Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation

Cultivating plants, people and communities since 1977

Does your garden have a “shady” personality? This garden suggests alternatives to sun-loving plants so that even a shady garden can bask in color, texture and smell.

Shade Garden Plant List

#Botanical NameCultivarCommon NameTreeNative
1Acanthus mollisbear’s breeches, sea dock
2Adiantum aleuticumwestern maidenhair fern*
3Adiantum pedatumnorthern maidenhair fern
4Anemone hupehensisJapanese anemone
5Astilbefalse spirea, meadow sweet
6Astilbe 'Deutschland'false spirea, meadow sweet
7Bergenia cordifoliaheartleaf bergenia, pigsqueak
8Brunnera macrophyllaSiberian bugloss
9Clerodendrum trichotomumharlequin glorybower*
10Convallaria majalislily of the valley
11Cyclamen hederifoliumivy leaf cyclamen
12Enkianthus campanulatus
13Epimedium grandiflorumbishop’s hat
14Epimedium x youngianum 'Roseum'*
15Geranium erianthumcranesbill*
16Helleborus 'Walhero'rosemary hellebore
17Helleborus nigerChristmas rose
18Hemerocallisbear's breeches
19Hosta plantagineafragrant plantain lily
20Hyacinthoides non-scriptawood hyacinth, blue bell
21Hydrangea arborescenssmooth hydrangea
22Hypericum perforatumSt. John’s wort
23Lysimachia punctatayellow loosestrife
24Micranthes ferruginearusty saxifrage
25Polemonium caeruleumJacob's ladder
26Polystichum munitumwestern swordfern*
27Primula spp.
28Pulmonaria angustifoliacowslip lungwort
29Pulmonaria officinaliscommom lungwort
30Rhododendron 'Unique'
31Rodgersia aesculifoliafingerleaf rodgersia
32Skimmia japonicaJapanese skimmia
33Symphoricarpos 'Proud Berry'
34Tellima grandiflorafringe-cup, big flower tellima*