Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping

Native Plants for
Wildlife Habitat and
Conservation Landscaping
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Acknowledgments
Contributors: Printing was made possible through the generous funding from Adkins Arboretum;
Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management; Chesapeake
Bay Trust; Irvine Natural Science Center; Maryland Native Plant Society; National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation; The Nature Conservancy, Maryland-DC Chapter; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resource Conservation Service, Cape May Plant Materials Center; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Chesapeake Bay Field Office.
Reviewers: species included in this guide were reviewed by the following authorities regarding native
range, appropriateness for use in individual states, and availability in the nursery trade:
Rodney Bartgis, The Nature Conservancy, West Virginia.
Ashton Berdine, The Nature Conservancy, West Virginia.
Chris Firestone, Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Chris Frye, State Botanist, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Mike Hollins, Sylva Native Nursery & Seed Co.
William A. McAvoy, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Delaware Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control.
Mary Pat Rowan, Landscape Architect, Maryland Native Plant Society.
Rod Simmons, Maryland Native Plant Society.
Alison Sterling, Wildlife Resources Section, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
Troy Weldy, Associate Botanist, New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation.
Graphic Design and Layout: Laurie Hewitt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field
Office.
Special thanks to: Volunteer Carole Jelich; Christopher F. Miller, Regional Plant Materials Specialist,
Natural Resource Conservation Service; and R. Harrison Weigand, Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Division for assistance throughout this project.
Citation: Slattery, Britt E., Kathryn Reshetiloff, and Susan M. Zwicker. 2003. Native Plants for Wildlife
Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD. 82 pp.
2003

1
Table of Contents
Introduction
Beneﬁts of Conservation Landscaping................................................................................... 3
Why Use Native Plants........................................................................................................... 4
Conservation Landscaping Elements..................................................................................... 4
How to Choose Plants............................................................................................................ 6
Where to Find Native Plants................................................................................................... 6
How To Use This Guide
Plant Names and Types ......................................................................................................... 7
Characteristics........................................................................................................................ 7
Growth Conditions.................................................................................................................. 8
Habitat .................................................................................................................................... 9
Native To (Where to Use) ....................................................................................................... 9
Wildlife Value........................................................................................................................ 10
Notes .................................................................................................................................... 10
Plant Information Pages
Ferns .....................................................................................................................................11
Grasses & Grasslike Plants.................................................................................................. 14
Herbaceous Plants ............................................................................................................... 18
Herbaceous Emergents........................................................................................................ 41
Shrubs .................................................................................................................................. 45
Trees..................................................................................................................................... 54
Vines..................................................................................................................................... 64
Plants with a Purpose
Plants for Coastal Dunes...................................................................................................... 66
Plants for Saltwater or Brackish Water Marshes .................................................................. 66
Plants for Freshwater Wetlands and Other Wet Sites .......................................................... 67
Plants Appropriate for Bogs or Bog Gardens ..................................................................... 68
Plants for Dry Meadows ....................................................................................................... 68
Plants for Wet Meadows....................................................................................................... 69
Plants for Forest or Woodland Plantings.............................................................................. 69
Solutions for Slopes.............................................................................................................. 71
Evergreens ........................................................................................................................... 72
Plants to Use as Groundcovers............................................................................................ 72
Plants for Spring and Fall Color............................................................................................ 72
Deer Resistant Plants .......................................................................................................... 73
Photo Credits ...................................................................................................................... 74
References ........................................................................................................................... 75
Index ....................................................................................................................................... 79

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To the Reader
The use of native plants in landscaping and of course habitat restoration is certainly not new.
In fact, their use has grown exponentially in recent years. Natural resources professionals in
turn have been flooded with requests for information on native plants to use in various types of
planting projects. Communities, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, watershed groups,
local governments, state and federal agencies and many others are enhancing and restoring
habitat, solving ecological problems, reducing maintenance, or just beautifying surroundings,
all using locally native plants. Natural resources professionals, in turn, have been flooded with
requests for information on native plants to use in various types of planting projects. There are
many excellent resources available on native plants - some more technical than others, some
more comprehensive than others. The frustration voiced most frequently by users is the lack of
color photographs of the plants. After all, it is the striking visual quality of these plants that is their
best “selling point.”
This publication includes those pictures as well as user-friendly information on native species
appropriate for planting in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and adjacent coastal regions.
Although one guide cannot furnish the answers to every question, we have included as much
useful information as possible in a limited space. Although the large number of species of
plants included here may overwhelm some readers, this guide displays the great diversity of
plants available. We hope you will bypass the over-used, non-native and sometimes invasive
ornamental plants, and select the equally and often more attractive native plants. Pour through
this guide the same way you look through nursery catalogs. Use it to plan and design your next
planting, whether it’s a small corner of your front yard, a two-acre meadow seeding, or 100 acres
of wetland restoration.

