysimachia punctata
Height: 3-4 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Butterfly FlowerNo Deer Yellow flowering plant
Golden Loosestrife is an excellent plant for bog gardens or next to ponds and streams. This 3-4 foot tall perennial has light green, 3" leaves with serrated edges. In the summer, they produce abundant spikes of star shaped, golden yellow flowers, tinged in red at the base.
Common Name:
Ground Ivy
Botanical Name: Glechoma hederacea
Height: 2-3"
USDA Zones: Hardy
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Pink flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Ground Ivy is an aggressively growing, evergreen ground cover. It will survive almost anywhere that there is sufficient moisture. The five inch spikes of tiny orchid-like flowers appear continuously from March through July
Common Name:
Hart's Tongue Fern
Botanical Name: Asplenium scolopendrium
Height: 24-30"
USDA Zones: 6-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
Unlike most other ferns, tropical looking Hart's Tongue Fern has strap-like undivided fronds. These glossy green ferns are native to most areas of the world with alkaline soil. Keep the soil evenly moist. Hart's Tongue Ferns are well suited for growing as a container plant.
Common Name:
Irish Moss
Botanical Name: Sagina subulata
Height: <1"
USDA Zones: 5-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plant
Irish Moss is an excellent terrarium plant. Mosses grow primarily in lightly shaded areas. Thousands of tiny Moss plants will bunch together to make a single patch of moss.
Common Name:
Jack in the Pulpit
Botanical Name: Arisaema species
Height: 12-30"
USDA Zones: vary
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic or poisonousNo Deer White flowering plant
Jack in the Pulpits are distinctive, woodland wildflowers that are native to North America and parts of Asia. In spring to early summer, tiny, insignificant flowers form on the spadix (Jack), hidden down inside the hooded spathe (The Pulpit), which emerges from the middle of the foliage.
Common Name:
Jacob's Ladder
Botanical Name: Polemonium
Height: 6-36"
USDA Zones: 2-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer White flowering plantPink flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Clump forming perennials that grow in swirling rosettes of bright green or variegated, fern-like foliage. Produces loose clusters of tubular or bell shaped flowers. Plants go completely dormant in the winter but quickly re-emerge in early spring.
Common Name:
Japanese Aralia
Botanical Name: Fatsia japonica
Height: 6-8 ft.
USDA Zones: 8-11
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsHousePlant IconWhite flowering plant
Japanese Aralias are one of the easiest of all shade garden or house plants to grow and care for. They have large dark green, palmate leaves and form tropical looking, evergreen shrubs that can grow up to 6-8 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
Botanical Name: Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
Height: 12-15"
USDA Zones: 4-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
The slow spreading Japanese Painted Fern is probably the most decorative of all ferns. The fronds are tri-colored blends of silver, pink and green, standing above burgundy stems. Japanese Painted Ferns should be grown in full shade to partial shade, where soil is moist but well-drained.
Common Name:
Japanese Sedge Grass
Botanical Name: Carex morrowii 'Variegata'
Height: 1 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Brown flowering plant
Japanese Sedge Grass is a semi-evergreen vigorous grower that will grow in full shade and even tolerates full sun in cool climates. This sedge is great for growing in container.
Common Name:
Japanese Spurge
Botanical Name: Pachysandra terminalis
Height: 6-10"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic or poisonousNo Deer White flowering plant
Pachysandra is a very easy to care for, durable, low growing, mat forming, slow spreading ground cover plant that grow on thick, unbranched stems to about 6" tall in partial shade and 10" in deep shade.
Common Name:
Licorice Fern
Botanical Name: Polypodium glycyrrhiza
Height: 12-18"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightOnce established this plant requires little or no supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
Licorice Ferns are attractive, epiphytic plants that are primarily found growing with mosses on rotting logs or in Bigleaf Maple trees. They are fairly difficult to grow without a rotting log to plant them in. Licorice Ferns grow best partial to full shade, but will tolerate very short periods of bright sun. Generally they require moist soil, but they will tolerate brief periods of drought.
Common Name:
Lily Turf
Botanical Name: Liriope muscari
Height: 18"
USDA Zones: 6-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightOnce established this plant requires little or no supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering Bird Plant or Flower White flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Lily Turf are relatively slow spreading plants that eventually form large, 24"-30" wide clumps of loose, 18" tall, ½" wide leaves. Lily Turf plants form 6"-8", spikelike clusters of ¼", white or purple flowers in late summer.
Common Name:
Maidenhair Fern
Botanical Name: Adiantum raddianum
Height: 12"
USDA Zones: 10-12
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsHousePlant Icon
Delta Maidenhair Ferns are elegant, fast growing, evergreen foliage plants with delicate, lacy fronds that are held on wiry, 6"-12" black stems. Maidenhair fronds are composed of bright green, triangular leaflets and can grow up to 12" wide and 18" long.
