California native plants that grow in full shade
What we are calling full shade is shade under a dense canopy of evergreen trees, not under a deck or other solid structure. Some light must penetrate in order for the plants to photosynthesize. Don't forget that our full shade may not be like your full shade. Most people can give a little more sun to many of these plants. Look on each individual plant's description (the links) to get more precise information about each plant's needs or to order it.
Wild Ginger is a really neat little perennial with heart-shaped leaves that likes full shade. Wild ginger smells spicy in a nice way. The flower is the best thing about this plant. There are three petals (sepals) with 1 to 2 inch, spur-like projections. The inside is white with a red center. The flowers are about 0.5 to 1 inch wide. This creeping perennial is native in the redwood forest and yellow pine forest so it may need a little moisture in other areas.
Think about that north wall that is really moist and shady. Think about that shady parking garage planting bed that someone designed.
We have a number of Coast Live Oaks on the property. We do not water under the oaks but have a number of plants growing in their shade.
California Pipevine (also called) Dutchman's pipe is a vigorous deciduous vine with heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are totally strange; shaped like a pipe, colored green with reddish brown stripes and reddish brown sepals. The flowers emerge first, then the leaves. It is the larval food plant for the pipe vine swallowtail butterfly. It does fine in our demonstration garden with no extra water; don't forget our area only receives 20 inches of rainfall/year. The background picture for this page is of Dutchman's pipe, before the leaves have appeared.
A small movie about California Pipevine
Bush Anemone is an evergreen shrub, usually reaching 6 ft. high by 3 ft. wide in the garden. Bush anemone can be drought tolerant in town, but generally needs regular water.
A short video of Bush Anemone
Elk Clover A lovely bush found close to the coast
in Marin county, Elk Clover is green and leafy, grows about 6 ft. high, and spreading to 6 ft. wide with many amazing white starbursts of flowers at the end of upright stems. Each starburst is made of multiple white spokes forming a round ball the size of a
pingpong ball. An email asking for i.d., described it better than me.
Blackfruit Dogwood is a deciduous shrub to 15 feet from northern California, growing in part to full shade, with good soil moisture, and is a good background plant for a moist section of a woodland or forest garden.
Giant Wild Rye is a large clumping, green grass. Although it will not work in heavy shade it will work under most oaks. Usually not aggressive, it has a better form when given some sun. Giant wild rye is happy in the shade but loses that little bit of legginess when allowed some morning sun. No supplemental water is given.
Red Stem Dogwood is an elegant open deciduous shrub with creamy white flower clusters in spring and whose red stems shine so, in the winter.
A short video about Cornus stolonifera, Red Stem Dogwood.
Many of the monkey
flowers will tolerate full shade even near the coast. Sticky
Monkey flower pictured here can be found under oaks in coastal
cities.
This is a short video about Ramona
monkey flower.
What Wood Strawberries lack in size, they make up for in flavor. They are rich and sweet. They also make an excellent ground cover. They like a little extra water, as they are native in coastal areas where they receive extra rainfall from fog drip and in several of the California mountains where they receive extra rainfall.
A short video about California Wood Strawberry.
Island Alum Root is a two foot perennial with 3' 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. In interior heat needs a little wash off once a week or so.
Very drought tolerant near the coast and in areas of cool summers. In interior heat needs a little wash off once a week or so.
Siskiyou Alum Root needs a little water.
Alumroot is a dainty little perennial with reddish green foliage and dainty cream-colored flower clusters that may reach 3 ft in height.
Jack o the Rocks. grows in full shade but it needs regular water.
Sierra Iris.is a pretty yellow Iris that likes moist shade or wet sun. It goes deciduous in the winter. It forms a neat little clump spreading slowly by short underground rhizomes.
Cream Bush is a very elegant shrub. It has arching branches, with soft light green foliage and large cream colored flower clusters. The flower clusters turn a chocolate color after a while and hang around through the winter. It works great in flower arrangements. It loves shade and is drought tolerant.
Douglas Iris is a delicate native iris with pastel pink, blue and purple flowers. It is very drought tolerant in the shade. It likes a little mulch.
This is the deep blue form of Douglas Iris.
Yawning Penstemon is a delicate little bush penstemon and has pale lavender flowers lined with dark purple stripes. It has shiny gray foliage and arching gray stems. This bush penstemon is happy in full shade.
Heart Leaved Penstemon seems to tolerate a lot of shade. It likes full sun only right next to the coast, and shade inland.
