Yes, there are good habitat plants for the shady garden!
Don't despair if you have a shady yard. Yes, there are many wonderful plants that won't grow in the shade, but there are many equally wonderful plants that will thrive in partly-shaded or fully shaded areas. Here are just a few.
(Note: light shade means a few hours to a half day of sun)
For birds
Woodland sunflower (Helianthus strumosus) - Large yellow flowers on a 3-5 foot plant. Likes a few hours of sunlight. Like all sunflowers, birds like the seeds.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - Long blooming season. Light shade. Leave some of those dead flowers: they become birdseed! Nothing beats the sight of goldfinches each perched on their own seedhead, munching away on coneflower seeds in the fall!
For hummingbirds
Columbine (Aquilegia canadense) - the native form of red/yellow columbine. This is a good source of early nectar for hummingbirds just arriving on their long journey. You can see this growing wild at Clark Reservation.
Lavender hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) - for light shade
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) - low-growing shrub covered with white flowers. Light shade.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) - Light shade. Brilliant red - the favorite color of hummingbirds. Likes moist areas.
Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - Light shade.
For butterflies
Columbine (Aquilegia canadense) - the native form of red/yellow columbine. You can see this growing wild at Clark Reservation.
Sweet Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum) - This is one of the many examples that prove that, despite its weedy-sounding name, it is just as attractive as other garden plants. A very tall plant that is attractive all season. Butterflies really like this one!
Lavender hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) - for light shade
Sky blue aster (Aster azureus) - light shade. Good for late season bloom.
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) - low-growing shrub covered with white flowers. Light shade.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - Long blooming season. Light shade.
Lupine (Lupinus perennis) - light shade, early summer bloom.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) - Light shade. Likes moist areas.
Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - Light shade.
Black eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) - Light shade.
Other plants
Here are just a few plants that grow in the shade. There are many other woodland natives that also do well.
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) - light to medium shade. This will form nice, carefree clumps
Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) - Beautiful foliage and beautiful flowers on this 1-2 foot tall plant.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) - a woodland favorite, 2-3 foot tall.
False indigo (Baptisia australis) - light shade
