NW Natives for shade (workshop handout)

 Mahonia spp- evergreen

Cornus canadensis

Asarum caudatum

 Linnaea borealis

Maianthemum spp- several spp, including tall deciduous perennials and a very low-growing groundcover.  All have small white flowers followed by berries.

M. dilatatum- False lily of the Valley

M. racemosum, M. stellatum- formerly Smilacina spp, two very similar plants called False Solomon’s Seal- tall, with white flowers followed by berries

Ferns: Adiantum, Polystichum, Athryrium, Blechnum, etc. Most are deciduous to semi-evergreen.  Full shade; Bracken and Sword Fern tolerate edge conditions with filtered sun.

Vancouveria hexandra

Dicentra formosa- Bleeding Hearts- full to part shade, deciduous, spreads via rhizomes and seed. May go summer dormant but can persist and rebloom with consistent shade and moisture.

Aquilegia formosa- Columbines- part shade to sun

Aruncus dioicus- rose family plant often mistaken for Astilbe.  White flowering, dioecious (male and female plants separate)

Saxifrage clan: Tellima (Fringe Cups), Mitella, Tiarella (Foam Flower), Heuchera (Coral Bells), Tolmeia (Youth-on-age, Piggyback plant), Saxifraga, Lithophragma, Boykinia

Anemone spp- several NW native spp, generally short, white, deciduous

Thalictrum spp- Meadowrue

Erythronium- beautiful lily relative, NW spp include E. revolutum, Coast Fawn Lily

Trillium spp- most widespread in our area is T. ovatum

Disporum spp- deciduous perennial in lily family

Corydalis spp- Bleeding Heart relative

Trientalis latifolia

Oxalis- resembles large clover leaves, flowers are five-petaled.  Attractive, assertive in full to part shade.

Synthyris reniformis

Achlys triphylla- Vanilla Leaf- small deciduous groundcover

Oplopanax horridus- Devil’s Club- mean-looking medium-large shrub. Good for scaring unruly relatives.

Native shrubs for shade to part shade:

Rhododendron macrophyllum (evergreen)- pink flowers early summer

Rosa gymnocarpa – Baldhip Rose- deciduous; small native rose, very unusual in its tolerance or preference for considerable shade

Oemleria cerasiformis – Indian Plum(deciduous)- tall shrub, small white flowers followed by black-purple berries

Vaccinium ovatum- Evergreen Huckleberry- berries are dark blue, very palatable; several other native Vaccinium spp, deciduous and evergreen