Hydrangeas can be hard to grow in some locations. Try flowers that look similar to hydrangeas for big bloom clusters, ...

Kelly Funk, gardening expert and CEO of Jackson & Perkins tells us that hostas are among the top shade garden plants she recommends. "They are well-suited to partial shade because their broad ...

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9. Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade. Soil Needs: Well-draining. Prefers sandy soil but tolerant of other types.

Clump-forming perennial grows 10 to 16 inches high. Spring to early summer flowers in shades of blue, purple or yellow are sometimes fragrant, depending on the variety. Best in partial shade.

So, I narrowed the search to “shade” specified first and created a starter list of 10 native shade plants. Happily, all but the fern support wildlife with flowers and some with berries.

Full-to-part sun; zone 4. Echinacea Coneflower, The Price is White: White flowers on 20-inch plants; zone 4. Echinacea Coneflower, Sombrero Baja Burgundy.

Sun-loving and drought tolerant; zones 3-4. Echinacea Coneflower, Frankly Scarlet: Bright, showy, red-orange flowers growing to 28 inches. Full-to-part sun; zone 4.