Common Smoketree is a deciduous shrub with bluish-green leaves. It gets its name from flower parts covering the shrub with attractive, smoke-like, pink to purplish-pink puffs throughout the summer. This shrub has colorful fall foliage, ranging from yellow to red to purple. Common Smoketree requires well-drained soil and is drought-resistant. Plant as a specimen, or in groups in shrub borders or hedges.
American Hazelnut, a deciduous shrub, is monoecious (separate male and female flowers appear on the same plant); the light-brown male catkins and inconspicuous female flowers emerge March-April. The female flowers lead to uniquely shaped nuts, which mature in late summer. The nuts are edible, sweet, have high nutritional value, and may be eaten raw or ground into flour. The nuts were traditionally used by Native Americans to flavor soup. Many mammal and bird species feed on the nuts, including fox, deer, turkey, woodpeckers, and squirrels. The dense, low-growth characteristics of this species provide cover and nesting sites for wildlife. Its fall foliage colors range from yellow to red. Use American Hazelnut in naturalized areas or woodland gardens, where nut debris will not cause “tree litter.” It can also can be used as a screen planting, or in the back of a shrub border.
Redosier Dogwood is a deciduous shrub, which adds color to the winter landscape with bright red, multi-branching stems. Its small, white flowers bloom May-June. The flowers are followed by clusters of white, berry-like fruits, which are attractive to birds. Use it in shrub borders, as property screens, or along pond or steam banks to prevent soil erosion.
Silky Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub, native to moist lowlands. Clusters of tiny, white flowers bloom May-June, followed by white, berry-like fruits, which turn blue as they ripen in August. The fruits are a food source for birds. The twigs and leaves are identifiable by silky strands on their undersides, hence its common name. This shrub is easy to transplant. Use in woodland gardens or in naturally moist areas of the yard, such as rain gardens or along ponds or streams. Visit Native Plant Society of NJ “Profiles & Photos” for additional information and photos.
Golden Tickseed is a brightly colored, long-blooming annual. The daisy-like flowers, which are yellow-orange with dark-red centers, bloom June-September. The flowers are good fresh-cut. The nectar is attractive to butterflies, native bees, and other beneficial pollinators, and the seeds attract birds. This plant aggressively self-seeds, but that can be minimized by removing spent flowers, which also encourages more blooms. The common name originated from the resemblance of the seeds to ticks. Plant Golden Tickseed in masses in borders, wildflower gardens, or naturalized areas.
Lanceleaf Tickseed’s yellow, daisy-like flowers with flat, yellow centers bloom May-July. The flowers are good fresh-cut. Butterflies, native bees, and other beneficial pollinators value the nectar. This plant aggressively self-seeds, but that can be minimized by removing spent flowers, which also encourages more blooms. Its common name originated from the resemblance of the seeds to ticks. Plants can be cut back in the summer to control straggly growth and divided every two to three years to maintain plant vigor. Use Lanceleaf Tickseed in masses in wildflower gardens, meadows, or other naturalized areas.
Indian Woodoats is one of the most shade-tolerant ornamental grasses. Its green flowers emerge on long, arching stems above the foliage, August-September. The distinctive, large, drooping seed heads turn reddish-brown and resemble oats as they mature. The leaves resemble bamboo and turn golden-bronze in the fall. This plant retains its color and seed heads through the colder months, adding interest to the winter landscape. Cuttings are excellent in dried flower arrangements. Indian Woodoats is a host to butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Pepper and Salt Skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), Bell’s Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes belli), and Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus). It tolerates full sun if the soil is moist, but prefers indirect sun. This plant will self-seed. Use Indian Woodoats as an ornamental grass in shade gardens, borders, naturalized areas, meadows, and along water features.