Frank Robinson, executive director of the American Horticultural Society, provides this list of plants that can survive in the shade of black walnut trees.

Herbaceous Perennials

  • Ajuga reptans, Bugleweed
  • Alcea rosea, Hollyhock
  • Asarum europaeum, European Wild Ginger
  • Astilbe
  • Campanula latifolia, Bellflower
  • Chrysanthemum, Hardy Chrysanthemum
  • Doronicum, Leopards Bane
  • Dryopteris cristata, Crested Wood Fern
  • Galium odoratum, Sweet Woodruff
  • Geranium robertianum, Herb Robert
  • Geranium sanquineum, cranesbill
  • Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Hemerocallis fulva, Common Daylily
  • Heuchera x brizoides Pluie de Feu , Coral Bells
  • Hieracium aurantiacum, Orange Hawkweed
  • Hosta fortunei Glauca
  • Hosta lancifolia
  • Hosta marginata
  • Hosta undulata Variegated '
  • Hydrophyllum virginianum, Virginia Waterleaf
  • Iris sibirica, Siberian Iris
  • Monarda didyma, Bee Balm
  • Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot
  • Oenothera fruticosa, Sundrops
  • Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive Ffern
  • Osmunda cinnamomea, Cinnamon Fern
  • Phlox paniculata, Summer Phlox
  • Polemonium reptans, Jacob's Ladder
  • Polygonatum commutatum, Great Solomon's Seal
  • Primula x polyantha, Polyanthus Primrose
  • Pulmonaria, Lungwort
  • Sanquinaria canadensis, Bloodroot
  • Sanquinaria canadensis Multiplex , Double-flowered Bloodroot
  • Sedum acre, Gold Moss
  • Sedum spectabile, Showy Stonecrop
  • Stachys byzantina, Lamb's Ear
  • Tradescantia virginiana, Spiderwort
  • Trillium cernuum, Nodding Trillium
  • Trillium grandiflorum, White Wake-Robin
  • Uvularia grandiflora, Big Merrybells
  • Viola canadensis, Canada Violet
  • Viola sororia, Woolly Blue Violet

    • Bulbs

  • Chionodoxa luciliae, glory-of-the-snow
  • Crocus
  • Endymion hispanicus, Spanish bluebell
  • Eranthis hyemalis, winter aconite
  • Galanthus nivalis, snowdrop
  • Hyacinthus City of Haarlem
  • Muscari botryoides, grape hyacinth
  • Narcissus Cheerfulness
  • Narcissus Yellow Cheerfulness
  • Narcissus Geranium
  • Narcissus Tete a Tete
  • Narcissus Sundial
  • Narcissus February Gold
  • Scilla siberica, blue squill
  • Tulipa Darwin White Volcano
  • Tulipa Darwin Cum Laude
  • Tulipa Parrot Blue Parrot
  • Tulipa Greigii Toronto

    • Trees

  • Acer palmatum, Japanese maple
  • Acer palmatum Dissectum , cutleaf Japanese maple
  • Catalpa bignonioides, common catalpa
  • Tsuga canadensis, Canadian hemlock

    • Vines and Shrubs

  • Clematis Red Cardinal
  • Daphne mezereum, February daphne
  • Forsythia suspensa, weeping forsythia
  • Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon
  • Lonicera tatarica, tartarian honeysuckle
  • Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia creeper
  • Rhododendron periclymeniodes, pinxterbloom
  • Rhododendron Exbury hybrids Gibraltar and Balzac

    • Annuals

  • Begonia, fibrous cultivars and tuberous cv Nonstop
  • Calendula officinalis, pot marigold
  • Opomoea Heavenly Blue , morning glory
  • Viola cornuta, horned violet
  • Viola x wittrockiana, pansy

    • Courtesy of

    American Horticultural Society
    Box 0105
    Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
    (703) 768-5700