Polemonium repens (Native Jacob's Ladder)
Lovely foliage and dainty clusters of true blue blossoms. A compact plant in comparison to the garden center hybrids, and tough as nails, a long-lived perennial unlike most hybrid varieties.
Partial sun and any rich, moist, well draining soil.
Wildlife benefits: HIGH VALUE to Native Bees and Pollinators for it's abundant pollen and nectar. Also a nectar source for Butterflies, Skippers and Moths.
Gallon pot $15.00.
Trillium luteum
Unique yellow bloom, but the real "Wow" is the foliage, in my opinion.
Trillium luteum is very easy to grow in a garden setting. Also a great clumper over time.
Likes a rich, humus soil with ample moisture, but also great drainage.
Wildlife benefits: Birds and many small mammals will eat the fruit. Pollen source for Native Bees and Pollinators.
5 Pint pot $15.00
Waldsteinia fragarioides (Barren Strawberry)
Beautiful evergreen, native groundcover that will grow in the dry shade with ease!
Pretty little yellow buttercup blooms in spring and handsome evergreen foliage all year long.
Wildlife benefits: Early pollen source for Native Bees. Evergreen cover.
Gallon Pot $15.00
Trillium grandiflorum
*Listed as Exploitably Vulnerable in NY State
One of the more common Trillium, but also one of the showiest, and easiest to grow.
This Trillium is a great clumper, forming many stems/blooms off the same rhizome over the years and self-sowing readily.
Loose humus soil with good drainage, and partial shade. (Again....some "Cool" sun in the morning and early evening will produce stronger plants than full shade.)
Wildlife benefits: Birds and many small mammals will eat the fruit. Pollen source for Native Bees and Pollinators.
5 pint Pot $15.00
Viola triloba
Really neat foliage on this native Violet, and quite variable in form. Typical purple colored bloom.
Has the tendency to self sow a bit, forming a nice little patch in no time!
Likes draining soil with an even amount of moisture.
Wildlife benefits: Larval host plant for many Fritillary Butterfly species...(Great Spangled Fritillary, Meadow Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, Diana, Atlantis Fritillary, & Silver-bordered Fritillary.)
*Violas have very high wildlife value! They are larval host plants for over 27 Lepidoptera Butterfly species!
4" pot $10.00
Petasites frigidus var. palmata (Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot)
*ENDANGERED IN NY STATE
A NATIVE Petasites! Big luscious leaves, bizarre bloom, and typical Petasites habit of scooting around. Likes a moist, acidic soil and full to partial shade.
Wildlife benefits: The early spring blooms are covered in Native Bees and Pollinators. Host plant to the Alaskan Swallowtail Butterfly.
Gallon pot $15.00
c. Dawn Foglia
Thalictrum pubescens (Tall late Meadow Rue)
A tall Summer blooming Meadow Rue.
Great for height in the woodland garden.
And larval host for several moth species
Gallon Pot 15.00
Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple)
Inspiring when planted in sweeps or natural groupings, Mayapple will eventually form large colonies.
Here they are shown with Trillium grandiflorum, Mertensia (Virginia Blue Bells), and Tiarella cordifolia, or native Foam Flower.
A nice loose, rich, well draining soil is best, in partial shade.
Wildlife benefits: Larval host plant for the Variegated Fritillary. Pollen source for Bees and Pollinators. Large leaves offer cover for many woodland creatures. Robins and many small mammals eat the fruit. Supports 4 Lepidoptera Butterfly species.
Gallon pot $15.00.
Thalictrum dioicum (Early Meadow Rue)
A low growing Thalictrum, never getting taller than 1' here in the gardens, and looking perfect throughout the growing season with mounds of elegantly cut foliage. In Spring it will be topped with delicate, Baby's-breath like blooms. Likes good drainage.
Wildlife Benefits: Larval host plant for several Moth species. Excellent cover for many small creatures like frogs, toads, salamanders and small birds.
