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Maianthemum racemosum

False Solomon’s-seal has feathery, creamy-white flowers, which rise above the foliage. The flowers bloom March-June, followed by attractive red berries, which are eaten by birds. Use False Solomon’s-seal in shade gardens, woodland gardens, or naturalized areas.

Skimmia japonica

Japanese Skimmia is an evergreen shrub with mildly fragrant, white, showy flowers, which bloom in April. It is dioecious; male and female flowers appear on separate plants. Both male and female plants are needed to produce fruit. Berries ripen in October and persist through winter. Japanese Skimmia tolerates heavy shade and needs moist, organically-rich soil. Use Japanese Skimmia in shade gardens, along foundations, as an understory shrub, or massed in shrub borders or hedges.

Senecio cineraria

Although grown as an annual in New Jersey, Dusty Miller is a tender perennial, which may overwinter in well-protected microclimates within your yard. Flowers are non-descript; it is grown for its silvery-green, felted foliage, which adds texture to mixed gardens. Use Dusty Miller in seaside gardens, borders, groupings, and as accent plants throughout your yard.

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis

Sweetbox offers showy, fragrant, white flowers, which bloom March-April. This broadleaf evergreen shrub tolerates heavy shade, and provides winter interest. Established plants have some drought tolerance. Plant Sweetbox around your yard as a low hedge or groundcover, or in your shade garden for a delightful early spring fragrance.

Salvia splendens

Scarlet Sage is a tender perennial, grown as an annual. Its showy, red flowers blooming June to frost provide a nectar source to a host of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Use it in mixed borders and containers, or plant it around your yard for a burst of summer-long color.

Salvia spp.

Salvia,or Sage, is a large genus offering many species in various sizes and colors. Sage is a wildlife-friendly plant, which is very attractive to hummingbirds, numerous native butterfly species, native bees, bumblebees, and honey bees. Sage is typically a low-maintenance plant tolerant of dry soil. It offers consistent summer blooming. Use it in mixed borders and butterfly gardens, or to provide colorful accents around your yard.

Rhododendron viscosum

Swamp Azalea’s fragrant clusters of white to pale-pink flowers with extended stamens bloom mid-May-July. The flowers have a clove-like scent, and the nectar is attractive to bumblebees. Swamp Azalea leafs-out before blooming. Its native New Jersey habitat includes swamps and bogs, so it prefers a moist substrate in a partly shady area in your yard. Swamp Azalea is flood-tolerant, but is intolerant of juglones (chemical in the roots of Black Walnut). Use Swamp Azalea in rain gardens, woodland gardens, shade gardens, and massed in shrub borders. As with many Azaleas and Rhododendrons, all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Pinxterbloom Azalea, or Pink Azalea, features fragrant clusters of cotton-candy pink to white flowers, which bloom in April to early May, before leaves emerge. The nectar is a valued food source for bumblebees. Plant it in well-drained soil — it does not tolerate “wet feet,” and poor drainage leads to root-rot. Pink Azalea spreads by stolon (a horizontal plant stem or runner that takes root at points along its length to form new plants). Use it in shrub borders, foundation plantings, shade gardens, natural areas, or as a hedge. As with many Azaleas and Rhododendrons, all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Rhododendron mucronulatum

Korean Rhododendron is a deciduous shrub, which is unusual for Rhododendrons. It features rosy-purple flowers which bloom in early spring, from mid- to late-March to early April. Situate this plant in a northern exposure in the yard or garden to avoid blooming too early, as buds are susceptible to frost. Use Korean Rhododendron in shrub borders, foundation plantings, or natural areas. As with many Azaleas and Rhododendrons, all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Rhododendron maximum

Great Laurel is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree. Clusters of white to purplish-pink flowers bloom in June, providing a valued food source for bumblebees. Use Great Laurel in shrub borders, foundation plantings, and natural areas around your yard. As with many Azaleas and Rhododendrons, all parts of this plant are poisonous.