Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, spreading 3–5 ft and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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- By state
- New Hampshire
- For shade
New Hampshire · Zones 3–6
Native Plants for Shade in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for New Hampshire's cool, humid continental climate across White Mountains & northern hardwoods, not a generic list. Local standouts include Smooth Hydrangea and Foamflower. 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
15 native species for New Hampshire
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, spreading 1–2 ft; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, lavender-blue flowers — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; hardy in zones 3–8 and it blooms Apr through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
A woodland native that handles part to full shade, sky blue flowers and it blooms Mar through May.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A woodland native that 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
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
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A woodland native that 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
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Thrives in cool shade under a canopy, where it handles part to full shade; reaching 15–25 ft and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Made for shade — it handles part to full shade, chartreuse-gold flowers and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A shade groundcover for the woodland floor, 10–20 ft wide; it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, hardy in zones 3–7, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Carpets the dappled ground beneath trees, reaching 1–2 ft.
- 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 — cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A spreading carpet for the shaded woodland floor, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Hampshire
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.