Botanical Name: Asplenium trichomanes
Height: 4-7"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
The Maidenhair Spleenwort is a rhizomous, low growing, creeping fern that forms dense tufted rosettes of deep green fronds on black, wire-like stems. In nature, Maidenhair Spleenworts grow in shady rock cervices and rocky, calcium rich (limestone) soil. They require constant moisture and good drainage.
Common Name:
Masterwort
Botanical Name: Astrantia maxima
Height: 18-30"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantPink flowering plant
Masterworts have bright green, palmate leaves with 5-7 fingers. From early to mid-summer, they produce wirey, top-branched stems with intricately formed, ¾"-1¼" umbels of tightly packed, 5 petaled flowers, surrounded by a ring of papery, petal-like bracts.
Common Name:
Miniature Daisy
Botanical Name: Bellium mimutum
Height: 2"
USDA Zones: 6-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsButterfly FlowerWhite flowering plant
The Miniature Daisy plant is a vigorous growing, mat forming perennial with dense, bright green, 1" spoon shaped foliage. They only grow 2" tall, but spread to about 18". From late spring through summer, they cover themselves with tiny, ½" Daisy flowers on wirey stems.
Common Name:
Mondo Grass
Botanical Name: Ophiopogon japonicus
Height: 6-10"
USDA Zones: 6-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Purple flowering plant
Mondo grass slowly forms tight, 24" matted clumps of 8"-12" long, 1/8" wide, bright green, grass-like foliage. Spikes of small, lavender or light purple flowers appear in the late summer
Common Name:
Monkey Flower
Botanical Name: Mimulus hybridus
Height: 1 ft.
USDA Zones: This is an annual plant or it is commonly grown as an annual
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Hummingbird Flower Red flowering plantPink flowering plantYellow flowering plantorange flowering plant
The Monkey Flower is a colorful, easy to grow addition to the shaded areas of your garden. This plant grows well in containers and can be grown as a house plant
Common Name:
Moss
Botanical Name: Many Species
Height: <1"
USDA Zones: 1-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantYellow flowering plant
Mosses grow naturally in most temperate areas of the world. They are primarily found growing in lightly shaded areas or where there are periods of sun in the morning or late afternoon. Very usable for creating a terrarium!
Botanical Name: Araucaria heterophylla
Height: 6+ ft.
USDA Zones: 10-11
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions This can be grown as a House Plant
The beauty and symmetry as well as the soft flowing texture of the foliage will make you want to decorate your Norfolk Pine and use it as a living Christmas tree!
Common Name:
Oak Fern
Botanical Name: Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Height: 5-12"
USDA Zones: 3-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
Oak Ferns spread by non-aggressive, underground rhizomes forming a nice delicate looking ground cover in your woodland setting. Oak ferns should be grown in evenly moist, compost rich soil and planted where it will grow in partial to full shade.
Common Name:
Oregon Grape
Botanical Name: Mahonia aquifolium
Height: 3-6 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Butterfly FlowerBird Plant or FlowerNo DeerYellow flowering plant
Oregon Grape is a deer resistant, low maintenance, durable, evergreen shrub with glossy green, holly like foliage. It produces spikey clusters of Butterfly attracting, bright yellow flowers in the spring, followed by bluish-black berries to feed the birds.
Botanical Name: Adiantum pedatum
Height: 18-24"
USDA Zones: 3-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
The Pacific Maidenhair Fern can add a bit of graceful elegance to any partial to fully shaded area of your garden. The fronds emerge in early spring on black, wire-like stems that reach 18-24 inches. Your Pacific Maidenhair should be planted in a rich, humus soil and provided with constant, even moisture.
Common Name:
Periwinkle
Botanical Name: Vinca
Height: 6"
USDA Zones: 4-9 7-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightOnce established these plants require little supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic or poisonousNo Deer White flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Periwinkles are fast growing, evergreen ground cover plants with opposing pairs of glossy dark green or variegated, oblong to lance shaped, 1½"-3" leaves. They produce an abundance of single, 1"-2" funnel shaped flowers with five flared and flattened petals.
Common Name:
Scouler's Corydalis
Botanical Name: Corydalis scouleri
Height: 3 ft.
USDA Zones: 7-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsHummingbird Plant Pink flowering plant
Corydalis scouleri is a perennial wildflower that is native to western Washington, Oregon and parts of southwestern British Columbia. Scouler's Corydalis will gradually form a 3 foot clump of 3 foot stems of light green, lace-like foliage. Spikes of hot pink, tubular flowers appear in late spring and continue into summer.
Common Name:
Primrose
Botanical Name: Primula
Height: 6-12"
USDA Zones: vary
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantYellow flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plantGreen flowering plant
Hundreds of species and varieties suitable for a wide range of garden uses. Dwarf varieties are best for rock gardens
Common Name:
Rainbow Leucothoe
Botanical Name: Leucothoe fontanesiana
Height: 3-5 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic or poisonousNo Deer White flowering plantPink flowering plant
Rainbow Leucothoe is an easy to care for, slow growing, 3-5 ft. multi-stemmed evergreen shrub, with glossy, variegated 3-4" leaves. Good as an accent plant or for boggy areas.
