Flowering Perennials
Bee Balm
Common Name: Bee Balm
Scientific Name: Monarda didyma
Sun: Full-Partial
Moisture: Average
Height: 3-4 feet
Notes: Edible leaves; flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds
Black Eyed Susan
Common Name: Black Eyed Susan
Scientific Name: Rudbeckia hirta
Sun: Full
Moisture: Average to Dry
Height: 2-3 feet
Notes: 2-4" flower heads with 10-20 bright yellow petals
Bloodroot
Common Name: Bloodroot
Scientific Name: Sanguinaria canadensis
Sun: Shade
Moisture: Average
Height: 6-10 inches
Notes: 2" white flowers with yellow centers; roots have red sap
Blue Cohosh
Common Name: Blue Cohosh
Scientific Name: Cauloph. thalictroides
Sun: Part Sun to Shade
Moisture: Average
Height: 1-2 feet
Notes: small yellow flowers, blue berries in grape-like clusters
Blue Phlox
Common Name: Blue Phlox
Scientific Name: Phlox divaracata
Sun: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average
Height: 10-20 inches
Notes: Covered with 1.5" lavender to pink flowers in spring
Blue Wood Violet
Common Name: Blue Wood Violet
Scientific Name: Viola papilionacea
Sun: Part Sun to Shade
Moisture: Average
Height: 6-10 inches
Notes: Purple violet blooms in spring; spreads readily
Brown Eyed Susan
Common Name: Brown Eyed Susan
Scientific Name: Rudbeckia triloba
Sun: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average
Height: 2-3 feet
Notes: Hundreds of small deep gold daisy-like flowers
Bugbane
Common Name: Bugbane
Scientific Name: Cimifuga racemosa
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 3-8 feet
Notes: Long slender candle-like clusters of white flowers
Butterfly Weed
Common Name: Butterfly Weed
Scientific Name: Asclepia tuberosa
Sun: full
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 2-3 feet
Notes: Brilliant orange flowers; butterfly host plant
Celadine Poppy
Common Name: Celadine Poppy
Scientific Name: Stylophorum diphyllum
Sun: shade
Moisture: average
Height: 18 inches
Notes: 2 inch wide lemon-yellow flowers
Common Milkweed
Common Name: Common Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepia syriaca
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 2-4 feet
Notes: Pink clusters of fragrant flowers; food of larval Monarch
Doll's Eyes
Common Name: Doll's Eyes
Scientific Name: Actea pachypoda
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 1-2.5 feet
Notes: Small bright white flowers; poisonous white berries
Dutchman's Breeches
Common Name: Dutchman's Breeches
Scientific Name: Dicentra cucullaria
Sun: shade
Moisture: average
Height: 1 foot
Notes: White & yellow flowers resemble a pair of pantaloons
Dwarf Crested Iris
Common Name: Dwarf Crested Iris
Scientific Name: Iris cristata
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 4-8 inches
Notes: Pale lavender-blue crested flowers April-May
Flowering Spurge
Common Name: Flowering Spurge
Scientific Name: Euphorbia corolatta
Sun: full
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 2-4 feet
Notes: "Baby's breath of the Prairie" blooms in August
Foam Flower
Common Name: Foam Flower
Scientific Name: Tiarella cordifolia
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 6-12 inches
Notes: Evergreen ground cover; feathery white flowers April-June
Ginger
Common Name: Ginger
Scientific Name: Asarum canadense
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 6 inches
Notes: Evergreen ground cover; glossy heart-shaped leaves
Goat's Beard
Common Name: Goat's Beard
Scientific Name: Aruncus dioicus
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 4-6 feet
Notes: 6-10 inch plumes of small cream-colored flowers
Great Blue Lobelia
Common Name: Great Blue Lobelia
Scientific Name: Lobelia siphilitica
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: wet
Height: 1-3 feet
Notes: Elongated cluster of pale to dark blue flowers late sum
Ironweed
Common Name: Ironweed
Scientific Name: Vernonia noveboracensis
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet
Height: 4-6 feet
Notes: Purple flowers attract butterflies in summer
Jack-In-The-Pulpit
Common Name: Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Scientific Name: Arisaema triphyllum
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 12+ inches
Notes: Spathe appears March-May; red berries late summer-fall
Jacob's Ladder
Common Name: Jacob's Ladder
Scientific Name: Polemonium reptans
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 1 foot
