Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, good through zone 8 and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
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- By state
- North Carolina
- For shade
North Carolina · Zones 6–8
Native Plants for Shade in North Carolina
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. For North Carolina, the right natives are shaped by Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain and a humid subtropical to montane climate. Every species below, from Arrowwood Viburnum and Smooth Hydrangea to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to North Carolina and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. Shade is an opportunity, not a problem — the eastern woodland flora is one of the richest in the world. Most shade natives evolved under a deciduous canopy, so they do their growing in cool, moist spring soil and want a yearly mulch of fallen leaves rather than bare, raked dirt. Match the depth of shade to the plant, and a bare patch under a maple becomes the loveliest part of the garden.
The plants
17 native species for North Carolina
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, cold-hardy to zone 3 and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; rose pink flowers and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — sky blue flowers and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — for rocky and loam ground and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — 3–5 ft wide and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — spreading 15–25 ft and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, 6–12 in tall, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, lavender-blue flowers; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, white cones flowers and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 12–18 in wide; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, hardy in zones 3–9, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, happy in clay and loam soil and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, reaching 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; good through zone 9.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in North Carolina
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.