List of shade plants
These plants are good for varying levels of shade. Click on the plant name (not photo) for more details on whether they like part-shade, deep-shade or both.
Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs
Acanthus mollis
Bear's breechAconitum
MonkshoodAjuga
Carpet bugleAlchemilla
Lady's-mantleAnemone
WindflowerAnthurium
Flamingo flowerAquilegia
ColumbineAruncus
Goat's beardAsarum
Wild gingerAspidistra elatior
Cast-Iron plantAstilbe
False spiraeaAstrantia
MasterwortBletilla striata
Chinese ground orchidBrowallia
Amethyst flowerBrunnera macrophylla
BrunneraCaladium bicolor
Fancy-leafed caladiumCampanula (some)
BellflowerCarex
SedgeClivia miniata
Kaffir lilyColeus hybridus
ColeusColocasia esculenta
Elephant's earConvallaria majalis
Lily-of-the-valleyDicentra (most)
Bleeding heartDigitalis
FoxgloveDoronicum
Leopard's banePotentilla indica
Indian mock strawberryHyacinthoides
BluebellsGalium odoratum
Sweet woodruffGentiana
GentianGeranium (some)
CranesbillHakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
Japanese forest grassHelleborus
HelleboreHepatica
LiverleafHeuchera
Coral bellsHosta
Plantain lilyImpatiens (most)
Inula helenium
ElecampaneIris foetidissima
Gladwin irisLamium maculatum
Dead nettleLilium
LilyLiriope
Lily turf- X
Lobelia (most)
- X
Mertensia virginica
Virginia bluebells - X
Milium effusum 'Aureum'
Bowles' golden grass - X
Mimulus hybridus
Monkey flower - X
Myosotis
Forget-me-not - X
- X
Polygonatum
Solomon's seal Primula
Primrose- X
Prunella
Self-heal - X
Pulmonaria
Lungwort - X
Saxifraga
Saxifrage - X
Schizanthus pinnatus
Poor man's orchid - X
Senecio hybridus
Cineraria - X
Smilacina racemosa
False Solomon's seal - X
Soleirolia soleirolii
Baby's tears - X
Spigelia marilandica
Pinkroot, Indian pink - X
Thalictrum
Meadow rue - X
Tiarella
Foamflower - X
Tolmiea menziesii
Piggy-back plant - X
Torenia fournieri
Wishbone flower - X
Tricyrtis
Toad lily - X
Trillium
Wake Robin - X
Trollius
Globeflower - X
Viola
Viola, Pansy
Ground covers
- X
Aegopodium podagraria
Bishop's weed - X
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
Porcelain berry - X
Clematis (some)
- X
Cornus canadensis
Bunchberry - X
Cymbalaria muralis
Kenilworth ivy - X
Fragraria chiloensis
Wild strawberry - X
Glechoma hederacea
Ground ivy Hedera
IvyLonicera (some)
Honeysuckle- X
Mitchella repens
Partridgeberry Monstera deliciosa
Split-leaf philodendron- X
Pachysandra terminalis
Japanese spurge - X
Rhoicissus capensis
Evergreen grape Trachelospermum jasminoides
Star jasmineVinca
Periwinkle
Shrubs
Abutilon
Flowering maple- X
Acanthopanax sieboldianusz 'Variegatus'
Actaea
Baneberry- X
Aucuba japonica
Japanese aucuba Buxus
Boxwood- X
Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet Cycadaceae
Cycads- X
Fatsia japonica
Japanese aralia- X
Hamamelis
Witch hazel Ilex
HollyKalmia latifolia
Mountain laurelLindera
Spicebush- X
Nandina domestica
Heavenly bamboo - X
- X
Pittosporum tobira
Tobira - X
Phapis
Lady palm Rhododendron
Azalea- X
Ribes sanguineum
Pink winter currant - X
Ruscus
Butcher's broom - X
Sarcococca
Sweet box Symphoricarpos (some)
Snowberry- X
Taxus
Yew - X
Viburnum (evergreen)
Trees
- X
Acer palmatum
Japanese maple - X
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Katsura tree - X
Cercis canadensis
Eastern redbud - X
Davidia involucrata
Dove tree - X
Laurus nobilis
Sweet bay - X
Palms (some)