Great Groundcovers for Dense Shade

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Geoffrey Mehl

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The short flower spikes on Tiarella cordifolia create a “foamy” look in the woodland landscape.

When it comes to problem spots in the garden, few are more vexing than really dense shade. It might be the space under a maple tree, where roots are close to the surface; or it could be along a deck or porch, or in narrow spaces between buildings, all in constant shadow. The north sides of buildings can be downright gloomy, too.

But before you rush out to embrace English ivy or Japanese pachysandra (and really turn a monster loose), give one of the following great native groundcovers a try. In my wooded garden, there’s no shortage of serious shade and tough habitats – and no time to coddle fussy plants. That’s why I reach for the shade-loving quartet of Tiarella cordifolia (foamflower), Mitella diphylla (bishop’s cap), Asarum canadense (wild ginger) and Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny spurge).

These four natives of the eastern US have adapted to harsh environments like deep shade and imperfect soils. What’s more, they create gorgeous patches of green, treat us to charming flowers and truly take care of themselves.

The best-known of the lot is Tiarella cordifolia, or foamflower. It expands by sending out runners that root and gently form large colonies in dense shade. A native to cool, rich, moist woods, this groundcover adapts easily to all kinds of environments and can handle prolonged dry spells with ease. Each spring, foamflower rewards gardeners with 8-inch spikes of delicate, white (sometimes tinged pale pink) flowers. When planted in mass, these beauties can make for one stunning display!

Tips

Stones rounded smooth by water (or glaciers) make attractive landscape accents. Tuck a few around a sloped bed as you would use mulch to help reduce erosion and add visual interest.
Need something to store extra plants in? Try contacting local landscapers, who often head back to headquarters with empty plastic liners (that they’re usually eager to dispose of for free). Just wash the containers with a hose and store them upside down until times when you need to pot up a plant to give away.

Facts

The best mulch for woodland plants is 2 inches of shredded leaves. If you don’t have a shredder, use your lawn mower to grind up leaves, then herd them into a neat pile in a circular path. Use a hay fork to move them to beds or temporary storage.

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