5
Bulbs
Camassia
Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum, E. revolutum,
E. tuolumnense)
Fritillaria
Groundcovers
Green-and-Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens)
Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
Downy Yellow Violet (V. pubescens)
Blue Woods Violet (V. sororia)
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginiana)
Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)
Wild Ginger (A. arifolium, A. canadense, A. caudatum)
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Crested Iris (I. cristata)
Creeping Holly Grape (Mahonia repens)
Wild lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum canadense)
May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Ferns
(rarely eaten by deer)
Maidenhair (Adiantum aleuticum, A. pedatum)
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant)
Walking Fern (Camptosorus rhizophyllus)
Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-max)
Marginal Shield Fern (Dryopteris marginalis)
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)
Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana)
Rock Polypody (Polypodium virginianum)
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
Broad Beech Fern (Thelypteris hexagonoptera)
Grasses
Sedge (Carex muskingumensis, C. stricta,
C. tumulicola, C. plantaginea)
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix)
Beardless Wild Rye (Elymus tritichoides)
Gamma Grass (Xerophyllum tenax)
Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Vines
Allegheny Vine (Adlumia fungosa)
Climbing Aster (A. carolinianus)
Clematis (native varieties)
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
NOTE:
For these lists, we have concentrated on
species which not only thrive in lower-light
conditions, but are also native and useful for
wildlife.
There are many others which could not be
included because of limited space.
The benefits of using native plants are
discussed more fully in other WindStar
publications, but they include the fact that
they are hardier and more disease resistant,
they offer less risk of growing invasively, and
they have evolved with local wildlife species to
best meet those species’ needs for food and
cover.
In addition, planting native plants is an
investment in the future. Many are
threatened – and thus the birds, insects, and
animals that depend on them are also at risk
– by land development, invasive alien plant
species, and gardening practices which tend
to limit natural genetic diversity.
PLANTS FOR SHADE GARDENING
Shrubs & Small Trees
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Dogwood (Cornus florida, C. racemosa, C. sericea,
C. alternifolia)
Viburnum (V. dentatum, V.acerfolium, V. lentago,
V. pruifolium)
Highbush Cranberry (V. trilobum)
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Summersweet (Clethra alternifolia)
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
Rhododendrons and Azaleas (many native selections)
Aromatic Sumac (Rhus canadensis)
Fothergilla (F. major)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
