Sandmyrtle is a small evergreen shrub with dense, smooth, leathery-textured foliage. Rosy buds open to white flowers tipped with pink, May-June. This shrub prefers moist, sandy soil, and does not tolerate drought. Use it in woodland gardens and for naturalizing.
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.
Atlantic White Cedar is a medium to large, aromatic evergreen tree with a tall, narrow form and straight trunk. The scaled, blue-green leaves have a flat, fan-like structure. The wood is decay-resistant and has traditionally been used to make boats, shingles, and other building materials. This tree prefers acidic, organically-rich sandy soils. It naturally grows in low, wet areas, including freshwater swamps, river banks, and wet woodlands. Atlantic White Cedar is often used for bog and wetland restorations. Use it in rain gardens and other moist areas of the yard, or as a specimen tree.
Katsura Tree is a deciduous understory tree with beautiful, heart-shaped leaves. It is dioecious (male and female flowers appear on separate trees); a male must be in the area to pollinate females for fruit production. Tiny, red male and green female flowers bloom March-April. If pollinated, female flowers are followed by greenish seed pods. The leaves emerge reddish-purple in spring and change to a blueish-green in summer. Fall foliage turns vivid shades of yellow, apricot, and red, and the fallen leaves have a pleasant, spicy fragrance. Katsura Tree tolerates full sun, but prefers some shade protection in the late afternoon. It grows best in moist, well-drained soils, and is not drought-tolerant. Use as specimen tree, shade tree, or street tree.
Marsh Marigold is a mounded, succulent perennial with large, showy, bright yellow flowers, which bloom April-June. The common name is misleading, since the flowers resemble buttercups rather than marigolds. The glossy leaves are described as having a heart or kidney shape. When ripe, the seed pods split open to disperse the seeds. As the common name suggests, this plant prefers wet, boggy soils. Use it in rain gardens, bog gardens, or shallow water margins of ponds and water gardens.