EASTERN BLUESTAR

Amsonia tabernaemontana

The blue star-shaped flowers bloom in mid-spring. Leaves turn a pretty yellow in fall. Easy plant to grow. Looks great as an accent plant and also en masse. Prune after flowering to avoid flopping over.

Attracts: Bees and other pollinators

Growth: Perennial, 2-3’h, Full sun/partial shade, tolerate of most soil types, likes moist well-draining soils, some deer resistance

Blooms: Mid spring

Location: Woodland Garden

CANADA ANEMONE

Anemone canadensis

When in ideal conditions, this perennial in the buttercup family will spread quickly, making it a good ground cover. The white flower with yellow center sits atop a delicate whirled leaf and blooms in mid-late spring. It’s found in woodlands, along rivers and in moist meadows and thickets.

Attracts: Bees and other pollinators

Growth: Perennial, .5-1’, partial shade to shade, tolerates most soil types, likes moist soil, good deer resistance.

Blooms: Mid late spring

Location: Woodland Garden

BLUE WOOD ASTER

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

This late-blooming (late summer-fall) perennial is a much needed nectar source for pollinators in fall. The flowers are a mix of blues and purples. Cutting back the flowers in mid-July will create bushier plants and will prevent it from falling over.

Attracts: Butterflies including the Pearl Crescent seen at the garden

Growth: Perennial, 2-4’, full sun to part shade, tolerates all soil types but prefers moist, rich soils,

Location: Every part of the garden

BLEEDING HEARTS, WILD

Dicentra eximia

With its fringed foliage and delicate pink heart shaped flowers the wild bleeding heart is a lovely addition to a shady garden. Its foliage will provide color into autumn

Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Growth: perennial, 1-1.5’ h, part shade, rich dry soil

Bloom: April - June,

Location: Woodland Garden

BLOODROOT

Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot sap was used medicinally by Native Americans and is currently researched as an anti-cancer agent. Dyes can be made from its sap. Ants spread this plant. They eat only the fleshy covering of the seeds and carry the actual seeds out of the nest with their waste. The plants then grow on the ant’s “trash heap”.

Attracts: ants, bees

Growth: perennial, .5-1’ h, shade, moist, well drained soil

Bloom: April - May

Location: Woodland Garden

BLUEBELLS, VIRGINIA

Mertensia virginica

This ephemeral plant emerges early in the spring and goes dormant early in the summer. The flowers are a delicate blue and make a great statement here in the park or in a home spring garden. It is easily naturalized in your garden if you take care to not plant over it while it is dormant.

Attracts: butterflies/moths, bees, hummingbirds

Growth: perennial, .5-1’ h, shade, moist soil

Bloom: April - May

Location: Woodland Garden

BLUE MIST FLOWER

Conoclinium coelestinum

The compact clusters of blueish white flowers bloom from mid summer until frost. It is an important food source for native bees. In the home garden cutting it back in the middle of the summer will make it bushier. It spreads by rhizomes and will need dividing to keep it in check.

Attracts: Native Bees, butterflies Hosts: Lined Ruby Tiger Moth

Growth: perennial, 1-2’ h, full sun/part shade, dry/moist soil

Bloom: August - October

Location: Pollinator Patch, Milkweed Slope, Woodland Garden

COHOSH, BLACK

Actaea racemosa

The tall fragrant flowers of cohosh dance above the lacy foliage in the early summer, Planted in masses at the back of a shady border these native plants pack a visual punch. Cohosh has a long history of medicinal use, Native Americans treated many conditions with it, and it is still used in medicines today.

Hosts: Spring Azure Butterfly

Growth: perennial, 2-5’ h, shade, moist organically rich soil

Bloom: May - July

Location: Woodland Garden

COLUMBINE, WILD EASTERN, GOLDEN

Aquilegia canadensis “Corbett”

Columbines do well in the home garden and will self seed to form a patch. If watered occasionally the attractive leaves will last into the summer. The scientific name comes from “aquilae” the latin word for eagle, as the 5 spurs of the flower resemble an out-stretched eagle’s talon.

Attracts: Hummingbirds Hosts: Columbine Duskywing Butterfly

Growth: perennial, 1-1.5’ h, sun/part shade, well drained soil

Bloom: March - June

Location: Woodland Garden

Columbine, Wild Eastern, Red

Aquilegia canadensis

This versatile beauty does well in beds, borders, woodland’s edges and container pots and is a wildlife magnet. When well placed, Columbine will self seed and form colonies. Plant and watch hummingbirds drink nectar from its bell-shaped flowers.

Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, Hawk moths, birds. Host to Columbine Duskywing Butterfly

Growth: 1-2’h, partial shade, moist soil, deer resistant

Blooms: April, May

Location: Woodland Garden, Milkweed Slope, Shady Slope

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

Foamflower gets its common name from the long stamens covered in tiny white flowers which gives it a foamy appearance. It spreads quickly by runners to form clumps of 1-2’ heart-shaped foliage. Good ground cover for woodland garden or shady spot.

Attracts: Bees, butterflies, other pollinators

Growth: .5-1’ h, Part/full shade, organically rich soil

Blooms: April-June

Location: Woodland Garden, Shady Slope

Goat’s Beard 

Aruncus dioicus

The blooms on this towering beauty are reminiscent of Astilbe. It can get as tall as 6 feet and thrives in moist, organically rich soil. A good candidate for a rain garden,

Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, 

Host to Dusky Azure Butterfly

Growth: 4-6’h,  Sun/Part Sun, Shade, Moist soil, tolerates flooding

Blooms: April-June 

Location: Woodland Garden

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT

Arisaema triphyllum

The unique flower form inspires this plant’s common name. There is an erect flower spike hidden inside a sheath that looks like a pulpit. The plant has both male and female flowers. The female flowers produce a cluster of bright red berries in late summer. If you have the right conditions this unique flower is a great addition to your garden.

Attracts: flies to pollinate and birds for seeds

Growth: perennial, 1’h, shade, rich loamy soil

Bloom: April-May

Location: Woodland Garden

MAYAPPLE

Podophyllum, peltatum

Two large leaves on this plant hide a small white flower that produces the “apple”, Look carefully in this picture and you can see a flower a little right of center. The fruit is eaten by small mammals and Eastern Box Turtles, all other parts of the plant are toxic if eaten.

Attracts: Bees and other pollinators

Growth: perennial, 1-1.5’, shade part/shade, dry/moist soil

Bloom: April-June

Location: Woodland Garden

MERRY BELLS

Uvularia grandiflora

The large yellow lily-like flowers and big leaves are heavy and cause this plant to have a droopy appearance providing an interesting contrast to ferns and other woodland plants. While relatively carefree, it can be attractive to deer.

Host plant: Andrena uvaleriae - a ground nesting solitary bee

Growth: perennial, 1-1.5’ deep shade, well drained moist soil

Bloom: April-May

Location: Woodland Garden

MILKWEED, Common

Asclepius syriaca

Milkweed’s unique flower supports a complicated pollination strategy. First, a visitor’s leg accidentally falls into a crevice in the flower, when it’s extracted a pollen sack attaches to the leg. Milkweeds bank on the insect then going to another milkweed flower, accidentally getting its leg caught again and leaving the pollen sack behind. Orchids have a similar pollination strategy - more details can be found here

Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds Host plant: Monarch Butterfly

Growth: perennial, -4+’h, sun/part shade, all soil types

Bloom: May-June

Location: Entire Garden

Shooting Star

Dodecatheon meadia

The flowers are “buzz pollinated”. Bumblebees hang below the flower, vibrating their wing muscles without moving the wings. This shakes pollen onto the bee’s abdomen.  When the bee has collected enough pollen she grooms it onto her legs to carry to the nest and feed her larvae.   Pollen is a rich source of protein for bees.  Only bumblebees and some native bees can perform this feat. 

Attracts: bumblebees and native bees 

Growth: perennial, 1-2’h, part shade, moist (not wet) soil

Bloom: March-May

Location: Woodland Garden

Snakeroot, White

Ageratina altissima

As one of the latest blooming flowers its nectar is important for bees, butterflies and moths preparing to overwinter or migrate.  The milk from cows that eat this plant can cause vomiting, tremors, liver failure and death.  Abraham Lincoln’s mother is thought to have died from this “milk sickness”. 

