Stephen Albert
Groundcovers that grow in shade are especially useful to cover the ground beneath trees where grass does not grow. Shade-tolerant groundcovers can help turn barren soil into a pleasant garden scene.
Most shade-tolerant groundcovers are native to woodland areas where there is full shade or dappled shade. Groundcovers do best where there is a modest amount of humus-rich soil.
The list here is divided into two parts; the second section includes shade-tolerant groundcovers that can also thrive in dry soil. Large trees and shrubs can take up a great amount of soil moisture; this often leaves the soil dry and a difficult situation for low-growing groundcovers.
Groundcovers for Shade
The plants in this list grow best where the soil is evenly moist.
| A-F Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Archangel, yellow | Lamiostrum galeobdolon | 3-9 |
| Blue-eyed Mary | Omphalodes verna | 5-9 |
| Bog rosemary | Andromeda polifolia | 2-6 |
| Bunchberry | Cornus canadensis | 2-7 |
| Christmas rose; Lenten rose | Helleborus niger | 4-9 |
| Coralberry, prostrate Chenault | Symphoricarpos x chenaultii | 4-7 |
| Cotoneaster, bearberry | Cotoneaster dammeri | 5-9 |
| Ferns | Various | Varies |
| Foam flower, Allegheny | Tiarella cordifolia | 4-9 |
| Forget-me-not | Myosotis scorpiodes | 3-8 |
| G-Z Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Goldenstar | Chusogonum virginianum | 5-8 |
| Hosta | Hosta spp. | 3-8 |
| Italian arum | Arum italicum | 6-10 |
| Ivy, English | Hedera helix | 5-9 |
| Lily-of-the-valley | Convallaria majalis | 2-9 |
| Pachysandra | Pachysandra terminalis | 4-10 |
| Phlox, creeping | Phlox stolonifera | 2-8 |
| Snow-on-the-mountain | Aegopodium podagraria | 3-9 |
| Strawberry, Alpine | Fragaria vesca | 3-9 |
| Sweet woodruff | Galium odoratum | 4-8 |
| Vinca | Vinca minor, Vinca major | 4-8 |
| Wintergreen | Gaultheria procumbens | 3-8 |
Groundcovers for Dry Shade
The plants that follow will grow in dry soil. Often the surface soil under trees is try as tree roots take up lots of moisture.
| A-L Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Allegheny spurge | Pachysandra procumbens | 5-9 |
| Barren strawberry | Waldsteinia fragarioides | 3-8 |
| Creeping mahonia | Mahonia repens | 5-8 |
| Epimediums | Epimedium spp. | 4-9 |
| Hellebores hybrids | Helleborus x hybridus | 6-9 |
| Japanese pachysandra | Pachysandra terminalis | 4-8 |
| Lily of the valley | Convallaria majalis | 2-7 |
Male fern, Dryopteris carthusiana
| L-Z Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Lilyturfs | Liriope spp. | 5-9 |
| Male fern | Dryopteris spp. | 4-8 |
| Mondo grass | Ophiopogon spp. | 7-10 |
| Pennsylvania sedge | Carex pensylvanica | 5-8 |
| Plumbago | Ceratostigma plumbainoides | 5-9 |
| Solomon’s seals | Polygonatum spp. | 4-8 |
| Woodland stonecrop | Sedum ternatum | 4-9 |
Also of interest:
