21 Ontario Native Plants for Dry Shade

Don’t give up on that dry shade spot in your garden! Even in the harsh conditions of dry shade, including under the dreaded Norway maple, your garden can be lush and beautiful while supporting a diversity of native pollinators. All you have to do is choose the right plants!

The best native plants for dry shade are those that have evolved with dry shade conditions, such as underneath shallow rooted trees like Sugar Maples or under evergreens, and are therefore genetically suited to grow there. Many of the plants on this list find their origin in the rocky soil of the Niagara escarpment, often times growing right out of cracks in the rocks or on bare slopes, so you know they are tough!

While all the plants listed here will tolerate dry shade, they would grow better if you amended their soil with compost and allowed leaf litter to build up. This will help hold in moisture and mimic the build-up of organic matter that would happen in their natural environment. They will all have to be watered for the first year or two after planting so they can set down their roots and allow them to tolerate the harsh conditions of dry shade.

21 Native Plants for Dry Shade:

Wild Ginger groundcover for dry shade

A classic wildflower in shady forests deserves a spot in your garden. Lush, heart-shaped leaves make an excellent native groundcover for shade. The unique, burgundy flower rests on the ground and is not visible unless you lift a leaf. Grows in rocky soil and deep shade. < 30cm tall.

Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)

Poke Milkweed dry shade

The large, oval leaves and tall stature of Poke Milkweed make it an excellent structural plant in shady gardens. In summer, droopy clusters of white flowers are presented along it’s slender stalks. Not an aggressive spreader. Grows in rocky soil. 1.8m tall.

oak sedge ontario

Oak Sedge is a grass-like groundcover that adds a soft, wispy look to shad gardens. It greens up early in the spring and makes a suitable lawn-alternative. It can handle moderate foot traffic. It spreads at a moderate rate by rhizomes but is not aggressive. 30cm tall.

Bush honeysuckle dry shade

A highly adaptable (grows in sun or shade), low growing, suckering shrub. Valued in gardens for it ability to cover the ground quickly and its striking fall colour. The mid-summer, tubular yellow flowers are popular with hummingbirds and bumblebees. A great native plant for erosion control on slopes. 90cm tall.

bottlebrush grass dry shade

A delightful cool-season clump-forming grass. Greens up early in the spring and shows off with brush like flowers in late summer. Excellent for structure and texture in the garden. Often found in rocky soils. 90cm tall.

largeleaf aster dry shade

Broad, heart-shaped leaves form a nice groundcover. In late summer/fall, flat topped clusters of lavender flowers rise up above the leaves. Very popular with late season pollinators. 30cm tall.

White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)

white wood aster dry shade

The elegant, pure-white flowers of White Wood Aster are small but plentiful and really stand out in the shade. It is a threatened species in Ontario. It spreads by rhizomes and seeds, making it a great choice to cover larger spaces. It can handle shallow rocky soil too. 30cm tall.

Spotted geranium dry shade

Spotted Geranium boasts showy, purple/pink flowers in late spring. It has an attractive clumping habit and the leaves turn a vibrant red/maroon colour in the fall. If you look at the flowers in the early morning you may notice native solitary bees sleeping sleeping in them. The flowers are visited by various types of native bees and small butterflies. 30cm tall.

A wildlife superstar with prolific blooms and a very sturdy, upright form. It is fast growing, drought tolerant and very shade tolerant for a sunflower, preferring part shade to part sun. This is an excellent natural bird feeder. 180cm tall.

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

canada mayflower dry shade

A shady groundcover with glossy oval leaves and foam-like clusters of white flowers in May. Red berries in the fall. Adaptable to moist or dry soils. Can be found growing in dry, sandy soils under pine trees. Attracts butterflies, even in the shade. Excellent alternative to the invasive Lily of the Valley. 20cm tall.

False Solomons Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)

false solomons seal dry shade

Graceful arching stems and attractive foliage make this a good structural or accent plant. A delightful spray of creamy white flowers in spring turn into bright red berries in late summer. Will grow under cedar trees if it gets part shade. Salt tolerant. Another good alternative to the invasive Lily of the Valley. 30-80cm.

woodland phlox dry shade

A captivating evergreen groundcover for shady gardens with fragrant, blue flowers. The tubular flowers invite butterflies and sphinx moths from far and wide. Spreads by rooting where its stems touch the ground. Not aggressive. Excellent alternative to the invasive periwinkle. Can be found growing in rocky soil along the Niagara escarpment. 30cm tall.

White Rattlesnake-root (Prenanthes alba)

white rattlesnake root dry shade

Unique, delicate flowers hang delicately from tall stems in late summer. Deeply lobed leaves add wonderful texture to the garden. Can be found growing in rocky soils and bare slopes, so it will tolerate dry shade just fine. prefers partial sun but will grow in part shade. 1.2m tall.

Purple Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)

purple flowering raspberry shrub for dry shade

A shrub with bold, maple-shaped leaves and an attractive mounding form. In mid-summer it puts on a display of pink, rose-like flowers with yellow centers. Very popular with bumblebees. Attractive, papery bark over the winter months. Delicious edible fruits. Spreads by rhizomes and may not be suitable for smaller gardens.1.8m tall.

Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)

red elderberry shrub for dry shade

A prized native shrub for dry shade with its lacy foliage, white spring flowers and its vibrant red berries. Prefers part sun to full shade and grows quickly to form a wildlife hedge. A favourite shrub of birds. Can be found growing in shallow, rocky soil. 3.5m tall.

 

Silverrod (Solidago bicolor)

silverrod dry shade

A goldenrod with white flowers! It sends up spires of creamy white flowers in late summer to fall. This goldenrod finds its origins in open woods with dry soil so its a perfect choice for dry gardens with part sun to part shade. Uncommon in Ontario. 90cm tall.

bluestem goldenrod dry shade

Graceful arching stems are covered with vibrant yellow flowers in early fall that native bees cannot resist. Bluestem Goldenrod is not an aggressive spreader but it will self-seed into bare spots. Prefers full shade. A must-have for shady pollinator gardens. 90cm tall.

zigzag goldenrod dry shade

Fragrant spires of vibrant yellow flowers stand out in the shade and pull in pollinators from far and wide. Does not spread aggressively by rhizomes but has a tendency to self-seed into bare soil. 90cm.

Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

large-flowered bellwort dry shade

A delicate looking, but tough, early spring bloomer. A favourite food source for Bumblebee queens as they emerge from a long winter. Large-flowered Bellwort can be found growing in shallow, rocky soils along the Niagara escarpment. 60cm tall.

Maple-leaved arrowood (Viburnum acerifolium)

arrowwood dry shade

A stunning native shrub valued for its dense clusters of white spring flowers that turn into dark purple berries in the fall. The maple-like leaves turn shades of orange and maroon in the fall. Can form dense thickets in moist soil but does not spread very quickly in dry shade. Shade tolerant and great for attracting birds to your yard. 1.8m tall.

Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides)

barren strawberry groundcover dry shade

A fast-spreading native groundcover with yellow spring blooms and glossy, evergreen leaves. Does not produce edible berries. Adaptable, reliable and pairs well with many other shade plants. < 20cm tall.