Wallaces Pitcher sage is a shrub with light purple flowers. It has large, fragrant, clasping, opposite leaves. It does well in part or full shade and is drought tolerant.
Orange Honeysuckle is a delicate little honeysuckle with large, bright orange flowers. It grows in full shade on north facing slopes in northern California. We put it near the birdbath in the demonstration garden so it would get a little extra moisture.
Chaparral Honeysuckle, is very drought tolerant. It has pretty little yellow flowers, purplish stems, and clasping gray-green leaves.
California Honeysuckle is a showy little honeysuckle with large pink flower clusters and large clasping leaves. It is very drought tolerant and can handle shade.
Shinyleaf Mahonia or California Barberry is erect and not as bushy, as other Oregon Grapes, though it has the same yellow flowers and blue berries. California Barberry is more drought tolerant. The leaves are very holly-like.
A Coyote amongst the mint.
Monardella subglabra is one of the more popular Coyote Mints.
Fuzzy Coyote Mint grows in small openings in the remaining forests of southern Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Coyote mint
has light purple flowers and a minty fragrance. It likes to grow under coast live oaks and is very drought tolerant. It is a great butterfly flower. It grows about a foot tall.
Ninebark grows in seeps or creeks in full shade to part sun. In cool coastal gardens it can grow on the edge of full sun.
Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum californicumis a fragrant perennial herb with dense clusters of small, white flowers (with lavender spots).
Sierra Gooseberry is a wonderful showy deciduous shrub with edible berries (great for gooseberry jam).
Hollyleaf Redberry is an evergreen shrub to 3-9 ft., that is native to dry slopes in the coast ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills.
Golden Currant grows under and between native trees.
White Chaparral Currant makes showy sprays of white flowers under our oaks from November through February. This currant seems to be able to grow in full shade or part shade.
Canyon Gooseberry has many forms that are native to the coast ranges of California and the Sierra Nevada mountains and ranges into southern Oregon.
Pink Sierra Currant grows in shade to full sun in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In most California gardens it likes full to partial shade and regular water.
Pink Flowering Currantis a five foot deciduous shrub with long showy pink flower clusters that cover the plant in January to March. In some places in the wild this currant grows in deep shade.
Catalina Perfume is a two to three foot evergreen perennial shrub that can grow to eight feet wide, but can be held easily in a two foot flower bed
Wood Rose grows under trees in nearly full shade.
Pine Rose grows in shade to part shade.
Thimbleberry is a woodsy berry that grows in forests where there is shade and moisture.
Pacific blackberry grows in moist part shade. It will survive in seasonally wet spots and even full sun.
All of our Hummingbird Sages will work in part shade to full shade.
Mountain Balm grows at the edge of oaks.
Yerba Buena works well in shade. Planted in the gaps between pavers it will cover the patio with a flat fragrance.
Black Figwort grows on the north slopes or under oaks.
Mountain Spirea is a little deciduous sub-shrub with reddish pink flowers in clusters two-three across
Spiraea douglasii is a fast-growing, 4-5' deciduous shrub that loves part shade.
Magenta Butterfly Flower likes regular water and part shade. It will do ok in full shade.
Common Snowberry is a chin-high, deciduous shrub, gradually forming a thicket by way of its rhizomes, or underground stems. Excellent under oaks.
Creeping Snowberry grows in heavy shade, but can also grow in sum.
Fringe cup is a groundcover or perennial for shady moist spots.
Mountain Meadow Rueis a perennial with delicate columbine -like leaves that is covered with spires of very airy, dainty flowers in spring.
Huckleberry is a shrub related to the blueberry. It likes full shade in moist forested areas. It has light pink umbel flowers, reddish bark and shiny green foliage.
Canyon sunflower likes moist shade. It would be good with a lot of mulch or in a moist shady rock garden. It dies back in the winter. Canyon sunflower is a small bush 2 to 3 ft tall. The sunflowers are around 2 inches wide.
Our wild violets, or Johnny-jump-ups, Our wild violets, or Johnny-jump-ups, are happiest in clay soil under blue oaks. However they are also under Chamise, Ceanothus, and coast live oak. They seem to not be able to tolerate a lot of leaf litter. They get buried. The yellow flowers are a great addition to salads.
Whipplevine is a low growing herbaceous plant with small white flowers. It is happy in full shade. It is native along the coast ranges under the forest canopy.
