• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) -This shade garden favorite has lovely, multicolored flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
• White Woodland Aster (Aster divaricatus) – Prolific, pretty white flowers attract butterflies and pollinators.
• Virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana) – An aggressive, spreading vine with pretty white flowers.
• Broad-leaved shooting star (Dodecathon hendersonii) – This wildflower has bright magenta blosoms that resemble a falling star.
• Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) – This low-growing lily has beautiful yellow flowers.
• Coastal strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) – Unlike the Barren strawberry, Coastal strawberries do produce tasty berries that are popular with both humans and birds.
• Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) – Wild geranium has attractive pink blossoms and does best in partial shade.
• Sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) – An early spring bloomer with delicate, pretty white flowers.
• Bottlebrush grass (Hystrix patula) – The attractive spiky seedheads on this shade-loving grass resemble a bottlebrush.
• Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) – A nitrogen-fixing legume with beautiful blue flowers that is the host plant for the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly.
• Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) – A handsome, prolific bloomer, Foxglove beardtongue prefers partial shade in open woodlands.
• Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) – A handsome, flowering perennial that looks especially good around the base of trees.
• False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa) – Showy clusters of white flowers are followed by bright red berries that are popular with birds.
• Zig Zag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) – Pretty yellow flowers that bloom in late summer.
• Barren strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides) – This spreading groundcover does not have edible berries, but does produce multitudes of small but pretty yellow flowers.

Good choices for non-native plants that tolerate dry shade include hostas, snowdrops, Spanish bluebell, lily-of-the-valley, and some coral bells. Some tough plants commonly grown in dry shade, such as vinca and English ivy, are well-behaved in some regions and invasive in others, so consult your local garden center or extension service before planting.

Dry shade can be improved by adding plenty of organic matter to the soil when planting, and mulching to conserve soil moisture.

Most of the most popular shade plants, however, continue to be non-native species, or non-native relatives of native species such as hostas, bleeding hearts, and non-native ferns. Though these plants are hardy, adaptable, and beautiful, native gardeners might prefer to look closer to home for perennials to brighten up the dark corners.

Some of our best native perennials for full-shade include:

Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

One of our most popular and adaptable native ferns, the beautiful Lady Fern likes well-drained, moist, or wet soils in full or partial shade. It is more tolerant of drought than other ferns, but may die back in dry conditions to re-emerge the following season  Lady ferns are hardy from zones 2-8 and provide cover and nesting material for many species of birds. Bears and elk are among the animals who use lady ferns as a food source. More great native ferns include the Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum), the Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), and the Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea).

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Another of our most popular native shade plants, the colorful and prolific blossoms of the Columbine attract butterflies and hummingbirds in spring. Columbines have spiky seedpods that make interesting additions to dried floral arrangements. They spread readily from seeds and have attractive foliage once the blooms are gone. Hardy to zone 3, they prefer well-drained soil and full or partial shade.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

One of the most unique and recognizable flowers in the world, the Jack-in-the-Pulpit also produces attractive bright red berries in late summer. It likes rich soils that are well-drained or moist and is hardy to zone 3.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Though Wild Ginger is not related to its Asian namesake, it has a similar taste and can be used as seasoning in dishes calling for ginger. In addition to its edible qualities, Wild Ginger has attractive heart-shaped leaves and an unusual blossom. It requires deep shade and prefers rich, moist soil.

White Woodland Aster (Aster divaricatus)

Though asters are better known as sun loving plants like the beautiful New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), there are a number of species that prefer full or partial shade. White Woodland Aster is the showiest of these, producing prolific white blossoms resembling small daisies for six weeks or more in late summer and early autumn. Woodland asters are especially good plants for people with dry shade, as they are extremely drought tolerant. Like sun-loving asters, shade-loving asters attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators to the blossoms. The all-you-can-eat insect buffet in turn attracts birds, who also flock to the seeds in late autumn and early winter. Other great woodland asters include the Heart Leaved Aster (Aster cordifolius), the Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus), and the Big Leaf Aster (Aster macrophyllus).