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Sambucus canadensis

American Black Elderberry is a spreading, deciduous shrub with clusters of white flowers from June-July. It provides an attractve nectar source for butterflies and bees. Berries ripen in late summer and provide a food source for birds. The fruit can be used in jellies, pies, juice, and wine. Use American Black Elderberry in shrub borders, moist roadside plantings, or as a privacy screen around your yard.

Salix nigra

Black Willow is a fast-growing, flowering tree. Yellow-green flowers bloom April-May, providing a nectar source for native bees, honeybees, bumblebees, and beneficial predatory insects, which prey on garden pest insects. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), and Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica). Black Willow has attractive, deeply furrowed bark. Use it as specimen tree in moist areas around your yard, or along streambanks for erosion control.

Saccharum giganteum

Sugarcane Plumegrass is a showy, tall grass, which grows best in wet areas in full sun. Clusters of coppery-rose flowers bloom in October, followed by fluffy, peach-colored seed heads. Fall foliage color is brown with shades of red and purple. Use Sugarcane Plumegrass as an accent plant, or plant in masses. It is a good grass for rain gardens. Sugarcane Plumegrass may be difficult to find commercially. Tell your local garden center or nursery about your interest in this plant.

Saccharum brevibarbe var. contortum

Shortbeard Plumegrass is a tall, clumping grass. Whitish-yellow flower plumes bloom July-October. Fall color is an attractive bronze. This southern United States native can be used in foundations or borders, or as a specimen plant in your yard.

Rudbeckia fulgida

Orange Coneflower features daisy-like flowers with bright yellow-orange rays and brown-purple center disks. The long bloom time lasts from June-October. This plant provides a nectar source for bees, and birds feed on the dried seeds. Use Orange Coneflower in naturalized gardens, rain gardens, in masses in the perennial border of your yard, and as fresh-cut flowers.

Rhododendron viscosum

Swamp Azalea’s fragrant clusters of white to pale-pink flowers with extended stamens bloom mid-May-July. The flowers have a clove-like scent, and the nectar is attractive to bumblebees. Swamp Azalea leafs-out before blooming. Its native New Jersey habitat includes swamps and bogs, so it prefers a moist substrate in a partly shady area in your yard. Swamp Azalea is flood-tolerant, but is intolerant of juglones (chemical in the roots of Black Walnut). Use Swamp Azalea in rain gardens, woodland gardens, shade gardens, and massed in shrub borders. As with many Azaleas and Rhododendrons, all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Pinxterbloom Azalea, or Pink Azalea, features fragrant clusters of cotton-candy pink to white flowers, which bloom in April to early May, before leaves emerge. The nectar is a valued food source for bumblebees. Plant it in well-drained soil — it does not tolerate “wet feet,” and poor drainage leads to root-rot. Pink Azalea spreads by stolon (a horizontal plant stem or runner that takes root at points along its length to form new plants). Use it in shrub borders, foundation plantings, shade gardens, natural areas, or as a hedge. As with many Azaleas and Rhododendrons, all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Quercus phellos

Willow Oak is an attractive, medium-sized, deciduous tree, which offers good texture and form. It is monoecious; insignificant separate male and female catkins appear in spring. It has cascading, narrow, willow-like leaves, which turn yellow, bronze-orange, yellow-brown, or russet-red in fall. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and some salty conditions. The acorns provide food for birds and wildlife. Oaks are host to numerous beneficial insects, which in turn provide food for birds. Willow Oak is a host plant for butterfly larvae (caterpillars) of White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album). It provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use Willow Oak as a street tree or shade tree, and in parks or in natural areas.

Quercus palustris

Pin Oak is a medium-sized, deciduous tree of the red oak group. It is monoecious; greenish-yellow flowers bloom on separate male and female catkins in April. Its dark green leaves have five bristle-tipped lobes, and turn deep red in fall. It tolerates poorly-drained soils and some flooding. It may take 15-20 years until the tree matures to bear acorns, which provide food for birds and wildlife. Oaks are host to numerous beneficial insects, which in turn provide food for birds. Pin Oak is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). It provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use Pin Oak as a shade tree in the yard, park, or natural area, or as a street tree.

Quercus michauxii

Swamp Chestnut Oak is a medium to large, deciduous tree of the white oak group. It is monoecious; yellow male catkins and red female flowers bloom separately on the same tree in April-May. It has chestnut-like, oblong, toothed leaves, which are shiny and green above and gray and hairy underneath. Fall foliage is dark red. This tree performs best in full sun, but tolerates some shade when young. It tolerates occasional wet soils; however, continuously wet soils cause root rot. Swamp Chestnut Oak is very tolerant of urban conditions and has medium to high wind resistance. It may take 20-25 years for the tree to mature and bear acorns. When present, acorns ripen in September-October and provide food for birds and wildlife. Oaks are host to numerous beneficial insects, which in turn provide food for birds. Swamp Chestnut Oak provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use it as a street tree or shade tree in your yard, neighborhood park, or in natural areas.