Shadier, moister locations

The following plants grow in moderately moist soils in full to part shade. Full shade sites, such as the north side of a building or under the canopy of trees, receive no direct sunlight for most of the growing season. Part shade sites may get several hours of direct sunlight, but full shade the rest of the day. These conditions typically occur on the east or west side of a building, woodland edge, or woodland opening.

These plants grow best in soils which are moist, but well-drained (no standing water) with plenty of organic matter. If the soil is low in organic matter, several inches of compost, leaf mold, or well-aged cow manure should be dug into the soil at a depth of 8 in. or more before planting. An organic mulch should be applied every year to maintain soil fertility, conserve moisture, and supress weeds. These plants should be well watered until established.

Actaea rubifolia (rattletop)—part sun to shade, Sept-Oct, white, 3 ft, moist, Zone 4-9

Asarum canadense (wild ginger)—shade, April, purple-brown, 8 in, moist, Zone 2-8

Carex plantaginea (plantain leaf sedge)—shade, late spring, 10-15 in, moist, Zone 5-9

Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)—part sun to shade, May, pink, 2 ft, moist, Zone 3-7

Meehania cordata (creeping wood mint)—part sun, May-June, violet/ white, 3-6 in, moist, Zone 4-9

Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)—part sun to shade, 3-4 ft, moist to wet, Zone 3-8

Phlox stolonifera (creeping phlox)—part sun to shade, May, pink/ purple/ white, moist, Zone 3-8

Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple)—shade, May, white, 1 ft, moist, Zone 4-8

Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (King Solomon’s seal)—shade, May, white, 4 ft, moist, Zone 3-8

Disporum maculatum (nodding mandarin)—shade, May, white/ purple, 14-18 in, moist, Zone 4-8

Rhododendron maximum (great laurel)—shade/ part shade, June-July, pale pink, to 30 ft, well drained/ moist, Zone 5-8

Tiarella cordifolia (foam flower)—part sun to shade, May-June, pink/ white, 8-12 in, moist, Zone 4-8

Viola labradorica (labrador violet)—sun to shade, May, purple, 6-12 in, moist, Zone 4-8

Shadier locations—can be dry to moist

Actaea racemosa (black cohosh)—sun to shade, July, white, 4-5 ft, moist, Zone 4-8

Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)—shade, 12-18 in, moist to dry, Zone 3-9

Sunnier, moister locations—some can also take part sun

The following plants grow in full sun in constantly wet soils. Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, such as an open meadow or the south side of a building. Wet soils have standing water for a brief time in the spring, and constant soil moisture for the rest of the year. Boggy soils are wet for most of the year. These plants are appropriate for the edge of a pond, stream, or in a low spot in a landscape that fills with water after a rain.  

Chelone glabra (white turtlehead)—sun to part sun, August, white, 3 ft, moist to wet, Zone 3-8

Chelone lyonii (pink turtlehead)—sun to part sun, Aug-Sept, rose/ pink, 3 ft, moist to wet, Zone 3-8

Hibiscus mocheutus “Kopper King” (rose mallow)—sun, Aug, white/pink, 4-6 ft, moist to wet, Zone 4-9

Leucothoe sp. (dog hobble)—part sun to shade, April to May, White, 2-4 ft, moist acidic, Zone 5-8

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower)—part to full sun, Aug-Sept, red, 2-3 ft, moist to wet, Zone 3-9

Penstemon serrulatus (sky pilot beard-tongue)—sun/ part sun, June, blue, 1-2 ft, moist, Zone 4-8

Aster turbinellus (prairie aster)—sun, October, violet, 3-4 ft, moist, Zone 3-8

Sunnier locations—can be moist or dry

The following plants grow in moderately moist soils in full sun. Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, such as an open meadow or the south side of a building.

Aster novae-angliae (dwarf) (New England aster)—sun, October, purple, 12-18 in, moist to dry, Zone 4-8

Chasmanthium latifolium (northern sea oats or wild oats)—sun, August, light green, 2-3 ft, moist to dry, Zone 3-8

Clematis virginiana (virgin’s bower)—sun to part sun, July to Sept, white, 10-20 ft vine, moist to dry, Zone 3-9

Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)—sun, August, rose, 3-4 ft, moist to dry, Zone 3-9

Liatris pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)—sun, July, purple, 3-4 ft, moist to dry, Zone 3-7

Lobelia siphilitica (great lobelia)—sun to part sun, Aug-Sept, light/ dark blue, 2-3 ft, moist to wet, Zone 3-9

Panicum virgatum “Northwind” (stiff switch grass or panic grass)—sun, August, tan/ burgundy, 4 ft, moist to dry, Zone 3-8

Ruellia humilis (wild petunia)—sun, June-Aug, violet, 1-2 ft, moist to dry, Zone 4-9

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)—sun, September, red/ purple, 2 ft, moist to dry, Zone 3-9

Scutellaria incana (downy scullcap)—sun to light shade, violet-blue, 2-3 ft, moist to dry, Zone 3-9

Very flexible—sun to shade, moist to dry

Allium tricoccum (ramps, wild leek)—part sun to shade, July-Aug, white, 6-12 in, moist to dry, Zone 3-8

Aquilegia canadensis, (wild columbine)—sun to part sun, May-June, red/yellow, 12-14 in, moist to dry, Zone 3-8

Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)—sun to shade, April-June, reddish-brown, 8-10 in, moist to dry, Zone 3-8

Gaylussacia brachycera (box huckleberry)—sun to shade, May-June, Pink, 1 ft, moist to dry, Zone 4-8

Heuchera americana (alumroot)—sun to shade, June, white, 2 ft, moist to dry, Zone 4-9

Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)—sun to shade, June, white/ pink/ red, moist to dry, Zone 4-8