An Asian species, C. kousa , flowers about a month later and thrives equally well in shady spots. Japanese maples also do nicely in all but the densest shade, but red varieties may not color as well without a few hours of sun, preferably morning sun. When it comes to shrubs, the list includes short, tall, and medium plants as well as deciduous and evergreen varieties. Hardy ferns of all kinds are easy to grow. One favorite is the cinnamon fern, so named because of its distinctively colored new fronds.
Columbines are a favorite among shade-loving flowers.