Anemonella/Rue-Anemone
Anemonella thalictroides
Ranunculaceae
NATIVE
Form: Upright, slightly spreading basal clumps
reach a height and spread of 6 to10 inches. This woodland native forms sheets
of bloom when allowed to naturalize.
Woodland
garden, naturalized areas
Jack-in-the-pulpit/Indian Turnip
Arisaema triphyllum
Araceae
NATIVE
Form: Sturdy, upright stem; slowly spreads from
tubers to form colonies; average height 12 inches; spread 24 inches.
Foliage: Two (sometimes three, and in immature plants,
one) compound leaves of three leaflets each; sometimes five, held away from the
plant at an angle. Leaflets are bright
green with no petiole (sessile), 6 inches long or more; elliptical, with veins
angled away from the midrib and stopping uniformly short of the leaf margin;
coarse or bold texture.
Flowers: Spadix (flower stem or “Jack”) is greenish,
mottled with purple, usually protruding beyond the spathe (hood or pulpit);
female flowers on lower portion and male flowers at the top. The spathe is like
a tube with an open collar connected to an old-fashioned hat, curving over the
spadix and ending in a pointed tip. The outside is green and the inside may be
striped or spotted with purple and green; May. Plants go dormant after
flowering
Seedheads: Fleshy red to orange berries appear in fall
from now-dormant tubers; not persistent
Culture: Part shade to shade, moist soils enriched
with humus or organic matter; native to and prefers woodland locations. Tolerant of drought (avoids hottest, driest
periods by going dormant) after flowering and fruiting. Not necessary to divide. The plant is filled with calcium oxalate
crystals, which will slice all soft tissues if eaten.
Uses: Naturalized woodlands, shade gardens, unusual
specimen.
Companions: woodland phlox, spring beauty, hostas, Virginia
Propagation: Division after flowering, although colonies
can (and should) remain undisturbed indefinitely for greatest garden
impact. Scatter fresh seed in fall
Star Astilbe
Astilbe simplicifolia
Saxifragaceae
Form: Low, broad-spreading mounds that tend to fill in and form a groundcover; foliage height 12 inches, spread 24 inchesFoliage: Very glossy deep, slightly olive green, margins with distinct reddish tinge, especially early in the season; simple or in groups of three; deeply cut and attractive through the season; fine texture
Flowers: White, star-like and tiny but very showy due to the numbers of them in vertical open panicles to a height of 15 inches; more dense in appearance than A. x arendsii; June
Seedheads: Persistent until fall; tan to pinkish and feathery
Culture: Part shade to shade; tolerates drier conditions than other astilbes but still prefers consistent average moisture and loamy soils enriched with organic matter. Inconsistent watering, drought, or exposure to drying winds will cause burning on leaf margins and may result in plant death. Divide in summer when flowering is reduced
Uses: Edger, groundcover under open or leggy shrubs or as texture contrast to large-leaved plants.
Companions: bergenia, hosta, false Solomon’s seal, brunnera, toad lily, lamium, ornamental sedges
Propagation: Division in spring or fall
Cultivars: `Sprite’ - foliage with a bronze cast, flowers pale or shell-pink, to 12 inches; seedheads also rust-colored
Other Species: A. x arendsiiA. tacquetiA. chinensis - ornamental, larger, no groundcover tendencies
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Dryopteraceae
Form: Small, elegant, upright fern; height and
spread 12 to 18 inches
Foliage: Spring emergence is a froth of curled
fiddleheads. Fronds are lacy in
appearance and bright green; narrower than they are long; doubly pinnate, with
deeply notched pinnule (the smallest, second pinnate segments of the
leaf). Fine texture
Flowers: None
Seedheads: Curved sori (fruit dots or clusters of
sporangia) on undersides of fronds, toward the base of the pinnule
Culture: Part shade (if protected from west sun) to
full shade; rich, loamy, consistently moist soils amended with organic matter
or humus. Transplant spring only
Uses: Specimen, mass, textural edger in woodland
garden.
Companions: hostas, epimedium, woodland phlox, bloodroot,
wild ginger
Propagation: Careful division in spring (make sure to keep
moist) or allow to increase from spores
Cultivars: ‘Lady
in Red’ - beautiful, striking red to wine-colored stems support the fronds,
which are more open than those of the species.
