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Mertensia virginica

Virginia Bluebells provide early spring delight as clusters of pink buds emerge, blooming as blue-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers March through April. By midsummer, the foliage dies back as the plant goes dormant. Use it in your shade garden, woodland borders, or as a spring groundcover. Overplant with ferns or perennials that will fill in the empty space once the plants recede. A related species is Mertensia maritima (Sea Lungwort), which tolerates salt and can be used in coastal landscapes.

Mahonia aquifolium

Hollyleaved Barberry is an evergreen shrub with spiny, holly-like leaves. Small, bell-shaped yellow flowers bloom in spring, followed by edible blue-black berries resembling small grapes. An added ornamental feature of this shrub is the coppery color of new leaves in the spring. Bees and pollinating insects value the nectar, and birds eat the berries. The berries can be used to make jelly. Plant Hollyleaved Barberry in a mass for best fruit production. It will spread to form colonies, unless suckers are removed. Avoid planting this shrub in areas exposed to drying winter winds. Use Hollyleaved Barberry as a foundation plant or in shrub borders, shade gardens, or woodland gardens.

Magnolia stellata

Star Magnolia is a small, flowering deciduous tree. Delicate, fragrant, star-shaped white flowers bloom in March, offering an early sign of spring. Star Magnolia is valued for its compact size, which easily accommodates small yards or small spaces in larger yards. Situate this tree where it will be protected from frost. Use it in your yard as a specimen or accent plant, or in groups as a shrub border or informal hedge.

Magnolia x soulangiana

Saucer Magnolia is a small to medium, deciduous hybrid tree (M. denudata x M. liliiflora). Its fragrant, pink-white-purplish flowers bloom in March, offering early spring color to your garden. Plant it in a protected area of your yard, as it does not handle frost well — the flowers may become brown and mushy. It can also be planted as a multi-stemmed shrub. You can use Saucer Magnolia as a specimen tree or wild hedge for your yard or neighborhood park.

Magnolia grandiflora

Southern Magnolia is a flowering, broadleaf, semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder climates) tree with a full, pyramidal shape. Its fragrant, large, creamy-white flowers bloom April-June, offering a stunning display. Southern Magnolia must be protected from winter winds, and is sensitive to frost. Plant it as a specimen, or as a shade tree in your yard or neighborhood park; select an appropriate place to ensure optimum growth. It is intolerant of urban conditions.

Lyonia mariana

Staggerbush is a deciduous shrub featuring white, bell-shaped flowers, which bloom May-June. The flowers are pollinated by native bees. The seed capsules mature in September and persist through winter, offering additional interest in your garden. The leaves are toxic to livestock, and should not be ingested. A native of the Pine Barrens, Staggerbush can be used as an ornamental plant in the woodland edges and naturalized areas around your yard.

Lyonia ligustrina

Maleberry can be a single- or multi-stemmed deciduous shrub. Small, globular, bell-shaped white flowers bloom in June, followed by small, hard, berry-like capsules. Shiny green leaves turn orange-red in fall. Plant Maleberry in a mass as a shrub border in wet areas, woodlands, or naturalized areas around your yard.

Lupinus perennis

Sundial Lupine features blue, pea-like flowers on elongated stems that bloom April-July. Attractive, dark green, compound-palmate leaves orient themselves to the sun. This wildlife-friendly perennial is a valuable nectar and pollen source for hummingbirds and native bees. Its dried seeds are enjoyed by birds. Sundial Lupine is a host plant to butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus), Elf (Microtia elva), Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae), and Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius). Sundial Lupine is the only known host for larvae of the Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa sub. samuelis), which is nearly extinct over much of its range. Plant Sundial Lupine in perennial borders, meadows, edges of woodlands, and in sandy, naturalized areas of your yard that offer full sun. They are susceptible to powdery mildew.

Lonicera sempervirens

Trumpet Honeysuckle is a twining, wildlife-friendly deciduous vine, which will attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to your garden! Its red-pink-orange, trumpet-shaped flowers bloom May-June and offer hummingbirds and nectar-loving pollinators an energy-rich food source. The berries are an attractive food source for many species of birds, including finches and robins. The foliage is host to butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). Wait until after flowering to prune. Trumpet Honeysuckle can be trained on your trellis, arbor, pergola, or along a fence around your yard.

Lobularia maritima

The showy, white flowers of Sweet Alyssum provide spring blooms from April through June. There are many cultivars that offer a palate of colors to choose from. To encourage a second bloom, shear spent flowers from the first bloom. Blooms can be so profuse, they sometimes hide the foliage! For continued enjoyment later in the season, sow seeds in August for an additional fall bloom. Find a protected area in your yard for these fagrant beauties, as they are somewhat intolerant of heat and humidity. Part-shade is preferred, but they can tolerate full sun. Try using Sweet Alyssum in containers for your patio, at the edge of borders around your yard, on cascading walls, and in rock gardens. Sweet Alyssum is native to the Mediterranean, and is commonly associated with sandy beaches and coastal landscapes.