Coral Bells Heuchera americana Description: A clump-forming plant with heart-shaped leaves. In late spring, longer stems emerge from the leaves to produce bell-shaped flowers. Propagation: Seeds or root divisions Initial bloom (month and week): May W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 18″ Spread: 18″ Family: Saxifragaceae Soil type: Acidic…
Category: Plants
Coral Honeysuckle
Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Description: Flowering from May to August, honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its long, red, tubular flowers. Propagation: Stem cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): May W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Red Height: 3-9′ Spread: 36″ Family: Caprifoliaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Medium moist Light: Full…
Cream Violet
Cream Violet Viola striata AR Plant Model Description: Produces white flowers with purple veins striping the lower petals. “Striata” means striped in Latin. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 8″ Spread: 12″ Family: Violaceae Soil type: Acidic woodland Soil moisture: Medium…
Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox Phlox stolonifera Description: Pink in PA and blue in GA, this ground-covering phlox has intermediate color forms throughout the range. Powdermill has an especially fine form with wide and brilliant petals. Propagation: Seeds, or divide whole plants in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): May W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden…
Crooked-stem Aster
Crooked-stem Aster Symphyotrichum prenanthoides Description: With narrow leaves, the zig-zag stems produce many small rayed flowers in late summer Propagation: Divisions of the roots Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Pale blue-violet Height: 36″ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Moist to wet…
Culver’s Root
Culver’s Root Veronicastrum virginicum Description: Tall white candelabra blooms above whorled foliage Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 4-8′ Spread: 24″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Basic Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Full sun Zone: 3-8
Cup Plant
Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum Description: Leaves join at the stem forming a cup that holds water Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 4-10′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Deep rich soils Soil moisture: Drought tolerant Light: Full sun Zone:…
Cutleaf Toothwort
Cutleaf Toothwort Cardamine concatenata Description: This fragile wildflower is the larval host plant for Pieris virginiana, the toothwort white butterfly Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): April W2 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 12″ Spread: 12″ Family: Brassicaceae Soil type: Neutral woodland soil Soil moisture: Medium moist Light: Shade…
Dense Blazing Star
Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata Description: Upright flower spikes of pale purple bloom in July and August and are highly attractive to butterflies. Can survive in dry sites. Propagation: Easy from seeds or offsets Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Lavender Height: 2-3′ Spread: 12″ Family:…
Downy Alumroot
Downy Alumroot Heuchera pubescens Description: The plant was used as an astringent and poultice during the Civil War, pulling wounds together and stopping excessive bleeding. Wounds were then packed with sphagnum moss. These practices saved many lives. Propagation: Seeds and divisions from the rhizome Initial bloom (month and week): June W1 Garden name: Shady…
Downy Phlox
Downy Phlox Phlox pilosa Description: This native plant is endangered in Pennsylvania. It forms a 1-2’ tall mound with pale pink to lavender flowers. Soft hairs cover the stems and leaves. This plant prefers dry soils and full sun and blooms in May and June. Propagation: Divisions or cuttings Initial bloom (month and week):…
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens Description: A small orchid named for the snake-skin pattern of white veins over the dark green background of the leaf. An erect floral stalk bears many small, white flowers. Propagation: Seeds or divisions, but requiring a mycorrhizal association to thrive. Surprisingly, it makes a good terrarium plant. Initial bloom (month…
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dutchman’s Breeches Dicentra cucullaria Description: Flowers resemble tiny pairs of pants. A true spring ephemeral, it will fade away by summer. Propagation: Seeds and divisions from the rhizome Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 10″ Spread: 15″ Family: Papaveraceae Soil type: Acidic woodland…
Dwarf Crested Iris
Dwarf Crested Iris Iris cristata Description: A low-growing plant that features blue and white flowers with a tiny gold beard. The perfect small groundcover for acidic woodlands. Propagation: Seeds are unreliable because of poor set, but should be sown fresh. Much easier is to lift the rhizomes and divide them into pieces in late fall….