Notes: Terminal clusters of light blue, bell-shaped flowers April
Jerusalem Artichoke
Common Name: Jerusalem Artichoke
Scientific Name: Helianthus tuberosus
Sun: full to part shade
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 7 feet
Notes: Attracts butterflies
Joe-pye-weed
Common Name: Joe-Pye-Weed
Scientific Name: Eupatorium fistulosa
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 5-8 feet
Notes: Purplish-pink flowers explode attracting butterflies
Marsh Marigold
Common Name: Marsh Marigold
Scientific Name: Caltha palustris
Sun: full
Moisture: average
Height: 1-2 feet
Notes: 1-1.5 inch bright yellow flowers in spring & summer
New England Aster
Common Name: New England Aster
Scientific Name: Aster novae-angliae
Sun: full
Moisture: average
Height: 3-7 feet
Notes: Bright lavender flowers with yellow centers late summer-fall
Queen of the Prairie
Common Name: Queen of the Prairie
Scientific Name: Fillipendula rubra
Sun: full
Moisture: average
Height: 4-5 feet
Notes: Show-stopping large pink plumes in June-July
Sedum
Common Name: Sedum
Scientific Name: Sedum ternatum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 2-4 inches
Notes: Fleshy evergreen foliage; white star-like flowers spring
Shooting Star
Common Name: Shooting Star
Scientific Name: Dodecatheon meadia
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 1-2 feet
Notes: Delicate white/pink petals, red & yellow center
Solomon's Seal
Common Name: Solomon's Seal
Scientific Name: Polygonatum biflorum
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 18-30 inches
Notes: Small creamy white to green bells hang from leaf axis
Spiked Gayfeather
Common Name: Spiked Gayfeather
Scientific Name: Liatris spicata
Sun: full
Moisture: average
Height: 2-5 feet
Notes: Bright pinkish-purple stalks of interesting flowers August
St. John's Wort
Common Name: St. John's Wort
Scientific Name: Hypericum perforatum
Sun: full to shade
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 1-4 feet
Notes: 3 inches yellow flowers; dark green foliage (ground cover)
Sweetflag
Common Name: Sweetflag
Scientific Name: Acorus americanus
Sun: full
Moisture: wet
Height: 1-3 feet
Notes: This grass is a nice vertical long-leaf garden feature
Trillium
Common Name: Trillium
Scientific Name: Trillium
Sun: shade
Moisture: average
Height: 6-12 inches
Notes: White/pink flowers have 3 broad petals, spring bloom
Turtlehead
Common Name: Turtlehead
Scientific Name: Chelone glabra
Sun: full to part shade
Moisture: average
Height: 1-3 feet
Notes: White to pink 1-1.5inch flowers summer into fall
Virginia Blue Bells
Common Name: Virginia Blue Bells
Scientific Name: Mertensia virginica
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 12-24 inches
Notes: Pink flower buds open to sky blue March-April
White Boneset
Common Name: White Boneset
Scientific Name: Eupatorium perfoliatum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 2-4 feet
Notes: Flat-top clusters of small white flowers in fall
White False Indigo
Common Name: White False Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptesia lactea
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 3-5 feet
Notes: Vivid stalks of white flowers grow rapidly
White Yarrow
Common Name: White Yarrow
Scientific Name: Achillea millifolium
Sun: full
Moisture: dry
Height: 8 inches to 5 feet
Notes: 2-6 inch clusters of pink, white or yellow flowers June & September
Wild Columbine
Common Name: Wild Columbine
Scientific Name: Aquilegia canadensis
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 1-2.5 feet
Notes: Unique red & yellow flowers attract hummingbirds
Wild Geranium
Common Name: Wild Geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Sun: full to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 1-2 feet
Notes: 1 inch lavender-purple flowers in spring
Yellow Loosestrife
Common Name: Yellow Loosestrife
Scientific Name: lysmachia punctata
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 3 feet
Notes: Leaves & yellow star flowers in whorls up the stems June
Yellow Root
Common Name: Yellow Root
Scientific Name: Xanthorhiz. simplicissima
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 2 feet
Notes: Plum-colored flowers (spring); orange & purple fall color
Trees
American Hemlock
Common Name: American Hemlock
Scientific Name: Tsuga canadensis
Sun: Full to Shade
Moisture: Average
Height: 40-60 feet
Notes: Evergreen with pendulous look; intolerant of drought
American Holly