Japanese Painted Fern
Athyrium nipponicum `Pictum’
Dryopteraceae
Form: Broad and arching; a graceful fountain that
is often wider than it is tall; height 12 to 18
inches; spread to 24 inches
Foliage: Fronds broadly wedge-shaped, slightly weeping
or drooping, coarsely divided. Metallic
gray-green with reds, blues, and darker slate colors throughout foliage and a
burgundy center stalk.
Flowers: None
Seedheads: Curved sori, not persistent
Culture: Part shade (if protected from west sun) to
full shade; best colors occur with some direct light. Requires rich, loamy, consistently moist
soils amended with organic matter or humus.
Transplant spring only, taking large amounts of surrounding soil
Uses: Specimen, mass, texture and color
contrast.
Companions: Deep burgundy foliage of certain Heuchera
cultivars; blue or blue-gray hostas, `Sprite’ astilbe, European ginger
Propagation: Spring division
Cultivars: `Ghost’
- a hybrid, with silver-gray, almost metallic fronds and a deep
purple-black midrib. Very strong form
and growth rate. deeper red color
Spring Beauty
Claytonia virginica
Portulacaceae
NATIVE
Form: Small, decumbent plants form vast colonies
from corms where they are happy, which is sprinkled throughout the oak-hickory
and maple-linden forests of the upper Midwest and in similar environments in
the lower Midwest; height and spread of individual plants 6 inches.
Foliage: Two opposite stem leaves, 3 to 6 inches long
and about ½ inch wide, straplike, bright green, medium-fine texture. An
ephemeral plant, blooming and quickly going dormant before the leaves of the
overstory trees emerge
Flowers: Long racemes consisting of 10 to 15 flowers ½
inch wide arise directly from corms. The
overall appearance is of flowers floating above the humus-rich forest floor.
Flowers are white tinged with pink, five petals, veins slightly deeper
pink. April
Seedheads: Not persistent
Culture: Part to full shade and rich, well-drained
humusy loam in hilly wooded areas.
Consistent moisture is preferred over wet bottomlands and dry bluffs.
Allow to naturalize in areas where disturbance later in the season will be
minimized.
Uses: Woodland
garden, naturalized areas, early spring garden.
Companions: other woodland species, including dogtooth
violet, hepatica, and bloodroot; and shade plants such as ferns, hostas, and
corydalis
Propagation:
Division or terminal cuttings; also
spreads naturally by seed
Yellow Corydalis
Corydalis lutea
Fumariaceae
Form: Even rounded clumps reach a height and spread
of 12 to 15 inches.
Foliage: Blue-green, 2-3 times pinnately
compound. Each leaflet is lobed, up to 4
inches wide, almost fernlike in appearance.
Leaves and stems appear almost succulent but leaves are not thick; fine
texture
Flowers: Bright butter yellow in small axillary racemes
2 to 3 inches long on short stems.
Individual flowers are ½ inch
long, tubular or spurred with flared tips; extremely long bloom season,
beginning in May with respectable rebloom without deadheading throughout the
summer
Seedheads: Not effective, but seedlings are produced in
abundance
Culture: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained
soil. Protect from west exposure or open, windy sites. Will tolerate alkaline soil and grows easily
in cracks in shaded rock walls or stone patioes. May go dormant in very dry locations;
difficult to successfully transplant large plants because of the fleshy
roots. The parent plants may succumb to
winter conditions; seedlings will appear in unexpected places if the soil is
left undisturbed and no pre-emergent herbicide is applied.
Uses: Naturalizes in shade garden, edger, mass,
long bloom season, small cut flowers.
Companions: bergenia, snowdrops anemone, epimediums,
hostas, stokesia
Propagation: Seeds very readily, rapidly forming large,
uniform colonies
Other Species: C.
ochroleuca, white corydalis
- similar to yellow corydalis, with pure white flowers.
C. ‘Blackberry Wine’ - unusual, almost glowing lavender-purple flowers;
hardy and long-blooming but not as long as yellow corydalis. Not long-lived.
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
Fumariaceae
NATIVE
Form: Mounded clumps, to a height and spread of 12
inches in native woodland locations, which include sloping hillsides along the
Missouri River in the Northern Great Plains .
Foliage: Gray-green, each of the three lobes on the
compound leaves dissected many times.
