Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; creamy white flowers and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Michigan · Zones 4–6
Native Plants for Shade in Michigan
Woodland wildflowers, ferns, and groundcovers that thrive in the dappled and full shade under trees and on the north side of the house. Michigan sits in a landscape of Great Lakes forest & dune, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid continental, lake-moderated character. The list below — led by Arrowwood Viburnum and Wild Columbine — is filtered to species genuinely native to Michigan and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 4–6. 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
14 native species for Michigan
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–6 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, red & yellow flowers and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, 12–18 in wide; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, happy in clay and loam soil and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, happy in loam soil — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — white bracts flowers and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, happy in loam soil — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, for loam ground and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
A woodland native that 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
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, happy in loam soil, and 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, inconspicuous green flowers, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 1.5–2.5 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
For the dappled north side and under trees, it handles part to full shade — good through zone 9.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, reaching 6–12 in.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Michigan
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.