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Festuca glauca

Blue Fescue is a semi-evergreen ornamental grass with attractive blue-green foliage. It grows in a small, neat, cushion-like clump and does not spread by runners. Divide the plants in early spring every couple of years. Blue Fescue prefers dry, sandy soils and is tolerant of salt spray, making it a good choice for seaside gardens. Use it as an edging plant or in borders. Space plants close together to form a beautiful groundcover.

Erythronium americanum

Trout Lily has two tulip-like leaves at the base of the plant and lily-shaped, yellow flowers, which bloom in early spring. The flowers bloom during the spring trout-fishing season, hence the common name. The plants go into dormancy by late spring. Trout Lily prefers moist, acidic, organic soils. Use it in shady garden areas, woodland gardens, rock gardens, and along ponds or other water features.

Erica carnea

Winter Heath is an evergreen plant with needle-like leaves and small, bell-shaped flowers, which bloom late winter to early spring. Its long-blooming flowers provide cheery late winter/early spring color to the yard. Cover it in winter with mulch to protect from very cold temperatures. Any pruning should be done immediately after flowering. Winter Heath is a good choice for slopes and rock gardens.

Epimedium spp.

Barrenwort not only tolerates shade, it prefers it! Attractive mounds of medium-green foliage on wiry stems spread through rhizomes (underground stems). Plants bloom in spring in a variey of flower colors (purple, pink, orange, yellow, or white). The leaves turn attractive shades of yellow, red, or bronze in the fall. The shape of the flower resembles a bishop’s hat, inspiring the common name. Plants do best in moist, well-drained soil, but will tolerate drought and competition with tree roots. Excellent choice for any shady garden area, including border-fronts, path edges, woodland gardens, rock gardens, and under trees.

Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Eastern Hayscented Fern is a deciduous fern with light-green, finely textured, lacy fronds. The fronds can be cut for use in flower arrangements. When crushed or dried, the fronds release a fragrance like freshly-mowed hay, inspiring its common name. This plant prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils. It spreads by rhizomes to form colonies, making it useful as a groundcover in shady areas of the yard. Use it in woodland gardens, shade gardens, or under trees. The fronds can be used in cut-flower bouquets.

Comptonia peregrina

Sweet Fern is not a fern, but a multi-branched, mounded shrub with dark green, aromatic, fern-like leaves. Its inconspicuous, yellow-green catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear April-May, followed by small, burr-like nutlets. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). This plant fixes its own nitrogen, and can tolerate sandy, nutrient-poor soil. It also tolerates wet conditions, as well as drought. Sweet Fern will form dense colonies once established. Use in naturalized areas, rain gardens, and on slopes for erosion control.

Chrysopsis mariana

Maryland Goldenaster’s clusters of daisy-like, bright yellow flowers bloom August-October, adding color to the fall garden. This drought-tolerant plant grows well in dry, sandy soils. Use it in borders or wildflower gardens, along woodland edges, or as a groundcover in partly shady areas.

Chrysogonum virginianum

Green and Gold is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial, which spreads by rhizomes (underground stems). The bright yellow, star-shaped flowers on erect, “hairy” stems bloom in spring and sometimes again in fall. This plant’s tolerance for shade makes it a good groundcover for moist, shady areas. Use in rain gardens, woodland gardens, shady border-fronts, and rock gardens.

Chimaphila maculata

Spotted Wintergreen is a low-growing evergreen perennial. The thick, dark green, waxy leaf has a white stripe down the center and serrated edges. Small, fragrant, waxy, white, or pale pink flowers bloom on erect, red stalks, June-August. The flowers attract insect pollinators. The flowers turn upward after fertilization and develop into attractive, dried seed capsules. The leaves have a darker, purplish color in the winter. Use Spotted Wintergreen in woodland gardens, shady naturalized areas, or as a groundcover. It is a good plant to keep if already growing in your yard.

Chamaedaphne calyculata

Leatherleaf is a broadleaf evergreen shrub native to wet soils. It has leathery, green leaves and small, bell-shaped, white flowers, which bloom April-May. This shrub is used by birds and other wildlife for nesting and cover. It grows well in boggy locations. Use Leatherleaf in moist borders, woodland gardens, rain gardens, or along edges of ponds or other water features.