Stylophorum diphyllum
One of the first plants to bloom in the spring, this perky low-growing plant has lobed green leaves and bright yellow poppy-like flowers.
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Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’
Columnar Eastern White Pine is a small- to medium-sized, long-needled evergreen conifer with a narrow, columnar shape. Branches grow upright, giving this tree its compact shape. Bundles of five needles are soft to the touch and appear bluish-green. Columnar Eastern White Pine is a good choice for a screen planting. It can also be used as a specimen tree.
Hylotelephium telephium
Sedum is an easy-to-grow perennial with succulent green leaves and dense clusters of rosy-pink, star-shaped flowers which bloom from late summer until frost (August-October). With age the flower color changes to a burgundy-red, and the attractive dried flower heads can last well into the winter months. Sedum is an excellent choice for dry,sunny areas of the yard. It can be planted as a specimen or in masses.
Astilbe spp.
Astilbe is a shade-loving, summer-flowering perennial with fern-like, dark green foliage. Feathery plumes of tiny, wispy flowers in a variety of colors bloom in mid- to late summer. The flowers can be used fresh-cut or dried in floral arrangements. This plant prefers moist, well-drained, organically rich soil. Use Astilbe in masses in shady beds and borders or in woodland gardens.
Scaevola aemula
Fanflower is a sprawling, tender perennial grown as an annual in New Jersey. Bluish-purple, fan-shaped flowers with yellow “throats” bloom on trailing stems non-stop throughout the spring and summer. Fanflower thrives in the heat of summer. This plant tolerates dry, sandy soils and salt spray, making it a good choice for seashore gardens. Use Fanflower in beds, containers, and hanging baskets, or as an annual groundcover.
Lobelia siphilitica
Great Blue Lobelia features purple-blue, tubular flowers, which bloom July-September in whorled clusters atop tall, erect stems. This plant’s nectar is a food source for bees and hummingbirds; it has special value for native bees and bumblebees. It prefers part-shade, but will tolerate full sun in cooler climates. Its native habitat includes swamps and moist, low areas. Use Great Blue Lobelia in the back of borders to add depth to your garden. Plant it in rain gardens, wildlife gardens, woodland gardens, and moist areas of your yard.
Ammophila breviligulata
American Beachgrass is an evergreen grass, ubiquitous to the northeastern seaside landscape. Yellow, inconspicuous flowers bloom on spikes, May-September. It is commonly used as a dune stabilizer along the east coast. Rhizomes (underground stems) travel vertically and horizontally for up to 20 feet, creating a “net,” which holds the sand in place. As sand builds up around the plant, the vertical stems grow higher; this continuous process builds the dune. American Beachgrass is best planted during its dormancy period, October-March.
Panicum amarum
Coastal Panicgrass is a clump-forming, warm season, perennial grass that supports wildlife throughout the year.
Spartina pectinata
Prairie Cordgrass is a tall, stiff, warm-season perennial grass. Its clustered branches of yellow-brown flowers bloom on spikelets, July-August. Its sharp-edged leaves have earned it one of its common names, Ripgut. Leaves turn yellow in the fall. Prairie Cordgrass provides habitat and nesting materials for birds and wildlife. It prefers wet, fertile, loamy soil and will tolerate periodic flooding; it creates thick stands in optimum conditions. However, it will also tolerate dry soils, where it will not grow or spread as quickly. The native habitat of Prairie Cordgrass includes freshwater marshes, as well as low roadside areas. Use it to aid in erosion control around ponds, or plant it in your rain garden. This plant is also used to vegetate large swales and retention basins.
Spartina patens
Saltmeadow Cordgrass is a warm-season perennial grass. The slender, wiry plants grow in thick mats. The action of wind and water can bend the stems, giving a whorled appearance to this hay-like grass. Purplish, wind-pollinated flowers appear on spikelets, June-August. This plant grows on salty, brackish, and freshwater marshes, tidal flats, and dunes. It tolerates flooding, and spreads aggressively through rhizomes (underground stems). Although it is native to salty areas, it grows larger in fresh water habitats. Saltmeadow Cordgrass is highly adaptable to a range of soil conditions. It provides food and cover for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. You can use Saltmeadow Cordgrass as shoreline protection to control erosion, for dune stabilization, and tidal marsh restoration. There are many cultivars available commercially to suit your needs and preferences.