Leaves may reach 4 to 6 inches in length and width; fine texture
Flowers: An arching raceme of white to cream-colored
flowers shaped like old-fashioned pants hung by the cuffs on a clothesline; 3
to15 per stem. The “legs” hold
nectar. Short bloom time, beginning in
early April to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to shade and consistently moist
soils enriched with humus or organic matter; prefers woodland conditions and
will go dormant if allowed to dry out. Starchy tubers are toxic, containing
alkaloids; protect from disturbance by small children or pets
Uses: Naturalized woodlands, shade gardens, cut
flowers.
Companions: European or wild ginger, hostas, brunnera,
shooting star, trout lily, violets, corydalis, jack-in-the-pulpit
Propagation: Division in fall, keeping tubers moist; root
cuttings, seed
Common Bleeding Heart
Dicentra spectabilis
Fumariaceae
Form: Broadly rounded plant with vase-shaped,
arching flower stems, to a height and spread of 24 to 30 inches. Common bleeding heart often goes dormant by
midsummer.
Foliage: Bright green, compound leaves with very wide
leaflets. Long petioles.
Flowers: Pink hearts, the outer lobes flared to reveal
the interior, white lobes. The hearts
dangle on arching stems
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to shade and moist, well-drained,
fertile soil will produce strong plants.
Dry, sunny conditions or intermittent moisture will lead to earlier
summer dormancy. Mark locations to avoid
digging into plants in spring. The roots
are thick and fleshy. Bleeding heart
will suffer from crown rot and root rot in depressed sites and heavy clay. Relocate very carefully in early spring only.
Uses: Cut flowers, spring garden, bold
texture.
Companions: variegated Solomon’s seal, hostas, Jacob’s
ladder, ferns
Propagation: Root cuttings or division
Cultivars: ‘Alba’ - pure white, very long-lasting as a
cut flower
‘Gold Heart’ - gold spring
foliage fading to chartreuse (a little garish unless placed with appropriate
companions)
Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora
Polypodiaceae
Form: Upright, arching, to a height and spread of
24 inches
Foliage: Deep olive green with rust or bronze
undersides and edges to pinnae, pinnae rounded; entire frond thick, strong, and
wider at base than at tip. Evergreen
Flowers: Not effective
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade, consistently moist soils
high in organic matter
Uses: Edger, border, woodland, winter interest
Propagation: Division
Epimedium/Barrenwort
Epimedium alpinum var. rubrum (E. x rubrum)
Berberidaceae
Form: Elegant, slowly spreading mounds, all stems
and leaves approximately the same height of 12 to 18 inches; spread 18 inches
Foliage: Basal mounds of flat, crisp-appearing leaves,
evergreen; compound in two groups of three; each leaf heart-shaped, the base
often irregular, up to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide; widely spaced,
small teeth; dark green. Emerging
foliage has a distinct wine-red margin, which persists until leaves are fully
extended; late fall color deep burgundy red and persistent; medium-fine
texture. Foliage is evergreen and
remains effective through winter
Flowers: Buds unfurl from the ground like a fern
fiddlehead opening to a compound raceme holding up to 20 individual flowers on
a wiry stem. Four slipper-shaped petals and eight sepals in two layers; inner
sepals dark crimson and showy; outer sepals gray-green and red-specked; look
like tiny columbine blooms. April to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Moist, fertile, well-drained loamy soil
enriched with organic matter in part to full shade; neutral to slightly
acidic. Will tolerate dry shade and
compete with tree roots once established but will not spread well; rather slow
to establish but worth it. Cut tattered
foliage to the ground in early spring to allow emerging flowers to show. Look for an explosion of epimediums in the
next few years as plant explorers bring back heretofore unknown plants from China
Uses: Specimen, edger, refined groundcover in small
spaces; cut flowers.
Companions: ornamental sedges, cranesbill, small hostas,
ferns, bergenia, astilbe, rock cress
Propagation:
Division in spring after flowering
Other Species: Epimedium
alpinum, alpine barrenwort - Dark crimson red inner sepals;
yellowish petals; leaves in two groups of three, very reliable groundcover.
Epimedium
x youngianum `Niveum,’ snowy epimedium - Pure white flowers over compound, serrate leaves
with nine leaflets; not evergreen. Slower growing and smaller.
Epimedium
x versicolor `Sulphureum,’ bicolor or sulphur epimedium - soft
yellow flowers; reliably evergreen and easy to establish in drier
conditions.
