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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.

Comptonia peregrina

Sweet Fern is not a fern, but a multi-branched, mounded shrub with dark green, aromatic, fern-like leaves. Its inconspicuous, yellow-green catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear April-May, followed by small, burr-like nutlets. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). This plant fixes its own nitrogen, and can tolerate sandy, nutrient-poor soil. It also tolerates wet conditions, as well as drought. Sweet Fern will form dense colonies once established. Use in naturalized areas, rain gardens, and on slopes for erosion control.

Clematis virginiana

Virgin’s Bower is a deciduous, flowering, twining vine. Its fragrant, white, feathery flowers bloom August-October. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees benefit from the nectar. Use Virgin’s Bower to cover arbors, trellises, or fences, or plant it in a woodland garden.

Claytonia virginica

Spring Beauty is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in the spring. Its small, star-shaped, white to light pink flowers, striped with pink, bloom in April. The nectar provides an important early spring food source for native bees. The small, underground, bulb-like corms are edible; they were consumed by early Americans, and their chestnut-like flavor is still enjoyed by edible wild plant enthusiasts. The entire plant goes dormant by late spring, similar to spring crocuses. It prefers moist, organic soils. Use Spring Beauty massed in woodland gardens, rock gardens, or for naturalizing.

Actaea racemosa

The showy, fragrant, bottlebrush-shaped, white flowers of Black Baneberry bloom on long stalks above the foliage, June-July. This plant’s dark green, lacy foliage adds texture to the garden. Black Baneberry is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”). It needs consistent moisture and organically-rich soil. The tall flower spires may need some support. Plant Black Baneberry in masses in partly shady sections of borders, shade gardens, woodland gardens, and naturalized areas.

Chionanthus virginicus

White Fringetree is a small, deciduous tree with a spreading, rounded crown. It is usually dioecious (separate male and female trees); a male tree must be in the area to pollinate females for fruit production. Drooping clusters of slightly fragrant, showy, white flowers bloom May-June on both male and female trees; the male flowers tend to be showier than the female ones. The female flowers are followed by round fruits, which ripen to a dark bluish-black in late summer. The fruits provide food for birds and other wildlife. The wide, dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. White Fringetree is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Rustic sphinx (Manduca rustica). Use it as speciman tree in small yards, or grow in groups as a border, tall hedge, or screen. It makes a good urban tree due to its high tolerance of air pollution.

Ceanothus americanus

New Jersey Tea is a low-growing, wildlife-friendly deciduous shrub. Showy, fragrant, white flower clusters bloom May-July and are good fresh-cut. The flowers are a nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. New Jersey Tea is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”), Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis), and Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta). Young, yellow twigs add color to the winter landscape. The common name originated when the dried leaves were used as a tea substitute during the Revolutionary War. Use New Jersey Tea in shrub borders, wildlife gardens, or as a groundcover on slopes.

Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory is a large, deciduous tree, which gets its name from its unique bark. The gray, “shaggy” bark is broken up into long, thin, peeling plates, adding ornamental interest for all seasons. The medium-green, compound leaves turn a golden color in the fall. This tree is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The flowers are followed by edible, hard-shelled nuts, which provide food for birds and other wildlife. People also enjoy eating the nuts. Hickory wood is hard and used in a variety of products, including baseball bats, and also used to smoke and cure meats. Give this large and lovely tree plenty of room to grow! Use Shagbark Hickory as a specimen tree or shade tree in large yards or in parks.

Carya glabra

Pignut Hickory is a large deciduous tree with yellowish-green leaves turning golden-yellow in the fall. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The female flowers are followed by nuts, but not until the tree is about 25 years old. The nuts are inside husks, which split open in the fall when ripe; the nuts are a food source for wildlife. Early settlers called this tree Pignut Hickory when they found their hogs would eat the nuts, which are too bitter for human consumption. This tree is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Luna Moth (Actias luna), Funerary Dagger (Acronicta funeralis), and Giant Regal (Citheronia regalis). It tolerates both dry and moist soils. Give this large tree plenty of room to grow! Use Pignut Hickory as a tall shade tree in large yards and in parks.

Carya cordiformis

Bitternut Hickory is a large deciduous shade tree distinguished by its bright yellow winter buds. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The nuts are bitter and inedible for humans, but are consumed by wildlife. This tree is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Luna Moth (Actias luna), Funerary Dagger (Acronicta funeralis), and Giant Regal (Citheronia regalis). The medium green, compound leaves turn yellow in the fall. Bitternut Hickory prefers moist, organically-rich soil. Give this large tree plenty of room to grow! Use as a tall shade tree in large yards and in parks.