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ProblemSolver Plants: Plants for Dense Shade


Growing plants in very dense shade is very difficult. Few plants perform well in these conditions. Here are a few suggestions to try. Soil type, soil pH and the duration of droughts will affect plant performance. It is best to try a variety of plants to see which perform best in your specific conditions.

Plants for Dry Locations

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Begonia 'Bepared' DRAGON WING RED begonia
  Hedera colchica 'Dentata Variegata' bullock's heart ivy
Deciduous shrubs Kerria japonica 'Golden Guinea' Japanese rose
  Kerria japonica 'Picta' Jew's mallow
  Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' Japanese rose
  Kerria japonica 'Simplex' Japanese rose
Ferns Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern
Herbaceous perennials Aster divaricatus aster
  Aster divaricatus 'Eastern Star' white wood aster
  Bergenia 'Abendglocken' bergenia
  Bergenia cordifolia pigsqueak
  Bergenia cordifolia 'Winterglut' WINTER GLOW pigsqueak
  Bergenia 'Eden's Magic Giant' pigsqueak
  Epimedium alpinum bishop's hat
  Epimedium diphyllum bishop's hat
  Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' bishop's hat
  Epimedium grandiflorum 'Pierre's Purple' bishop's hat
  Epimedium perralderianum bishop's hat
  Epimedium pinnatum subsp. colchicum bishop's hat
  Epimedium pubigerum bishop's hat
  Epimedium 'Tama-no-genpei' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x rubrum bishop's hat
  Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x versicolor 'Versicolor' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x warleyense bishop's hat
  Epimedium x youngianum bishop's hat
  Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' bishop's hat
  Epimedium x youngianum 'Tamabotan' bishop's hat
  Helleborus orientalis hellebore
  Lamium galeobdolon yellow archangel
  Lamium galeobdolon subsp. montanum 'Florentinum' yellow archangel
  Lamium maculatum 'Beedham's White' spotted deadnettle
  Pachysandra terminalis Japanese pachysandra
  Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum' Solomon's seal
  Vinca minor lesser periwinkle
  Vinca minor 'Honeydew' lesser periwinkle
Ornamental grasses Elymus hystrix bottlebrush grass


Plants for Wet Locations

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' sedge
  Impatiens capensis jewelweed
Deciduous shrubs Kerria japonica 'Golden Guinea' Japanese rose
  Kerria japonica 'Picta' Jew's mallow
  Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' Japanese rose
  Kerria japonica 'Simplex' Japanese rose
Ferns Matteuccia struthiopteris ostrich fern
  Osmunda regalis royal fern
  Osmunda regalis 'Cristata' royal fern
  Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens' royal fern
  Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis royal fern
Herbaceous perennials Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' sweet flag
  Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' grassy-leaved sweet flag
  Arisaema dracontium dragon root
  Arisaema triphyllum jack-in-the-pulpit
  Arum italicum Italian arum
  Asarum canadense wild ginger
  Darmera peltata umbrella plant
  Lobelia siphilitica blue cardinal flower
  Lobelia siphilitica 'Lilac Candles' great blue cardinal flower
  Saururus cernuus lizard's tail
  Stylophorum diphyllum celandine poppy
Ornamental grasses Diarrhena americana American beakgrain
Sedges Carex morrowii Japanese grass sedge
  Carex nigra black sedge

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