Plant Growing Guides

Shade-loving Woodland Plants

Mixed Species (Helleborus, Hosta, Epimedium, Heuchera, Astilbe, and others)

Shademaster Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Shademaster'

Shade Perennials

Various species

Shade Perennials (Astilbe and Hosta)

Astilbe × arendsii; Hosta species and hybrids

Hellebore (Christmas Rose)

Helleborus niger

Shade Perennials (Hosta and Hellebore)

Hosta spp. and Helleborus spp.

Shade Perennials (Hosta & Liriope)

Hosta spp. & Liriope muscari

Hellebore (Christmas Rose / Lenten Rose)

Helleborus niger / Helleborus orientalis

Shade-providing canopy trees

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

Shade-providing large-leaf plants

Various species (Hosta, Fatsia japonica, Alocasia, Philodendron, etc.)

Shade-providing native shrubs

Various species (region-dependent)

Shade Sedge

Carex oshimensis

Shade Shrubs

Multiple species (general category)

Boxwood & Inkberry (Shade Shrubs)

Buxus spp. & Ilex glabra

Celosia (Cockscomb)

Celosia argentea

Impatiens (Busy Lizzie)

Impatiens walleriana

Shade-tolerant Annual Vinca

Catharanthus roseus

Shade-tolerant Carex Grass

Carex species (various shade-tolerant cultivars)

Dwarf Yew (Taxus)

Taxus baccata (and other Taxus species)

Shade-tolerant Euonymus

Euonymus japonicus

Shade-tolerant Ferns

Polypodiophyta (various genera and species)

Shade-tolerant Foliage Plants

Various species

Shade-tolerant Geranium

Geranium sanguineum, Geranium clarkei, Geranium himalayense

Shade-tolerant grasses

Various species (e.g., Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, Carex spp., Chasmanthium latifolium)

Ajuga (Bugleweed)

Ajuga reptans

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers (Ajuga and Vinca)

Ajuga reptans and Vinca minor

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Epimedium (Barrenwort)

Epimedium × versicolor and related species

Shade-Tolerant Groundcovers (Ivy & Periwinkle)

Hedera helix (English Ivy) / Vinca minor (Periwinkle)

Club Moss (Lycopodium)

Lycopodium species

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers (Moss and Ferns)

Various species (e.g., Bryophyta division for moss; Polypodiopsida class for ferns)

Pachysandra (Japanese Spurge)

Pachysandra terminalis

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers (Sedum & Vinca)

Sedum spp. & Vinca minor/major

Vinca (Periwinkle)

Catharanthus roseus

Vinca (Periwinkle)

Catharanthus roseus (annual) / Vinca minor (perennial groundcover)

Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)

Vinca minor

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers (Vinca and Ajuga)

Vinca minor / Ajuga reptans

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers (Vinca & Ivy)

Vinca minor / Hedera helix

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers (Vinca and Pachysandra)

Vinca minor / Pachysandra terminalis

Shade-tolerant groundcovers: Liriope and Coral Honeysuckle

Liriope muscari and Lonicera sempervirens

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers: Vinca minor and Ajuga

Vinca minor L. and Ajuga reptans L.

Shade-tolerant Heather

Erica x darleyensis

Hellebore (Christmas Rose/Lenten Rose)

Helleborus niger, H. orientalis, and related species

Shade-Tolerant Herbs

Multiple species

Shade-tolerant Herbs (Mint and Oregano)

Mentha spp. and Origanum spp.

Mint (Shade-tolerant herb varieties)

Mentha spp.

Shade-tolerant Heuchera

Heuchera sanguinea and related species

Shade-tolerant Hydrangea

Hydrangea species (primarily H. arborescens, H. quercifolia, H. macrophylla)