Shade Garden Ideas: Plants for Dry and Damp Shade

Getting it right

Work out first whether your shade is damp or dry, because the two plant lists barely overlap. Under mature trees the soil is dry and full of roots: plant small, plant in fall while there's still moisture, and mulch every year instead of trying to dig. In damp shade you can be far more generous with hostas and ferns. Either way, lean on leaf shape for contrast; one broad hosta beside a fine fern does more than any flower.

How to plan it

Map the shade before choosing plants. Watch the area across a summer day: two to four hours of direct sun is partial shade, less than two is full shade, and shifting light under a high tree canopy is dappled shade. Many plants labeled for shade actually want the morning-sun, afternoon-shade end of that range.

Brighten it with leaf color and texture. White-edged and pale hostas, Japanese painted fern and the silver-marked leaves of Siberian bugloss light up dark corners, and one fine, arching plant repeated through the bed, like Japanese forest grass, ties it together. A pale path or a light bark mulch reflects more light than dark soil.

Under shallow-rooted trees such as maples, don't pile more than a couple of inches of soil over the roots; it can harm the tree. Tuck small plants into pockets between roots, water them through the first year, and let groundcovers like sweet woodruff and barrenwort spread into the gaps.

Plants that work

Botanical names come first so you can order the right plant anywhere. Heights are for mature plants in the ground.
Plant	Type	Light	Water	Height	Hardy to
HostaHosta (hybrids)	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	12–31 in (30–80 cm)	−31 °F / −35 °C
Male fernDryopteris filix-mas	Fern · Semi-evergreen	Shade	Moderate	3–4 ft (0.8–1.2 m)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Japanese painted fernAthyrium niponicum	Fern · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	12–18 in (30–45 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Soft shield fernPolystichum setiferum	Fern · Evergreen	Shade	Moderate	2–3 ft (60–90 cm)	−4 °F / −20 °C
Lenten roseHelleborus × hybridus	Perennial · Semi-evergreen	Shade	Moderate	16–20 in (40–50 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
BarrenwortEpimedium × rubrum	Groundcover · Semi-evergreen	Shade	Low	10–14 in (25–35 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
Siberian buglossBrunnera macrophylla	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	16–20 in (40–50 cm)	−31 °F / −35 °C
LungwortPulmonaria officinalis	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	10–14 in (25–35 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Wood anemoneAnemone nemorosa	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	4–8 in (10–20 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Sweet woodruffGalium odoratum	Groundcover · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	6–10 in (15–25 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Bigleaf hydrangeaHydrangea macrophylla	Shrub · Deciduous	Partial shade	High	3–6 ft (1–1.8 m)	−4 °F / −20 °C
Japanese forest grassHakonechloa macra	Grass · Deciduous	Partial shade	Moderate	14–20 in (35–50 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
Snowy woodrushLuzula nivea	Grass · Evergreen	Shade	Moderate	12–20 in (30–50 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
Periwinkle (vinca)Vinca minorInvasive in parts of the US. Check your state's list.	Groundcover · Evergreen	Shade	Low	6–8 in (15–20 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C

Surfaces and materials

Bark mulch
Stepping stones
Wood boardwalk
Sandstone pavers
Boulders
Path lighting

Works well when

It is shaded for most of the day
It faces north
The light is dappled under trees
You want low maintenance
The soil is heavy clay

Think twice when

Falling leaves are a nuisance
You want to grow food
Summers are hot and dry

Common questions

What grows in deep shade?

Ferns, hostas, Lenten roses, barrenwort and sweet woodruff all cope with less than two hours of sun. Expect foliage more than flowers; most shade plants bloom briefly in spring before the tree canopy fills in.

What can I plant under a tree?

Small, tough plants that handle dry shade once established: barrenwort, sweet woodruff, Lenten rose and soft shield fern. Plant in fall, water through the first year, and add mulch rather than extra soil.

Is periwinkle a good groundcover?

It covers ground fast, but periwinkle (vinca) escapes into woodland and is listed as invasive in many eastern states. Sweet woodruff, barrenwort or a native such as wild ginger are better choices.

Do hostas need shade?

Most prefer it, especially in the afternoon, when hot sun scorches the leaves. Blue-leaved hostas need the most shade to keep their color, while some gold-leaved types color best with a few hours of morning sun. Deer love hostas, so protect them where deer visit.