Only a few plants—ground covers or others—thrive in deep shade. Those listed here are particularly well suited to shady areas. Most do not have showy blooms; they are attractive for their foliage.
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Barrenwort | Epimedium |
| Cast-iron plant | Aspidistra elatior |
| English ivy | Hedera helix |
| Five-finger fern | Adiantum pedatum |
| Holly fern | Cyrtomium |
| Japanese honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica |
| Japanese painted fern | Athyrium niponicum |
| Lily-of-the-valley | Convallaria majalis |
| Purpleleaf wintercreeper | Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’ |
| Sweet woodruff | Galium odoratum |
| Wild ginger | Asarum |
| Wood fern | Dryopteris |