Plants for Shady Spots

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Compiled by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, Inc.

 
KEYS TO FLOWER COLOR: B  Blue V  Violet/Purple
R  Red 0  Orange
G  Green W  White
P   Pink Y  Yellow
 
PARTIAL SHADE: Eastern exposure; dappled sun; under deciduous shrubs or trees

 

PERENNIALS (a sampling of a very wide selection):

  • Epilobium canum latifolia  ‘Alba’ W – white-flowered California Fuchsia

  • Erysimum capitatum, Wallflower O – butterfly-attracting orange flowers; reseeds easily

  • Iris douglasiana and hybrids, Douglas Iris V/W/Y – an attention-grabber; spreads to form small colony

  • Mimulus guttatus, Yellow Creek Monkey Flower  Y – water-loving, bright yellow  flowers with red dots

 SHRUBS:

  • Arctostaphylos spp., Manzanita Groundcovers, especially Arctostaphylos  x ‘Emerald Carpet’

  • Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush  R – lotus-shaped, deep red flowers; leaves smell like old wine barrel

  • Ceanothus spp. , California Lilac B/V/W, especially groundcovers such as C. maritimus and C. hearstiorum

  • Cephalanthus occidentalis, Button Willow W – pretty background shrub for moist areas or garden bed

  • Crataegus douglasii, Hawthorn  W – ornamental flowers, plus bird-attracting berries; prune to shape

  • Galvezia juncea and G. speciosa, Snapdragon R – great for hummingbirds; use as shrub or to cover trellis

  • Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon  W – outstanding bird plant; can be grown as bush, hedge or tree

  • Lavatera assurgentiflora, Tree Mallow  P/V – fast-growing and beautiful; protect from gophers

  • Lonicera subspicata johnstonii, Chaparral Honeysuckle W  – lovely arching stems; evergreen

  • Rosa californica, Wild Rose  P – fragrant flowers and bright red hips; forms thicket along streams, moist areas
PARTIAL TO FULL SHADE: Northern exposure; winter sun only; under evergreen shrubs or trees

 

PERENNIALS:

  • Aquilegia formosa and hybrids, Scarlet Columbine  R – beautiful, delicate flowers on long stalks

  • Boykinia rotundifolia, Brook Saxifrage  W  – delicate riparian plant, good in moist spot or woodland garden

  • Fragaria californica, Wood Strawberry  W – pretty white flowers and small tasty berries; spreads with water

  • Heuchera spp., Coral bells, Alum-Root  P, R, W – easy to grow; tolerates water or drought

  • Lobelia dunnii serrata, Blue Lobelia  B – low creeping plant with attractive flowers; likes moisture

  • Mimulus cardinalis,  Scarlet Monkey Flower  O, R, Y, W – very shade-tolerant; bright hummingbird flowers

  • Phacelia bolanderi, Bolander’s Phacelia  B, V – lovely blue flowers show up well in shade; protect from snails

  • Salvia spathacea, Hummingbird sage  R – low-growing fragrant rosettes, plus amazing red flower spikes in spring

  • Ribes viburnifolium, Evergreen or Catalina Currant  R – fragrant leaves; interesting vining habit

  • Scutellaria austinae, Austin’s Skullcap B – intense blue flowers on a low, creeping plant; deciduous

  • Symphoricarpos mollis, Creeping Snowberry P – ferny leaves and white berries on a drought-tolerant plant

SHRUBS:

  • Acer spp., Maple – fast-growing large shrubs or small trees; grow more upright with more sun

  • Carpenteria californica, Bush Anemone  W – evergreen shrub covered with white flowers in spring

  • Cornus spp., Dogwood  W –  ornamental white flowers; reddish branches are striking in winter

  • Euonymus occidentalis, Burning Bush  R – unusual dotted flower on an easy-to-grow shrub; give water

  • Lonicera involucrata, Twinberry Honeysuckle and L. subspicata johnstonii, Chaparral Honeysuckle

  • Ribes sanguineum glutinosum, Pink-Flowered Currant and Ribes speciosum, Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry