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Calamagrostis x acutiflora

Feather Reed Grass is a low-maintenance ornamental grass. The feathery, purple-tinged flowers bloom May-June, followed by golden-brown seed heads that last until winter. Feathery Reed Grass is good both fresh-cut and dried for floral arrangements. It has a narrow, upright growing habit, which makes it a good plant for tight spaces. Use as an accent, or plant in masses. It mixes well with shrubs and flowering perennials, and can be used in rain gardens and other low, moist areas of the yard.

Betula populifolia

Gray Birch is a medium-sized, short-lived deciduous tree with chalky white bark. It grows best in areas where the soil is shaded, cool, and moist. Keep the shallow root system moist by using mulch and watering during dry weather. This tree can be short-lived in New Jersey. It does not tolerate heat and humidity well, and grows best in areas with cool summers. Use Gray Birch in rain gardens and other areas of the yard with moist soil conditions, or in woodland gardens.

Betula papyrifera

Paper Birch is a short-lived deciduous tree with beautiful, white bark that that peels in papery strips. Catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear just before the leaves emerge. The flowers are followed by cone-like fruits holding small, winged seeds. The seeds are a food source for a variety of birds. The dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Paper Birch grows best in areas where the soil is shaded, cool, and moist. Keep the root system moist by using mulch and watering during dry weather. This tree can be short-lived in New Jersey. It does not tolerate heat and humidity well, and grows best in areas with cool summers. Under the proper growing conditions, Paper Birch is an excellent specimen tree. It can also be used in woodland gardens.

Betula alleghaniensis

Yellow Birch is a large deciduous tree with distinctive bark. The peeling, yellow-bronze, shiny bark has a paper-like appearance. Crushed twigs have a wintergreen-like odor. The showy catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear just before the leaves emerge. The seeds are a food source for a variety of birds. The leaves turn brilliant yellow in the fall. Yellow Birch does well in areas where the soil is shaded, cool, and moist. Trees that are planted in full sun should be mulched and watered during periods of drought. This tree is long-lived for a birch, often living over 100 years. Its strong, close-grained wood has a wide range of color variation, making it popular in furniture-making. Give this large tree plenty of room to grow! Use Yellow Birch as a canopy tree in woodland gardens, or as a shade tree in moist areas of a large yard or park.

Begonia cultivars

Begonia is a long-blooming annual, which comes in a variety of flower colors, including white, pink, red, and bicolor. The compact plants have attractive, waxy, green to bronze leaves and fleshy stems. The flowers bloom from May to frost. Begonia performs best in sun-dappled shade with consistent moisture. This plant is most attractive when massed in beds or borders. It can also be used in container plantings.

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.

Amelanchier laevis

Allegheny Serviceberry is a wildlife-friendly, large deciduous shrub. Drooping clusters of white flowers bloom before leaves appear, March-April. The flowers are followed by edible, berry-like fruits, which turn purple when ripe. The berries are often used in jams or baked goods. The flowers provide nectar for bees and have special value for native bees. The berries are consumed by a variety of birds and mammals. The leaves turn a beautiful orange-red in the fall. The ornamental bark of mature plants is smooth and gray with longitudinal stripes. This species is very similar to Common Serviceberry; it is distinguished by its smooth, not hairy, leaves and sweeter, juicier berries. Use Allegheny Serviceberry as a specimen, or plant it in masses in shrub borders, wildlife gardens, or along edges of water features.

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.