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Waldsteinia fragarioides

Appalachian Barren Strawberry features small, yellow flowers, which bloom April-May. The flowers produce inedible fruits enjoyed for their ornamental qualities. Appalachian Barren Strawberry offers evergreen foliage, but can brown in very cold winters. It is intolerant of extreme heat and high humidity. It is best grown in cooler climates of northern New Jersey. Plant Appalachian Barren Strawberry as a groundcover in your yard.

Viburnum dentatum

Arrowwood is a wildlife-friendly deciduous shrub featuring white flowers with yellow stamens, which bloom May-July. The flowers provide a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Blue-black berries follow the flowers, and offer a valued food source for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage can be yellow, glossy red, or reddish-purple. Arrowwood is a host plant for Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) butterfly larvae. Use this durable plant in massed plantings, shrub borders, and in shrub hedges.

Veronica spicata

Speedwell features deep blue-purple flowers on tall spikes, which bloom June-August. Deadhead flowers to promote continuous blooms. Speedwell prefers constant moisture in well-drained soil, but it will tolerate drought once established. The genus Veronica contains many cultivars offering other colors and characteristics. Use it in rock gardens and borders around your yard.

Vernonia noveboracensis

New York Ironweed features purple flowers, which bloom on tall stalks, August-September. The flower nectar offers food to bees and butterflies, and the dried seeds offer food to birds. New York Ironweed can self-seed vigorously. Plant in a mass to use as a background plant in borders, meadows, and in moist naturalized areas of your yard.

Verbena hastata

Swamp Verbena features purplish-blue flowers, which bloom on tall spikes, a few at a time from bottom to top, June-September. The flowers are a nectar source for bees and butterflies. Swamp Verbena is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). This plant prefers moist soil conditions. Use it in rain gardens, along water features, or in other moist areas of the yard. It can also be planted in borders and meadows.

Vaccinium corymbosum

Highbush Blueberry is a flowering deciduous shrub with edible fruit. It features white to pinkish-white flowers, which bloom in May, offering a valuable early nectar source for native bees. The edible fruit ripens June-July, providing food for birds. The berries are used in pies, muffins, and other dishes, and eaten fresh! Highbush Blueberry offers lush green foliage in the summer, and yellow, bronze, orange, or red foliage in fall. Reddish stems offer ornamental value in winter. Plant Highbush Blueberry as a shrub border, in a small garden plot, or in naturalized areas of your yard.

Vaccinium angustifolium

Lowbush Blueberry is a flowering deciduous shrub with edible fruit. It features small, white, bell-shaped flowers with pink/reddish edges, which bloom April-May, offering a valuable nectar source to native bees. The sweet and edible fruit ripens in summer and provides an important food source for birds. The berries are used in pies, muffins, and other dishes, and eaten fresh. Showy fall foliage is bronze, scarlet, and crimson. Plant Lowbush Blueberry along borders, as a tall groundcover, as small hedges, or in naturalized areas of your yard.

Tilia tomentosa

Silver Linden is a medium-large, deciduous tree featuring fragrant, pale yellow flowers, which bloom June-July. The nectar is highly valued by pollinators — when the tree is in bloom, you can hear it “buzz” with the sound of busy bees! The leaves are green above and silver below, giving this tree its common name. It will tolerate a range of soils, but prefers moist, fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. The Silver Linden demonstrates high drought-tolerance, once established. It is also tolerant of urban conditions. Use Silver Linden as an ornamental shade tree, a street tree, city tree, or as a specimen for large areas in your yard.

Tilia cordata

Littleleaf Linden is a deciduous tree with yellow flowers blooming in June. Its nectar is an attractive food source to native bees and butterflies. Littleleaf Linden will tolerate a range of soils, but prefers moist, fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. It is drought-tolerant once established. It also tolerates heavy pruning and urban areas. Use Littleleaf Linden as an ornamental shade tree, a street tree, city tree, lawn tree, or as a specimen in large areas of the yard.

Tilia americana

American Basswood, or American Linden, is a large tree with fragrant, yellow flowers blooming in June. The nectar attracts butterflies, native bees, and honeybees. Honey made from this tree is considered exceptional! Syrup can also be made from the sap. American Basswood is intolerant of air pollution and urban conditions; however, it is tolerant of drought and clay soils. Plant American Basswood in your yard as a specimen tree or shade tree.