Common Name:
Rockery Orchid
Botanical Name: Pleione bulbocodioides
Height: 3"
USDA Zones: 8-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Red flowering plantPink flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Produces a single 3 inch orchid flower in early Spring, followed by a single 6 inch leaf; tough to grow, but very rewarding
Common Name:
Rodgersia
Botanical Name: Rodgersia aesculifolia
Height: 18-30"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantPink flowering plant
The Fingerleaf Rodgersia is a large, imposing, moisture loving plant that will stand out, no matter where you plant it in your garden. Rodgersias produce their long lasting, fluffy plumes of tiny, star shaped, light pink or white flowers beginning in late spring and continuing until mid summer.
Common Name:
Rue Anemone
Botanical Name: Anemonella thalictroides
Height: 6-12"
USDA Zones: 4-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions White flowering plantPink flowering plant
The slow growing Rue Anemone is a slow growing, tuberous, woodland wildflower. It produces dainty pink blooms with the first wave of wildflowers in the spring.
Common Name:
Solomon's Seal
Botanical Name: Polygonatum multiflorum
Height: 2-3 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
The Solomon's Seal is a shade loving, deciduous perennial that produces large, slow spreading clumps of arching, three feet stems lined with pairs of bright green leaves. In late spring, clusters of 2-5 elongated bell shaped, greenish-white flowers will hang beneath each pair of leaves.
Common Name:
Spiderwort
Botanical Name: Tradescantia x andersoniana
Height: 18-24"
USDA Zones: 4-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Butterfly Flower White flowering plantPink flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plant
Spiderworts are clump forming perennials that from early through mid-summer continuously produce butterfly attracting, 1"-1½", three petaled, triangular, flowers on stems that rise slightly above the narrow, strap-like foliage.
Botanical Name: Lamium species
Height: 4"-24"
USDA Zones: 6-10
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsNo DeerWhite flowering plantPink flowering plantYellow flowering plant
Spotted Deadnettle is a spreading, semi-evergreen member of the mint family. They are known for their beautiful silver and green variegation patterns in the textured foliage and spires of dainty, hooded flowers in early summer
Common Name:
Spotted Lungwort
Botanical Name: Pulmonaria officinalis
Height: 8-12"
USDA Zones: 6-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringWhite flowering plantPink flowering plantblue flowering plant
Spotted Lungwort is a clumping, evergreen perennial that is known for its pretty, marbled foliage and brilliantly colored spikes of nodding flowers that appear in early spring and last for several weeks
Common Name:
Tassle Fern
Botanical Name: Polystichum polyblepharum
Height: 18-24"
USDA Zones: 5-8
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions
Tassle Ferns are very showy and easy to grow. Their dark green fronds grow in a very symetrical, rosette form. The stiff stems are covered with soft, copper-brown hairs. Tassle Ferns should be planted in compost rich, evenly moist soil in a area with partial to full shade.
Common Name:
Toad Lily
Botanical Name: Tricyrtis hirta
Height: 30-36"
USDA Zones: 4-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsNo Deer White flowering plantYellow flowering plant
The Common Toad Lily is an easy to care for, slow spreading, clump forming perennial with 4"-6", deep green leaves alternating along multiple, 30"-36" upright, arching stems. Tricyrtis hirta produces loose clusters of awesome Toad flowers at each node along the stem.
Common Name:
Trillium
Botanical Name: Trillium grandiflorum
Height: 8-24"
USDA Zones: 3-7
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic or poisonous White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantblue flowering plantPurple flowering plantBurgundy flowering plant
Trilliums are shade loving, spring blooming perennial woodland wildflowers. They have three dark green, single layer leaves below a green three leaf whorl, below their large three petal flower. Trilliums will most likely perish if their foliage is cut from the plant
Common Name:
Western Sword Fern
Botanical Name: Polystichum munitum
Height: 3-5 ft.
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlight Once established this plant requires little or no supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions No Deer
Native to the coastal forests of North America, this large, easy to grow fern grows best when planted in compost rich soil in a cool, shady, moist garden location. Western Sword Ferns are deer resistant and suitable for growing in the acidic soil found beneath Cedar Trees and other conifers.
Common Name:
Wax Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia semperflorens
Height: 6-12"
USDA Zones: 9-11
Requirements & Benefits: This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions HousePlant Icon White flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plant
Dwarf varieties of Wax Begonia grow from 6"-8" tall. Tall varieties grow from 10"-12" tall. They have succulent stems and waxy, deep green to dark mahogany colored foliage, and they produce loose clusters of single or double, white, pink or red flowers from early May until October.
Common Name:
Wild Ginger
Botanical Name: Asarum species
Height: 6-10"
USDA Zones: 5-9
Requirements & Benefits: This plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant may not tolerate any direct sunlightThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsNo Deer White flowering plantPurple flowering plantBurgundy flowering plant
Wild Gingers are low growing, woodland perennials that are known for their showy, Cyclamen-like, heart shaped foliage and their very unique, three lobed flowers that hide from view below the foliage.


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