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Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and
Conservation Landscaping:
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Introduction
“Conservation landscaping” refers to landscaping with specific goals of reducing pollution and
improving the local environment. In the Chesapeake Bay watershed (the land that drains to the
Bay and its many tributaries), this style of landscaping is sometimes called “BayScaping,” or
beneficial landscaping.
Conservation landscaping provides habitat for local and migratory animals, conserves native
plants and improves water quality. Landowners also benefit as this type of landscaping reduces
the time and expense of mowing, watering, fertilizing and treating lawn and garden areas, and
offers greater visual interest than lawn. Beneficial landscaping can also be used to address areas
with problems such as erosion, poor soils, steep slopes, or poor drainage.
One of the simplest ways to begin is by replacing lawn areas with locally native trees, shrubs and
perennial plants. The structure, leaves, flowers, seeds, berries and other fruits of these plants
provide food and shelter for a variety of birds and other wildlife. The roots of these larger plants
are also deeper than that of typical lawn grass, and so they are better at holding soil and capturing
rainwater.
Benefits of conservation landscaping
Americans manage approximately more than 30 million acres of lawn. We spend $750 million
per year on grass seed. In managing our yards and gardens, we tend to over-apply products,
using 100 million tons of fertilizer and more than 80 million pounds of pesticides annually. The
average homeowner spends 40 hours per year behind a power mower, using a quart of gas per
hour. Grass clippings consume 25 to 40% of landfill space during a growing season. Per hour of
operation, small gas-powered engines used for yard care emit more hydrocarbon than a typical
auto (mowers 10 times as much, string trimmers 21 times, blowers 34 times). A yard with 10,000
square feet of turf requires 10,000 gallons of water per summer to stay green; 30% of water
consumed on the East Coast goes to watering lawns.
The practices described in this guide reduce the amount of intervention necessary to have
attractive and functional landscaping. Conventional lawn and garden care contributes to pollution
of our air and water and uses up non-renewable resources such as fuel and water. Many typical
landscapes receive high inputs of chemicals, fertilizers, water and time, and require a lot of
energy (human as well as gas-powered) to maintain. The effects of lawn and landscaping on the
environment can be reduced if properties are properly managed by using organic alternatives
applied correctly, decreasing the area requiring gas-powered tools, using native species that
can be sustained with little watering and care, and using a different approach to maintenance
practices.
With conservation landscaping, there is often less maintenance over the long term, while still
presenting a “maintained” appearance. Conservation landscapes, like any new landscape, will
require some upkeep, but these alternative measures are usually less costly and less harmful
to the environment. New plants need watering and monitoring during the first season until they
become established. Disturbed soil is prone to invasion by weeds - requiring manual removal
(pulling) instead of chemical application. Over time, desired plants spread to fill gaps and
natural cycles help with pest control. Garden maintenance is reduced to only minimal seasonal
cleanup and occasional weeding or plant management. The savings realized by using little or
no chemicals, and less water and gas, can more than make up for initial costs of installing the
landscaping. Redefining landscaping goals overall and gradually shifting to using native species
provide even greater rewards in terms of environmental quality, landscape sustainability, improved
aesthetics, cost savings, and bringing wildlife to the property.

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Why use native plants?
Native plants naturally occur in the region in which they evolved. While non-native plants might
provide some of the above benefits, native plants have many additional advantages. Because
native plants are adapted to local soils and climate conditions, they generally require less watering
and fertilizing than non-natives. Natives are often more resistant to insects and disease as well,
and so are less likely to need pesticides. Wildlife evolved with plants; therefore, they use native
plant communities for food, cover and rearing young. Using native plants helps preserve the
balance and beauty of natural ecosystems.
This guide provides information about native plants that can be used for landscaping projects as
well as large-scale habitat restoration. All of the plants presented are native to the designated
areas, however not all of the native species for that area have been included. Rather, plants have
been included because they have both ornamental and wildlife value, and are generally available
for sale. This guide covers the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed, including south central New
York; most of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia; the District of Columbia; Delaware, west of
Delaware Bay; and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
The region’s wildlife, plants, habitats and network of streams and rivers leading to the Bay are
tremendous resources. As the human population throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed
grows and land-use pressures intensify, it is increasingly important to protect our remaining
natural areas and wildlife, and restore and create habitat. By working together, these treasures
can be conserved for future generations. Individual projects are great, collective measures are
even better, yet every action helps no matter what size.
Conservation landscaping elements
We can incorporate elements of natural systems into the existing areas where we live, work,
learn, shop and play. Landscaping provides valuable opportunities to reduce the effects of the
built environment. These areas can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Use of native
species will make your garden or landscaping more environmentally beneficial. By combining
plant selection with some of the other concepts below, you can achieve more environmental
benefits.
Reduce disturbance. Carefully decide where new development will occur to avoid destruction of
existing habitat as much as possible. Take advantage of the site’s existing natural features.
Reduce lawn or high maintenance areas. Replace turf or ornamental plantings by adding new
landscaping beds and/or enlarge existing ones with native plants.
Think big, but start small. Draw up a plan for your entire yard but choose one small area for
your first effort. Trial and error with the first project will help you learn without being overwhelmed.
Phase in the whole project over time.
Use native plants. Start by using natives to replace dead or dying non-native plants, or as a
substitute for invasive non-natives in existing gardens or landscaping. Plan to use native plants in
new landscaping projects.
Avoid invasive species. Non-native plants can be invasive. They have few or no naturally
occurring measures to control them, such as insects or competitors. Invasive plants can spread
rapidly and smother or out-compete native vegetation. Invasive, non-native plants are not effective
in providing quality habitat. A copy of the publication “Plant Invaders of Mid Atlantic Natural Areas”
can be downloaded from www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/index.htm.
Improve water quality. Native species planted on slopes, along water bodies and along drainage
ditches help prevent erosion and pollution by stabilizing the soil and slowing the flow of rainwater
runoff. To collect and filter runoff, depressions can be created and planted with native plants suited
to temporary wet conditions. These “rain gardens” will capture water and hold it temporarily for a
In certain conditions, some native plants can
also become aggressive spreaders, though
their spread is more limited by natural controls
than non-native aggressors. Plants that seed
readily (such as black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia
species), or that spread by lateral roots (such
as mint family plants Monarda or Physostegia
species) should be used sparingly or controlled
in gardens. Certain native species that are
difficult to control or show up uninvited should
not be planted, such as cattail (Typha species).

