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Veronica spicata

Speedwell features deep blue-purple flowers on tall spikes, which bloom June-August. Deadhead flowers to promote continuous blooms. Speedwell prefers constant moisture in well-drained soil, but it will tolerate drought once established. The genus Veronica contains many cultivars offering other colors and characteristics. Use it in rock gardens and borders around your yard.

Vaccinium angustifolium

Lowbush Blueberry is a flowering deciduous shrub with edible fruit. It features small, white, bell-shaped flowers with pink/reddish edges, which bloom April-May, offering a valuable nectar source to native bees. The sweet and edible fruit ripens in summer and provides an important food source for birds. The berries are used in pies, muffins, and other dishes, and eaten fresh. Showy fall foliage is bronze, scarlet, and crimson. Plant Lowbush Blueberry along borders, as a tall groundcover, as small hedges, or in naturalized areas of your yard.

Tilia tomentosa

Silver Linden is a medium-large, deciduous tree featuring fragrant, pale yellow flowers, which bloom June-July. The nectar is highly valued by pollinators — when the tree is in bloom, you can hear it “buzz” with the sound of busy bees! The leaves are green above and silver below, giving this tree its common name. It will tolerate a range of soils, but prefers moist, fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. The Silver Linden demonstrates high drought-tolerance, once established. It is also tolerant of urban conditions. Use Silver Linden as an ornamental shade tree, a street tree, city tree, or as a specimen for large areas in your yard.

Tilia cordata

Littleleaf Linden is a deciduous tree with yellow flowers blooming in June. Its nectar is an attractive food source to native bees and butterflies. Littleleaf Linden will tolerate a range of soils, but prefers moist, fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. It is drought-tolerant once established. It also tolerates heavy pruning and urban areas. Use Littleleaf Linden as an ornamental shade tree, a street tree, city tree, lawn tree, or as a specimen in large areas of the yard.

Taxus baccata

English Yew is an evergreen tree, which can be grown as a shrub or hedge. The berries are attractive to birds, but poisonous to humans. It is dioecious; both male and female plants are needed to produce fruit. English Yew prefers shady areas and needs protection from cold winter winds. Use English Yew for foundation plantings, screens, and topiaries.

Tagetes spp.

Marigold species come in many sizes and flower colors, ranging from red, orange, yellow and white, to a blend of colors. The flowers bloom June through frost, offering a long-lasting season of enjoyment. The flowers can be used either fresh-cut or dried in floral arrangements. The finely cut, fern-like leaves are often aromatic. This easy-to-grow plant is both disease- and pest-resistant. Plant Marigolds along borders, as accents in corners of your yard, or alongside tomatoes and peppers in your vegetable garden.

Syringa reticulata

Japanese Tree Lilac is a small to medium, deciduous tree with large clusters of creamy-white, fragrant flowers. The flowers bloom in June, later than most other lilac shrubs. For best blooms, plant Japanese Tree Lilac in full sun. The flowers provide a rich nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Use Japanese Tree Lilac as an ornamental specimen tree in your yard, or a street tree in your neighborhood.

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. lateriflorum

Calico Aster features white flowers, which bloom September-October. The nectar offers a food source for native bees. Calico Aster attracts beneficial insects, which prey upon garden pest insects in your yard. It is a host plant for butterfly larvae (caterpillars) of the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterfly. Use Calico Aster in borders, planted in groups for hedges or screens, or along walkways in your yard.

Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve

Smooth Blue Aster features violet-purple flowers with yellow centers, which bloom August-October. The nectar provides a food source for native bees. It is very tolerant of drought and dry, rocky soils, making it a good choice for Jersey-Friendly Yards. Use Smooth Blue Aster in borders, butterfly gardens, and naturalized areas of your yard.

Staphylea trifolia

American Bladdernut is a fast-growing, suckering, small tree or large shrub. Greenish-white, bell-shaped flowers bloom April-May, leading to showy fruit in the fall. The dried seed capsules, called “bladders,” hang in clusters from the tree and offer late fall and early winter interest. The dried seed capsules also add ornamental value to dried flower bouquets.