Laura Lovett
Whether your growing space is a yard or a patio, gauging your site conditions will help you choose the right native plants for your garden. There are lots of brilliant, full sun California natives but most of us have areas that are part or full shade as well. In these areas, create a bed of smaller stature plants with lovely delicate flowers that thrive in shade and you’ll add diversity and beauty to your garden as well as supplying species that different pollinators need.
If you have a landscape area shaded by trees or structures, native plants for shade enjoy the reduced sunlight and even thrive on a bit of neglect. Cool morning sun and hot afternoon sun have different intensities. Full sun is 6+ hours per day, part-sun is 5 to 6 hours, and part-shade is 3 to 4 hours. If you have less than 3 hours of sun per day, chose plants for shade. Keep in mind, if you use larger plants like Pink-Flowered Currant and Salmonberry, they will get taller and cast their own shade, changing the sun/shade exposure.
We have gathered a number of outstanding species for part and full shade that we will be offering at the Spring Plant Sale, starting April 9th. Consider adding some of these beauties to your shade garden.
Aquilegia eximia, Serpentine Columbine grows in the moist forests of the Coast Ranges. The flower cluster bears a large, nodding columbine flower, bright orange-red on the outer surface and lighter orange to yellow inside. Hummingbirds can’t resist! Immune to mildew and very tolerant of non-draining clay soil. Prefers a relatively moist situation.
Aristolochia californica, California Pipevine is a vigorous deciduous vine with heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are totally strange; shaped like a pipe, colored green with reddish brown stripes. The flowers emerge first, then the leaves. It is the larval food plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. Once it grows in you should have lots of beautiful, deep blue butterflies come visit.
Asarum caudatum – wild ginger
Asarum caudatum, Wild Ginger is a neat little perennial with heart-shaped leaves that likes full shade. Wild ginger smells spicy in a nice way. The flower is very unusual, with three petals with 1 to 2 inch, spur-like projections. The inside is white with a red center. This creeping perennial is native in the redwood forest and yellow pine forest so it may need a little moisture in other areas.
Berberis nervosa – dwarf Oregon grape
Berberis nervosa, Dwarf Oregon Grape is a lovely low-growing Oregon Grape variety, which gets about 2 ft. tall (sometimes more) and spreads by underground stems. Yellow flowers in spring are born in upright clusters, followed by blue berries. A handsome species with especially long, leathery, evergreen leaves. Great woodland groundcover for full or partial shade with occasional to regular summer water.
Clinopodium douglasii, Yerba Buena is a terrific groundcover that works well in shade. Planted in the gaps between pavers it will cover the patio with a minty fragrance when stepped on. Excellent choice under shrubs to keep weeds away. Can also be made into tea.
Dryopteris arguta – coastal wood fern
Dryopteris arguta, Coastal Wood Fern is native to the rugged hillsides of the Pacific Coast and flourishes in oak woodlands and on shady, low elevation slopes. Though it prefers loamy soils, it can tolerate heavy clay and everything in between.
Heuchera maxima, Island Alum Root is a two foot perennial with 3 ft. spikes of small pinkish flowers emerging from February to April. Needs part shade to shade. Very drought tolerant near the coast and in areas of cool summers. Deer will eat it, however.
Iris douglasiana, Douglas Iris is a delicate native iris for part shade. We’re offering a white species (Canyon Snow) and a blue/purple form. It is very drought tolerant in the shade and likes a little mulch.
Lepechinia fragrans ‘El Tigre’, Fragrant Pitcher Sage is softly hairy and strongly fragrant, and gets about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Showy, lavender-purple, tubular flowers bloom in spring and summer, providing resources for bumble bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and moths. Can take full sun on the coast but provide partial shade inland. Evergreen; deer resistant.
Maianthemum stellatum – slim false Solomon’s Seal
Maianthemum stellatum, Slim False Solomon’s Seal makes a pretty and useful addition to the woodland shade garden. Spreading by stout rhizomes, it forms colonies of lush green foliage 12 to 18 inches tall. Small, white, star-shaped flowers top the slender stems in the spring and early summer. It thrives in shade with moisture but tolerates dryish conditions once established.
Monardella purpurea, Serpentine Coyote Mint is a locally rare and more refined version of our common perennial coyote mint, often with darker, raspberry-purple flowers. It is native to the mountains of northern California where it grows in chaparral and forest. It loves rocky, well-draining soil. While native to serpentine soils, it does well in most soils with good drainage.
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum, Pink Flowered Currant is a five foot deciduous shrub with long showy pink flower clusters that cover the plant from January to March. It prefers part shade but in some places in the wild this currant grows in deep shade. We’ll have the ‘Claremont’ cultivar, known for its distinctive, extra long racemes of deep pink flowers with white centers.
Rhododendronoccidentale – Western azalea
Rhododendron occidentale, our native Western Azalea will be available again. This much sought after and admired native deciduous shrub leafs out in the spring with bright green foliage on a shrubby framework 4-8 ft. or more tall and wide. Glorious displays of fragrant azalea flowers appear in late spring and can be pure white to pink. Needs decent light, such as the edge of a woodland, to bloom well but appreciates light shade, acid soils and regular water. Deer resistant.
Rubus spectabilis -salmonberry
Rubus spectabilis, Salmonberry is a deciduous shrub known for its large, showy pink flowers and edible, slightly tart, orange-red berries that are enjoyed by wildlife and humans. It thrives in moist, shady to sunny areas like stream banks and forest edges. Gets 3-10 feet tall; can take full sun to full shade but does best in dappled shade.
Rudbeckia glaucescens, Waxy Coneflower is a showy perennial coneflower that loves moist locations and full sun to part shade. It is a native of the foothills. The flowers perch atop leafless stalks reaching 3 to 4 ft tall. A favorite of bees and butterflies. Even though this species normally occurs in serpentine soils, it grows easily in almost any soil type as long as it is kept moist.
Salvia spathacea ‘Las Pilitas’, a low form Hummingbird Sage with magenta pink spires will work in part shade to full shade. Ground-hugging foliage spreads to form handsome mats 3 to 6 ft. wide. Of course, it’s ideal for a hummingbird garden but other pollinators use it as well.
Thalictrum fendleri – meadow rue
Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum, Meadow Rue is a native perennial herb in the Buttercup family. However, it looks nothing like the conventional Buttercup. This delicate looking shade lover works well with ferns and other shade plants. Good in meadows, moist areas, and openings in forest or woodland. Blooms from April through July with small pink flowers. It gets 3-6′ tall and stays about 1 foot wide.
Vaccinium ovatum, Evergreen Huckleberry is a handsome evergreen shrub and an important wildlife plant native to moist forests of the Pacific Coast. Small pinkish flowers in the spring are followed by delectable black berries prized in pies and jams. A slow-growing shrub for shady situations or cool sun along the coast with moderate to regular water. It usually gets 4–5 ft. tall and wide.