White Trout Lily
Erythronium albidum
Lilaceae
NATIVE
Form: Spreads by runners or stolons to create
extensive colonies, individual plants are 6 inches in height and spread. Plants go dormant in early summer.
Foliage: Two long, pointed, lanceolate leaves on
extended petioles; each leaf dark green, thick, heavily mottled with purple,
burgundy, or brown blotches, up to 8 inches long and less than 2 inches wide. Plants are not mature and will not flower
until two leaves appear, which can take up to 4 years. Medium-fine texture
Flowers: Single pure white flower on a leafless stalk;
three sepals and three petals up to 2 inches long; curved backward (reflexed)
as flowers mature; stamens bright yellow
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to shade; prefers drier, higher
woodland locations, often occurring along the edges of rock outcroppings in
rich soil; native to eastern Nebraska
Uses: Naturalized woodlands, shade gardens, cut
flowers.
Companions: Dutchmen’s breeches, bleeding heart, European
or wild ginger, spring beauty, shooting star
Propagation: Division, seed.
Other Species: E.
dens-canis - dogtooth violet. Also
native to Missouri River woodland edges
Round-lobed Liverleaf/Hepatica
Hepatica
americana
Ranunculaceae
NATIVE
Form: Small, open basal mound, to a height and
spread of 6 inches.
Foliage: Three-lobed, sometimes five, the tips of each
lobe somewhat pointed. The form of the
foliage looks like a giant clover leaf, with leaf size reaching 3 to 4 inches
on a long petiole. Surface is leathery, deep green and mottled; the winter
foliage and older leaves are often slightly purple. Semi-evergreen
Flowers: Apetalous (no petals), with rounded, showy
sepals in shades of pale lavender, blue, or pink spreading to 1 inch in
diameter; with bright yellow stamens. The buds and flowering stems emerge before
the foliage, and are covered with silky hairs.
March to April
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full shade in consistently moist soil
enriched with organic matter—woodland conditions, which are their native
habitat. Plant in large colonies, as
they are very slow to increase. Avoid
excessive competition during the year(s) of establishment, after which time
they will hold their own. Ignore the
tattered evergreen foliage that remains on the plant through the winter; it
will be replaced by new foliage after the plants bloom.
Uses: Early spring bloom, multi-season interest and
winter foliage, woodland garden.
Companions: spring beauty, dogtooth violet, Virginia
Propagation: Seed (very difficult), division
Other species: H. acutiloba - There are several other hepaticas found in the
eastern US, and cultivars are available.
Natural hybridization occurs between the various species.
Hosta
Hosta x
Liliaceae
Form: The ‘standard’ form for hostas is a
rounded mound of foliage, ranging in size from diminutive 4”-6” plants to
cultivars 5 feet across.
Foliage: Typically bold, each leaf being more
or less elliptic, ovate, or lanceolate with an entire and often wavy
margin. Distinct pairs of lateral veins give the blade tissue
texture. The petiole is winged, frequently longer than the leaves, and
distinctly furrowed or keeled like the prow of a boat. Colors range from
glaucous gray-blue to chartreuse to dark green, with variegation in darker
greens, cream or white, marginal, blotching, or striping. The latest
breeding includes plants such as ‘Red October,’ with a distinctly red petiole.
Flowers: White to lilac, funnelform,
diminutive or nondescript to 3 inches long and showy. Some are extremely
fragrant. They are borne in racemes, either tightly arranged or
scattered, and are either considered a prominent part of the plant or something
to be removed in favor of the foliage. The flowering stalk length varies
with the species or cultivar, as do the foliage and flowers; many varieties
hold the flowers distinctly upright above the basal leaves.
Culture: Hostas prefer part to moderate shade,
although some will tolerate sun if given good soil and moisture—particularly in
more northern zones. They are easy to divide; however, many gardeners
make the mistake of buying them too small (quarts) and/or dividing them too
frequently. Slugs, rabbits, voles, hosta virus X disease and various
crown rots can diminish a planting, as can hail storms. When old plants
get a dead, woody center, dig and divide the plant and reset in fertile
soil. They are propagated by tissue culture or spring division; some can
be produced by seed.
Uses: Use hostas as specimens, edgers,
under the canopy of trees (they are drought tolerant once established) in shade
gardens and naturalized areas. Unfortunately, they turn to mush after the
first freeze, and offer not even a speck of winter interest.
Companions:
Propagation: Division
Cultivars: There are too many hostas to learn or
own, even for the avid hostite. A few are included here.
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Boraginaceae
Form: Dense basal clumps, spreading by seed to form
large colonies, usually with some separation between individual plants; foliage
height and spread 24 inches
Foliage: Alternate, papery thin leaves like rounded
mouse ears emerge in spring, first as dark purple tips, then turning blue-green
and growing inches each day; ultimate size of leaves is 4 to 12 inches long and
3 to 4 inches wide. Smooth with entire
margins; very light green; almost translucent.
Foliage rapidly elongates and disintegrates in heat and sun; completely
dormant by early to mid-May; medium to medium-coarse texture
Flowers: Tubular, like a narrow bell on a handle, in
nodding racemes at the end of the stems; buds pink, turning blue; very showy;
flowering stems to 18 inches long; April to May
Culture: Light shade to shade; will tolerate full sun
but goes dormant earlier; also does well in the shade of deciduous trees with
open canopies. Consistently moist soils enriched with organic matter are
preferred, but it also succeeds in well-drained, light or slightly sandy soils
with adequate shade and moisture. Mark location;
root systems are dense enough to out-compete anything planted in the crowns;
plant around them with grasses or other vigorous plants with good foliage to
hide gaps left by summer dormancy.
Divide or relocate immediately after flowering
Uses: Naturalized plantings, woodland gardens, cut
flowers, rain gardens.
Companions: The whole plant has a pastel but bright
appearance; works well with purple foliage and yellow spring bulbs; ‘Husker
Red’ penstemon, purple coralbells, basket-of-gold, ornamental sedges, celandine
poppy, corydalis. Combine with plants
that will hide the bare spots left by the summer dormancy
Propagation: Division or seed; self-sows readily and
seedlings left in place reach blooming size by the third year
Cinnamon Fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
Dryopteraceae
Form: Large, upright, arching plant forming huge
colonies from massive dark rootstocks like tree stumps; the fern seen around
old farmsteads and often a “passalong” plant; height 36 inches, spread 36
inches or more
Foliage: Fertile structures that turn cinnamon brown
with maturity appear before sterile fronds, which arise from large fiddleheads;
arching, bright green, with fibers at base; may turn golden in moist summers
before going dormant in mid-autumn; in drought will become rough and brown in
August
Flowers: None
Seedheads: Sporangia, which appear on fertile
structures, have short, stout stalks
Culture: Part shade (protect from south and west sun)
to shade; consistent moisture, fertile; loamy soils enriched with organic
matter. Also tolerant of a surprising
range of soils, growing between pavement and walls, along edges of gravel
drives and alleys. Cut back in late fall
or early spring
Uses: Large groundcover in shade, texture, backdrop
for smaller plants.
Companions: Snowdrops and Japanese anemones, brunnera,
hostas, toad lily
Propagation: Spring division or use fresh spores
Woodland
Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Polemoniaceae
NATIVE
Form: Loose, open colonies of upright, unbranched
stems from slowly spreading rhizomes; height and spread 15 inches.
Foliage: Bright green leaves up to 2 inches long and
very narrow, opposite and sparsely spaced on stems. Leaves may be
clasping. Slightly pubescent;
medium-fine texture
Flowers: Fragrant, tubular with five lobes that do not
overlap, may be notched at the tip. ¾ inch to 1 inch across in loose clusters
or panicles at tops of stems; usually pale blue but may be darker or almost
white; April to May
Culture: Part shade and consistently moist soils
enriched with humus or organic matter; woodland conditions are best. Cut back after flowering if foliage becomes
tattered or covered with mildew or mites.
Allow to naturalize for most effective planting
Uses: Loose edger, woodland gardens, cutting
flowers, fragrance.
Companions: Jack-in-the-pulpit, celandine poppy, hostas,
corydalis, ferns, brunnera, foamflower
Propagation: Seed or division; shoot cuttings or root
cuttings for hybrids
Cultivars: ‘Louisiana Blue’ - large flowers, deeper
blue-purple colors
var. laphamiana
Other Species: P.
stolonifera, `Fuller’s White’ - pure white
cultivar
May-apple/Umbrella Plant
Podophyllum peltatum
Berberidaceae
NATIVE
Form: Colonies of “umbrellas” of uniform height to
12 inches. Although stems are widely spread, the leaves will cover the ground
in ideal conditions, spreading by rhizomes to 24 inches or more.
