Chelone glabra ‘Black Ace’

Chelone glabra ‘Black Ace’ (turtlehead)

A cultivar of our native white turtlehead (see Chelone glabra above), ‘Black Ace’s’ distinguishing feature is its dark ebony-green foliage that appears in spring and provides a striking contrast the white snapdragon-like flowers of late summer. ‘Black... more

Asclepias verticillata

Asclepias verticillata (whorled milkweed) 

One of the most charming species of milkweed, A. verticillata’s finely textured needle-thin leaves whorl around its stem towards clusters of dainty white fragrant flowers that bloom between June and September. Both drought and deer resistant, “Whorled” milkweed... more

Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella’

Asclepias incarnata ’Cinderella’ (swamp milkweed) 

‘Cinderella’ features clusters of 2 in. wide vanilla-scented flower heads. Individual flowers within each cluster boast deep pink reflexed petals and a pink to white crown. This selection of swamp milkweed is easily grown in medium to wet soils... more

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ (big bluestem)

This bluestem cultivar is a tall, perennial, warm season grass. It is a great ornamental selection due to its attractive foliage which changes color seasonally, good architectural height and interesting flower/seed heads. Blackhawks’ is an exciting new cultivar grown... more

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ (woodland sage)

Woodland sage, is an erect, many-branched, woody-based, clump-forming perennial. It is native to Europe and west-central Asia.  It features lavender to violet blue flowers with tiny reddish-purple bracts and blooms from June to September. Flowers are attractive... more

Kirengeshoma palmata

Kirengeshoma palmata (yellow wax bells)

Yellow wax bells is a large shade-loving herbaceous perennial native to mountainous areas of Japan and Korea. It offers a shrub-like habit, coarse texture, and pale-yellow flowers from late summer to early fall. This elegant plant in the... more

Indigofera heterantha

Indigofera heterantha (Himalayan indigo)

This shrub in the pea family is native to Himalaya as well as Afghanistan and Tibet. It is suited to a wide range of soil conditions but prefers slightly moist, well-drained soil.  Grows in full to part... more

Geranium sanguineum v. striatum

Geranium sanguineum v. striatum (bloody cranesbill)

Bloody cranesbill is an herbaceous, clump-forming perennial that typically grows in a mound with white-hairy trailing stems which spread over time to as much as 24” wide.  While it is native to Europe and Asia, it... more

Fothergilla ‘Mt. Airy’ (dwarf fothergilla)

Dwarf fothergilla is a deciduous shrub with great fall color and fragrant flowers. It prefers acidic soils with high organic matter that are consistently moist but with good drainage. Flowers best in full sun... more

Deutzia ‘Nikko Blush’

Deutzia ‘Nikko Blush’ (deutzia)

This new hybrid from the National Arboretum welcomes spring with a profusion of soft pink blooms. It has a compact, low-growing form perfect for a foundation planting or low hedge. Deciduous green... more

Callicarpa b. ‘Profusion’

Callicarpa b. ‘Profusion’ (beautyberry)

Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ features an outstanding display of violet-purple fruits in fall. Forms a vigorous bushy shrub with small lavender flowers in July and August.  New leaf growth has a bronze tinge. Easily grown in sun or... more

Bergenia ‘Winterglut’

Bergenia ‘Winterglut’ (pigsqueak)

Pig squeak, named because of the noise produced by rubbing a leaf between thumb and finger, is a clump-forming perennial which is primarily grown as a ground cover and features large rosettes... more

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Japanese painted fern)

One of the easiest and most rewarding hardy ferns, this selection performs well in any rich, evenly moist soil. It forms a compact clump of fronds, dark green in colour, overlaid in olive and silvery-pewter, with contrasting... more

Athyrium otophorum

Athyrium otophorum (eared lady fern)

Athyrium otophorum, commonly called eared lady fern, is a deciduous, Asian woodland species which typically grows to 18″ tall and features erect, triangular, dusky green fronds with dark burgundy stems. Young pale green fronds emerge throughout the growing... more

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’ (astilbe)

 Plants are characterized by graceful, fern-like mounds of mostly basal leaves.  Plumes of snow white, feathery flowers create a very showy landscape accent in moist areas in a shaded to dappled shade setting. ‘Deutschland’, a hybrid cultivar of Japanese... more

Acanthus spinosus

Acanthus spinosus (bear’s breeches)

Acanthus spinosus has shiny dark green leaves which are deeply dissected and tipped with spines (hence deer resistant). The handsome foliage adds great coarse texture to a partial shaded garden. Features pure white, snapdragon-like flowers surrounded by contrasting spiny purple bracts that last all season. Large flower spikes... more

Zizia aurea

Golden Alexander

Golden Alexander is a member of the carrot family and is easy to grow. Although short-lived, it will self-seed and adapt to a variety of soil and light conditions. It has persisted in the Wildflower Garden in full shade for many years but is much... more

Vaccinium macrocarpon

Large cranberry

Large cranberry is a creeping shrub with small alternate oval leaves.  The delicate pink to white flower petals recurve to form a Turk’s cap and bloom in mid to late... more

Thelypteris palustris

Marsh fern

This perennial fern has upright compound leaves whose leaflets are often slightly curved and twisted. The root system is rhizomatous and fibrous and can form dense colonies and performs as a wonderfully as a ground cover. Marsh fern... more

Tiarella 'Brandywine'

Foamflower

Foamflower is a vigorous running ground cover, sometimes with red speckled foliage and plenty of white flower spikes.  This plant will create a wonderful blanket quickly when given moist soil high in organic... more

Stylophorum diphyllum

Wood poppy

Also known as celandine poppy, in the spring, this plant yields mounds of bright yellow flowers in the woodland.  All your neighbors will ask ‘What’s that beautiful yellow flower?”.  A small pair of leaves... more

Stewartia koreana ‘Milk and Honey’

Korean stewartia

Stewartias are prized garden plants across the world. White, camellia-like summer flowers. Exceptional fall color. Fascinating bark. A small tree for all seasons.  Bark should be more subtle than ‘Ballet’ but fine nonetheless. Grown in... more

Stewartia pseudocamellia ‘Ballet’

Japanese stewartia

Stewartias are prized garden plants across the world. White, camellia-like summer flowers. Exceptional fall color. Fascinating bark. A small tree for all seasons. Grown in full sun they stay squat. In shade... more

Sedum ternatum 'Larinem Park' 

Wild stonecrop

A sedum for shade!  Yup, this Sedum is a beautiful low-growing groundcover for the shady garden, covered with flowers in masses of small white stars in the early spring.  This plant usually grows... more