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Aronia arbutifolia

Red Chokeberry is a wildlife-friendly, multiple-stemmed deciduous shrub, featuring clusters of white to light pink flowers, which bloom in April. The flowers lead to red, showy berries, which persist in the winter; the berries are a source of food for birds in cold weather. The leaves turn bright red in the fall. The reddish-brown, exfoliating bark and the red berries both add winter interest to the yard. Red Chokeberry tolerates a variety of soils, including wet and boggy. It suckers to form colonies, making it a good choice for use as a native shrub border in your yard.

Armeria maritima

Sea Thrift is a compact, drought- and salt-tolerant evergreen. Its stiff, grass-like leaves grow in a low, dense mound. Its ball-like, pink to white flowers bloom on wiry stalks extending above the foliage, April-May; the flowers are good fresh-cut. Removing the spent flowers will encourage additional blooms. This tough plant thrives in poor, dry soils, and it must have good drainage. Its tolerance to saltwater spray makes it an excellent choice for seashore gardens. It is also a great plant for rock gardens. Use Sea Thrift as an edging plant or as groundcover for small areas.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry is a ground-hugging, wildlife-friendly evergreen shrub. Its green, leathery leaves darken to a reddish-purple color in the fall. Clusters of tiny, bell-shaped, pink to white flowers bloom on red stems, April-May. The nectar attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and it has special value for native bees. The flowers are followed by berry-like fruits, which ripen to a bright red color in the fall. The berries persist into the winter and provide food for birds and other wildlife. Bearberry is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Rocky Mountain Clearwing (Hemaris senta), Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios), Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), and Elf (Microtia elva). Bearberry grows well in sandy or rocky soils. Use it as an edging plant or evergreen groundcover, in rock gardens, along rock walls, or on slopes for erosion control.

Aquilegia canadensis

Eastern Columbine is a shade-loving, wildlife-friendly perennial with attractive foliage and uniquely shaped flowers. The drooping, bell-like, red and yellow bi-colored flowers with backward-pointing tubes, bloom April-May. This plant is a hummingbird magnet. It provides nectar not only for hummingbirds, but also bees, butterflies, and hawk moths. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae, including the Columbine Duskywing (Erynnis lucilius). Its seeds are consumed by birds, including finches and buntings. Eastern Columbine self-seeds and will form colonies. The foliage remains attractive throughout the summer in moist soil conditions. Eastern Columbine is a wonderful addition to native plant gardens or wildlife habitat areas. Use it in beds, borders, woodland gardens, wildlife gardens, or naturalized areas. It can also be grown as a container plant.

Andropogon virginicus

Broomsedge Bluestem is a wildlife-friendly, upright perennial bunchgrass. This grass turns a golden brown in the fall and maintains good color through the winter. Birds utilize plant parts for nesting materials, and the seeds as a winter food source. Broomsedge Bluestem provides nesting materials and structure for native bees. It is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). It grows well in moist to wet soils, but also tolerates both poor soil and drought. Use Broomsedge Bluestem in masses in meadows or along edges of ponds or other water features. It can also be used for erosion control on sites with disturbed soil.

Amelanchier canadensis

Canadian Serviceberry is a wildlife-friendly, large deciduous shrub. Drooping clusters of slightly fragrant, white flowers bloom before leaves appear, March-April. Its other common name, Shadblow Serviceberry, refers to the fact that the flowers bloom around the same time shad fish return upriver in early spring.

Agastache foeniculum

Blue Giant Hyssop is a long-blooming, perennial herb known for its bright lavender-blue flowers and fragrant leaves. Spikes of the tubular, lavender-blue flowers bloom July-September; the flower spikes are good fresh-cut or dried for floral arrangements. The flowers are a good nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Blue Giant Hyssop has special value to native bees and bumblebees. The leaves have a strong anise fragrance; they can be used to make herbal teas. Blue Giant Hyssop thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and is drought-tolerant. It is a good choice for the dry, sandy soil conditions of seashore gardens. Use Blue Giant Hyssop in borders, herb gardens, or containers.

Achillea spp.

Yarrow is a flowering perennial with fragrant, fine-textured leaves. Tiny flowers are clustered together in flat displays, layered on top of stems. Depending on the variety, flowers bloom in many colors, June-September. Yarrow is easily grown in average, well-drained soil, and is drought-tolerant once established. This plant can spread through rhizomes and self-seeding, and should be divided as needed. Best used in wildflower gardens, meadows, and naturalized areas.

Acer rubrum

Red Maple is a medium-sized, cold-tolerant deciduous tree. It has attractive, bright red fall foliage. Clusters of red flowers, which bloom March-April, are followed by red maple fruits (double-winged samaras). Nectar from the flowers is a valuable food source for native bees and honeybees. This wildlife-friendly species is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) and Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia). The caterpillars provide an early spring food source for birds. Use as a specimen or shade tree in the yard, but not too close to sidewalks or driveways, since this tree has a shallow root system, which may cause buckling of pavement.