Plants for woods area - Ask Extension
I have an area 40 feet wide by 20 feet in depth that is a little on the woodsy side and is canopied mostly by large Oaks. It is at the very back of my...
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Plants for woods area #941225
Asked August 01, 2026, 2:25 PM EDT
I have an area 40 feet wide by 20 feet in depth that is a little on the woodsy side and is canopied mostly by large Oaks. It is at the very back of my property and gets very little sunlight to the ground most of the year due to the Oaks. I do not want to continue trying to keep the ground level cleared any more so am thinking of letting it become more of a planting privacy area to shield against possible future development behind my property.
Do you have any suggestions for shrubs, bushes, low height trees that could offer some visual privacy and create some interest to look at?
The area does get quite a bit of leaf drop in the Fall. Blacklick area East side of Columbus.
Thanks
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Randall,I have an area 40 feet wide by 20 feet in depth that is a little on the woodsy side and is canopied mostly by large Oaks. It is at the very back of my property and gets very little sunlight to the ground most of the year due to the Oaks. I do not want to continue trying to keep the ground level cleared any more so am thinking of letting it become more of a planting privacy area to shield against possible future development behind my property. Do you have any suggestions for shrubs, bushes, low height trees that could offer some visual privacy and create some interest to look at? The area does get quite a bit of leaf drop in the Fall. Blacklick area East side of Columbus. Thanks
Fortunately, you have many options depending on what suits your personal likes.
PennState Extension has a "Native Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes Shade to Part Shade - Wet to Moist Soil" factsheet with many candidates, https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/york/native-plants/fact-sheets/native-plants-for-mid-atlantic-landscapes-shade-to-part-shade-wet-to-moist-soil.
Iowa State
Extension: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/which-native-shrubs-can-be-grown-shady-locations-home-landscape
University of Minnesota Extension has plant lists, including for shrubs, trees and tall. perennials: https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/gardening-shade#shrubs-1424060.
If you find plants you like, you might check online to assure compatibility to your conditions. Missouri Botanical Garden has an excellent Plant Finder with such information.
Thank you for your question.
