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Sweet Fern
Aromatic deciduous shrub reaching 1-1.5 m tall. Features deeply lobed, fern-like leaves and inconspicuous flowers. Prefers acidic, well-drained sandy soils and full sun to partial shade. Nitrogen-fixing through root nodules, improving soil for companion plants. Spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies. Drought-tolerant once established. Suitable for naturalized areas, slopes, and acidic soil gardens. Native to eastern North America.
Read MoreSpring Beauty
Spring ephemeral perennial reaching 8-20 cm tall. Features narrow leaves and delicate white flowers with pink veining blooming in early spring. Grows from deep tuber, emerging before trees leaf out. Prefers rich, moist woodland soils and partial to full shade. Self-seeds readily to form colonies. Completely dormant by midsummer. Suitable for woodland gardens and naturalizing under deciduous trees. Native to eastern North America.
Read MoreWhite Turtlehead
Herbaceous perennial reaching 60-90 cm tall. Features lance-shaped, opposite leaves and clusters of white to pink turtle-head shaped flowers blooming late summer to fall. Prefers consistently moist to wet soils and partial shade to full sun. Attracts bumblebees and serves as larval host for butterfly species. Deer-resistant. Suitable for rain gardens, stream banks, and moist woodland edges. Native to eastern North America.
Read MoreFireweed
Herbaceous perennial reaching 90-180 cm tall. Features lance-shaped leaves and tall spikes of pink to purple flowers blooming progressively from bottom to top. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Spreads vigorously by both rhizomes and wind-blown seeds. Important nectar source for pollinators. Pioneer species often found in disturbed areas.
Read MoreButtonbush
Deciduous shrub growing 1-3 m tall. Features glossy, opposite or whorled leaves and distinctive spherical flower heads of white blooms in summer. Prefers consistently moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Tolerates flooding. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Seeds are food for waterfowl. Suitable for rain gardens, pond edges, and wetland restorations. Native to wetland habitats across North America.
Read MoreHackberry
Deciduous tree growing 12-25 m tall with a rounded crown. Features ovate, asymmetrical leaves and small, edible fruits that turn dark purple when ripe. Bark develops distinctive warty ridges with age. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and full sun to partial shade. Drought and urban pollution tolerant. Provides important food source for birds and wildlife. Suitable for urban landscapes, streetscapes, and naturalized areas.
Read MoreDwarf Hackberry
Deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 3-6 m tall. Features ovate, asymmetrical leaves and small, edible fruits. Bark is smoother than C. occidentalis. Prefers well-drained, rocky or sandy soils and full sun to partial shade. Extremely drought-tolerant. Provides food for birds and wildlife. Suitable for dry, rocky sites, urban landscapes, and as a native alternative to non-native ornamental trees in challenging conditions.
Read MoreNew Jersey Tea
Deciduous shrub reaching 0.6-1.2 m tall. Features oval, toothed leaves and dense clusters of small white flowers blooming in late spring to early summer. Prefers well-drained, sandy or rocky soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Nitrogen-fixing roots improve soil. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Historically used for tea. Suitable for dry prairies, rocky slopes, and as a native alternative to non-native ornamental shrubs.
Read MoreFox sedge
Clump-forming sedge reaching 30-90 cm tall. Features narrow leaves and dense, fox-tail-like seed heads. Prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Often found in wet meadows, marshes, and along shorelines. Spreads by short rhizomes, forming colonies in favorable conditions. Provides food and cover for wildlife, particularly wetland birds. Useful for erosion control in wet areas. Suitable for rain gardens, wetland restorations, and naturalized areas.
Read MoreBur-reed Sedge
Clump-forming sedge growing 60-90 cm tall. Features broad leaves and elongated, interrupted flower spikes. Prefers moist, rich soils and partial to full shade. Often found in deciduous woodlands and along streambanks. Forms large, attractive clumps, adding structure to shaded gardens. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and as a backdrop in shade gardens. Native to eastern North America.
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