Got an overly shady spot in your garden that is just crying out for some plants? Don’t know which native plants are your best choices for that shady garden? Below are a few selections to get you started on your native shade garden.
Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. (Obedient Plant)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae –
Order Lamiales –
Family Lamiaceae – Mint family
Genus Physostegia Benth. – lionsheart
Species Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. – obedient plant
This is an easy to grow, deer resistant plant and grows up to 2-4 feet. It is fine in poor soils. It has lavender or pink flower spikes from late summer to fall. The blooms open from bottom to top and are very good in wildflower or water gardens. For best results, plant in shade, with slightly acidic soil, and give plenty of water. Keep a watch on this one though, although it may be called Obedient Plant, it certainly can be disobedient in staying within its bounds. A close eye needs to be kept on it to keep it from becoming invasive. To propagate this you can divide the rootball.
Porteranthus trifoliatus (L.) Britt. (Bowman’s Root)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Rosales –
Family Rosaceae – Rose family
Genus Porteranthus Britt. ex Small – porteranthus
Species Porteranthus trifoliatus (L.) Britt. – Bowman’s root
This perennial has divided three point leaves and good fall color. Its blooms are white or pink and get 2-4 feet in height. Bloom season is May for its most showy display. It prefers shade and average soil.
Sanguinaria canadensis L. (Bloodroot)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Magnoliidae –
Order Papaverales –
Family Papaveraceae – Poppy family
Genus Sanguinaria L. – bloodroot
Species Sanguinaria canadensis L. – bloodroot
These white with yellow center flowers are members of the Poppy family. You will see these from late winter to early spring and they will only reach a height of 6-12 inches. They prefer partial to full shade. The juice from root was used as a paint or dye in colonial times. BEWARE: This is toxic; do not ingest.
Sarracenia flava L. (Yellow Pitcherplant)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Nepenthales –
Family Sarraceniaceae – Pitcher-plant family
Genus Sarracenia L. – pitcherplant
Species Sarracenia flava L. – yellow pitcherplant
This variant gets up to 2 feet tall and has bright yellow flowers. Bloom season is April to May. This has green trumpet shaped leaves with a hood well above the pitcher. It prefers full shade.
Shortia galacifolia Torr. & Gray (Oconee Bells)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Dilleniidae –
Order Diapensiales –
Family Diapensiaceae – Diapensia family
Genus Shortia Torr. & Gray – shortia
Species Shortia galacifolia Torr. & Gray – Oconee bells
This flower gets up to 6-12 inches high and needs 9-12 inches of spacing. It prefers partial to full shade and is a smooth evergreen foliage plant. It does best in moist acidic soil. There will be white flowers in late spring to early summer.
Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Ait.) Rydb. (Shrubby Fivefingers)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae –
Order Rosales –
Family Rosaceae – Rose family
Genus Sibbaldiopsis Rydb. – sibbaldiopsis
Species Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Ait.) Rydb. – shrubby fivefingers
This spreading carpet like plant only gets to 4 inches in height and is a member of the Rose family. Its dark green evergreen foliage gets red in the winter. Blooms are 5 petal and white; bloom season of June to July. Optimum growth occurs in partial shade. You may propagate this by division.
Spigelia marilandica (L.) L. (Woodland Pinkroot)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae –
Order Gentianales –
Family Loganiaceae – Logania family
Genus Spigelia L. – pinkroot
Species Spigelia marilandica (L.) L. – woodland pinkroot
This is the perfect pick for a hummingbird garden. It has dark green foliage and bright red trumpets with yellow throats. It prefers partial shade and is good for borders. It will grow up to 1-2 feet and bloom in early summer.
Stellaria pubera Michx. (Star Chickweed)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Caryophyllidae –
Order Caryophyllales –
Family Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Genus Stellaria L. – starwort
Species Stellaria pubera Michx. – star chickweed
This has tiny white blooms that are 5 petals but are split to look like there are 10 of them. Bloom season is from March to June. The seeds are a favorite of some birds. Gets up to 1 foot and prefers shade and moist soil. This was once used to fade freckles.
