Native Plants for Shady Locations

Common Name	Scientific Name	Habit	Height(ft)	Flowering Time	Flower Color	Interesting Traits
American Bittersweet*	Celastrus scandens	Climbing Vine	Variable	May-June	Orange-Yellow	Fall color; Dry flowers; Attractive fruit
Common Witch Hazel	Hamamelis virginiana	Shrub	10–15	Sept-Dec	Yellow	Exploding seed capsules
Christmas Fern	Polystichum acrostichoides	Fern	2/3–1	NA	NA	Evergreen
Jack-in- the-pulpit	Arisaema triphyllum	Herb	2–3	April-May	Yellow-Green Spadix	Unusual large red fruit cluster
Maidenhair Fern	Adiantum pedatum	Herb	1–2	NA	NA	Lacy foliage; Shiny black stems
Purple Trillium	Trillium recurvatum	Herb	1–4	April-May	Purple	Mottled leaves in 3’s
Solomon’s Seal	Polygonatum commutatum	Herb	1–3	April-June	Greenish-White	Bluish-purple berries; Arching stem
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	Shrub	6–12	April-May	Yellow	Fragrant leaves; Fall color; Scarlet fruit
Virginia Bluebells	Mertensia virginica	Ephemeral Herb	2–3	Mar-May	Purplish Blue	Buds are pink
Wild Ginger	Asarum canadense	Groundcover	2/3–1	April-May	Maroon-hidden by leaves	Edible rhizome that smells like ginger

*The introduced oriental or round-leaved bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus, is invasive.