Wooded Backyard Planting Guide: What to Grow in the Shade

Transforming a wooded backyard into a lush, inviting space doesn't mean you have to clear out all the trees. In fact, embracing the existing greenery can create a unique, shaded oasis. The key is to choose plants that thrive in the dappled sunlight and partial shade provided by your wooded area. Let's explore what to plant in a wooded backyard to create a harmonious, low-maintenance landscape.

Wooded backyards often have specific microclimates, with cooler temperatures and higher humidity under the canopy. This environment is perfect for a variety of shade-loving plants, from ferns and hostas to hydrangeas and dogwoods. By selecting the right plants, you can create a beautiful, sustainable landscape that requires minimal watering and upkeep.

Native Plants for a Wooded Backyard

Incorporating native plants into your landscape design offers numerous benefits. They require less water and maintenance, support local wildlife, and help preserve biodiversity. Plus, native plants are well-adapted to your region's climate and soil conditions, ensuring they thrive in your wooded backyard.

To get started, research native plants that prefer partial shade. Some excellent options include:

• Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): A low-growing perennial with heart-shaped leaves that provides excellent ground cover and suppresses weeds.
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum): This unique plant produces an exotic flower and prefers moist, shady areas.
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis): A spring-blooming native with white flowers and attractive, maroon-veined leaves.

Understory Trees and Shrubs

Enhance your wooded backyard's structure and beauty by incorporating understory trees and shrubs. These plants grow well in the filtered sunlight and provide habitat and food for local wildlife.

Consider adding the following understory plants to your landscape:

• Redbud (Cercis canadensis): A small, deciduous tree with showy pink or purple flowers in early spring.
• Dogwood (Cornus spp.): Available in various species, dogwoods offer attractive foliage, showy flowers, and vibrant fall color.
• Azalea (Rhododendron spp.): These broadleaf evergreens provide year-round interest and stunning spring blooms.

Ornamental Grasses and Ferns

Ornamental grasses and ferns add texture, movement, and visual interest to your wooded backyard. Many of these plants are low-maintenance and thrive in partial shade.

Some excellent choices include:

• Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'): A graceful, arching grass with golden-green foliage that turns golden-yellow in fall.
• Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea): A deciduous fern with attractive, cinnamon-colored fiddleheads in spring.
• Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora): A semi-evergreen fern with silvery-new growth that turns deep green in summer and maintains good color throughout the winter.

Layering and Plant Combination

To create a cohesive, inviting landscape, layer plants of varying heights and textures. This approach helps to maximize the use of space and provides visual interest throughout the seasons.

When selecting plants, consider their mature size and growth habits. Group plants with similar water and light requirements together, and create a balanced mix of evergreens and deciduous plants for year-round appeal.

Ground Covers and Ephemerals

Ground covers and ephemerals play a crucial role in suppressing weeds, stabilizing soil, and providing seasonal color. Incorporate these plants into your landscape design for a lush, inviting wooded backyard.

Some excellent options include:

• Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum): A spring-blooming ephemeral with white, umbrella-like flowers and attractive, umbrella-shaped leaves.
• Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): A low-growing perennial with heart-shaped leaves that provides excellent ground cover and suppresses weeds.
• Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis): A shade-loving perennial with glossy, evergreen leaves that forms a dense mat, suppressing weeds and providing year-round color.

Shade-loving Perennials and Bulbs

Shade-loving perennials and bulbs add pops of color and visual interest to your wooded backyard. Incorporate these plants into your landscape design for a vibrant, dynamic space.

Some excellent choices include:

• Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.): Available in various species, hydrangeas offer attractive foliage and showy flowers in shades of blue, pink, or white.
• Astilbe (Astilbe spp.): Also known as false spirea, astilbes produce feathery plumes of flowers in shades of pink, red, or white and prefer moist, partial shade.
• Tulips (Tulipa spp.): Many tulip varieties thrive in partial shade and provide stunning spring color. Choose from a wide range of colors and sizes to suit your landscape.

By incorporating these shade-loving plants into your wooded backyard, you'll create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that thrives in the dappled sunlight and partial shade. Embrace the unique character of your wooded space, and enjoy the rewards of a lush, inviting oasis tailored to your region's climate and soil conditions.