5
day or two and remove pollutants washing off of the surrounding land.
Enhance and create wildlife habitat. An animal’s habitat is the area where it finds food, water,
shelter, and breeding or nesting space, in a particular arrangement. If we want our gardens to
have the greatest ecological value for wildlife, we need to mimic natural plant groupings and
incorporate features that provide as many habitat features as possible.
Plants are one of the most important features of an animal’s habitat, because they often provide
most, or even all of the animal’s habitat needs. Animals in turn help plants to reproduce through
dispersal of pollen, fruits or seeds. Consequently, plants and animals are interdependent and
certain plants and animals are often found together. So, it is important that plants be selected,
grouped, and planted in a way that is ecologically appropriate.
Each plant prefers or tolerates a range of soil, sunlight, moisture, temperature and other
conditions, as well as a variety of other factors including disturbance by natural events, animals
or human activities. Plants sharing similar requirements are likely to be found together in plant
communities that make up different habitat types - particular groupings of plant communities
commonly recognized as wetlands, meadows, forests, etc. Some plants may tolerate a wider
range of conditions than others, and therefore can be found at more than one type of site, in
association with a different set of plants at each. By matching plants with similar soil, sunlight,
moisture and other requirements, and planting them to the existing site conditions, the planted
landscapes will do a good job of approximating a natural habitat.
Instead of isolated plantings, such as a tree in the middle of lawn, group trees, shrubs and
perennials to create layers of vegetation. A forest has, for example, a canopy layer (tallest trees),
understory layers (various heights of trees and shrubs beneath the canopy) and a ground layer or
forest floor. These layers provide the structure and variety needed for shelter, breeding or nesting
space for a diversity of wildlife.
To provide food and cover for wildife year-round, include a variety of plants that produce seeds,
nuts, berries or other fruits, or nectar; use evergreens as well as deciduous plants (those that
lose their leaves); and allow stems and seedheads of flowers and grasses to remain standing
throughout fall and winter.
All animals need water year-round to survive. Even a small dish of water, changed daily to prevent
mosquito growth, will provide for some birds and butterflies. Puddles, pools or a small pond can
be a home for amphibians and aquatic insects. A larger pond can provide for waterfowl, such
as ducks and geese, and wading birds such as herons. Running or circulating water will attract
wildlife, stay cleaner and prevent mosquitoes.
Rock walls or piles, stacked wood, or brush piles provide homes for insects, certain birds and
small mammals. Fallen logs and leaf litter provide moist places for salamanders, and the many
organisms that recycle such organic matter, contributing nutrients to the soil. Standing dead tree
trunks benefit cavity-nesting wildlife such as woodpeckers.
Consider naturalistic planting, or habitat restoration. It may be feasible to create a more
natural landscape instead of a formal one. Naturalistic landscaping uses patterns found in nature,
and allows some nature-driven changes to occur. Plants multiply, and succession or gradual
replacement of species may take place, with less human intervention. A property located near
natural areas, such as forests, wetlands and meadows, is a good candidate for a habitat project.
Expand existing forest by planting trees and shrubs along the woods line, using native species
that grow in the area, and allow birds and wind to bring the understory plants over time. Wet sites,
areas with clay soils, or drainage ditches can be converted to wetlands. An open piece of ground
or lawn can be planted as a meadow or grassland. Schools, homes, small businesses, large
corporate sites, municipalities, military installations, recreational areas and other public lands can
all include habitat plantings.

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How to choose plants
Finding ready information about what plants “go together” for habitat restoration, enhancement,
or creation projects is difficult. Often, the professional will examine a nearby natural area and try
to mimic the combination of plant species found there. That may not be possible for individuals
unfamiliar with natural areas. Fortunately, by following some simple guidelines, you will have
garden spaces that grow well on your site and mirror the plant communities found naturally in
your area. The plant lists found at the end of this guide will also help give you a start at planting
appropriate groupings.
 Know your site and plant to the existing site conditions. Check the sun exposure, soil
moisture and soil type where you plan to plant, and choose plants that will grow and thrive
in those conditions. For a few dollars your state or local cooperative extension office can
analyze a small soil sample you send them (for contact information, see your government
listings in the phone book). The results will include soil type (sand, clay, loam, etc.), pH and
fertility status and recommendations for amending the soil to make it into “average garden
soil.” However, by selecting native species that thrive in the existing conditions, you won’t
need to add soil, fertilizer, lime or compost. There are a wide variety of plants that will thrive
in most conditions, even the driest, poorest soil or very wet clay soil. If, however, the soil
test shows extreme pH - very acidic (pH of less than 5) or very basic (pH 8 or above), your
plant choices will be fairly limited. In that case, you might choose to follow the instructions for
making the soil more neutral. If the soil is hard, compacted fill dirt, you might want to improve
it by adding organic matter and work the ground so that it can more easily be planted. If you
alter the site, then select plants suited to the new conditions.
 Choose plants native to your region of your state. Along with planting to the existing
site conditions, use locally native plants. Use the map on page 9 to identify which physio-
geographic region the planting site lies in. If you’re close to a border dividing two regions,
you may choose plants from either or both regions.
 Choose a habitat type. Try to create or emulate a specific habitat, like woods, wetland
or meadow, and choose plants that are appropriate to both your site and the habitat. Look
through this guide and mark the plants with growth requirements that match conditions at the
planting site. This will help improve the success of your planting, the habitat value, and the
ecological functioning of the project. This publication will eventually be made available online,
in a format that can be electronically sorted by plant characteristics or growth conditions.
Where to find native plants
Most nurseries carry some native plants, and some nurseries specialize and carry a greater
selection. As the demand for native plants has grown, so has the supply at nurseries. Some plants
will be more readily available than others. Here, we’ve focused on species most appropriate for
planting and available through the nursery trade. A limited number of species included here are
not commonly available but are able to be nursery grown. Take this guide along with you when
you visit nurseries and if you need help, ask for nursery staff familiar with native plants. If you see
a plant you like, check to see if it’s included in the guide for your state and physiographic region.
For those species that are more difficult to find, the hope and intention is that this publication will
spark a demand, and hence a greater supply. If you have a favorite plant that you can’t obtain, be
sure to ask your local nursery to consider adding it to their stock. A list of some of the many retail
and wholesale native plant nurseries in the Chesapeake Bay region is available from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office at www.fws.gov/r5cbfo/bayscapes.htm.
For the greatest ecological value, select the “true” native species, especially if planting for wildlife
benefit. There are cultivated varieties (cultivars) available for many native plants. These are
named using the scientific name (Latin genus and species, such as Rudbeckia fulgida) plus the
cultivar name, a third word in single quotation marks (such as Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’).
These varieties have been grown to provide plants with certain physical characteristics, perhaps
a different flower color, different foliage or a compact shape or size. Although these are suitable
for gardening use, use true species (not cultivars) if you are planning a habitat project to provide

