University of Wisconsin-Madison

Shade Garden

The shade cast by the magnificent Ginko and Birch Walk trees has created the perfect environment for our Shade Garden, which showcases a mix of native and non-native shade loving plants. This garden installed in 2025 with a fresh design created by University students in the Landscape Architecture program.

PictureCommon NameScientific NamePlant Name
Appalachican Sedge Carex appalachica Appalachican Sedge
Carex appalachica
Plant name: Asian White Birch Betula populifolia cv. WhitespireAsian White BirchBetula populifolia cv. WhitespireAsian White Birch
Betula populifolia cv. Whitespire
BarrenwortEpimedium cv. RigolettoBarrenwort
Epimedium cv. Rigoletto
Plant name: Bear's Breeches Acanthus spinosus Bear's BreechesAcanthus spinosus Bear's Breeches
Acanthus spinosus
Black CohoshActaea racemosa Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Plant name: Bowman's Root Porteranthus trifoliata Bowman's RootPorteranthus trifoliata Bowman's Root
Porteranthus trifoliata
Bowman's RootGillenia porteranthus Bowman's Root
Gillenia porteranthus
Brome Sedge Carex bromoides Brome Sedge
Carex bromoides
Brunette SnakerootActaea simplex cv. BrunetteBrunette Snakeroot
Actaea simplex cv. Brunette
Cherokee Sedge Carex cherokeensis Cherokee Sedge
Carex cherokeensis
Cinnamon FernOsmundastrum cinnamomeum Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Common Wood Sedge Carex blanda Common Wood Sedge
Carex blanda
Plant name: Dark Beauty Formosa Toad Lily Tricyrtis formosana cv. Dark BeautyDark Beauty Formosa Toad LilyTricyrtis formosana cv. Dark BeautyDark Beauty Formosa Toad Lily
Tricyrtis formosana cv. Dark Beauty
Plant name: Dwarf Yew Taxus cuspidata cv. Dwarf Bright GoldDwarf YewTaxus cuspidata cv. Dwarf Bright GoldDwarf Yew
Taxus cuspidata cv. Dwarf Bright Gold
False Forget-Me-NotBrunnera macrophylla cv. Alexanders GreatFalse Forget-Me-Not
Brunnera macrophylla cv. Alexanders Great
Plant name: Fiala Rememberance Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris cv. Fiala RememberanceFiala Rememberance Common LilacSyringa vulgaris cv. Fiala RememberanceFiala Rememberance Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris cv. Fiala Rememberance
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea cv. Camelot LavenderFoxglove
Digitalis purpurea cv. Camelot Lavender
Plant name: Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea Golden AlexandersZizia aurea Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Plant name: Golden Angel Japanese Shrub Mint Leucosceptrum japonicum cv. Golden AngelGolden Angel Japanese Shrub MintLeucosceptrum japonicum cv. Golden AngelGolden Angel Japanese Shrub Mint
Leucosceptrum japonicum cv. Golden Angel
Plant name: Hairy Penstemon Penstemon hirsutus Hairy PenstemonPenstemon hirsutus Hairy Penstemon
Penstemon hirsutus
Ivory SedgeCarex eburnea Ivory Sedge
Carex eburnea
Plant name: Leopard Plant Ligularia dentata cv. Britt-Marie CrawfordLeopard PlantLigularia dentata cv. Britt-Marie CrawfordLeopard Plant
Ligularia dentata cv. Britt-Marie Crawford
Plant name: Maidenhair Tree Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair TreeGinkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree
Ginkgo biloba
Plant name: Meadow Rue Thalictrum flavum Meadow RueThalictrum flavum Meadow Rue
Thalictrum flavum
Plant name: Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia Pagoda DogwoodCornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Plant name: Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania SedgeCarex pensylvanica Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Plant name: Pigsqueak Bergenia cordifolia cv. Red BeautyPigsqueakBergenia cordifolia cv. Red BeautyPigsqueak
Bergenia cordifolia cv. Red Beauty
Plant name: Purple Angelica Angelica gigas Purple AngelicaAngelica gigas Purple Angelica
Angelica gigas
Red BaneberryActaea rubra Red Baneberry
Actaea rubra
Rodger's FlowerRodgersia pinnata Rodger's Flower
Rodgersia pinnata
Sandra Vernal Witch HazelHamamelis vernalis cv. SandraSandra Vernal Witch Hazel
Hamamelis vernalis cv. Sandra
Seersucker Sedge Carex plantaginea Seersucker Sedge
Carex plantaginea
Shell-Leaf Penstemon Penstemon grandiflorus Shell-Leaf Penstemon
Penstemon grandiflorus
Showy GoldenrodSolidago speciosa Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Siberian BuglossBrunnera macrophylla cv. Jack of DiamondsSiberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla cv. Jack of Diamonds
Silver Sedge Carex platyphylla Silver Sedge
Carex platyphylla
Solomon's SealPolygonatum biflorum nanum cv. Prince CharmingSolomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum nanum cv. Prince Charming
Sweet WoodruffGalium odoratum Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Plant name: Tree Peony Paeonia Tree PeonyPaeonia Tree Peony
Paeonia
Plant name: Tuberous Jerusalem Sage Phlomis tuberosa cv. AmazoneTuberous Jerusalem SagePhlomis tuberosa cv. AmazoneTuberous Jerusalem Sage
Phlomis tuberosa cv. Amazone
TurtleheadChelone glabra Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Plant name: Upright Wild Ginger Saruma henryi Upright Wild GingerSaruma henryi Upright Wild Ginger
Saruma henryi
Variegated Solomon's sealPolygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum cv. VariegatumVariegated Solomon's seal
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum cv. Variegatum
Virginia Blue BellsMertensia virginica Virginia Blue Bells
Mertensia virginica
White Tinged Sedge Carex albicans White Tinged Sedge
Carex albicans
White Wood AsterAster divaricatus White Wood Aster
Aster divaricatus
Wood's Sedge Carex woodii Wood's Sedge
Carex woodii
Woodland PhloxPhlox divaricata Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata