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

Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot

Where can you find Bloodroot? In Ohio: Throughout given woodlands with rich soils. At HF&G: Cleveland Botanical Garden, Western Reserve Herb Society Herb Garden, medicinal and dye, also in Woodland... 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

Ionactis linariifolius

Ionactis linariifolius (stiff aster)

Stiff aster is an excellent, long-blooming, compact aster ideal for rock gardens or the front of the border and look great massed in groups. Ionactis linariifolius is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun.  The rather distinctive linear leaves are narrow and almost needle-like.  Small... more

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ (coral bells)

 This cultivar is a clump-forming perennial featuring a mound of maple-shaped basal leaves which are an attractive deep purple above and red beneath. Tiny, pinkish white, bell-shaped flowers adorn dark red stems extending well above... 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

Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’

Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’ (tall tickseed)

Although a shorter version of the straight species, at nearly 6 feet tall, ‘Gold Standard’ is still a large and lofty plant with strong stems and upright blue-green foliage that yield a bounty of bright... 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

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

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 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

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

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

Phlox divaricata 'May Breeze' 

Woodland phlox

This plant feature oodles of white flowers in May that appear to float above narrow, pointed leaves which die back after blooming. In summer, new growth spreads along low stems and more rounded, dark green foliage appears. Plants will self-sow and create great drifts that blend well with other woodland native in... 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

Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' 

Swamp milkweed ‘Ice Ballet’ 

A white flowering version of swamp milkweed, it is easily grown in medium to wet soils in full sun but is also tolerant of average well-drained soils in cultivation.  ‘Ice Ballet’ is a compact, white-flowered form... more

Syringa vulgaris

Common lilac

Native to the Balkans in southeastern Europe, Syringa vulgaris (common lilac) is a member of the olive family (Oleaceae), which also includes Fraxinus (ash), Chionanthus (fringe tree), Ligustrum (privet), and... 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