19 Beautiful Flowering Plants to Grow along Woodland Edges

If you’re anything like me, you take great joy in soaking in the shade of a forest. But even if you love rich woods and tall trees, it can be challenging to know how to landscape the partially shaded forest edge. Rather than jumping from tall trees to manicured gardens, consider buffering this woodland junction with flowering plants.

First, look for plants that can tolerate partial shade. While it’s easy to separate flowers into those that thrive in full sun and those well-suited to hours in the shade, many plants fall somewhere in between! That means there’s no shortage of flowering plants that grow well in the partial shade or dappled light along the edge of woods.

The following list of small trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants brighten forest edges with blooms. And since many of them are native plants, they’re low-maintenance and easy to enjoy.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

	botanical name Hydrangea quercifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-8 feet
	hardiness zones 5-9

Native to much of the Southeast United States, the oakleaf hydrangea is a great native flowering shrub for woodland edges. Although it won’t thrive in full shade, it will grow and produce flowers in dappled light or morning sun. The plants have beautiful leaves that resemble oak leaves, hence its common name.

Oakleaf hydrangeas produce triangular clusters of white flowers from the middle of spring until early summer. The plants bloom on old wood, so there’s no need to prune your plants to enjoy their billowy blooms.

These shrubs prefer moist soil, especially when young. That means you should water the plants weekly during their first year of growth. After this point, the plants can survive on their own as long as they don’t receive intense afternoon sun.

Eastern Bluestar

	botanical name Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

While some members of the Amsonia genus require full sun to bloom, this species thrives in partial shade. That makes it a natural choice for forest edges shaded by small trees. Eastern Bluestar requires moist soil to thrive, so it’s a good option for naturally moist woods or areas beside streams.

Since this plant is native to many eastern and central states, it’s a suitable choice for native plant gardens. But don’t think its native status means it’s ugly! The plants produce clumps of long stems topped with clusters of slender, light blue, star-shaped flowers. While it’s unnecessary, trimming wilted blooms will help the plants send energy into their roots.

The flowers will appear sometime between mid- and end-spring and remain on the plant for about a month. These beautiful blooms work well as cut arrangements and provide food for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. 

Wood Anemone

	botanical name Anemonoides quinquefolia
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

A delicate flower that works well under shrubs and trees, the wood anemone thrives in moist and rich soil. They bloom throughout the spring and may be white, pink, or blue. They have five rounded petals and appear atop slender stems that gently sway during the slightest breeze. That’s why people also refer to these plants as windflowers.

The wood anemone is native to much of the Northeast and Midwest, as well as parts of the Southern Appalachians. If you take a walk through rich woods in the spring, you’ll see the plant’s serrated leaves and small white flowers gracing the forest floor. Oftentimes, the plants self-seed to form large colonies.

Columbine

	botanical name Aquilegia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

A beloved plant for many gardeners, columbine is at home in partially shaded forest edges and beneath large shade trees. You can find many different columbine species that vary in flower color, plant height, and sun requirements. While not all types of columbine grow well in full shade or full sun, most are happy in the partially shaded areas near woodland borders.

All columbine species produce iconic flowers with long, spurred petals. Some species produce blooms that face skyward, while others have blooms that nod down towards the ground. Regardless of their orientation, you can expect them to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Columbine plants readily self-seed, so only plant them in an area where you’re okay with the plants spreading. While they won’t become invasive, a single plant often turns into a lush cluster of columbine.

Tall Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula americana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-6 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

One of my favorite wildflowers, tall bellflower brightens up the forest floor with long stems covered with star-shaped periwinkle blooms. The flower spikes can grow up to six feet tall, making this plant stand out from low-growing wildflowers that grace the leaf-covered ground. And since the plants bloom in the summer, they provide color after spring ephemerals fade.

Tall bellflower, also known as American bellflower, is a biennial, so it doesn’t flower until its second year of growth. During the first year, the plant spends all its energy creating a low-growing rosette of leaves. The plants die after flowering, but they readily self-seed to produce an ongoing line of plants.

These biennials aren’t picky about soil type, but they don’t do well in extremely dry soil. In the wild, you’ll often find them growing on forest edges or in the dappled light of understories.

