Virginia Bluebells

Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica AR Plant Model Description: An upright, 1-2’ tall plant that blooms with blue, trumpet-shaped flowers in the spring. Propagation: Easy from seeds, or split the large fleshy roots in spring Initial bloom (month and week): April W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 1-2′ Spread: 1-2′ Family:…

White Trillium

White Trillium Trillium grandiflorum   AR Plant Model Description: Native to rich woodlands and has an unbranched stem and a leaf whorl where a single white flower emerges in April. White flowers age to pink. Pink and double forms have been reported but are rare in the wild. They are available in the nursery trade. Don’t…

Whorled Tickseed

Whorled Tickseed Coreopsis verticillata   Description: Fine foliage and flowers all summer makes this a great plant for dry, sunny slopes. Also known as threadleaf coreopsis. Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 1-2′ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Sandy neutral…

Wild Blue Phlox

Wild Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata   AR Plant Model Description: Carpets road edges with a blue haze in spring Propagation: Seeds, or divide whole plants in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): April W2 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 12″ Spread: 12″ Family: Polemoniaceae Soil type: Rich neutral woods…

Wild Columbine

Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Description: A drooping bell wildflower that blooms during the spring. Quite attractive to hummingbirds. Propagation: Easy from seed, but will germinate more uniformly if given three weeks of chilling. Initial bloom (month and week): April W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Red and yellow Height: 18-24″ Spread: 10-18″…

Wild Geranium

Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum   AR Plant Model Description: A clump-forming woodland plant that has pink, saucer-shaped flowers that bloom in the spring. Its tissues can be used to produce an astringent that stops bleeding of wounds. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of…

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger Asarum canadense   AR Plant Model Description: A low-growing plant with large, kidney-shaped leaves and inconspicuous maroon flowers below. Although it is not related to culinary ginger, its roots produce a similar smell and Native Americans used them to season food. Propagation: Seeds or division of the rhizomes in fall Initial bloom (month…

Wild Hyacinth

Wild Hyacinth Camassia scilloides   Description: Attractive to many pollinators, spikes of flowers in spring Propagation: Prolific from seeds, easy to divide the fibrous roots Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Rain Garden Color of flower: White Height: 1-2′ Spread: 12″ Family: Asparagaceae Soil type: Moist acid loam Soil moisture: Moist to…

Wild Pink

Wild Pink Silene caroliniana   Description: Semi-evergreen leaves and early spring flowers on this barrens plant Propagation: Seeds or cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): April W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 12″ Spread: 10″ Family: Caryophyllaceae  Soil type: Sandy shale Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 4 – 8

Wood Poppy

Wood Poppy Stylophorum diphyllum   AR Plant Model Description: Bright yellow flowers bloom in the spring. Its yellow sap was used by Native Americans to produce dyes. Propagation: Seeds (fresh, do not dry store) Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 12″ Spread: 12″ Family:…

Woodland Stonecrop

Woodland Stonecrop Sedum ternatum   Description: A tiny sedum for shade with starry flowers . Propagation: Seeds, or divide whole plants in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): May W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 6″ Spread: 24″ Family: Crassulaceae Soil type: Neutral woods Soil moisture: Moist or dry…

Yellow Trillium

Yellow Trillium Trillium luteum   Description: A southern species with mottled leaves, also found in Michigan Propagation: Seeds, divisions in spring or fall Initial bloom (month and week): April W2 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Melanthiaceae Soil type: Rich woods Soil moisture: Medium moist Light: Shade…

Yellow Trout Lily

Yellow Trout Lily Erythronium americanum Description: A shy bloomer, the trout lily has more flowers in sunnier locations. Some gardeners feel that the bulbs sink in a natural process, and planting on a small flat rock will prevent this and result in more blooms. The leaves are beautifully mottled with brown spots, resembling the pattern…