Attracts: bees and butterflies, 

Growth: perennial, 1-3’h, part shade, moist rich soil

Bloom: August-October

Location: All areas

Solomon’s Seal

Polygonatum biflorum

Solomon’s Seal flowers hang down under the arching stems and lead to blue black berries in the fall. These are graceful plants for a shady border or naturalized area in your yard.

Attracts: butterflies, birds

Growth: perennial, 1-2’h, part shade, most soils

Bloom: April-May

Location: Woodland Garden

Solomon’s Seal, Great

Polygonatum biflorum var commutatum

Also known as Giant Solomon’s Seal this plant should be given plenty of room!  While some people eat the spring shoots treating them like asparagus, the berries are toxic to humans and should be left for the birds.

Attracts: butterflies, birds

Growth: perennial, 2-3’h, sun/part shade, most soils

Bloom: April-May

Location: Woodland Garden

Trillium, White

Trillium grandiflorum 

This graceful flower is a cheerful find on a spring woodland walk.  It first sends up a set of 3 leaves and then the flower emerges - again in threes - three lily-like petals with three green sepals.  Berries follow and ants help disperse the seeds. 

Attracts: ants, bees, flies, beetles, butterflies

Growth: perennial, .5-1’h, part/full shade, rich, moist, well drained soil

Bloom: March-May

Location: Woodland Garden

Vervain, White

Verbena urticifolia

Historians document the use of white vervain as a medicinal herb during the American Revolution.  A wildlife magnet, the long blooming season provides a cool white notes to a shady garden well into fall while its spiky growth habit adds an interesting structure and its dormant dusty grey leaves provide a contrast to fall foliage. 

Attracts: bees, wasps, butterflies, and flies

Growth: perennial, 3-5’h, shade, well drained soil

Bloom: June-October

Location: woodland garden

Photo credit R.W. Smith, Wildflower Center Digital Library

Violets

Viola sororia 

Violets are our state flower and important our ecosystem. Fritillary butterfly larvae eat only violets.  While some  people prefer a very tidy lawn or flower border, letting violets run through your yard provides color  and supports fritillaries.  Violets come in a variety of colors, blue, pink, white and bi colored.

Attracts: bees, butterflies, birds  Host plant: Grand Spangled Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary Butterflies

Growth: perennial, .5’h, sun/part shade, well-drained soil

Bloom: April-June 

Location: Milkweed and Shady Slopes, Woodland Garden

Coral Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

This native honeysuckle vine is a winner, plant it in your garden and train it on a fence or trellis to be treated to its red/pink/orange flowers.  Hummingbirds find the flowers irresistible and in the fall the seeds are sought after by finches and robins.

Attracts: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds  Host plant: Spring Azure butterfly and Snowberry Clearwing moth

Growth: vine, up to 12’ long, sun, most dry soils

Bloom: May-June

Location: Milkweed Slope, Woodland Garden, Shady Slope

Poison Ivy, Eastern

Toxicodendron radicans

Poison ivy can be on a tree, bush or or on the ground.  “Leaves of three let it be” is wise advice!  The middle leaflet is longer than the two side leaflets.  Leaves can be glossy or dull, smooth-edged or toothed.  The itch/burn takes  between 12 hours and 5 days to develop. You can also be irritated from clothes and other items that touched the ivy.  It is best to take care and avoid it.  Rutgers has advice to address it in your yard.

Growth: vine, 20+’ l, grows in most soil/light conditions

Bloom: Spring

Location: entire garden

Sumac, Fragrant

Rhus aromatica

This bush has yellow flowers which are followed by red berries which are eaten by birds; it is a stand out in the fall when the  aromatic leaves turn orange/red/reddish-purple. Planted in a group in a border or on a slope this is a unique and stunning landscaping choice, plus its a native plant with wildlife value. 

Attracts: bees, butterflies  Host plant: Red-banded Hairstreak Butterfly

Growth: shrub, 3’h, sun, most soil dry

Bloom: Spring

Location: Woodland Garden