Beautiful and Easy Native Plants for Shade Archives - Sag Moraine Native Plant Community

Short’s Aster

Description Short’s Aster is a graceful, shade-tolerant native perennial that brightens woodlands and shaded edges with abundant clusters of lavender-blue flowers in late summer and fall. Its branching stems form loose, arching clumps topped with sprays of daisy-like blooms that attract pollinators well into the autumn months. The heart-shaped, serrated leaves add texture and softness

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Symphyatrichum shortii

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Bloom Months	August, September, October
Moisture Needs	Normal
Season of Interest	Summer (Jun-Aug), Fall (Sep-Nov)

Big Leaved Aster

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Large, heart-shaped leaves up to 8 inches
Good for a shade groundcover
Grows 12 inches tall
Part shade to shade
Dry to moist soil
Non-showy bloom from August through October
Shorter shade-tolerant aster

Big Leaved Aster Read More »

Eurybia macrophylla

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Dry, Medium
Bloom Months	May, June, July
Moisture Needs	Normal
Season of Interest	Summer (Jun-Aug), Fall (Sep-Nov)
Ecological Significance	Native Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Bird Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly

Big Leaved Aster Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

State color key
	Species present in state and native
	Species present in state and exotic
	Species not present in state

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

Wild Columbine

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
Medium to dry soil
Full sun to full shade
Blooms May and June
Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
Larval host plant
Adaptable plant that grows in full sun to shade
Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good

Wild Columbine Read More »

Aquilegia canadensis

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Dry, Medium
Bloom Months	May, June, July
Moisture Needs	Normal
Season of Interest	Spring (Mar-May), Summer (Jun-Aug)
Ecological Significance	Keystone, Native Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly

Wild Columbine Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

State color key
	Species present in state and native
	Species present in state and exotic
	Species not present in state

Hairy Beardtongue

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Grows to 18 inches tall
Full sun to shade
Dry to medium soil
Blooms May and June
Attracts bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Attractive shorter Penstemon

Hairy Beardtongue Read More »

Penstemon hirsutus

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Full Sun (6+ Hrs), Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Dry, Medium
Bloom Months	May, June, July
Moisture Needs	Drought Tolerant
Season of Interest	Summer (Jun-Aug)
Ecological Significance	Native Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly

Hairy Beardtongue Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

State color key
	Species present in state and native
	Species present in state and exotic
	Species not present in state

Zig Zag Goldenrod

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Keystone Plant
Very attractive to pollinators
Larval host plant
Goldenrods are not the cause of hay fever
Part shade to shade
Medium to dry soil
1′ to 3′ tall
Bloom August through October
Shade-loving Goldenrod
Will move around
Great color companion for Asters in the fall

Zig Zag Goldenrod Read More »

Solidago flexicaulis

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Dry, Medium
Bloom Months	August, September, October
Moisture Needs	Normal
Season of Interest	Summer (Jun-Aug), Fall (Sep-Nov)
Ecological Significance	Keystone, Native Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly

Zig Zag Goldenrod Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

State color key
	Species present in state and native
	Species present in state and exotic
	Species not present in state

Wild Blue Phlox

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds
Part shade to shade
Medium to moist soil
12″ tall
Blooms April through June
Great edge planting for shady areas
Rabbits love this plant

Wild Blue Phlox Read More »

Phlox divaricata

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Medium, Wet
Bloom Months	April, May, June
Moisture Needs	Normal
Season of Interest	Spring (Mar-May), Summer (Jun-Aug)
Ecological Significance	Native Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly

Wild Blue Phlox Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

State color key
	Species present in state and native
	Species present in state and exotic
	Species not present in state

Wild Geranium

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Liked by pollinators
Larval host plant
Part sun to shade
Medium to dry soil
12″ to 18″ tall
Blooms May and June
Easy to grow
Will spread by self-seeding

Wild Geranium Read More »

Geranium maculatum

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Dry, Medium
Bloom Months	July, August, September
Moisture Needs	Normal
Season of Interest	Spring (Mar-May), Summer (Jun-Aug)
Ecological Significance	Native Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly

Wild Geranium Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

State color key
	Species present in state and native
	Species present in state and exotic
	Species not present in state

Virginia Blue Bells

Plants / By Clare Parkinson

Part shade to shade
Medium to moist soil
1′ to 2′ tall
Blooms April, May
Ephemeral
Wonderful spring flower
Can form colonies
Very shade and woodland friendly

Virginia Blue Bells Read More »

Mertensia virginica

Plant Type	Flowering Perennials
Sun Exposure	Part Sun / Shade (3-6 Hrs), Shade (0-3 Hrs)
Height	Short (1-3')
Moisture	Medium, Wet
Bloom Months	April, May
Moisture Needs	Flood Tolerant
Season of Interest	Spring (Mar-May)
Ecological Significance	Native Bee Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly

Virginia Blue Bells Native Range

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

Short’s Aster

Big Leaved Aster

Big Leaved Aster Native Range

Map Color Key

Wild Columbine

Wild Columbine Native Range

Map Color Key

Hairy Beardtongue

Hairy Beardtongue Native Range

Map Color Key

Zig Zag Goldenrod

Zig Zag Goldenrod Native Range

Map Color Key

Wild Blue Phlox

Wild Blue Phlox Native Range

Map Color Key

Wild Geranium

Wild Geranium Native Range

Map Color Key

Virginia Blue Bells

Virginia Blue Bells Native Range

Map Color Key

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