Common Name: American Holly
Scientific Name: Ilex opaca
Sun: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average to Dry
Height: 20-40 feet
Notes: To ensure fruit one male is needed per 2-3 females
American Hornbeam
Common Name: American Hornbeam
Scientific Name: Carpinus carolineana
Sun: Part Sun to Shade
Moisture: Wet to Average
Height: 20-30 feet
Notes: Good street tree; yellow, orange, scarlet fall color
Black Gum
Common Name: Black Gum
Scientific Name: Nyssa sylvatica
Sun: Full
Moisture: Average to Dry
Height: 30-60 feet
Notes: Scarlet red autumn color
Black Willow
Common Name: Black Willow
Scientific Name: Salix nigra
Sun: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average to Wet
Height: 50 feet and up
Notes: Host plant for butterflies
Eastern White Pine
Common Name: Eastern White Pine
Scientific Name: Pinus strobus
Sun: Full
Moisture: Average
Height: 50-80 feet
Notes: Bluish-green evergreen needles
Fringe Tree
Common Name: Fringe Tree
Scientific Name: Chionanthus virginicus
Sun: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average to Wet
Height: 15-20 feet
Notes: Wispy clusters of white flowers appear in late spring
Green Ash
Common Name: Green Ash
Scientific Name: Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 50-60 feet
Notes: Grows fast; yellow fall color
Ohio Buckeye
Common Name: Ohio Buckeye
Scientific Name: Aesculus glabra
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 30-50 feet
Notes: Yellow flowers; yellow/orange fall color; abundant nuts
Paw Paw
Common Name: Paw Paw
Scientific Name: Asimina triloba
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 40 feet
Notes: Unique fruit resembles & tastes like bananas
Pin Oak
Common Name: Pin Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus palustris
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 60-80 feet
Notes: Russett, bronze, red fall color
Redbud
Common Name: Redbud
Scientific Name: Cersis canadensis
Sun: full to shade
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 20 to 30 feet
Notes: In April clusters of rosy pink flowers line branches
River Birch
Common Name: River Birch
Scientific Name: Betula nigra
Sun: full
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 40-70 feet
Notes: Modest yellow fall color; seed attracts birds
Shadblow
Common Name: Shadblow
Scientific Name: Amelanchier canadensis
Sun: full
Moisture: dry
Height: 1-20 feet
Notes: White flowers bloom in early spring; edible fruit
Silver Maple
Common Name: Silver Maple
Scientific Name: Acer saccharinum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 60-75 feet
Notes: Lacy leaves with a white bloom on the underside
Sourwood
Common Name: Sourwood
Scientific Name: Oxyodendrum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 30 feet
Notes: Drooping fragrant white flowers; pink/red fall color
Spindletree
Common Name: Spindletree
Scientific Name: Euonymus atropurpureus
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 8-12 feet
Notes: Small purplish flowers become red fruit; red fall color
Sweetgum
Common Name: Sweetgum
Scientific Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Sun: full
Moisture: wet to average
Height: 60-85 feet
Notes: Brilliant scarlet-red, red-purple fall color
Tulip Poplar
Common Name: Tulip Poplar
Scientific Name: Liriodendron tulipfera
Sun: full
Moisture: average
Height: 70-90 feet
Notes: Large tulip-like flowers are yellow, green & orange
Yellowwood
Common Name: Yellowwood
Scientific Name: Cledrastris lutea
Sun: full
Moisture: average
Height: 30-50 feet
Notes: Clusters of fragrant white flowers; yellow fall color
Ferns
Christmas Fern
Common Name: Christmas Fern
Scientific Name: Polystickum acrostichoides
Sun: shade
Moisture: average
Height: 12-36 inches
Notes: Stiff deep green fronds are once-pinnate
Cinnamon Fern
Common Name: Cinnamon Fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda cinnamomea
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 24-48 inches
Notes: Circular cluster of arching fronds; brown fertile fronds
Goldie Fern
Common Name: Goldie Fern
Scientific Name: Dryopteris goldiana
Sun: shade
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 2-3 inches
Notes: Large, vigorous, attractive fern with bright green fronds
Lady Fern
Common Name: Lady Fern
Scientific Name: Athyrium felix-femina
Sun: shade
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 18-24 inches
Notes: Delicate & lacy arching fronds; dark red stems at maturity