Foliage: Thick, rounded greenish-cream buds (the tightly
rolled leaves) emerge in spring, often in places not remembered from the
previous year. One or two leaf stalks appear, with 6 inch leaves divided into
coarsely toothed, palmate lobes like umbrellas held slightly sideways against
the wind. Olive-green and often dormant
by June; bold or coarse texture
Flowers: Solitary, nodding, waxy white petals
surrounding bright yellow stamens and single pistil; occurring only in the axil
between two leaves. This is a flower to
be discovered by the observant, since it is not obvious under the leaves; sweet
or too sweetly scented; May
Seedheads: Rounded, yellow-green berry 1 to 2 inches in
diameter, ripens in July, not persistent
Culture: Part shade to shade; consistently moist soil
enriched with organic matter, does best in woodland areas and competes well
with tree roots. Will go dormant in too much sun or dry conditions. Mark location; allow plants to spread
naturally for best appearance.
Uses: Groundcover in woodland gardens, naturalized
areas; herbal remedies.
Companions: ferns, large variegated hostas, astilbe,
bleeding heart, woodland natives
Propagation: Division after flowering; do not allow
rhizomes to dry out at any time
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria
canadensis
Papaveraceae
NATIVE
Form: Small, tight colonies of uniform height to 6
to 9 inches; spread 18 inches or more over time.
Foliage: Pinkish, rounded buds emerge in early spring,
opening into a rolled leaf that expands to 8 inches across. Lobed, reniform or kidney-shaped, dull green
to blue-green; held almost vertically; medium texture
Flowers: Single, hidden in furled leaf until the
leafless stalk elongates to reveal eight pure white petals and yellow stamens
up to 2 inches across. Flowers open flat
to the sun and close at night; new flowers continue to form for a month or so;
April to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to shade and consistently moist
soils enriched with humus, leaf mold, or organic matter; prefers woodland
conditions. Mark location; plant goes
dormant after flowering and colonies will have expanded by following spring.
Uses: Groundcover in woodland gardens, naturalized areas.
Companions: epimedium, Lenten rose, hostas, ferns, astilbe, brunnera, woodland phlox, columbine, any later blooming perennials that will cover gaps left by summer dormancy. The red juice in underground stems is poisonous but useful for dyes
Uses: Groundcover in woodland gardens, naturalized areas.
Companions: epimedium, Lenten rose, hostas, ferns, astilbe, brunnera, woodland phlox, columbine, any later blooming perennials that will cover gaps left by summer dormancy. The red juice in underground stems is poisonous but useful for dyes
Propagation: Division after flowering, seed
Cultivars: ‘Multiplex’ - Double, sterile, showy, long blooming
Starry Solomon’s Seal
Smilacina stellata
Liliaceae
Form: Rhizomatous habit, slowly forming graceful
open colonies of upright stems that arch; height and spread 18 inches
Foliage: Alternate, folded leaves like the keel of a
boat; up to 4 inches long and half as wide.
The bases clasp the stem and ends are sharply pointed. The entire stem
looks like an open, flat braid; dark green
Flowers: Creamy white, star-shaped flowers with 6
tepals in small terminal racemes, each flower ¼ inch across; quietly
interesting but not as showy as S. racemosa, false Solomon’s seal; April
to May
Seedheads: Small dark blue berries, soon taken by
animals
Culture: Part shade to shade and consistently moist
but well-drained, humusy or slightly sandy soil; neutral to acid; woodland
areas are best. Do not allow to dry
out. Occasionally troubled by leaf
blight, which is disfiguring but not fatal
Uses: Naturalized areas, woodland gardens,
architectural interest or form.