Dwarf Ginseng
Dwarf Ginseng Panax trifolius Description: The medicinal properties belong to Panax quinqufolia Propagation: Seeds. The small roots are wary of being moved. Initial bloom (month and week): April W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 6″ Spread: 12″ Family: Araliaceae Soil type: Acidic woodland soil Soil moisture: Moist rich woods…
Fall Phlox
Fall Phlox Phlox paniculata Description: Its flowers come in a wide variety of colors and bloom throughout July and August. Also known as garden phlox, the flower is sweetly scented and survives in moist to well-drained, rich soil. Propagation: Divisions or cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): July W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color…
False Aster
False Aster Boltonia asteroides Description: Hundreds of white daisies make a massive bloom statement Propagation: Seeds must be stratified to germinate. Divisions of the roots in spring. Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White or pink Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3′ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral…
False Solomon’s Seal
False Solomon’s Seal Maianthemum racemosum Description: Plumes of white flowers grace the arching stems in spring, and red berries provide interest in the fall. Propagation: Division of the underground rhizomes. Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 1-3′ Spread: 18″ Family: Asparagaceae Soil type: Acidic…
Fernleaf Phacelia
Fernleaf Phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida Description: This biennial blooms with blue phlox and looks very similar, but it has its own charm. Propagation: Seeds readily Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Lavender Height: 12″ Spread: 12″ Family: Hydrophyllaceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil moisture: Medium moist Light:…
Fire Pink
Fire Pink Silene virginica Description: A wildflower with 5 distinctly notched, red petals. Growing 20” tall, this plant blooms during early summer. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Red Height: 1-2′ Spread: 12″ Family: Caryophyllaceae Soil type: Neutral woodland, sand or loam Soil…
Flowering Tobacco
Flowering Tobacco Nicotiana alata Description: The white fragrant flowers open at night to attract moths. Larval host plant of the tobacco hornworm, which also uses tomato. Propagation: Scatter seeds in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): August W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 12″ Spread: 16″ Family: Solanaceae Soil type:…
Foamflower
Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia AR Plant Model Description: A rapidly-spreading, clump-forming plant with heart-shaped leaves. The tiny white flowers have a foamy texture. This lovely native groundcover should be used before ivy, vinca or the Japanese pachysandra, especially since it flowers more beautifully than any of them. Propagation: Easy from seed or division. The long stolons…
Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Description: This plant has a long bloom period. The leaves may be green or purplish-red depending on the variety. Propagation: Seeds or division of rootstock Initial bloom (month and week): May W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 24-36″ Spread: 12″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Clay loam…
Giant Sunflower
Giant Sunflower Helianthus giganteus Description: This tall prairie sunflower has coarse leaves and spreads gently. Propagation: Seeds or divisions of the rhizomes in spring Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 8-10′ Spread: 36″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sand or loam Soil moisture:…
Golden Alexanders
Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea Description: Early summer flowers feed many short-tongued insects. Food plant of the Black swallowtail butterfly. Propagation: Short-lived but will self-seed. Divisions in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Rain Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 36″ Spread: 12″ Family: Apiaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Moist…
Golden Club
Golden Club Orontium aquaticum Description: This is the only species in the genus, although there are several extinct species described from fossils. The flower stalks are long pointed wands. Propagation: Seeds sown as soon as they ripen in early summer Initial bloom (month and week): April W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of…
Golden Ragwort
Golden Ragwort Packera aurea Description: The earliest composite (daisy) to bloom in spring, with bright yellow flowers. Propagation: Easy from seed Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 16″ Spread: 16″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Moist or dry Light: Shade to part…
Great Blue Lobelia
Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Description: Found along stream banks and pond edges, making large colonies where happy. Propagation: Seeds or divisions from the roots Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 24″ Spread: 18″ Family: Campanulaceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil moisture: Medium to…
Green-and-Gold
Green-and-Gold Chrysogonum virginianum Description: A splendid golden groundcover with attractive hairy leaves. Propagation: Division of the lax stems Initial bloom (month and week): May W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 6″ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral woods Soil moisture: Moist or dry Light: Shade to part shade…
Greenbrier
Greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia AR Plant Model Description: Stout, thorny, climbing shrub to 30’. Leaves leathery, round, shiny, basal leaves heart shaped. Found in dry woods and thickets. Thorny, not recommended for gardens, but found in woodlands. Propagation: Fruits Initial bloom (month and week): April W2 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Greenish…
Grey-headed Coneflower
Grey-headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Description: A prairie coneflower with a tall central disc Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 2-5′ Spread: 12″ Family: Adteraceae Soil type: Rich prairie or woods Soil moisture: Medium Light: Full sun Zone: 3-10
Hairy Beardtongue
Hairy Beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus Description: This short plant is great for rock gardens and borders. Propagation: Seeds and stem cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Lavender to white Height: 6-8″ Spread: 10″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Sun Zone: 3 –…
Halberd-leaf Yellow Violet
Halberd-leaf Yellow Violet Viola hastata AR Plant Model Description: Silvery markings on the arrowhead shaped leaves bring light to woodland banks. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): April W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 10″ Spread: 8″ Family: Violaceae Soil type: Strongly acidic Soil moisture: Dry to medium Light: Shade…
Heath Aster
Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides Description: This plant provides a dense groundcover with half inch white daises with golden centers. Its grows well in poor, dry soils in full sun and flowers in September. Propagation: Easy from seeds, or divisions in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): September W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of…
Hens and Chicks
Hens and Chicks Sempervivum calcareum Description: Long-lived succulents will multiply and live for years if dry enough. Individual crowns die after flowering. Propagation: Offsets may be pulled off and planted at any time Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 12″ Spread: 10″ Family: Crassulaceae…
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium fistulosum Description: This perennial grows from 5-12’ and features tiny, dusty pink flowers in huge scapes from July to September. Propagation: Divisions in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Dusty pink Height: 5-12′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil…