Plants
For Acidic Soil
Rhododendron calendulaceum
Flame azalea
Where can you find this plant? In Ohio: Only in unglaciated southeastern parts on rock outcrops. At HF&G: Holden Arboretum, Wildflower Garden, Rhododendron and Discovery Gardens. Bloom time: May-June, usually... more
Physostegia virginiana
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant)
Physostegia virginiana is a robust perennial wildflower with bold lance shaped leaves. In late summer and early fall, foliage is topped by lavender, pinkish or white spikey inflorescences. The individual florets are... more
Penstemon digitalis
Penstemon digitalis (foxglove beardtongue)
Penstemon digitalis is an upright, clump forming perennial wildflower featuring deep green leaves on strong upright stems. In summer, plants are topped by showy tubular snapdragon-like white flowers which are frequently visited by pollinators. It flourishes in sunny sites with wet or moist... 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
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
Rhododendron ’Joseph Hill’
Evergreen azalea ’Joseph Hill’
Polly Hill was an exceptional plantswoman from Martha’s Vineyard. Many of Polly’s azaleas are interspecific hybrids involving an incredibly compact azalea from Taiwan called Rhododendron nakaharae. ‘Joseph Hill’ is a trailing, red-flowered evergreen shrub that makes an excellent... more
Rhododendron ‘Bowie’
Lepidote rhododendron
‘Bowie’, pronounced like “buoy”, is an intraspecific hybrid, scaly-leaved rhododendron, meaning it is the result of crossing the Appalachian native Rhododendron minus with the Florida Panhandle endemic Rhododendron minus var. chapmanii. Flip the leaves over and you’ll see tiny scales across the surface. A good... more
Rhododendron austrinum
Deciduous azalea
Rhododendron austrinum, the Florida flame azalea, is a deciduous azalea that produces clusters of yellow to orange, sweetly fragrant flowers in May. Though native to the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southeastern Mississippi, Rhododendron austrinum has proven... more
Camassia scilloides
Wild hyacinth
This flood plain and moist prairie plant is a member of the lily family and is characterized by small bulbs, like those of a small tulip in size and shape. Light blue-violet flowers begin to bloom in late May and progress from the bottom toward... more
Fothergilla
Fothergilla
Fothergilla is a charming shrub native to the southeastern United States. The name of the genus, which has also become the common name, honors John Fothergill (1712-1780), a Quaker physician... more
Erica and Calluna
Heath and Heather
Erica and Calluna are charming shrubs in the heath family (Ericaceae). They are native to the moors, mountains and woods of Europe, Africa and western Asia. Heaths (Erica) contain more... more
Evergreen azalea
Rhododendron ‘Hino-Red’ is named after a city near Tokyo. It is classified in the Kurume group of evergreen azaleas, which in Northeast Ohio are semi-evergreen. These azaleas perform best in... more
Hydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf hydrangea
This outstanding shrub is native to the southeastern U.S. where it inhabits moist wooded slopes, ravines, and the banks of streams. Hydrangea quercifolia is one of two hydrangeas native to... more
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
In the Arthur S. Holden Sr. Hedge Garden is the spectacular new magnolia named ‘Daybreak.’ It bears large fragrant pastel pink flowers from the end of April until the third... more
Rhexia virginica
Meadow beauty
Peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons more