Companions: wild ginger, astilbe, cranesbills,
coralbells, hostas, columbine meadowrue, fall-blooming anemones
Propagation: Division after flowering
Other species: S. racemosa, false Solomon’s seal - native
Common Toad-lily
Tricyrtis hirta
Liliaceae (Convallariaceae)
Form: Broad clump of upright, arching stems; very
slow to establish since the plant does not spread by stolons but the clumps
gradually increase in width from fleshy rootstocks; height 24 to 30 inches,
spread to 24 inches
Foliage: Opposite, softly pubescent leaves up to 6
inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide clasp the stem. Leaves are set close together so the entire
plant appears full and thick; slightly wavy with pointed tips
Flowers: Unusual form and colors, with one to three
funnelform flowers on short pedicels appearing in each leaf axil and at the
stem ends. Flowers are 1 inch diameter
with 6 narrow, flared tepals; white or pale purple with purple spots and
blotches. The style is prominent on a raised structure, and the stamens are
purple, adding to the flower interest. September to October—sometimes too late
to avoid early frost.
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to almost full shade and
consistently moist soils enriched with organic matter or humus. Competes well with tree roots as long as
colonies are not allowed to dry out at any time. Favorite food of rabbits, even when well
established. Monitor slug damage. Handle
brittle roots carefully when planting or dividing
Uses: Woodland
garden, architectural specimen, interesting fall bloomer where the unusual
flowers can be seen up close.
Companions: moneywort, corydalis, small cranesbills,
monkshood, hostas, astilbe, Japanese painted fern, foamflower
Propagation: Division
Cultivars: `Miyazaki
‘White Towers
‘Variegata’ - beautiful pale
edge of gold along leaf margins
Other Species: T. formosana,
Formosa
Downy Blue Violet
Viola sororia
Violaceae
NATIVE
Form: Thick, uniform mounds or clumps from stout
rhizomes; no stems, with leaves growing from root crown to a height and spread
of 9 to 12 inches.
Foliage: Heart-shaped, up to 5 inches across with
toothed margins; early foliage smooth or pubescent; later foliage is pubescent.
Leaves larger after
flowering; begin small to 1 ½” wide and long
Flowers: Two types of flowers occur in violets. The showy ones that we call ‘violets’ are
chasmogamous: colorful, open, and able
to out-cross although they are infertile.
They occur on long stalks, 5 petals with lower 3 white at the base, lateral
bearded; lowest elongated into nectar spur. Colors range from purple-blue to
white to dotted, spotted and bicolors.
The others are cleistogamous; they look like small, swollen green buds
and have few if any recognizable petals.
They are self-pollinating within the closed calyx and usually occur late
in the season. Thus, one more way for
the production of a bajillion seeds…
Seedheads: Not ornamentally effective, but extremely
efficient at spreading into thin turf
Culture: Part to full shade and average to moist soils
will produce strong colonies of violets.
Once established, they are very difficult to eradicate or control. Move in spring after flowering, or in early
fall. Control of violets in unwanted
locations is best done in late fall.
Uses: Groundcover, naturalized woodlands, cut
flowers.
Companions: strong woodland species such as hostas,
variegated solomon’s seal, ferns
Propagation: Spreads by seed and rhizomes
Cultivars: ‘Freckles’ - dotted and spotted, interesting contrast.
‘Priceana’ - confederate
violet, has very white flowers with purplish-blue centers.
Other
Species: V. Canadensis
V.
pedatifida
V.
odorata
V.
pedata
V.
cucullaria
V.
culcullata
V.
x wittrockiana
V.
cornuta
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Apiaceae
NATIVE
Form: Upright, rather lax habit from basal foliage;
height in flower 36” to 48”; spread 24 inches.
Foliage: Large, dark green leaves, ternately or
biternately compound (divided into three’s, which are then divided again).
Leaves vary in form, often lanceolate to ovate, with serrate or doubly serrate
margins, and some leaves are lobed. Stem
foliage is smaller and lanceolate. Bold
texture
Flowers: Bright yellow, in a rounded, compound
umbel. Up to 20 flowers form the
umbel. Very showy when in bloom, because
of the size of the plant this early in the season. Late April to June
Seedheads: Not effective. Seeds are ribbed, not winged like other
Apiaceae members.
Culture: Part shade to shade along woodland edges in
consistently moist to wet soils, including those found in rain gardens and
drainageways. Extended drought, exposure
to drying winds and poor, infertile soils will shorten the life and reduce the
quality. Cut back after flowering to
reduce seed protection and freshen foliage
Uses: Woodland
edge, background, attractive to early pollinators, rain garden.
Companions: switchgrass, New England
asters, turtlehead, Culver’s root, great blue lobelia
Propagation: Division or seed
Other Species: Z.
aptera - more common in the Midwest