Gallon Pot 15.00
Tiarella cordifolia
A groundcover with foliage as spectacular as the flowers. White tapered bottlebrush blooms with maple-like leaves that look great through the entire growing season!
Slightly acidic and evenly moist soil with good drainage.
Hardy to zone 4.
Wildlife benefits: Early nectar source for Native Bees. Provides dense cover for small woodland creatures. Host plant for the Common Buckeye Butterfly and the Phaon Crescent Butterfly.
Gallon pot $15.00
Trillium erectum red
*Listed as Exploitably Vulnerable in NY State.
Trilliums are the crown jewels in any woodland garden.
Trillium erectum, (or "stinkin' Benjamin"), is one of our local natives, getting quite large, (about 1 foot tall and leaves reaching about 6" across, each.)
Contrary to popular belief, they are not hard to grow, as long as their soil is rich, loose, and well draining.
Partial sun will make a stronger plant than full shade.
Wildlife benefits: Birds and many small mammals will eat the fruit. Pollen source for Native Bees and Pollinators.
5 Pint pot $15.00
Viola sororia "Magenta"
An heirloom Violet with an abundance of dark pink blooms. Prolific bloomer!
Hardy to zone 4.
Wildlife benefits: Larval host plant for many Fritillary Butterfly species....(Great Spangled Fritillary, Meadow Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, Diana, Atlantis fritillary, & Silver-Bordered Fritillary.)
*Violas have very high wildlife value! They are larval host plants for over 27 Lepidoptera Butterfly species!
4" Pot $10.00
Polygonatum commutatum (GIANT Solomon's seal)
(One of our gallon pots getting loaded to go to market, and not even a mature plant yet.)
This architecturally impressive native really can get up to 6 feet in the garden under optimum conditions.
Likes very well draining soil, and just a bit of sun.
Hardy to zone 4.
Wildlife Benefits: Nectar source for Hummingbirds. Pollen and nectar source for many Bees, including Bumbles, Halictid and Anthophorid. Many Woodland Birds enjoy the ripe berries.
Gallon Pot $20.00
Polystichum acrostichoides (Deer Fern or Christmas Fern)
Evergreen and well behaved! This low growing fern is a great addition to any woodland garden with its glossy dark green fronds and dense, compact habit.
Easy in shade and any well draining soil.
Wildlife Benefits: Cover for small woodland creatures.
Gallon Pot $15.00
Pachysandra procumbens (NATIVE Pachysandra)
Why would anyone grow that Asian stuff when you can grow this fabulous native, instead? EVERGREEN, and the cold actually brings on this beautiful chocolate/silver patterning to the leaves. Springtime it will produce white bottlebrush blooms. Slow moving groundcover.
Shade to partial sun and any moist, well draining soil.
Wildlife benefits: Woodland pollinators appreciate the very early spring blooms. Superb year round cover for many.
Gallon pot $15.00
Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox)
Fragrant blooms in the perfect shade of blue. A reliable, tough as nails staple in any native shade garden!
Likes any soil in partial shade.
Wildlife benefits: Important as an early nectar source for Hummingbirds and Butterflies, Moths, Native Bees and many other pollinators. Supports 8 Lepidoptera Butterfly species.
Gallon Pot $15.00
Uvularia perfoliata (Merry Bells)
The sweetest dangling yellow bells on stiff upright stems, that will colonize quite well in a neutral to limey, well draining soil.
Wildlife benefits: An early pollen source for Native Bees. Larval host plant for Lepidoptera Butterfly species.
5 Pint Pot $10.00
Viola pubescens (Wild Yellow Violet)
Unusual color for a Violet, these cheery yellow blooms that light up the woodland garden. Also pretty well-behaved for a Viola, as they don't seem to do a lot of self-sowing here in our gardens., but they do form nice beefy clumps in a few years.
Likes rich, moist, well draining soil and partial shade.