Leatherwood Fern
Common Name: Leatherwood Fern
Scientific Name: Dryopteris marginalis
Sun: shade
Moisture: average
Height: 2-3 feet
Notes: Dark green leathery-looking evergreen fern
Maidenhair Fern
Common Name: Maidenhair Fern
Scientific Name: Adianthum pedatum
Sun: shade
Moisture: average
Height: 18-36 inches
Notes: Fan-shaped blue-green fronds; delicate black stems
Royal Fernee
Common Name: Royal Fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis
Sun: part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 2-6 feet
Notes: Bi-pinnate blade; pinnae resemble locust tree leaves
Sensitive Fern
Common Name: Sensitive Fern
Scientific Name: Onoclea sensibillis
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 12-24 inches
Notes: Deeply pinnate leaves; poisonous to livestock
Shrubs
American Cranberry
Common Name: American Cranberry
Scientific Name: Viburnum trilobum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to wet
Height: 8-12 feet
Notes: White flowers & edible, bright red fruit attracts birds
Bayberry
Common Name: Bayberry
Scientific Name: Myrica pennsylvanica
Sun: full
Moisture: dry to wet
Height: 5-8 feet
Notes: Semi-evergreen; transplants well
Black Chokeberry
Common Name: Black Chokeberry
Scientific Name: Aronia melanocarpus
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: dry to wet
Height: 3-5 feet
Notes: Dependable showy orange, burgundy, purple fall color
Blackhaw
Common Name: Blackhaw
Scientific Name: Viburnum prunifolium
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 8-15 feet
Notes: Creamy white flowers in spring
Buttonbush
Common Name: Buttonbush
Scientific Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet to average
Height: 3-8 feet
Notes: Golf-ball like flowers hang and attract butterflies
Clove Bush
Common Name: Clove Bush
Scientific Name: Ribes odoratum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average
Height: 6-12 feet
Notes: Yellow flowers with strong clove scent; birds eat berries
Elderberry
Common Name: Elderberry
Scientific Name: Sambucus canadensis
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet to average
Height: 5-10 feet
Notes: Pinnate leaves; blooms early summer
Maple Leaf Viburnum
Common Name: Maple Leaf Viburnum
Scientific Name: Viburnum acerifolium
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 6 feet
Notes: Pie-shaped clusters of white flowers; beautiful fall color
Nannyberry
Common Name: Nannyberry
Scientific Name: Viburnum lentago
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 18 feet
Notes: White flat-topped clusters up to 5" across in May
Northern Arrowwood
Common Name: Northern Arrowwood
Scientific Name: Viburnum dentatum
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: dry to average
Height: 5-9 feet
Notes: Flowers May-Jun; small blue-black berries in fall
Red Chokeberry
Common Name: Red Chokeberry
Scientific Name: Aronia arbutifolia
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet to dry
Height: 5-10 feet
Notes: Brilliant red fruit; striking scarlet to orange fall color
Spicebush
Common Name: Spicebush
Scientific Name: Lindera benzoin
Sun: part sun to shade
Moisture: wet to average
Height: 8-15 feet
Notes: Yellow blooms in early spring
Sweet Pepperbush
Common Name: Sweet Pepperbush
Scientific Name: Clethra alnifolia
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet to average
Height: 2-4 feet
Notes: Ivory white fragrant blooms in summer
Sweet Shrub
Common Name: Sweet Shrub
Scientific Name: Calycanthus floridus
Sun: full to shade
Moisture: average
Height: 6-10 feet
Notes: Interesting red or maroon strawberry-scented flowers
Sweetspire
Common Name: Sweetspire
Scientific Name: Itea virginica
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet to dry
Height: 3-6 feet
Notes: White blooms in early summer; red & orange fall color
Wild Hydrangea
Common Name: Wild Hydrangea
Scientific Name: Hydrangea arborescens
Sun: part sun to full
Moisture: average
Height: 36 inches to 5 feet
Notes: Large clusters of creamy white flowers bloom in June
Winterberry
Common Name: Winterberry
Scientific Name: Ilex verticillata
Sun: full to part sun
Moisture: wet to average
Height: 6-10 feet
Notes: Greenish-white flowers bloom in early spring
Witch Hazel
Common Name: Witch Hazel
Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginica
Sun: full to shade
Moisture: average to dry
Height: 8-20 feet
Notes: Golden yellow flowers in fall