Plants for Shady Sites

Tagged as: Plants for Shady Sites

Don’t let anyone tell you that planting in shade is a problem. Don’t believe for an instant that shade gardens are boring or that your plant selections are limited. Nature is the best demonstrator for the possibilities of shade-loving plants. Just walk through a forest and observe the many combinations of bold and finely textured, flamboyant and charming, low-growing and looming shade-tolerant plants. See with new eyes the many forms, textures, and colors, and notice how refreshing and inviting a shady retreat can be. Then you, too, may be inspired to discover the special pleasures of shade gardening.

Types of Shade

Shade varies in intensity. It is important to know what type of shade your site has so that you can select the best plants for those conditions. Many shade-tolerant plants can also handle quite a bit of sun. Often, however, the time of day they are exposed to sun can make a difference. For instance, morning sun is less intense. Many shade plants are perfectly content in morning sun. Locations exposed to mid-day sun bear the full brunt of solar heat and light. This kind of sun will often burn shade-tolerant plants.

Here is a simple overview of the different sun conditions. The charts that follow will use these terms as well as note when a plant has a particular preference for morning or afternoon sun.

• Full sun indicates a location receiving full sun for at least 6 hours per day. (In northern Illinois, plants in full sun may be exposed to up to 15 hours of summer sunlight.)
• Filtered sun areas receive partially filtered sunlight, achieved through open-canopied or high-limbed trees. Filtered sun areas may receive an hour or so of direct sunlight.
• Part shade locations receive 4-5 hours of direct sunlight a day. Plants in part-shade usually exhibit upright growth and normal flowering habits.
• Full shade sites receive no direct sunlight, such as at the base of a north-facing wall, beneath low-limbed trees, or below dense evergreens. Plants needing sun may have lush vegetative growth in full shade, but few flowers.

Factors to Consider

Moisture

Successful shade gardening depends upon the amount of moisture a particular plant receives. Most plants that thrive in shade require soil to be barely moist, but well-drained. When conditions become dry and temperatures rise, plants can’t replenish moisture from the ground fast enough to prevent wilting. The end result is that a plant will temporarily go dormant. While some plants tolerate less moisture, they will not survive drought. Supplemental watering and a layer of organic mulch will help keep your plants healthy.

Root Competition

Root competition from nearby trees should be considered when selecting the right site for your plant for two reasons. First, some trees, such as maples, can make it difficult for some understory plants to get established because their shallow, dense tree roots absorb most of the available moisture. In this situation, you’ll want to choose smaller, drought-tolerant plants that will adapt to these conditions. Second, trees can create mats of fine roots at the soil surface. If too many of these roots are destroyed during soil preparation and planting, the tree may suffer serious damage. When planting under trees, carefully dig individual planting holes and do not use a rototiller, which can damage the tree’s extensive root system.

Amending the Soil

Good growing conditions for shade-loving plants include plentiful organic matter. Enhance your soil’s water holding capacity by incorporating several inches of leaf mold, compost, or well-rotted manure before planting. For existing plants, spread 3-4 inches of woodchips, leaf-mold, or compost around the base of the plants, pulling mulch away from the stems and tree trunks.

Designing for Shade

Landscapes change over time. A garden that was once in part shade may become more heavily shaded as trees and shrubs mature. As degree of light changes, shade gardens are usually more subtle, lacking the bright, bold colors and flowering potential found in sunny locations. Look at this as an opportunity to try new types of plants. Take advantage of large-leafed plants, such as hosta, to add textural contrast to your design. Consider using a variety of contrasting heights and shapes. For instance, you can combine weeping or rounded forms with upright conifers to add interest. Purples and blues recede into the shade unless set off by lighter contrasting colors, such as yellow. The predominant color in a full shade garden is green, but light-colored foliage or variegated leaves stand out in shade, especially at dusk. Glossy leaves have more impact than dull leaves. Utilize all and any of these elements to add interest to landscape planting designs for shade.

