compact native trees for shady sites

In the Washington DC metro area, we are lucky to have a great selection of indigenous and ornamental compact trees that will thrive in shady locations. Here are a few of my favorites:

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry / Amalanchier grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance' - full sun to full shade, will tolerate wet soil conditions. Compact, spring blooming, brilliant fall color, attracts birds (more berries when planted in locations with more sun)

Moonglow Sweet Bay Magnolia / Magnolia virginiana 'Moonglow' - Indigenous tree with large creamy blossoms in springtime, and good fall color. Will tolerate full shade and wet soil conditions. Semi-deciduous in the Washington DC metro area, since further north it is fully deciduous and further south it is evergreen.

Eastern Redbud / Cercis canadensis- Beautiful tree for front edge of wooded areas, and will tolerate wet soil conditions. Suitable for sites where there's plenty of room for its spreading form. Fuchsia (violet/ pink) spring blooming. red fall foliage color.

White Flowering Dogwood Hybrid / Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring' - or other disease resistant hybrid cultivar. Requires well-drained soil conditions. Year-round interest, including spring blossoms, bright fall color, berries, beautiful branching form (images below).

Kousa (Japanese) Dogwood / Cornus kousa - compact form, blooms later than Cornus florida, good fall color. Requires well-drained soil conditions. Not a native but has fairly compact form and seasonal interest.

For more info about native plants in Virginia, see Virginia Native Plant Society website https://vnps.org