Dozens of evergreen and deciduous shrubs are native to the northeast. Many gardeners in the northeastern United States must contend with severe winters, hot, high-humidity summers, and soil almost too thin to cover the stones it contains. If you live near a park that controls deer overpopulation and removes invasive plants, go there to see what kind of native plants occur naturally in the woods near you. There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory of eastern North America that can enliven a shady landscape on your property and change your perception about gardening in the shade. Aker's favorite flowering shrubs for the Northeast include native plants and hardy, adaptable nonnatives. We suggest propagating woodland plants from seed only if you have experience germinating native seeds. One obvious stalwart is sword fern which looks good planted in … zones 5 – 9; deciduous; 10′ tall x 15′ wide; full sun to partial shade; humus-rich, fertile, moist but well-drained soil, native to the southeastern U.S. Many of these species are difficult to start and slow to grow from seed. In choosing plants, the level of light the plant will receive should be taken into consideration. The amount of shade a plant is growing under will directly affect the density of the foliage, as well as the flowering and fruiting characteristics. IN THE SHADE: Gardening with Native Plants from the Woodland Understory by Heather McCargo. May be used as a lawn in deep shade. Plants and Shade. Finding shrubs that perform in such conditions, however, doesn't need to be a challenge. He likes shrubs with a long blooming season, fragrant flowers, interesting structure, and bright fall foliage color. Although this shrub is native to southeastern U.S. Bare-root and potted plants, on the other hand, offer an opportunity to transplant a native woodland plant that … The Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC), a facility of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is a 13–acre greenhouse, nursery, and seed bank complex located on Staten Island, NY. I have read success stories written by gardeners as far north as Toronto, Ontario. We have many of them are native to the northwest. Native shrubs -- including native azaleas -- are sometimes neglected, Aker says. *Mesic are plants which require well prepared soil, good drainage and moderate to high levels of moisture. xeric, tolerates moderate traffic. Once established, a native woodland community requires little maintenance, and can be perpetuated indefinitely if the occasional exotic invaders are promptly removed. Spring-Blooming Native Plants for New England Shade Gardens Thalictrum polygamum (tall meadow rue) is a white-flowering species that blooms from July to September. So a designer should be looking for drought tolerant shade plants. The layering of canopy, understory, shrub, and herbaceous species, underlain by leaf litter, provides habitat for the insects and birds that call the Eastern Deciduous Forest home. https://www.gardenia.net/guide/great-shrubs-for-shady-gardens-new-england 6-8 in., yellow blooms. **Xeric plants are adapted to poor soils and lower levels of water. Here are 10 plants, from herbaceous perennials to woody vines, shrubs and trees, chosen for their multiseason beauty and interest, wildlife value and adaptability to a variety of garden conditions found across the Northeast, from dry sun to moist shade. Throw in plenty of flowering understory trees and shrubs for food and cover, and animals large and small will follow to become regular garden visitors. Besides having little sun to help plants survive, shady areas are often very dry to boot! It can grow very tall—up to 8 feet—and is hardy in zones 3 to 8.