Botanical Name/Common Name *Native to Midwest	Light requirements		Botanical Name/Common Name *Native to Midwest	Light requirements
INTERMEDIATE-SIZED TREEES (25-40 feet)			VINES
Aesculus glabra* Ohio Buckeye	Sun to part shade		Actinidia kolomikta Hardy Kiwi	Filtered sun to part shade
Carpinus caroliniana* American Hornbeam	Sun to full shade		Aristolochia macrophylla Dutchman's Pipe	Sun to part shade
Ostrya virginiana* Ironwood, Hop-Hornbeam	Sun to full shade		Campsis radicans Trumpet Vine	Sun to part shade
Sassafras albidum* Sassafras	Sun to part shade		Clematis spp. Clematis	Sun to filtered sun
SMALL ORNAMENTAL TREES (15-25 feet)			Hydrangea petiolaris Climbing Hydrangea	Sun to part shade
Acer griseum Paperbark Maple	Sun to part shade		Lonicera x heckrottii Goldflame Honeysuckle	Sun to part shade
Acer triflorum Three-Flower Maple	Sun to part shade		Parthenocissus quinquefolia* Virginia Creeper	Sun to full shade
Aesculus pavia Red Buckeye	Sun to part shade		Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston-Ivy	Sun to full shade
Amelanchier x grandiflora Apple Serviceberry	Sun to part shade		Schizophragma hydrangeoides Japanese Hydrangea-Vine	Filtered sun to full shade
Amelanchier laevis* Allegheny Serviceberry	Sun to part shade		GRASSES & SEDGES
Asimina triloba* Pawpaw	Sun to full shade		Calamagrostis xacutifolia Feather Reed Grass	Sun to part shade
Cercis canadensis* Eastern Redbud	Sun to part shade		Carex spp. Sedge	Filtered sun to full shade
Cornus alternifolia* Pagoda Dogwood	Sun to full shade		Chasmathium latifolium Northern Sea Oats	Sun to full shade
Cornus kousa Kousa Dogwood	Sun to part shade		Deschampsia caespitosa Tufted Hair Grass	Sun to part shade
Cornus mas Cornelian-Cherry Dogwood	Sun to part shade		Hakonechloa macra Hakone Grass	Part to full shade
Halesia tetrapetera* Silverbell	Sun to part shade		Pennisetum alopecuriodes Hardy Fountain Grass	Sun to part shade
Magnolia stellata Star Magnolia	Sun to filtered sun		GROUND COVERS
Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia	Sun to part shade		Ajuga reptans Bugleweed	Filtered to full shade
Ptelea trifoliata* Wafer-Ash	Sun to full shade		Asarum canadensis* Wild Ginger	Part to full shade
EVERGREENS			Asarum europaeum European Wild Ginger	Filtered sun to full shade
Buxus spp. Boxwood	Sun to part shade		Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago	Filtered sun to part shade
Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-Fir	Sun to part shade		Convallaria majalis Lily-of-the-Valley	Filtered sun to full shade
Taxus cuspidata Japanese Yew	Sun to shade		Epimedium spp. Barrenwort or Bishop's Hat	Filtered sun to part shade
Taxus xmedia Anglo-Japanese Yew	Sun to shade		Euonymus fortunei Japanese Winter Creeper	Filtered sun to full shade
Thuja occidentalis* Eastern Arborvitae	Sun to part shade		Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff	Part to full shade
Thuja plicata Giant Arborvitae	Sun to part shade		Hedera helix English Ivy	Sun to full shade
Tsuga canadensis Eastern Hemlock	Part to full shade		Lamium maculatum Spotted Dead-nettle	Filtered sun to part shade
LARGE SHRUBS (over 8 feet)			Liriope spicata Creeping Lily-Turf	Filtered sun to part shade
Aesculus parviflora Bottlebrush Buckeye	Part to full shade		Pachysandra procumbens Allegheny Pachysandra	Part to full shade
Cephalanthus occidentalis* Buttonbush	Sun to part shade		Pachysandra terminalis Japanese Pachysandra	Filtered sun to full shade
Chionanthus virginicus Fringe Tree	Sun to part shade		Pulmonaria spp. Lungwort	Part to full shade
Cornus racemosa* Gray Dogwood	Sun to full shade		Tiarella cordifolia Heart-leaves Foamflower	Full to part shade
Euonymus atropurpureus* Wahoo	Sun to part shade		Vinca minor Common Periwinkle	Filtered sun to full shade
Hamamelis vernalis Vernal Witch-Hazel	Filtered sun to full shade		Waldsteinia fragarioides Barren Strawberry	Filtered sun to part shade
Hamamelis virginiana* Common Witch-Hazel	Filtered sun to full shade		PERENNIALS
Heptacodium miconioides Seven-Son Flower	Sun to part shade		Actaea spp.* Baneberry	Part to full shade
Hydrangea paniculata Panicled Hydrangea	Sun to part shade		Adiantum pedatum* Maidenhair Fern	Part to full shade
Ilex decidua* Possum-Haw	Sun to part shade		Anemone spp. Anemone	Filtered sun to full shade
Kolkwitzia amabilis Beauty Bush	Sun to part shade		Aquilegia spp. Columbine	Filtered sun to part shade
Lindera benzoin* Spicebush	Part to full shade		Arisaema triphylla* Jack-in-the-Pulpit	Filtered sun to full shade
Sambucus canadensis* Common Elderberry	Sun to part shade		Aruncus dioica* Goat's Beard	Filtered sun to part shade
Staphylea trifolia* American Bladdernut	Part to full shade		Astilbe spp. Astilbe	Sun to part shade
Viburnum dentatum Southern Arrowwood	Sun to part shade		Athyrium filix-femina* Lady Fern	Filtered sun to part shade
