I have found that Asarum canadense (American ginger); Stylophorum diphyllum (Celandine poppy), and (a lttle less so) Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple) have all grown well under black locust.

Actaea rubra may be doing all right, still young. False solomon seal not so well, but hanging on. I am not sure whether the things that have not done well have suffered from too much shade (mixed wood with sugar maple) or dryness (locust roots run along the surface) or predation by animals. I have also planted some small Windflower (Anemone canadensis), a small native azalea, Phlox divaricata (Woodland phlox), jack-in-the-pulpit and some other things that did not do so well. Asters seem ok, but animals eat them. Similarly, some of the things that did not do so well may have been the favorites of our woodchucks and rabbits.

davidl_ny5,

Thank you for the suggestions. You named some of my favorites. I never would've thought of Mayapple--I love the look of a colony of them.

The Mayapples definitely will earn a place in the woodland if they don't work under the locust. The area appears to be full sun (except for the small grove of locust) and I'd like to try for a different look than the woodland, but, I may still be able to see what I can incorporate there. Thanks for keeping my mind open.

I've only lived here 5 months--mostly late fall and winter, so, I am still trying to see what is already there.

Thanks again,

David