7
food for wildlife. These plants are most suited to use by the native wildlife, and will increase your
chances of attracting them.
Native plants should never be removed from the wild unless an area is about to be developed.
Even then, it is difficult to transplant wild-collected plants and to duplicate their soil and other
growth requirements in a home garden. Plants that are grown from seed or cuttings by nurseries
have a much greater tolerance for garden conditions. Help to preserve natural areas by
purchasing plants that have been grown, not collected.
Ask nurseries about the source of the native species sold. Did they come from seed or cuttings
of plants found growing locally, or are they from another region? Ideally, the plants you use
should come from stock from the same region, say, within about a 200-mile radius in the same
physiographic province (coastal plain, Piedmont, or mountain). Differences exist from region to
region even in the same plant species, due to differences in climactic conditions between distant
locations. For example, a plant grown in Maine may flower at a different time than the same
species grown in Maryland. They may have slight physical differences. These characteristics
make a difference in designing gardens and they matter to wildlife seeking food sources. The
more consumers ask for locally grown plants or seed, the more likely it is that nurseries will carry
local stock.
Once you begin to explore and experiment with native plants, you’ll soon discover that many
of these plants go beyond just replacing worn out selections in your yard. Native plants will
eventually reduce your labor and maintenance costs while inviting wildlife to your yard helping to
create your own sense of place.
How to use this guide
Plant Names and Types
Plants are organized within each section alphabetically by scientific name. All scientific plant
names used are based on names accepted by ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information
System. Plants are indexed at the back of the book by scientific as well as frequently used
common names. Scientific names are changed periodically as new information is gathered; for
those commonly recognized names that changed during development of this guide, the new
names are used here, with a cross reference noted in the index. For example: Aster divaricatus is
now Eurybia divaricata, so the plant is listed in the index under both Aster and Eurybia.
Plants are grouped by botanical categories: Ferns; Grasses & Grasslike Plants (includes grasses
and plants with long slender leaves that may appear similar to a grass); Herbaceous Plants
(includes flowers and groundcovers); Herbaceous Emergents (plants that grow in moist to wet
soils, wetlands or in standing water with roots and part of their stems below water but with most of
the plant above the water); Shrubs; Trees; and Vines.
A note about groundcovers: English ivy, periwinkle, creeping lily turf and Japanese pachysandra
are some commonly used groundcovers, particularly for shade. However, these species are non-
natives that are invasive in the landscape, so they should be avoided. What native alternatives
can be used instead? A groundcover can be any plant that would physically cover or hide the
bare ground from view. For the purposes of environmentally beneficial landscaping and habitat
enhancement, any plant in the “herbaceous”category would make a good groundcover. For those
gardeners and landscapers still seeking a low-growing, creeping, spreading, or clump-forming
plant for a groundcover, these plants are marked with a symbol in the Notes column and a list
is included at the end of the guide.
Characteristics
 Height and/or Spread The typical mature height or possible range of heights is given in
feet, to the nearest half (0.5) foot. Height may vary depending on conditions (e.g., amount
of moisture or sun). For trees and vines, spread is also given in feet. For trees, spread is the
measurement of the crown of the plant; for vines, spread is the length a vine will grow along
a surface.

8
 Flowers: bloom period and flower color The typical months in which the plant blooms are
given. The exact time and duration of bloom may be shifted by days or weeks for different
areas and/or depending on seasonal weather conditions and climactic trends. The basic,
overall color of the flower is noted. The color of a flower’s center or throat may not be
included due to limited text space. For simplicity, some shades or tones of colors have been
grouped, e.g. lavender, pale purple, bluish purple, even fuchsia may have been listed simply
as purple; tan, brown, dark brown are all listed as brown; yellows and pinks may be similarly
condensed.
 Fruit: fruiting period, color and type This information is provided for plants with more
conspicuous fruits or visually interesting seeds. Terms used include: Achene, a dry flat seed
such as in clematis; Berry, which includes small single berries such as blueberry, larger
berries such as persimmon, aggregates such as blackberry and hips such as a rose hip;
Capsule, including various types and sizes of dry fruits with two or more compartments
containing seeds, such as iris, sweet pepperbush, hibiscus, or black-eyed Susan; Cone/
cone-like such as pines, hemlock, or alder; fleshy pomes or drupes such as hawthorn, beach
plum, paw paw, passion flower, or cherry; Nut/nut-like, as in acorns (oaks) or hickory; Pod,
which may include pea-like legumes such as partridge pea or wild senna, follicles or other
long pod-like capsules such as milkweeds, delphinium, or trumpet creeper; and Winged,
such as the samaras of maples or elm.
 Fall Color The color listed indicates the fall color of the leaves, or of the stems for certain
plants such as grasses. Some color shades have been grouped by the basic color, as for
flower color. Evergreens, species that retain their leaves throughout the winter (in all plant
categories), are designated with a symbol in the Notes column. Evergreens are popular for
various landscaping uses and valuable for year-round cover for wildlife.
Growth Conditions
 Light The amount of sunlight a plant requires is defined as: Full Sun , the site is in direct
sunlight for at least six hours a day during the growing season; Partial shade , the site
receives approximately three to six hours of direct sunlight; and Shade , the site receives
less than three hours of direct sunlight or filtered light.
 Moisture The amount of soil moisture a plant requires is defined as: Dry (D), areas where
water does not remain after a rain (areas may be in full sun or in a windy location, on a steep
slope, or have sandy soil); Moist (M), areas where the soil is damp, and may be occasionally
saturated; and Wet (W), areas where the soil is saturated for much of the growing season,
except in droughts. Many of the plants designated for wet areas tolerate specific ranges of
water depths (see Flood Depth). Plants with the Dry designation can be considered drought
tolerant.
 Soil pH and Type Many of the native plants listed will tolerate a range of soil types. Soil
types are listed here as Organic (O), containing a high amount of organic material such as
decayed leaves and bark; Clay or fine-textured (C) soils with a high clay content and some
silt - very fine soil particles; Loamy or medium-textured (L) soils that contain a mix of mostly
silt and sand but may contain some clay; and Sandy or coarse-textured (S) soils with larger
particles. Soil information has necessarily been simplified for this guide, and lumped into
these main categories, which will suffice for the novice. Soils in actuality are often a mixture
or gradations of types, categorized by the percentages they contain of clay, silt or sand, for
example clay loam (a certain mix of clay and sand); sandy clay; silt loam; or silty clay loam.
For best results, select plants suited to existing site conditions rather than amending the soil.
However, be aware that plant selection may be limited if your site has very sandy soil, heavy
clay, compacted soil, or extreme soil pH (above 8 or below 5.5). In these cases, seek advice
from a nurseryman, horticulturist, botanist, Cooperative Extension agent, or other expert.
 Flood Depth Some plants tolerate prolonged standing water, and occur in specific
water depths or range of depths. In the Herbaceous Emergents section, the depth of
water tolerated is indicated (in inches). Other types of wetland plants that can tolerate
only intermittent flooding appear in other sections of the guide, and their flood tolerance

