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Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower blooms, with their drooping, pinkish-purple rays and prominent centers, resemble badminton birdies. The showy, long-lasting, daisy-like flowers bloom non-stop throughout the summer and make excellent fresh-cut or dried flowers. While not native to all of New Jersey, this species is a native of similar ecoregions in North America. It tolerates a range of conditions, including drought and poor soil. Purple Coneflower is a wildlife-friendly plant, providing nectar for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds and seeds for birds. It also has multiple medicinal properties, and is commonly used as an herbal remedy. Plant in masses in beds, borders, wildflower gardens, and meadows.

Diospyros virginiana

Persimmon is a deciduous tree known for its edible fruit. Its white to whitish-green, fragrant flowers bloom in the spring. Persimmon is usually dioecious (separate male and female trees); a female tree needs a male in the area for pollination and fruit production. The green fruit is astringent, but becomes sweet when fully ripe. The orange to dark red, mature fruit is attractive and provides late fall/early winter color to the yard. Persimmon fruit is a food source for wildlife. This tree is also a host for larvae (caterpillars) of the Luna moth (Actias luna). The wood is especially heavy, hard, and strong, and is used for golf club heads, billiard cues, and flooring. Persimmon tolerates drought, air pollution, and a variety of soil conditions; it grows well in urban environments. Use as a specimen tree with edible fruit.

Dianthus plumarius

Grass Pink is a mat-forming, flowering perennial with narrow, grass-like, gray-green leaves. It is covered with fragrant, pink flowers May-July. This plant needs good drainage and air circulation. Use in rock gardens or as an edging plant.

Delosperma spp.

Ice Plant is a long-blooming, succulent plant with excellent drought resistance. Its attractive leaves reflect light in a way that makes them appear to be covered by ice crystals. Ice Plant flowers in a variety of bright colors (shades of pink, purple, and yellow) from June-September. It requires well-drained soils, so water sparingly. Plant it in an area protected from winter winds and cold temperatures. Ice Plant makes an excellent groundcover for south- or west-facing slopes. Also use in rock gardens and as an edging plant.

Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda

Shrubby Cinquefoil is a low-growing, long-blooming, deciduous shrub. It has small, grayish-green, compound leaves and is covered with showy, yellow flowers from June-September. This plant has excellent winter hardiness. Shrubby Cinquefoil has special value for native bees, and attracts beneficial insects, which prey upon insect pests. Use as a specimen plant, in shrub borders, or as an informal hedge.

Crataegus crus-galli

Cockspur Hawthorn is a small, low-branched tree, also grown as a tall shrub. Flat clusters of white flowers with a somewhat unpleasant odor bloom in late spring, followed by bright red fruits in late summer. The fruits persist into winter, providing a food source for birds. The shiny green leaves turn bronze to red in the fall. This plant has 2-inch-long thorns, so avoid planting in areas with small children. Crus-galli in Latin means “leg of a cock,” referring to the resemblance of the formidable thorns to a cock

Cosmos bipinnatus

Cosmos is an easy-care, drought-tolerant annual, which flowers prolifically. Its red, pink, or white daisy-like flowers with yellow centers bloom June to frost. Taller varieties should be staked for support when flowering. Deadhead to prolong blooming, but leave some spent flowers in the fall to provide seeds for the birds. This plant will self-seed, sometimes aggressively. Excellent choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens.

Cornus sericea

Redosier Dogwood is a deciduous shrub, which adds color to the winter landscape with bright red, multi-branching stems. Its small, white flowers bloom May-June. The flowers are followed by clusters of white, berry-like fruits, which are attractive to birds. Use it in shrub borders, as property screens, or along pond or steam banks to prevent soil erosion.

Cornus racemosa

Gray Dogwood is a flowering deciduous shrub. Clusters of white flowers appear in late May to early June. Flowers are followed by small, white, berry-like fruits, which attract many species of birds. The fruits are on top of branched, red twigs, which remain showy after the fruits have been consumed by the birds. Gray Dogwood is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”), and it provides habitat cover and shelter for wildlife. It will tolerate poor and somewhat dry soils. Use in masses in shrub borders, screen plantings, or wildlife gardens. It is also a good choice for rain gardens or the edges of ponds or streams. Visit Native Plant Society of NJ “Plant Profiles & Photos” for additional information and photos.

Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood is a lovely, spring-blooming deciduous tree. Its showy, white flowers appear April-May, offering a valuable nectar source for native bees. The flowers are followed by oval-shaped fruits, which mature to a bright red color in late summer; the fruits are a food source for birds.