Ratibida pinnata

Ratibida pinnata (grayheaded coneflower)

Ratibida pinnata is a tall, slender perennial that is found in dry woods and prairies.  It does best in full to partial sun with medium soil moisture requirements.  Ratibida pinnata has a yellow composite flower that... 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

Lobelia siphilitica

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)

Lobelia siphilitica is a clump forming perennial that thrives in a moist location.  It adapts well to different light conditions like sun or shade as long as it has consistent moisture.  The tubular blue flowers start to bloom in July and continue into September.  Hummingbirds are enticed by these flowers. ... more

Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’

Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ (blue flag iris)

Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ is a great choice for the edge of a pond or along a stream bank.  In early spring deep purple foliage emerges.  As the plants begin to mature the foliage... more

Helianthus helianthoides (ox-eye daisy, false sunflower)

Ox-eye daisy is an upright, clump-forming, sunflower-like perennial that persists in the garden when it can seed in freely.  Daisy-like flowers bloom in summer, with yellow-orange rays surrounding brownish-yellow center cones appear. Plants in the genus Heliopsis are both similar in appearance to and closely related... 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

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

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

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

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

Evergreen azalea ‘Compacta’

A long name for a short plant. The Korean azalea, Rhododendron yedoense, is one of the main sources of cold hardiness for the evergreen azaleas grown in our area. ‘Compacta’ is a dwarf selection of the otherwise large-growing species. Lavender flowers are produced... more

Rhododendron ‘Komo Kulshan’

Evergreen azalea ‘Komo Kulshan’

A favorite of the staff at the David G. Leach Research Station. This cultivar, and another offered this year (‘Mangetsu’), is often attributed to a Japanese species called the Kyushu azalea, Rhododendron kiusianum. But azaleas... more

Polygonatum pubescens

Hairy Solomon’s seal

This Solomon’s seal prefers partial sun to medium shade, moist conditions, and organic soils.  It is a wonderful spring blooming plant with white tubular flowers gracing arching stems.  Flowers give way to large blue fruit... more

Polygonatum biflorum

Great Solomon’s seal

Great Solomon’s Seal has long, arching stems that dangle cream-colored flowers in early spring. It spreads slowly by rhizomes in optimal conditions. Large purple seeds and golden leaves add interest in fall.  Great Solomon’s seal can grow in full sun if provided adequate... more

Phlox paniculata 'Laura'

Garden phlox

This garden phlox cultivar is easy to grow and purportedly mildew resistant, preferring full sun and moist, humus-rich soil. The dense flowers of phlox ‘Laura’ are deep lavender purple with a white eye and appear in later summer and will last until early fall.   ... more

Paeonia ITOH 'Canary Brilliants'

Peony ‘Canary Brilliants’

A showy mid- to late season bloomer with lush green foliage that produces long, sturdy stems of semi-double to fully double blooms with a light, spicy fragrance. Flower color ranges... more

Lilium canadense

Canada lily

The flowers of this species are large orange-red trumpets that hang facing downward.  There are one to five flowers at the top of the plant with petals that curve backward, but not as far... more

Baptisia australis 

Blue false indigo

The perennial features bluish purple, pea-like flowers which appear in late spring. The flowers appear to sit atop a mound of bluish green foliage. It is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun and is exceptionally drought tolerant once established. Blue false... more

Arisaema dracontium

Green dragon

Arisaema dracontium is similar to Jack-in-the pulpit, except green dragon usually has only one large, compound leaf divided into 7-15 lance-shaped leaflets.  In addition, the spadix is green and lacks the distinctive purple striping of Jack. ... more