Native Plants for the Shade

Western North Carolina is blessed with an abundance of native plants that are adaptable to growing in the home landscape. They will thrive if you locate them in conditions as close to their natural environment as possible. Critical factors are soil type and the amount of sunlight.

If you are planting in shaded areas (an area that receives up to 4 hours of morning sun or no more than 3 hours of afternoon sun) there are many native plants to consider.

Perennials:

• Columbine
• Woodland Phlox
• Green and Gold
• Dwarf Crested Iris
• Foam Flower
• Coral Bells (Alum Root)
• Ferns
• Wild Ginger
• Bee Balm
• Native Pachysandra (Allegheny Spurge)

Shrubs:

• Virginia Sweetspire
• Flame Azalea
• Spice Bush
• Rhododendron
• Leucothoe

Vines:

• Dutchman’s Pipe
• Virginia Creeper
• Coral Honeysuckle
• Crossvine

For information on where you can purchase native plants, visit the Botanical Gardens at Asheville website or call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.