Wildlife benefits: Larval host plant for many Fritillary Butterfly species....(Great Spangled Fritillary, Meadow Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, Diana, Atlantis fritillary, & Silver-Bordered Fritillary.)
*Violas have very high wildlife value! They are larval host plants for over 27 Lepidoptera Butterfly species!
4" Pot 10.00
This unique little treasure is technically a "sub shrub", as it is woody, even at a diminutive 8"-10".
A Groundcover not at all fussy about soil and tolerant of most any lighting.
Seeds are a food for wildlife.
Gallon Pot $15.00
Xanthorhiza simplicissima (Yellowroot)
Trillium cuneatum (Toadshade)
One of the most spectacular foliage Trillium!
A very easy Trillium to grow in partial shade and a nice rich, loose soil that is moist with good drainage. Will clump up nicely and also self-sows well.
Wildlife benefits: Larval host plant for 3 Lepidoptera Butterfly species. Cover for many woodland creatures.
5 Pint pot $15.00
Pedicularis canadensis (Lousewort)
A little known woodlander that has always been one of my favorites.
Lush mounds of fern-like foliage with many yellow/amber blossoms bobbing above.
Wildlife Benefits: Bumbles & Mason Bees love the flowers.
Larval host for the Brow & The Orange Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly.
1 Gallon Pot $15.00
Veratrum viride (Corn Lily or False Hellebore)
Spring Ephemeral that shoots up fast to a beefy tall foliage show, later to be topped by "corn tassel-like" blooms.
Must have moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil in partial shade.
Wildlife Benefits: Cover for small creatures.
5 Pint Pot $15.00
Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)
Every Native Woodland Garden must have a good stand of Bloodroot!
One of the most welcome sights of Spring is the tightly clasped leaf, topped by pristine white buds ready to burst, (followed by very unique and attractive leaves!)
Typical humus soil with good drainage and full to partial shade.
Wildlife benefits: Important early nectar source for Native Bees and Pollinators. Valuable cover for many small woodland creatures and birds. Larval host plant for 2 Lepidoptera Butterfly species.
Pint pot $10.00
Viola sororia "Freckles"
Who doesn't love the cheery spring blooms of Violets? Purple specks and splashes of dark purple on white petals, make this an intersesting and unique Viola.
Partial shade and any soil. EASY!
Hardy to zone 4.
Wildlife benefits: Larval host plant for many Fritillary Butterfly species....(Great Spangled Fritillary, Meadow Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, Diana, Atlantis fritillary, & Silver-Bordered Fritillary.)
*Violas have very high wildlife value! They are larval host plants for over 27 Lepidoptera Butterfly species!
4" Pot $10.00
WildThings Rescue Nursery Native Plants with purpose
Pyrola elliptica (Shinleaf)
Great little groundcover for a very acidic, moist, shady and well draining site.
Whorls of semi-evergreen, rounded leaves and the sweetest white blossoms rise up in late spring.
Likes an acidic, moist, but well draining soil in full to partial shade.
Wildlife benefits: Important early nectar and pollen source for native bees and pollinators. Supports 2 Lepidoptera Butterfly species as a larval host plant.
4" pot $8.00
Prenanthes alba (White Lettuce)
A late summer bloomer with tall bloom stalks (about 3' to 4' here in the gardens)
Likes a moist soil and dappled shade.
Wildlife Benefits: Important late season nectar source for bumbles & butterflies.
Gallon Pot $15.00
Woodland Plants Page 3 (P-Z)
Phlox stolonifera
Lovely native groundcover, evergreen, extremely drought tolerant and looks great with everything else in the shade beds! Never crowds out other plants due to its shallow root system, as long as they are more than 4" tall (Taller than the phlox).
Shade to partial sun and a very well draining soil.
Wildlife benefits: Important early source of nectar for butterflies, Hummingbirds and Native Bees. Supports 8 Lepidoptera Butterfly species.
5" Pots $12.00