Viburnum lantana Wayfaringtree Viburnum	Sun to part shade		Athyrium niponicum Japanese Painted Fern	Part to full shade
Viburnum lentago* Nannyberry	Sun to full shade		Bergenia cordifolia Heart-Leaf Bergenia	Filtered sun to part shade
Viburnum prunifolium* Black-haw	Sun to full shade		Brunnera macrophylla Siberian Bugloss	Filtered sun to part shade
Viburnum opulus var. americanum* American Cranberry-bush Viburnum	Sun to part shade		Campanula spp. Bluebells	Filtered sun to part shade
Intermediate-Sized Shrubs (5-8 feet tall)			Cimicifuga racemosa Black Snakeroot	Sun to part shade
Aronia arbutifolia Red Chokeberry	Sun to full shade		Dennstaedtia punctilobula* Hay-Scented Fern	Filtered sun to full shade
Berberis koreana Korean Barberry	Sun to part shade		Dicentra cucullaria* Dutchman's Britches	Filtered sun to part shade
Calycanthus floridus* Carolina Allspice	Sun to full shade		Lamprocapnos spectabilis Bleeding Heart	Part shade
Clethra alnifolia Summersweet Clethra	Sun to part shade		Dodecatheon meadia* Shooting Star	Part to full shade
Corylus americana* American Hazelnut	Sun to part shade		Dryopteris spp. Shield Fern	Part to full shade
Dirca palustris* Leatherwood	Filtered sun to full shade		Echinacea purpurea* Purple Coneflower	Sun to filtered sun
Hamamelis x intermedia Hybrid Witch-Hazel	Sun to part shade		Erythronium americanum* Trout Lily	Filtered sun to full shade
Hydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf Hydrangea	Sun to part shade		Helleborus orientalis Lenten Rose	Part to full shade
Ilex verticillata* Common Winterberry	Sun to part shade		Heuchera spp. Coralbells	Sun to part shade
Myrica pensylvanica Bayberry	Sun to part shade		Hosta spp. Hosta	Filtered sun to full shade
Philadelphus x virginalis Hybrid Mockorange	Sun to part shade		Iris sibirica Siberian Iris	Sun to part shade
Rhodotypos scandens Black Jetbead	Sun to full shade		Lobelia cardinalis* Cardinal Flower	Filtered sun to part shade
Viburnum acerifolium* Maple-leaved Viburnum	Filtered sun to full shade		Matteuccia struthiopteris* Ostrich Fern	Filtered sun to full shade
Viburnum cassinoides* Witherod	Sun to part shade		Mertensia virginica* Virginia Bluebells	Filtered sun to full shade
LOW-GROWING SHRUBS (under 5 feet)			Osmunda cinnamonea* Cinnamon Fern	Filtered sun to part shade
Abeliophyllum distichum White-Forsythia	Sun to part shade		Osmunda claytonia* Interrupted Fern	Part to full shade
Aronia melanocarpa* Black Chokeberry	Sun to full shade		Osmunda regalis* Royal Fern	Part to full shade
Callicarpa dichotoma Purple Beautyberry	Sun to filtered sun		Polemonium caeruleum Jacob's Ladder	Filtered sun to part shade
Ceanothus americanus* New Jersey-Tea	Sun to part shade		Polygonatum spp. Solomon's Seal	Part to full shade
Comptonia peregrina* Sweet-Fern	Sun to part shade		Polystichum acrostichoides* Christmas Fern	Part shade
Cotoneaster horizontalis Rockspray Cotoneaster	Sun to part shade		Primula spp. Primrose	Part shade
Deutzia gracilis Slender Deutzia	Sun to part shade		Pulmonaria spp. Lungwort	Filtered sun to full shade
Diervilla spp. Bush-Honeysuckle	Sun to part shade		Smilacina spp. False Solomon's Seal	Part to full shade
Fothergilla spp. Fothergilla	Sun to part shade		Stylophorum diphyllum* Celandine Poppy	Part to full shade
Hydrangea arborescens Wild Hydrangea	Part to full shade		Thalictrum aquilegiifolium Columbine Meadow Rue	Filtered sun to part shade
Hypericum prolificum* Shrubby St. John's Wort	Sun to part shade		Tiarella cordifolia* Heart-leaved Foamflower	Full to part shade
Itea virginica* Sweetspire	Sun to full shade		Tradescantia spp. Spiderwort	Sun to part shade
Kerria japonica Japanese Kerria	Sun to full shade		Trillium spp.* Trillium	Filtered sun to full shade
Physocarpus opulifolius * Common Ninebark	Sun to part shade		Trollius europaeus European Globeflower	Sun to part shade
Rhus aromatica* Fragrant Sumac	Sun to part shade		Uvularia grandiflora* Bellwort	Part to full shade
Rhus copallina Shining Sumac	Sun to part shade
Ribes alpinum Alpine Currant	Sun to part shade
Stephanandra incisa Cut-Leaved Stephanandra	Sun to full shade
Symphoricarpos albus* Snowberry	Sun to part shade

* Native to Midwest

Additional Reading

Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland. George E. Brown, Faber and Faber, London, 1980 Shade Gardening. Ken Burke, editor, Chevron Books, San Ramon, CA, 1983 The Natural Shade Garden. Ken Druse, Clarkson Potter, New York, NY, 1992 Shade Gardening with Derek Fell. Derek Fell, Freeman Publishing Group, New York, NY, 1998 Gardening in the Shade. Margery Fish, Capitol Books, Sterling, VA, 2000 The Complete Shade Gardener. George Schenk, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA, 1984 Taylor’s Guide to Shade Gardening. Francis Tenenbaum, editor, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA, 1994

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