American Basswood
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–8
The American Basswood, scientifically known as Tilia americana, is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It is part of the…
Trees: plants for shade
These plants grow with 4 hours of direct sun a day or less: under trees, beside buildings, or in north-facing beds.
57 plants
Trees
American Beech
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
The American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America, known for its striking appearance and…
American Chestnut
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America, renowned for its fast growth and towering…
American Elm
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 2–9
The American Elm (Ulmus americana) is a deciduous tree native to North America, known for its graceful, arching branches and broad canopy…
American Hornbeam
- Part shade
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
The American Hornbeam, scientifically known as Carpinus caroliniana, is a deciduous tree or large shrub native to the eastern United…
Basswood
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–8
Basswood, also known as Tilia, is a genus of deciduous trees commonly found in temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Known…
Beech
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–7
Beech trees, belonging to the Fagaceae family, are deciduous hardwood trees classified under the genus Fagus. Commonly found in temperate…
Birch
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–7
Birch trees, belonging to the genus Betula, are deciduous trees and shrubs renowned for their distinctive bark, delicate leaves, and…
Black Ash
- Full sun
- High water
- Zones 3–6
Black Ash, scientifically known as Fraxinus nigra, is a deciduous tree native to the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. It…
Black Cherry
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is a deciduous tree native to North America, particularly found in eastern and central regions. It…
Blue Beech
- Part shade
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
The Blue Beech, scientifically known as Carpinus caroliniana, is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It is commonly referred…
Chestnut Oak
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
The Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States, particularly thriving in the Appalachian…
Chokecherry
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 2 –7
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to North America, known for its adaptability and resilience in…
Cork Hemlock
- Part shade
- Moderate water
The Cork Hemlock, scientifically known as Tsuga canadensis, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. It is commonly referred…
Cork Yew
- Part shade
- Moderate water
The Cork Yew, scientifically known as Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' or 'Corky', is an evergreen tree or shrub recognized for its unique…
Corkwood
- Full sun
- High water
- Zones 6–9
Corkwood, known scientifically as Duboisia, encompasses several species native to Australia, renowned for their unique bark and medicinal…
Cucumber Tree
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
The Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States and parts of Canada. It is part of the…
Douglas Fir
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–6
The Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a majestic evergreen tree native to North America, particularly thriving in the western regions…
European Beech
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–7
The European Beech, scientifically known as Fagus sylvatica, is a deciduous tree native to Europe, renowned for its majestic height and…
European Hornbeam
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
The European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a deciduous tree native to Europe and parts of Western Asia. It typically reaches heights of…
Fir
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–7
Fir trees, belonging to the genus Abies, are evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. Known for their conical shape and needle-like…
Flowering Dogwood
- Part sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 5–9
The Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) is a small deciduous tree or shrub native to eastern North America, known for its stunning spring…
Gaboon Ebony
- Part sun
- High water
Gaboon ebony, scientifically known as Diospyros mabuba, is a tropical hardwood tree native to the rainforests of central and western…
Hemlock
- Part shade
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–7
Hemlock refers primarily to two notorious plants: the water hemlock (Cicuta species) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). Both are known…
Holm Oak
- Full sun
- Low water
- Zones 7–10
The Holm Oak, scientifically known as Quercus ilex, is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. It is characterized by its…
Hophornbeam
- Part sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
Hophornbeam, scientifically known as Ostrya virginiana, is a deciduous tree native to North America, particularly common in the eastern…
Hornbeam
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
Hornbeam refers to trees and shrubs belonging to the genus Carpinus, which is part of the birch family (Betulaceae). These deciduous trees…
Horse Chestnut
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–8
The Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a large deciduous tree native to the Balkan Peninsula but widely planted across Europe and…
Indian Rubber Tree
- Bright indirect light
- Moderate water
- Zones 10–12
The Indian Rubber Tree, scientifically known as Ficus elastica, is a popular ornamental plant renowned for its lush, glossy leaves and…
Ironwood