9
information is included in the Notes column. For more complete information on planning and
planting wetlands, see the references listed at the end of this guide.
 Salt Tolerance Some plants that tolerate prolonged standing water can tolerate saltwater
or brackish (partly salty) water. For plants in the Herbaceous Emergents section, the salinity
range in which each of these plants will grow is given in parts (of salt) per thousand parts (of
water) or ppt, from 0 ppt (fresh water) to the maximum salinity tolerated. For plants in other
sections of the guide, the maximum salinity is given in the Notes column. Full seawater is
approximately 32 ppt. If salinity is not given, then the plant grows in fresh water only or in
drier conditions.
Habitat
For each plant in this guide, we include a description of habitats in which that plant may be found.
Several habitat types may be mentioned as each plant is rarely found in one and only one habitat
type. There are dozens of forest types, several types of wetlands including forested wetlands
and even wet meadows. The habitats described include those that provide the conditions most
preferred by each plant species. To help with planning projects, sample lists of plants to use
in certain habitat types, or certain site conditions, are given in the back of this guide. More
technically detailed information on plant communities can be found in resources listed in the
references section.
Native To (Where To Use) - States and Physiographic Regions
From the sandy dunes of the coast to the rocky slopes of the mountains, the rich variety of
habitats found throughout the region is strongly linked to its geology, topography and climate. For
this guide, the states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have been divided into three regions or
provinces: (1) the coastal plain (C), an area with fairly flat topography and more southern climate;
(2) the Piedmont plateau (P), with its rolling hills; and (3) the mountain zone (M), a more northern
climate (see map). For simplicity, the mountain category combines all of the more specific higher-
altitude provinces (Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, Allegheny or Appalachian Plateau). Some native
plants are common throughout these provinces, while others are adapted to the unique conditions
found only in one or two.
Based on the existing literature and expert input, the physiographic regions
and states in which each plant species naturally occurs is noted.
However, plants do not follow the political boundaries that define
our states, so matching ecological boundaries with political ones
is difficult. Certain plants may occur in different regions in
different states. For example, the range of a species could
extend throughout all of Pennsylvania, but be limited to
the mountain and Piedmont regions of Maryland. An
effort has been made to be as accurate as possible,
while erring on the side of inclusion to cover the widest
range of possibilities throughout the Chesapeake Bay
watershed as a whole. This same approach has been
used for other characteristics, such as height and
bloom period, which may vary slightly from region
to region.
Note: Some species native to a state but
not commonly found may be officially
designated and legally protected as “rare,
threatened, or endangered” (RTE). This
may be because the plant is at the
edge of its natural range there, or
its population has declined due to
loss of habitat caused by various
natural events and/or human
activities in that region.
Species that are listed in
a state as RTE should

10
generally not be planted there, because importing species from elsewhere could potentially lead
to damaging alteration of the gene pool of the remaining population. This guide lists only those
states in which a plant is common and recommended for planting. As a general rule of thumb, if a
plant you like is not designated in this guide for your state or your region of the state, we strongly
encourage you to forego planting that and select another plant suited to your site.
Wildlife Value
The notation “high wildlife value” is based mainly on the value of the fruits, seeds and/or nectar
used as food for wildlife, and the relative number of species using the plant for food. But
remember that animals use leaves, twigs, roots and shoots for food or nesting material, and
every plant has value as cover and/or nesting sites. In that respect, although we’ve marked those
of higher wildlife (food) value, every plant in this guide has value to wildlife, as well as other
environmental values.
The types of wildlife noted here are those desirable species that are likely to use the plants
for food, including pollinators which are critical to plant reproduction, for gardens, natural areas
and agricultural crops. The information here is fairly general. The songbird icon indicates use of
a plant by small usually migratory birds, but may include upland game birds. The waterfowl icon
may include shorebirds and wading birds along with ducks and geese. The hummingbird icon has
been indicated separately because many people are interested specifically in attracting them.
The butterfly icon may refer to the adults or to the larval stage that uses the plant as a host. The
beneficial insect icon, besides butterflies, includes ladybugs, bees (essential pollinators) and
other insects that serve as a pest control or other desirable role. The small mammal icon is noted
for plants used by any of a variety of small animals, such as raccoons, opossums, foxes, etc.,
depending upon location and surrounding habitat.
Absent but not forgotten: Certain wildlife species are not represented, due in part to a lack of
available information for every plant related to all types of animals. However, these are all likely
to inhabit or occasionally visit a native plant garden or habitat planting, and their importance in
the web of life should not be underestimated. Many insects have not been represented here,
though they certainly use a wide variety of plants throughout their life cycles and are an integral
part of the ecosystems we’re trying to protect, conserve and enhance. Reptiles and amphibians,
particularly salamanders, frogs and turtles, inhabit our yards as well as natural areas. They use
plants for food and cover, and especially need water sources such as lakes, ponds, streams,
puddles or even a small dish of water (aerated or changed daily to prevent mosquito breeding).
Bats provide a valuable service as insect pest controllers and pollinators.
Notes
This catchall includes pertinent information that bears emphasizing or is not reflected in the other
categories. It may include additional notes or clarification about the plant’s characteristics, growth,
and spread; tips or suggestions on cultivation; cultivars; or general use of the plant.
By providing these characteristics for each plant species we hope to provide you with a variety
of choices to meet the conditions of your property as well as your personal preferences. Whether
you are replacing a few individual plants, designing a new bed or planning for an entirely new
look, this guide can help narrow the choices to plants most likely to thrive in your environment and
create the landscape you desire.
Songbird
Waterfowl
Hummingbird
Butterfly
Beneficial insect
Small mammal
Providing the basic habitat structures
described earlier and planting a diversity of
plants (and therefore food sources) will bring
a surprising and beneficial array of life to your
property.

