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Helichrysum petiolare

Licorice-plant is grown for its silvery, fuzzy-textured foliage and trailing habit. Its foliage may have a slight licorice-like scent. This plant requires good drainage, as it is susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils. Use it for contrast in hanging baskets and containers, or as an annual groundcover or edging plant.

Helianthus divaricatus

Woodland Sunflower’s bright yellow flowers with darker yellow centers bloom July-September; the showy flowers are good fresh-cut. This wildlife-friendly plant provides nectar and pollen for native butterflies and bees, and seeds for a variety of birds. Use it in shady borders, cutting gardens, or for naturalizing. It will spread over time by rhizomes (underground stems).

Helianthus annuus

Common Sunflower has large flower heads with dark centers and bright yellow rays. The flower heads, which turn to face the sun, bloom on tall, hairy stems July-August. Birds love to feast on the seeds, and the nectar is a valuable food source for native bees. Use the taller varieties, which may need staking, in the back of borders, and dwarf varieties in beds or the front of borders.

Helianthus angustifolius

Swamp Sunflowers have yellow rays and reddish-brown to purple centers; they bloom September-November. Pinch the growth in early June for bushier plants with more blooms in the fall. This plant tolerates wet areas of the yard and bog-like conditions, and is suitable for rain gardens or the edges of water features. Use as a specimen plant or massed in beds.

Helenium autumnale

Common Sneezeweed has daisy-like flowers with distinctive, fan-shaped rays and prominent, raised centers. The flowers bloom from late summer until frost in colors ranging from yellow to reddish-brown to orange. The tall plants add vertical texture to gardens, but may need to be staked. Pinch back plants in early June for bushier growth with more blooms. The common name is based on the former use of its dried leaves to make snuff, which was inhaled to cause sneezing. Sneezeweed has special value for native bees. Use Sneezeweed in the back of borders or beds, wildflower gardens, and naturalized areas.

Hamamelis virginiana

The floral display of American Witchhazel is unique. Its fragrant, cream to yellow flowers with tassle-like, crumpled petals bloom September-December, persisting for some time after leaf drop.

Gymnocladus dioicus

Kentucky Coffeetree is a deciduous tree that has large, compound leaves and brown bark with distinctive scale-like ridges. It is dioecious (separate male and female trees), with greenish-white flowers blooming in the late spring. The female trees bear reddish-brown seed pods that persist into winter. Use Kentucky Coffeetree in large yards or parks. Its tolerance for drought and air pollution makes it a good urban tree.

Gomphrena globosa

Common Globe Amaranth is a compact, heat-tolerant annual. Its clover-like flower heads in shades of purple, red, pink, and white bloom on sturdy, thick stems from June to frost. Globe Amaranth makes an excellent fresh-cut or dried flower. Use it in beds, borders, rock gardens, or containers.

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

Thornless Honeylocust is a large, fast-growing, urban-tolerant deciduous tree. Its small leaflets and open crown cast a light shade that permits shade-tolerant grasses and perennials to grow underneath, making it a good choice for filtered shade. The seed pods are a food source for birds and other wildlife. Protect the bark of young trees, since white-tailed deer and rabbits may eat the soft bark in winter. Use Thornless Honeylocust as a street tree, on slopes for erosion control, or for windbreaks.

Ginkgo biloba

Gingko is a deciduous tree with unique, fan-shaped leaves. It is dioecious (separate male and female trees), but only male trees should be planted, since the fruit of female trees is messy and malodorous. Its yellow fall leaves can persist for weeks, then suddenly drop within a day. This cold-hardy tree is usually deep-rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. It tolerates salt and poor soil and air quality, making it a good choice for urban conditions. Use Gingko as a lawn tree or street tree.