Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — turban red flowers and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Georgia · Zones 6–9
Native Plants for Shade in Georgia
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. Every species here is genuinely native to Georgia and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–9 — proven performers for Georgia's humid subtropical climate across Piedmont, Blue Ridge & Coastal Plain, not a generic list. Local standouts include Turk's Cap and Arrowwood Viburnum. Shade is an opportunity, not a problem — the eastern woodland flora is one of the richest in the world. Most shade natives evolved under a deciduous canopy, so they do their growing in cool, moist spring soil and want a yearly mulch of fallen leaves rather than bare, raked dirt. Match the depth of shade to the plant, and a bare patch under a maple becomes the loveliest part of the garden.
The plants
17 native species for Georgia
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–9 · see this collection in other states.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, for clay and loam ground and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — reaching 4–8 ft and it blooms May through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; spreading 12–18 in and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; 15–25 ft wide and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — for rocky and loam ground and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, spreading 12–18 in and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, reaching 6–12 in, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, white domes flowers and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, 12–18 in wide, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, lavender-pink flowers — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, for clay and loam ground and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, happy in loam soil — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, for clay, rocky, and loam ground, flowering as it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, 1.5–2.5 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, for clay and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Georgia
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.