Ferns
Characteristics Conditions Habitat Native to Wildlife Notes
11
Adiantum
pedatum
northern
maidenhair fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
4.5-6.5
L S O
moist woods, rocky
shaded habitats
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
grows in clumps; delicate
texture; herbal uses
UWIMC
Asplenium
platyneuron
ebony spleenwort
Height:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
4.5-7
C L S
banks, open woods
and thickets,
slopes, rocky
ledges, swamps
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
NY VA
WV
easily transplanted; only
moderate care needed;
evergreen
RHW
May-Sep
Athyrium
ﬁlix-femina
northern lady fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L S
woods, banks,
wooded hillsides,
sandy bogs
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY
WV
varieties occur throughout
region; in MD, VA can also
use subspecies asplenioides
(southern lady fern)
UWIKJS
Botrychium
virginianum
rattlesnake fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.6-6.9
L
rich, woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
RHW
Dennstaedtia
punctilobula
hay-scented fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
open woods and
ﬁelds
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
NY VA
WV
can spread over large areas
of open understory or pasture
UWIRWF
Jul-Oct
Dryopteris
carthusiana
(D. spinulosa)
toothed or
spinulose woodfern
Height:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5-6
L
low woods, thickets,
swamps, rich
woods, rocky slopes
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
forms colonies; semi-
evergreen
UWIRWF
Jun-Aug
Dryopteris cristata
crested wood or
shield fern, narrow
swamp fern
Height:
Fruit:
1.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
3.5-6.5
C L
shallow emergent
marshes, shrub
swamps, wooded
swamps, open
shrubby wetlands
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
small rosette fronds
UWIRWF
Jun-Sep
Dryopteris
intermedia
evergreen wood-
fern
Height:
Fruit:
2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
L
rich, moist to dry
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
clump-former; not common on
coastal plain; hybridizes with
eight species
O
UWIEJJ
O
O

Ferns
12
Dryopteris
marginalis
marginal or
evergreen shield
fern, evergreen
wood fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
moist woods,
clearings
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
clump-former; attractive;
easily transplanted
UWIRWF Jun-Oct
Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
C L S
fresh tidal and
nontidal marshes,
meadows, swamps,
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
spreads in wet areas; fertile
fronds dark brown, erect
UWIKJS
Jun-Oct
Osmunda
cinnamomea
cinnamon fern
Height:
Fruit:
2-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4.5-7
C L
woods, marshes,
swamps, bogs,
streamsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tolerates drought; fertile
fronds reddish brown, wooly
RHW,UWITK
Apr-May
Osmunda
claytoniana
interrupted fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
4-6
C L
fields, forest and
swamp edges
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
grows in clumps
UWIEJJ
Osmunda regalis
royal fern
Height:
Fruit:
1.5-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4-6
C L S
fresh tidal and
nontidal marshes
and swamps,
woods, irregularly,
seasonally, or
permanently
saturated (up to
100% of growing
season)
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tolerates full sun if moist;
tolerates drought; tolerates
irregular, seasonal or
permanent saturation; only
tolerates flooding for a few
days
UWIEJJ
Apr-Jun
Polystichum
acrostichoides
Christmas fern
Height:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
4.5-7
L S
woods, thickets,
rocky slopes
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
grows in clumps; easily grown
in rock gardens and shaded
places; impartial to soil type
USFWSBES
Jun-Oct
Pteridium
bracken fern
Height:
Fruit:
1.5-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
C L S
dry pine woods,
swamps, marshes,
fields, waste places
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
forms large colonies; host for
several ant types
CMNRCS
Thelypteris
noveboracensis
New York fern
Height:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4-7
C L S
forested wetlands,
dry to damp woods,
thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
tolerates drought; easily
transplanted; forms large
colonies; spreads easily
USFWSBES
Jun-Sep

Ferns
13
Thelypteris
palustris
marsh fern
Height:
Fruit:
2-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
C L S
swamps, bogs,
ﬁelds, thickets,
fresh marshes,
wooded streambank
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
spreads
UWIRWF
Jun-Oct
Woodwardia
areolata
netted chain fern
Height:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
bogs, swamps,
woods
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
spreads by creeping rhizome
PLANTSRM91
Jul-Oct
Woodwardia
virginica
Virginia chain fern
Height:
Fruit:
3-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
swampy places,
woods
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
spreads by creeping rhizome
PLANTS
Jul-Sep
RHW
RHW
RSMNPSUSFWSBES
Osmunda regalis Osmunda cinnamomea
New fern ﬁddleheads emerging.
Polystichum acrostichoides