- Part sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
Ironwood, commonly known as Hop-hornbeam or Ostrya virginiana, is a deciduous tree native to North America. It typically grows to heights…
Kauri
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 9–11
The Kauri tree, scientifically known as Agathis australis, is a remarkable evergreen species native to New Zealand. Known for its towering…
Kousa Dogwood
- Part sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 5–8
The Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a popular ornamental tree native to East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and Korea. It is valued for…
Laurel Oak
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 7–9
Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) is a medium to large deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. It typically reaches heights…
Littleleaf Linden
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–7
The Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata) is a medium to large deciduous tree native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is known for its elegant…
Maple
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
The maple is a genus of trees and shrubs known as Acer, widely recognized for their stunning foliage and distinctive leaf shape. There are…
Northern Catalpa
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
The Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States. It belongs to the Bignoniaceae family and…
Norway Maple
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–7
The Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) is a deciduous tree native to Europe and western Asia. It is widely appreciated for its dense crown…
Pacific Dogwood
- Part shade
- Moderate water
- Zones 6–9
The Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is a deciduous tree native to the western United States and Canada, particularly flourishing in the…
Palm
- Full sun
- Moderate water
Palms, belonging to the family Arecaceae, are a diverse group of flowering plants, known for their distinctive fronds and tree-like…
Red Maple
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a deciduous tree native to North America, primarily found in Eastern and Central United States, as well as…
Red Mulberry
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–9
The Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) is a deciduous tree native to North America, primarily found in the eastern United States and parts of…
Redwood
- Full sun
- High water
- Zones 7–9
The Redwood is a majestic tree known for its impressive height and longevity. Belonging to the family Cupressaceae, it primarily includes…
River Birch
- Full sun
- High water
- Zones 4–9
The River Birch (Betula nigra) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States, particularly thriving in wet, lowland areas and…
Sago Palm
- Part sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 9–11
The Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) is not a true palm but a cycad, an ancient group of seed-producing plants. Native to Japan and the Ryukyu…
Saucer Magnolia
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–9
The Saucer Magnolia, scientifically known as Magnolia x soulangeana, is a deciduous flowering tree or large shrub prized for its stunning…
Sequoia
- Full sun
- High water
- Zones 7–9
Sequoias are giant coniferous trees belonging to the genus Sequoiadendron and Sequoia, primarily found in the western United States. The…
Shagbark Hickory
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
The Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) is a deciduous tree native to North America, particularly prevalent in the eastern United States and…
Slippery Elm
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–9
Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is a deciduous tree native to North America, particularly found in the eastern and central regions. It…
Southern Catalpa
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 5–9
Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is a deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. Known for its striking appearance…
Southern Magnolia
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 7–9
The Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a robust, evergreen tree native to the southeastern United States. Known for its stunning…
Star Magnolia
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–8
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Japan. Known for its stunning spring blooms, it typically…
Sugar Maple
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–8
The Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is a deciduous tree native to northeastern North America, renowned for its stunning fall foliage, vibrant…
Sycamore Maple
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 4–7
The Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), also known as the European Sycamore, is a deciduous tree native to Europe and parts of Western…
Umbrella Magnolia
- Part shade
- Moderate water
- Zones 5–8
The Umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) is a deciduous flowering tree native to the southeastern United States. It is known for its…
Weeping Fig
- Bright indirect light
- Moderate water
- Zones 10–12
The Weeping Fig, scientifically known as Ficus benjamina, is a popular ornamental houseplant and landscape tree renowned for its graceful…
Windmill Palm
- Part sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 7–10
The Windmill Palm, scientifically known as Trachycarpus fortunei, is a hardy and attractive palm native to China and the surrounding…
Yellow Birch
- Full sun
- Moderate water
- Zones 3–7
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is a deciduous tree native to northeastern North America, known for its distinctive yellowish bark…