Archives

Itea virginica

Sweetspire has long tassels of fragrant, small white flowers, which bloom in early summer. Its leaves turn attractive shades of red to purple in the fall. Use in mass plantings in shrub borders or woodland gardens. Good plant for wet locations, such as rain gardens, or along edges of ponds or other water features.

Iris versicolor

Blue Flag is a native iris with attractive sword-shaped, blue-green leaves. Bluish-purple flowers with yellow markings bloom on tall, sturdy stalks, May-June. Blue Flag spreads by rhizomes (underground stems); the rhizomes can sometimes cause minor skin irritation when touched. It will tolerate a couple of inches of shallow standing water. Use in mass plantings in wet areas; good choice for rain gardens, water gardens, or pond borders.

Ilex verticillata

Common Winterberry is a deciduous holly with very showy, bright red, berry-like fruits from late fall through winter. Tiny, greenish-white flowers blooming June-July are a nectar source for honeybees and butterflies. The long-lasting berries provide winter food for birds. Use in shrub borders and hedges. Common Winterberry is a good choice for wet sites, such as rain gardens and along ponds or streams.

Ilex opaca

American Holly is a wildlife-friendly evergreen tree with dark green, spine-tipped leaves and light gray bark. Its tiny, greenish-white flowers blooming May-June provide a nectar source for honeybees and butterflies. This tree is also a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici). Since it is dioecious (separate male and female plants), a male must be in the area to pollinate females for fruit production. The female trees bear bright red, berry-like fruits, which persist through the winter and provide winter food for birds. The red fruits and evergreen leaves add winter color to the yard, and cuttings make excellent holiday decorations. Use American Holly as a specimen tree or plant in groups in woodland gardens or hedges.

Ilex laevigata

Smooth Winterberry, a close relative of Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), is a deciduous holly with spineless leaves. Its white to cream flowers bloom May-July. Its red, berry-like fruits add color to the yard from September-February and provide winter food for birds. Its leaves turn yellow before dropping in the fall. Use this bird-friendly species in shrub borders and hedges. Good choice for wet sites, such as rain gardens and along ponds or streams.

Ilex glabra

Inkberry is an evergreen holly with spineless leaves. Tiny, greenish-white flowers bloom in the spring, followed by black berry-like fruits in late fall and winter. The flowers are a source of nectar for bees, producing the flavorful Gallberry honey.

Hudsonia tomentosa

Woolly Beach Heather is a slow-growing, mat-like evergreen for dry, sandy soils. Its scale-like, grayish-green leaves protect the plant from summer heat and drying winds. The roots help to hold loose sand in place, especially on dunes. Small, yellow flowers bloom at the top of the branches from late spring into summer. This plant is both drought- and salt-tolerant. It’s a good choice for beaches, dunes, and dry pinelands. Woolly Beach Heather may be difficult to find commercially. Tell your local garden center or nursery about your interest in this plant.

Hibiscus moscheutos

Rose Mallow is a shrub-like perennial with large, heart-shaped leaves, which are smooth on top and “hairy” underneath. Its large, showy, red, pink, white, or bicolor flowers bloom non-stop from midsummer to frost. This plant prefers moist, organic soil. Use it as a specimen plant or plant in masses. Good choice for low, wet sites and edges of ponds or water features.

Helianthus divaricatus

Woodland Sunflower’s bright yellow flowers with darker yellow centers bloom July-September; the showy flowers are good fresh-cut. This wildlife-friendly plant provides nectar and pollen for native butterflies and bees, and seeds for a variety of birds. Use it in shady borders, cutting gardens, or for naturalizing. It will spread over time by rhizomes (underground stems).

Helianthemum canadense

Frostweed’s yellow flowers bloom May-June at the top of the stems and only open in sunlight. This plant does well in sandy or dry, rocky soil. It is best suited for naturalizing rather than formal landscapes. As temperatures drop in late fall, sap from the stems of this plant form ice crystals, inspiring its common name. Use in sunny areas of woodland gardens or for naturalizing. Frostweed may be difficult to find commercially. Tell your local garden center or nursery about your interest in this plant.