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Nyssa sylvatica

Blackgum is a medium-sized, flowering, deciduous tree, which offers many benefits for wildlife. White, inconspicuous flowers bloom May-June. It is primarily dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees, although trees typically host a few “perfect” flowers. Blackgum offers an excellent nectar source for bees. Fertilized female flowers are followed by edible sour fruits, which provide an important food source for birds and wildlife. It is a host plant for many inconspicuous insects, which provide food for migrating and resident birds. It offers showy, red color in fall. Its medium-high wind resistance and tolerance to flooded and salty conditions makes it a valuable Jersey-Friendly tree for your yard!

Nicotiana alata

Jasmine Tobacco is a tender perennial, which is grown and used as an annual in New Jersey. Its fragrant, tubular-shaped flowers in shades of red, white, green, and yellow bloom June to frost. This wildlife-friendly plant will attract a variety of pollinators to your yard, including hummingbirds and butterflies. Plant it in a mass to create borders, use it in your rock garden, or plant it in mixed containers to add color to your patio or yard.

Muhlenbergia capillaris

Hairawn Muhly is a clump-forming, warm-season grass. Pink to purple to red flowers bloom above the foliage September-November, offering attractive fall color. It tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and poor, dry, sandy soils, as well as flooding — perfect for Jersey-Friendly Yards! Plant Hairawn Muhly in groups along your borders and foundations and in naturalized areas of your yard.

Mertensia virginica

Virginia Bluebells provide early spring delight as clusters of pink buds emerge, blooming as blue-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers March through April. By midsummer, the foliage dies back as the plant goes dormant. Use it in your shade garden, woodland borders, or as a spring groundcover. Overplant with ferns or perennials that will fill in the empty space once the plants recede. A related species is Mertensia maritima (Sea Lungwort), which tolerates salt and can be used in coastal landscapes.

Magnolia stellata

Star Magnolia is a small, flowering deciduous tree. Delicate, fragrant, star-shaped white flowers bloom in March, offering an early sign of spring. Star Magnolia is valued for its compact size, which easily accommodates small yards or small spaces in larger yards. Situate this tree where it will be protected from frost. Use it in your yard as a specimen or accent plant, or in groups as a shrub border or informal hedge.

Magnolia x soulangiana

Saucer Magnolia is a small to medium, deciduous hybrid tree (M. denudata x M. liliiflora). Its fragrant, pink-white-purplish flowers bloom in March, offering early spring color to your garden. Plant it in a protected area of your yard, as it does not handle frost well — the flowers may become brown and mushy. It can also be planted as a multi-stemmed shrub. You can use Saucer Magnolia as a specimen tree or wild hedge for your yard or neighborhood park.

Magnolia grandiflora

Southern Magnolia is a flowering, broadleaf, semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder climates) tree with a full, pyramidal shape. Its fragrant, large, creamy-white flowers bloom April-June, offering a stunning display. Southern Magnolia must be protected from winter winds, and is sensitive to frost. Plant it as a specimen, or as a shade tree in your yard or neighborhood park; select an appropriate place to ensure optimum growth. It is intolerant of urban conditions.

Magnolia acuminata

Cucumber-tree is a medium-large, flowering deciduous tree, offering a full, rounded form. Upon maturity, small, slightly fragrant, tulip-like greenish-yellow flowers bloom April-May, usually towards the crown of the tree. Flowers are followed by cucumber-like, showy red fruits in late summer. The seeds are a food source for birds and small mammals. Use Cucumber-tree as an ornamental shade tree in your yard or neighborhood park.

Lyonia mariana

Staggerbush is a deciduous shrub featuring white, bell-shaped flowers, which bloom May-June. The flowers are pollinated by native bees. The seed capsules mature in September and persist through winter, offering additional interest in your garden. The leaves are toxic to livestock, and should not be ingested. A native of the Pine Barrens, Staggerbush can be used as an ornamental plant in the woodland edges and naturalized areas around your yard.

Lyonia ligustrina

Maleberry can be a single- or multi-stemmed deciduous shrub. Small, globular, bell-shaped white flowers bloom in June, followed by small, hard, berry-like capsules. Shiny green leaves turn orange-red in fall. Plant Maleberry in a mass as a shrub border in wet areas, woodlands, or naturalized areas around your yard.