• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Native Plants for the Shade

Don’t let a little shade stop you from going native.  A look at nearby shady natural areas and many of the new garden catalogues will provide lots of ideas. 

Understory trees like Amelanchier also known as serviceberry or Juneberry, pagoda dogwood, redbuds, ironwood (Ostrya) and musclewood (Carpinus) provide seasonal interest.

Shrubs like viburnum, hydrangea and Diervilla add color with flowers and fruit.  Cool Splash is a cultivar of the native Diervilla that brightens up the shade with its white variegated leaves.

And dress up the ground level with a nice mix of perennials.  Start with early spring wildflowers like trillium and mayapple and follow them with columbine, wild geranium and woodland phlox.

Add a bit of texture with the native grass-like sedges and of course ferns.

A bit more information:  Don’t add additional soil underneath and plant with care when working under and around established trees. Do mulch new plantings and water as needed.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


April 3, 2024
Garden Trends 

Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI

April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now

April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now

April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds: 
A Gardener’s Perspective

Glendale, WI 

April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now

April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs 
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL

April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI

April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now

May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW