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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.

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.

Chrysogonum virginianum

Green and Gold is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial, which spreads by rhizomes (underground stems). The bright yellow, star-shaped flowers on erect, “hairy” stems bloom in spring and sometimes again in fall. This plant’s tolerance for shade makes it a good groundcover for moist, shady areas. Use in rain gardens, woodland gardens, shady border-fronts, and rock gardens.

Chimaphila maculata

Spotted Wintergreen is a low-growing evergreen perennial. The thick, dark green, waxy leaf has a white stripe down the center and serrated edges. Small, fragrant, waxy, white, or pale pink flowers bloom on erect, red stalks, June-August. The flowers attract insect pollinators. The flowers turn upward after fertilization and develop into attractive, dried seed capsules. The leaves have a darker, purplish color in the winter. Use Spotted Wintergreen in woodland gardens, shady naturalized areas, or as a groundcover. It is a good plant to keep if already growing in your yard.

Chasmanthium latifolium

Indian Woodoats is one of the most shade-tolerant ornamental grasses. Its green flowers emerge on long, arching stems above the foliage, August-September. The distinctive, large, drooping seed heads turn reddish-brown and resemble oats as they mature. The leaves resemble bamboo and turn golden-bronze in the fall. This plant retains its color and seed heads through the colder months, adding interest to the winter landscape. Cuttings are excellent in dried flower arrangements. Indian Woodoats is a host to butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Pepper and Salt Skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), Bell’s Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes belli), and Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus). It tolerates full sun if the soil is moist, but prefers indirect sun. This plant will self-seed. Use Indian Woodoats as an ornamental grass in shade gardens, borders, naturalized areas, meadows, and along water features.

Cercis canadensis

Eastern Redbud is a New Jersey native tree. It is covered with dense clusters lavender-pink flowers that bloom directly from branches before the leaves emerge. The flowers are a nectar source for native pollinators.

Carpinus caroliniana

Ironwood is a small deciduous tree, which grows well in shady areas. Its smooth, gray bark has vertical grooves, giving the appearance of rippling muscles along the trunk. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same tree); white female and green male flowers bloom in early spring. The female flowers are followed by papery, winged nutlets. The dark-green leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. Ironwood is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops), and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis). It thrives in moist soils and tolerates periodic flooding. Use Ironwood as a shade tree, street tree, and understory tree in woodland gardens.

Carex pensylvanica

Pennsylvania Sedge is a low-growing, semi-evergreen perennial sedge, which grows well in shade. The bright-green, arching, grass-like leaves grow in soft clumps. This plant spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) to form a nice groundcover.

Begonia cultivars

Begonia is a long-blooming annual, which comes in a variety of flower colors, including white, pink, red, and bicolor. The compact plants have attractive, waxy, green to bronze leaves and fleshy stems. The flowers bloom from May to frost. Begonia performs best in sun-dappled shade with consistent moisture. This plant is most attractive when massed in beds or borders. It can also be used in container plantings.

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady Fern is a deciduous fern with light-green, lace-like fronds that grow in a circular clump. It is relatively easy to grow. While it prefers part shade and moist, organic soils, it is more tolerant of sun and dry soils than most other ferns. Use Lady Fern massed in shade gardens, woodland gardens, or along ponds or streams.