Plant palette for a dynamic forest shade garden
Master gardener Yvonne Tsikata’s immersive woodland garden in Northern Virginia’s Zone 7b proves that a shady garden can be just as dynamic and destination-worthy as a sunny landscape. Designed around winding paths, water features, sculptural focal points, and richly layered plantings, the space balances tranquility and discovery at every turn. A diverse mix of understory trees, textured ground cover, evergreen trees and perennials create a lush retreat that evolves beautifully throughout the year.
Shade-loving perennials support your garden
The plant palette combines shade-loving classics such as hostas ( Hosta genus and cultivars, zones 3 to 8), Japanese forest grass ( Hakonechloa macra cultivars, zones 5 to 9), and astilbe ( Astilbe genus and cultivars, zones 3 to 9) with standout shrubs, conifers, and flowering trees that provide color, contrast, and seasonal appeal from spring to winter. Creative solutions such as barbell beds for gardening around black walnut trees (Juglans nigra, zones 4 to 9) and dense ground cover planting to suppress weeds show how difficult sites can be transformed into thriving landscapes full of character.
Watch: Tour of Yvonne’s Northern Virginia Shade Garden
Spring brings cheerful colors to shady gardens
Plant list
Hollywood juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’, zones 5 to 9) ‘Golden Mop’ cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’, zones 4 to 7) Candy Corn® spirea (Spiraea japonica* ‘NCSX1’, zones 4 to 8) Beech fern (Phegopteris decursivo-pinnata, zones 4 to 7) 9) Hosta ‘Patriot’ (Hosta ‘Patriot’, zones 3-8) Paperbark maple (Acer griseum, zones 4-8) ‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Red Dragon’, zones 5-8) Candy Corn® spirea (Spiraea japonica* ‘NCSX1’, zones 4-8) ‘Hershey’s Red’ Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Hershey’s Red’, Zones 5 to 9)
Even the darkest corners of a woodland garden can be brightened up with bright flowers and interesting foliage.
Plant list
‘Blue Angel’ Hosta (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, Zones 3 to 8) ‘Jack Frost’ Brunnera (Brunella macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Zones 3 to 8) Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina, Zones 4 to 8) ‘Annabelle’ Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, Zones 4 to 9) ‘Mount Airy’ Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’, Zones 5-8) SunPatiens® Compact White impatiens (Impatiens ‘SAKIMP027’, Zones 10-11) Hosta (Hosta cv., Zones 3-8) ‘August Moon’ Hosta (Hosta ‘August Moon’, Zones 3-8) ‘Frances Williams’ Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana ‘Frances Williams’, zones 3-8) ‘Mariesee’ double-file viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’, zones 5-8) ‘Krossa Regal’ hosta (Hosta sieboldiana ‘Krossa Regal’, zones 3-8) ‘Vision in White’ Chinese Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis) ‘Vision in White’, zones 4-8 9) Invincibelle® Spirit Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA1’, Zones 3-8) ‘Patriot’ hosta (Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA1’, Zones 3-8)
Read more: How to design a colorful shade garden
Winding paths reveal fresh surprises that invite you to explore the shady gardens
Plant list
‘Crossa Regal’ Hosta (Hosta ‘Crossa Regal’, Zones 3-8) ‘Liberty’ Hosta (Hosta ‘Liberty’, Zones 3-8) ‘Autumn Bride’ Heuchera (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’, Zones 3-8) ‘Silver Scroll’ Heuchera (Heuchera ‘Silver Scroll’, Zones 4-9) ‘Sun King’ aralia (Aralia Cordata ‘Sun King’, zones 3 to 8) Prunus serrulata (zones 5 to 8) ‘Ruby Falls’ eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’, zones 5 to 9) ‘Diana Clare’ pulmonaria (Pulmonaria ‘Diana Clare’, zones 3 to 8) Creeping mazus (Mazus reptans, zones 5-8) Dogwood (Cornus florida, zones 5-9) Whitewood aster (Eurybia divaricata, zones 3-8) Helleborus (Helleborus cv., zones 4-9)
*The following species may be invasive species depending on the region. Check your state’s invasive species list for more information.
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