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Aronia melanocarpa

Black Chokeberry is a wildlife-friendly, multiple-stemmed deciduous shrub, featuring clusters of white flowers which bloom in May. The flowers are followed by blue-black berries. The edible, tart fruit can be used to make jams or jellies, and is a food source for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is red. Black Chokeberry has a colonial growth habit and may spread through suckers. Plant Black Chokeberry in groups to create native hedges, along the banks of ponds or streams, or in woodland areas around your yard.

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.

Anemone quinquefolia

Wood Anemone is a delicate, early-spring perennial. It features a whorl of deeply-cut, dark green leaves and a solitary white flower that blooms atop a 4 to 8-inch stalk, April-May. The graceful movement of the slender flower stalks in the wind led to its other common name, Wind Flower. Wood Anemone is a spring ephemeral — the plants die back in mid-summer. This plant forms colonies and makes a good spring groundcover for shady areas. It will re-seed itself; seedlings flower after 3-4 years of growth. It prefers moist to wet soil conditions. Use Wood Anemone in masses in woodland gardens or along shady edges of ponds or streams.

Andropogon virginicus

Broomsedge Bluestem is a wildlife-friendly, upright perennial bunchgrass. This grass turns a golden brown in the fall and maintains good color through the winter. Birds utilize plant parts for nesting materials, and the seeds as a winter food source. Broomsedge Bluestem provides nesting materials and structure for native bees. It is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). It grows well in moist to wet soils, but also tolerates both poor soil and drought. Use Broomsedge Bluestem in masses in meadows or along edges of ponds or other water features. It can also be used for erosion control on sites with disturbed soil.

Andropogon glomeratus

Bushy Bluestem is a wildlife-friendly, perennial bunchgrass with blue-green leaves. The fluffy, silvery-white flower heads bloom from late summer to early fall. Both the seed heads that follow the flowers and the foliage turn a beautiful coppery-orange color in the fall. The seed plumes are used in floral arrangements. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. The plants provide cover for wildlife and nesting material and structure for native bees. Bushy Bluestem is also a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Skippers and Satyrs. This plant does well in moist, low-lying areas. Use it as an accent plant, or plant in masses in moist meadows, rain gardens, or along pond edges.

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.

Amelanchier arborea

Common Serviceberry is a wildlife-friendly, large deciduous shrub. Drooping clusters of slightly fragrant, white flowers bloom before the leaves appear, March-April. Its other common name, Shadbush, refers to the fact that the flowers bloom around the same time shad fish return upriver in early spring.

Alnus serrulata

Hazel Alder is a fast-growing, deciduous shrub with a tendency to form thickets. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers appear on the same plant). The greenish male catkins and reddish female catkins bloom March-April. The female catkins are followed by woody, cone-like structures containing the seeds; the “cones” turn a maroon color in fall and persist into winter. A variety of bird species eat the seeds. Fall foliage is yellow-orange. It prefers moist to wet soils, and is flood-tolerant. It grows naturally along stream banks and swampy areas. Alder is a nitrogen-fixing species, adding nutrients to the soil. For these reasons, Hazel Alder is planted as a pioneer species for revegetating disturbed areas along streams or ponds. It can also be used in mass plantings for erosion control or to restore wetlands.

Alnus incana

Gray Alder is a small, flood-tolerant, deciduous tree. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers bloom on the same plant). Both flowers are purple-red catkins; the female flower is followed by a woody, cone-like structure containing the seeds. Birds, such as redpolls, siskins, chickadees, and goldfinches, feed on the seeds. This tree grows fast, but is short-lived, usually not lasting beyond 40 years. It prefers moist to wet soils and is flood-tolerant. Alder is a nitrogen-fixing species, adding nutrients to the soil. For these reasons, Gray Alder is planted as a pioneer species for revegetating disturbed areas along streams or ponds. It can also be massed for a windbreak or used for erosion control.