Grasses & Grasslike Plants
14
Agrostis
perennans
autumn bentgrass
Height:
Flowers:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
5.5-7.5
C L
dry or moist thickets,
open woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
PA VA
WV
Jun-Oct
PLANTSRM95
Ammophila
breviligulata
dunegrass,
American
beachgrass
Height:
Flowers:
1.5-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
5.8-7.8
L S
maritime beaches,
dunes, grasslands,
shrublands
Region:
States:
C
VA
prefers well-drained, sandy
sites; spreads rapidly by
rhizomesJul-Sep
UWIRRK
Andropogon
gerardii
big bluestem
Height:
Flowers:
2-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
6-7.5
C L S
dry or wet open
woods, prairies,
swales, shores; dry
open areas
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
clump forming; attractive,
with winter interest
Jun-Sep
RHW
Andropogon
glomeratus
(A. virginicus
var. abbreviatus)
bushy bluestem
Height:
Flowers:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5-6.3
C L S
fresh marshes, coastal
areas
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
VA
WV
tolerates drought; grows in
tufts; reddish fall color
Aug-Oct, reddish
brown
PLANTS
Andropogon
virginicus
broomsedge
Height:
Flowers:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
4.9-7
C L S
wet meadows,
transition areas
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
wildlife food and cover;
tolerates drought; grows in
tufts; reddish-tan fall colorAug-Nov, reddish
brown
PLANTSJS
Calamagrostis
canadensis
bluejoint reedgrass
Height:
Flowers:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4.5-8
C L
meadows, bogs,
thickets
Region:
States:
M
DC DE
NY VA
WV
Jun-Aug
PLANTS1995
Carex crinita
var. crinita
long hair sedge
Height:
Flowers:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4-7.5
C L
swales, thickets, low
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY VA
WV
Jun-Aug
RHW
Carex glaucodea
blue wood
sedge
Height:
Flowers:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
moist to dry woods
and ﬁelds
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
clump-forming; alternative
to Liriope
May-Jul, brown to
reddish
NYNHP,NYNHP

15
Carex lurida
sallow sedge, lurid
sedge
Height:
Flowers:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
4.9-6.8
C L S
swales, swamps,
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
wetland plant; interesting
seeds
Jun-Oct
RHW
Carex
pensylvanica
Pennsylvania
sedge
Height:
Flowers:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
open, dry, sandy or
rocky woods, wooded
slopes
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
alternative to lawn; plant
densely; fine textured leaves
less than 6 inchesApr-Jul, reddish
to white
CMNRCS,CMNRCS
Carex stricta
tussock sedge
Height:
Flowers:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
3.5-7
C L S
fresh tidal and nontidal
marshes, shrub
swamps, forested
wetlands, swales,
fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
grows in clumps; partly
persists in winter; tolerates
flooding to 6 inchesMay-Aug, reddish
to purple brown
CMNRCS
Carex vulpinoidea
fox sedge
Height:
Flowers:
0.5-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
6.8-8.9
C L
shallow emergent
marshes, shrub
swamps, floodplain
forests, hardwood
swamps
Region:
States:
M P C
NY VA
WV
high wildlife
value
grows in clumps; tolerates
saturation and flooding to
6 inchesJun-Aug
UWIRWF
Chasmanthium
latifolium
wild oats, river
oats, sea oats,
spanglegrass
Height:
Flowers:
2-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5-7
C L S
streambanks, alluvial
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
Jul-Sep, green
then tan
USFWSBES,USFWSBES
Danthonia spicata
poverty oatgrass,
poverty grass
Height:
Flowers:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
open woods, pastures,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
May-Jul
UWIRWF
Dichanthelium
clandestinum
deer-tongue
Height:
Flowers:
2-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
4-7.5
C L S
moist woods,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
May-Oct
USDAJE
Dichanthelium
commutatum
variable panicgrass
Height:
Flowers:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4-6.5
L S
rocky or sandy woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
May-Oct
PLANTS1997

16
Elymus
canadensis
Canada wild rye
Height:
Flowers:
2-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5-7.9
C L S
dry, sandy, gravely, or
rocky soil
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
VA
WV
Jun-Oct
CMNRCS
Elymus hystrix
(Hystrix patula)
bottlebrush grass
Height:
Flowers:
2-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
alluvial woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Aug
RHW
Elymus riparius
riverbank wild-rye
Height:
Flowers:
0.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
4.5-7.2
C L S
rich thickets,
streamsides, alluvial
ﬂats, meadows
Region:
States:
P C
DE
PA VA
WV
good for streambank
conditions
O
Jul-Sep
UWIEJJ
Elymus
virginicus
Virginia wild rye
Height:
Flowers:
1-5.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5-7
C L S
rich thickets, shores,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
tolerates a wide range of
conditions; forms clumps
O
Jun-Oct
CMNRCS
Festuca rubra
red fescue
Height:
Flowers:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5-8
C L
dry woods, roadsides,
waste areas
Region:
States:
M
DC DE MD
VA
can be used as turf grass;
grows best in part shade
May-Jul
RSMNPS
Leersia oryzoides
rice cutgrass
Height:
Flowers:
5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.1-8.8
C L S
fresh tidal and nontidal
marshes, meadows,
ditches, muddy shores
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
good for sediment
stabilization, erosion control;
tolerates drought; tolerates
ﬂooding to 6 inches
Jun-Oct
PLANTS1995
Panicum amarum
bitter or coastal
panic grass,
beachgrass
Height:
Flowers:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5-7.5
L S
sandy coastal shores
and dunes
Region:
States:
C
DC DE MD
VA
prostrate form, produces
little viable seed, use
transplants; Panicum
amarum var. amarulum
(coastal panicgrass), taller
form, can be seeded.
Aug-Oct
CMNRCS
Panicum virgatum
switchgrass
Height:
Flowers:
3-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
4.5-8
C L S
fresh and brackish
tidal and nontidal
marshes, wet
meadows, open
woods, prairies, dunes
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
food for sparrow species;
grows in clumps; controls
erosionJul-Oct
USFWSBES