New Jersey Tea

	botanical name Ceanothus americanus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

New Jersey Tea is a unique shrub that can happily grow along forest edges. While most compact shrubs form a spreading root system, this plant grows a deep taproot that allows it to reach moisture far underground. That means well-established plants can tolerate drought better than many other shrubs. They can also tolerate a wide variety of soil types.

The plants flower in mid to late summer when they send out clusters of tiny white flowers. Since the shrub is deciduous, it loses its leaves in the winter but keeps its woody form. Leaves and blooms appear on new growth, so you can prune back the woody growth in the fall if you’d like.

Black Cohosh

	botanical name Actaea racemosa
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 4-7 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

A perennial native to forests in the Eastern United States, Black cohosh provides beautiful, tall flower spikes during the summer months. The plants grow from rhizomes and produce leaves that resemble those of red maple trees. While the leaves blend in with other forest plants, black cohosh stands out when it sends out its tall flower spike covered with small, white blooms.

This plant can tolerate a variety of soil types, but it’s happiest when provided with lots of organic matter and moderate moisture. The plants are slow to mature and can take up to five years to flower. While it’s easy to become impatient, the wait is worth it!

Wild Geranium

	botanical name Geranium maculatum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-2 feet
	hardiness zones 3-11

Also known as cranesbill, this delicate perennial is known for its cute flowers that appear in the spring and early summer. Each has five thin petals that join to form delicate blooms. The plant’s leaves look like those of other types of geraniums, with five lobes and serrated margins.

The plants grow from rhizomes, so you’ll often see groupings on the forest floor on the East Coast and Midwest. However, you don’t have to worry about the germaniums becoming invasive and taking over other plants.

Wild geraniums thrive in rich soil high in organic matter, so consider adding compost or leaf mold before planting. They prefer moderately moist soil, so water the soil every few days until the plants are well-established.

Eastern Redbud

	botanical name Cercis canadensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

The Eastern Redbud is one of my top picks for small, flowering trees. These trees are native to much of the Eastern United States and put on a gorgeous display of purple flowers in the spring. After they fade, the trees send out heart-shaped leaves and bean-like seed pods.

Although you often seed these trees as standalone plantings in bright sun, they’re also happy growing along forest edges just on the edge of the understory. Their height provides a nice transition from towering trees to smaller shrubs and perennials.

Wild Blue Phlox

	botanical name Phlox divaricata
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

When spring arrives, wild blue phlox plants become covered with five-petaled flowers that come in shades of blue and purple. They bloom for a month in the spring or early summer and attract a variety of pollinators.

Although these plants grow best in rich and moist soil, they can adapt to clay, sand, and moderate drought. They can even grow well in rock gardens and areas with rocky soil. Just make sure to keep the soil moist the first month after planting.

This type of phlox produces many seeds that allow it to spread, but you can easily pull the seedlings if you’d like to keep the planting contained. However, this characteristic also means the plant is a great choice for filling in blank patches along a shaded edge.

Goldenrod

	botanical name Solidago spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-6 feet
	hardiness zones 2-8

With so many species of goldenrod out there, you’re sure to find one or two that match what you’re looking for. Many types of goldenrod grow well in sunny meadows, but they also thrive in the partial light present alongside forests. Look for a species that’s native to your area to end up with a plant that remains healthy without a lot of care.

Various species bloom at different times of year, so it’s possible to mix and match them to end up with a continuous display of bright yellow blooms. Take note that goldenrod readily self-seeds, so it’s easy to end up with multiple of these perennials. Plus, many species of these low-maintenance plants can tolerate rocky and nutrient-poor soil.

Blue Vervain

	botanical name Verbena hastata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-6 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

If you’re looking for a flowering plant for a moist forest edge, blue vervain is a great choice. These plants thrive in moist to wet soil and grow to impressive heights. The plants grow in a branching form and produce spikes of light purple flowers on their tips. You can expect the flowers to remain on the plants through the summer and into early fall.

The plant is native to much of the northern half of the US, ranging from Maine all the way to California. Although they’re biennials, they grow via rhizomes that often produce new plants. Therefore, a single planting can remain for years and appear as a perennial.

