Plant Growing Guides

Shade-tolerant Sedges

Carex spp.

Shade-tolerant Sedum

Sedum spp. (shade varieties)

Shade-Tolerant Shrubs

Multiple species

Aucuba (Japanese Laurel)

Aucuba japonica

Azalea and Rhododendron

Rhododendron spp.

Viburnum and Boxwood (Shade-Tolerant Shrubs)

Viburnum spp. and Buxus spp.

Shade-tolerant Sweet Potato Vine

Ipomoea batatas

Shade-tolerant tropical plants

Various species (Alocasia, Anthurium, Epipremnum, Philodendron, etc.)

Shade-tolerant Understory Plants

Various species (mixed group)

Beech and Hornbeam

Fagus species (Beech) and Carpinus species (Hornbeam)

Hellebores, Epimedium, and Hosta (Shade-tolerant Understory Plants)

Helleborus spp., Epimedium spp., Hosta spp.

Tropical Understory Plants (Shade-Tolerant)

Various species adapted to forest understory

Heliconia (Lobster Claw)

Heliconia spp.

Hellebore (Christmas Rose, Lenten Rose)

Helleborus niger, Helleborus orientalis, and hybrids

Hosta and Heuchera (Shade-Tolerant Understory Plants)

Hosta spp. and Heuchera spp.

Hostas and Ferns

Hosta spp. and Polypodiopsida (ferns)

Shade-tolerant Understory Plants (Hostas & Hellebores)

Hosta spp. & Helleborus spp.

Shade-tolerant Understory Plants (Ferns and Hostas)

Pteridophyta (Ferns) & Hosta spp. (Hostas)

Rhododendron and Holly (Shade-Tolerant Understory Shrubs)

Rhododendron spp. and Ilex spp.

Shade-Tolerant Leafy Greens (Spinach & Lettuce)

Spinacia oleracea & Lactuca sativa

Shade-tolerant Woodland Plants

Various species (mixed genus/family)

Shade-tolerant Woodland Plants (Ferns and Hostas)

Polypodiopsida (Ferns) & Hosta spp. (Hostas)

Shade Trees

Various species (e.g., Quercus spp., Acer spp., Tilia spp.)

Shade Trees and Shrubs

Various species (e.g., Acer, Quercus, Ilex, Photinia)

Shade Trees (Banana, Plantain, Coconut)

Musa spp., Cocos nucifera L.

Coral Tree / Silk Tree / Avocado (Shade Trees)

Erythrina spp. / Albizia julibrissin / Persea americana

Faidherbia albida (Apple-ring Acacia)

Faidherbia albida

Ipe (Angelim)

Handroanthus spp. (formerly Tabebuia spp.)

Shade Trees (Oak, Maple, Beech)

Quercus spp., Acer spp., Fagus spp.

Shade Tree Species

Various (Acer, Quercus, Ulmus, Tilia, Fraxinus, and others)

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Thornless Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

Shadowland Autumn Frost Hosta

Hosta 'Shadowland Autumn Frost'

Shadowland Black Currant

Ribes nigrum 'Shadowland'

Shadowland Blue Mouse Ears

Heuchera 'Shadowland Blue Mouse Ears'

Shadowland Forbidden Fruit

Hosta 'Shadowland Forbidden Fruit'

Shadows and Light Hosta

Hosta 'Shadows and Light'

Shadscale

Atriplex confertifolia

Shadscale Saltbush

Atriplex confertifolia

Shady Understory Ferns

Polystichum, Dryopteris, Athyrium, and related genera

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

Shakespeare Tulip

Tulipa 'Shakespeare'

Shale Barren Aster

Symphyotrichum oblanceolatum

Shallot

Allium cepa var. aggregatum

Shallot Ambition

Allium cepa var. aggregatum

Shallot Banana

Allium cepa var. aggregatum

Shallot Gray

Allium cepa var. aggregatum

Shallow-rooted Competing Trees

Multiple species (e.g., Acer palmatum, Betula pendula, Prunus serrulata)