Native Perennials: Shade Tolerant

The plants on this page are perennials or self-seeding annuals native to Western Washington, and can tolerate at least some shade. We grow our plants on our Vashon forest property. So we specialize in plants that can handle the shade. Take a look.

  • Fringe Cup

    Fringe Cup (Tellima grandiflora) Full to part shade, evergreen in mild winters, interesting small flowers on 1-2 ft stalks. Forms lovely clumps of green foliage.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tellima

  • Goatsbeard

    Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) Beautiful in spring, and in summer tall, feathery plumes composed of tiny, creamy-white flowers rise above the foliage. Flowers are very attractive to insects. https://realgardensgrownatives.com/?p=2100

  • Great False Solomon’s Seal

    Great False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum) 2-3 ft tall , with starry flowers followed by berries. The arching leaves look good all summer. Likes moist woods, streambanks, and open rocky hillsides. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maianthemum_racemosum

  • Maidenhair Fern

    Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum aleuticum) Considered by many the most beautiful fern. Shade and moist soil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_aleuticum
    A similar fern is Adiantum pedatum. But that on
    e is native to the Eastern US.

  • Miner's Lettuce

    Miner’s Lettuce , Elegant Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) The more beautiful of the miner’s lettuce we can grow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claytonia_perfoliata

  • Native Mint

    Native Mint (Mentha arvensis). One of the few native mints. Likes sun to part shade and moist soil. Has red stems when grown in more sun. This is our beautifully fragrant native wild mint, a plant that naturally occurs in ever-damp soils, such as mountain streambanks, poorly drained meadows, and even around coastal wetlands.

    This mint spreads by underground rhizomes, but not aggressively like its exotic relatives, never becoming a weedy menace. The long-lasting nectar-rich flowers, make it a great little bee plant, and the strong/sweet smell of the foliage make it a neat addition to herb gardens.  https://www.pnwflowers.com/flower/mentha-arvensis