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Syringa reticulata

Japanese Tree Lilac is a small to medium, deciduous tree with large clusters of creamy-white, fragrant flowers. The flowers bloom in June, later than most other lilac shrubs. For best blooms, plant Japanese Tree Lilac in full sun. The flowers provide a rich nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Use Japanese Tree Lilac as an ornamental specimen tree in your yard, or a street tree in your neighborhood.

Symplocos paniculata

Sapphire-berry has white flowers, which bloom late-May to early-June. The ornamental fruit appears in shades of blue, and ripens September-October. The fruit is a food source for birds. Plant more than one for cross-pollination and to ensure fruiting. Sapphire-berry can be trained as a shrub or small tree. Use it for screening at the back of a shrub border, or as a specimen tree in your yard.

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

New York Aster features violet-purple flowers, which bloom July-October. This prolific bloomer provides fall color to the yard. It offers a valuable nectar source for native bees and butterflies, and its dried seeds provide food for birds. Use New York Aster in the front of borders, as an edging plant, or in sunny meadows and naturalized areas of your yard.

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Calico Aster features white flowers, which bloom September-October. The nectar offers a food source for native bees. Calico Aster attracts beneficial insects, which prey upon garden pest insects in your yard. It is a host plant for butterfly larvae (caterpillars) of the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterfly. Use Calico Aster in borders, planted in groups for hedges or screens, or along walkways in your yard.

Symphyotrichum laeve

Smooth Blue Aster features violet-purple flowers with yellow centers, which bloom August-October. The nectar provides a food source for native bees. It is very tolerant of drought and dry, rocky soils, making it a good choice for Jersey-Friendly Yards. Use Smooth Blue Aster in borders, butterfly gardens, and naturalized areas of your yard.

Stewartia ovata

Mountain Camellia is a small, flowering, deciduous tree. Its white flowers with orange anthers bloom July-August. This tree offers orange to scarlet fall foliage. Mountain Camellia is sensitive to drought and prefers moist, organically rich soil. Use it as a small specimen tree or tall shrub in shady areas of your yard.

Staphylea trifolia

American Bladdernut is a fast-growing, suckering, small tree or large shrub. Greenish-white, bell-shaped flowers bloom April-May, leading to showy fruit in the fall. The dried seed capsules, called “bladders,” hang in clusters from the tree and offer late fall and early winter interest. The dried seed capsules also add ornamental value to dried flower bouquets.

Stachys byzantina

Lamb’s Ear is grown for its fuzzy, soft, ornamental leaves. The non-descript flower is often removed by gardeners to enhance the appeal of the foliage. It prefers sandy, dry soil and full sun. Lamb’s Ear is susceptible to midsummer foliage decline in humid climates; pick off the browned leaves to stimulate new leaf growth. This hardy plant tolerates rabbit, deer, drought, Black Walnut, air pollution, and a range of undesirable conditions that deter many other plants from optimum growth. Use Lamb’s Ear along edges of walkways, in mixed borders to offer texture, or as a groundcover in a small area of your yard.

Sporobolus heterolepis

Prairie Dropseed is an ornamental grass with pink- and brown-tinted flowers blooming August-October. Prairie Dropseed provides nesting material and structure for native bees. It tolerates air pollution and Black Walnut, as well as a wide range of soils, including clay. Prairie Dropseed creates good groundcover for hot, dry areas, or use it as an accent plant around your yard.

Spodiopogon sibiricus

Flower stalks of Frost Grass rise above the bamboo-like foliage, blooming July-February. The flowers give a shimmering appearance when backlit by sunlight. The leaves turn a purplish-red in the fall. This plant needs moist, well-drained soil and enough sunlight to encourage erect growth. Frost Grass does not tolerate hot, dry areas; plant it in a protected site in your yard. Use it as an accent plant or plant in groups in borders.