Hairy Beardtongue

	botanical name Penstemon hirsutus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

While many types of penstemon require full sun to produce flowers, hairy beardtongue is happy in full or partial shade as well as full sun. That’s right, this plant can adapt to just about any type of light. However, it prefers soil that’s on the drier side.

You can distinguish this penstemon from other species thanks to the fine hairs covering its stem. Tubular flowers appear on long flower stalks in the late spring and/or early summer. They may be purple and white and feature a fuzzy lower lip.

Since hairy beardtongue can tolerate poor soil, it’s a good option for the edges of dry and rocky woods. The plants will continue to survive and bloom even when faced with shallow soil and drought.

Goat’s Beard

	botanical name Aruncus dioicus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6 feet
	hardiness zones 3-7

Goat’s beard is an herbaceous perennial with large leaves containing many leaflets and spikes of feathery white flowers. Although it doesn’t form any woody branches, it can easily grow five feet tall and appear like a small shrub. That makes it a great plant to transition between tall trees and smaller flowering plants.

Goat’s beard is well-suited to partially shaded areas with moist to wet soil, especially when the plants are young. If you live in a hot area, aim to provide afternoon shade or at least dappled light during the hottest hours of the day.

Blue False Indigo

	botanical name Baptisia australis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

Also known as blue wild indigo, this plant produces rounded leaflets and deep blue flowers that resemble true indigo (Indigofera tinctoria). While blue false indigo isn’t a source of blue pigment, its tidy shape and colorful flowers make a beautiful addition to the garden. The plant produces numerous stems from a central base, and each stem is topped with deep purple, lipped flowers.

As this plant matures, it develops a larger width—mature plants can reach three to four feet in diameter. The plants look beautiful as a transition between the forest and cultivated area, and they also work well in grouped plantings.

Blue false indigo can grow well in a variety of soils as long as they’re well-draining. And since these plants are native to much of the East Coast, they are especially well-suited for this area.

Shrubby St. John’s Wort

	botanical name Hypericum prolificum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-6 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

There are handfuls of different species in the St. John’s Wort genus, but this shrubby form is native to the Eastern United States. Therefore, it’s a natural choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant. I planted a few of these shrubs in a partially shaded area a few years ago and was blown away by the number of bright yellow flowers covering their stems.

The plants remained loaded with blossoms for multiple months during the summer, and a smattering of pollinators kept the plants buzzing. These bright blooms, coupled with slender, dark green leaves, made for a lovely display.

Shrubby St. John’s Wort can tolerate various soils as long as they’re well-draining. Although the plants require moist soil while they become established, mature plants can tolerate brief periods of drought, especially if they’re in partial shade.

Wild Strawberry

	botanical name Fragaria virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-12 inches
	hardiness zones 5-9

If you’re looking for a native ground cover that thrives in the partial shade of forest edges, wild strawberry is a great option. These plants spread by runners, so a single plant can quickly turn into a dense groundcover. However, you can easily pull the runners if you want to contain the plants’ spread.

They produce foliage, flowers, and fruits similar to cultivated strawberries, but the fruits are much smaller and not as flavorful. Although the plants only flower in the spring, their foliage remains through the spring and summer.

Mock Orange

	botanical name Philadelphus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-12
	hardiness zones 4-9

Mock oranges are a genus of shrubs with large, white flowers. There are about 50 different species of mock oranges, and the plants vary in size and appearance. A few members of the Philadelphus genus are native to North America and fit in well at the intersection of dense forests and open gardens.

The white mock orange blossoms have bright yellow stamens and an enticingly sweet fragrance. They appear in the spring and last for a few weeks. Most species of mock orange are deciduous, but a few are evergreen in warm climates.

Common Sneezeweed

	botanical name Helenium autumnale
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

Don’t worry: sneezeweed won’t necessarily make you sneeze! The common name comes from history; people used to inhale dry sneezeweed to cause an achoo and cast away evil spirits. Although the plants bloom in summer alongside ragweed and other allergens, they’re rarely the cause of severe allergies.

Sneezeweed is an herbaceous perennial with branching stems topped with cute yellow flowers. The disc flowers form a spherical structure at the center of each bloom, and yellow ray flowers surround the ball.

This flower can tolerate a variety of soils, but it requires moderate to high moisture. Therefore, it’s a good addition to moist, partially shaded woodsides.