17
Saccharum giganteum
(Erianthus giganteus)
giant plumegrass,
sugar cane
Height:
Flowers:
3.5-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
3.5-7
L S
swamps, low woods,
swales
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE
VA
Aug-Oct
USDANRCS
Schizachyrium
scoparium
(Andropogon
scoparius)
little bluestem
Height:
Flowers:
1.5-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
L S
open woods,
pinelands, clearings
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tolerates poor soil; clump
grass; winter interest and
wildlife cover; excellent
forage grass
Aug-Oct
USFWSBES,USFWSBES
Sorghastrum
nutans
Indiangrass
Height:
Flowers:
2.5-8’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4.8-8
C L S
dry slopes, prairies,
borders of woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tall clump grass with
beautiful seed head;
nutritious for livestockAug-Sep
RHW
Tridens flavus
redtop, purpletop
Height:
Flowers:
2-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4.5-6.5
C L S
dry fields, roadsides,
openings, forest
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
VA
WV
Aug-Oct
UWIEJJ
Tripsacum
dactyloides
gama grass
Height:
Flowers:
6-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.7-7.5
C L
swales, fields, forest
edges, shores
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
excellent forage grass; often
grows wild near corn fields;
can hybridize with cornJun-Oct
CMNRCS
See also:
In the Herbaceous Plants section:
Allium cernuum
Liatris pilosa v. pilosa (graminifolia), scariosa, spicata, squarrosa
Sisyrinchium angustifolium (graminoides), atlanticum
In the Herbaceous Emergents section:
Distichlis spicata
Dulichium arundinaceum
Iris prismatica, versicolor, virginica
Juncus canadensis, effusus
Schoenoplectus pungens v. pungens (Scirpus pungens, americanus), validus (Scirpus validus)
Scirpus atrovirens, cyperinus
Sparganium americanum
Spartina alterniflora, cynosuroides, patens, pectinata
Zizania aquatica
CMNRCS
USFWSBES
USFWS
USFWSBES
Schizachyrium
scoparium in a garden
with Liatris spicata and
Asclepias tuberosa.
Schizachyrium scoparium in fall. Characteristic swirls of Carex stricta.
Andropogon virginicus
provides a transition between
the road and woods.

Herbaceous Plants
18
Actaea pachypoda
doll’s eyes
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
rich open woods,
thickets
Region:
States:
C
DE
NY PA VA
WV
interesting berries;
infrequent in Piedmont and
mountain regionsApr-Jun, whitish
Jul-Oct, white or
red, berry
RHW,RHW
Agalinis purpurea
purple false
foxglove
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
S
moist ﬁelds, rocky
shores, serpentine
barrens
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
Jul-Sep, rose-
purple, white
capsule
RHW
Ageratina
altissima
var. altissima
(Eupatorium
rugosum)
white snakeroot
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
rich woods,
thickets, clearings,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tough plant; cultivars
available; prefers basic
soilsJul-Oct, white
capsule
UWIKJS,USFWSBES
Allium cernuum
nodding onion
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
ledges, gravels,
rocky or wooded
slopes
Region:
States:
M
DC MD
VA
WV
Jun-Aug, pink,
rose, white
capsule
RHW
Anemone
canadensis
round-leaved
or Canadian
anemone,
thimbleweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L
damp thickets,
meadows, gravelly
shores
Region:
States:
P
DC
NY VA
May-Jul, white
RHW
Anemone
virginiana
thimbleweed, tall
anemone
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
dry rocky open
woods, slopes,
thickets
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
May-Aug,
whitish
RHW
Antennaria
neglecta
ﬁeld pussytoes
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.5-7.5
C L
upland meadows,
pastures, open
woods
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Apr-Jul, white
UWIJRS
Aquilegia
canadensis
eastern or wild
columbine
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
rich rocky woods,
slopes, cliffs,
ledges, pastures,
roadside banks
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
commonly cultivated;
spreads by seed
Apr-Jul, red-
yellow
capsule
RHW,USFWSBES

Herbaceous Plants
19
Aralia nudicaulis
wild sarsaparilla
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5-7.2
C L S
dry to moist woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
aromatic; single-leaved;
lacks an above-ground
stem; not common in
coastal plain
May-Jul, white
or green
May-Jul, purple-
black, berry
RHW
Aralia racemosa
spikenard
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
rich woods,
thickets, wooded
slopes and edges
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
not common in coastal plain
Jun-Aug,
greenish-white
dark purple, berry
RHW,RHW
Arisaema
triphyllum
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4.8-7
L S
woods, bogs
swamps
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
red berry clusters appear
late summer to fall; unusual
flower; spreads rapidly
from seed
Mar-Jun,
striped, purple or
green
berry
USFWSBES,RHW
Aruncus dioicus
goat’s-beard
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
C L S
wooded roadsides,
rich woods, ravines
Region:
States:
M
DC
VA
WV
May-Jul, white
pod
USFWSBES
Asarum
canadense
wild ginger
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
rich woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
flower inconspicuous;
attractive leaves; will
spread; semi-evergreenApr-May,
brownish-purple
brown, capsule
USFWSBES
Asclepias
incarnata
swamp milkweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
4-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5-8
C L
fresh tidal and
nontidal marshes,
meadows, shrub
swamps, woods,
shores, ditches
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
can tolerate drought;
interesting seed pod
May-Jun, pink
to reddish
Aug-Nov, pod
USFWSRL
Asclepias syriaca
common milkweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
L S
thickets, roadsides,
fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
interesting seed pods;
fragrant flower
May-Aug, pale
purple
Aug-Nov, pod
RHW,RHW
Asclepias
tuberosa
butterflyweed,
butterfly milkweed,
butterfly flower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4.8-6.8
L S
dry fields,
roadsides, shale
barrens
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
taproot does not transplant
well but seedlings do;
attractive seed podMay-Jul,
orange
Aug-Nov, pod
USFWSRL,USFWSBES

20
Herbaceous Plants
Baptisia australis
wild blue indigo,
false blue indigo
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
open woods,
alluvial thickets,
streambanks,
floodplains
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
VA
WV
tolerates poor soils; flowers
very showy; shrublike form
May-Jun, blue,
purple
USFWSBES,USFWSBES
Baptisia tinctoria
yellow wild indigo
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
5.8-7
L S
open woods,
clearings
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
tolerates poor soils
May-Sep,
yellow
RHW
Bidens cernua
nodding beggar-
ticks, nodding bur
marigold
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.1-7
C L S
tidal marsh,
sloughs, springs,
pools, shore
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Aug-Oct, yellow
RHW
Boltonia
asteroides
star boltonia, white
doll’s daisy
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
5.3-7
L S
gravelly shores,
sandy thickets
Region:
States:
C
DC DE
VA
WV
Jul-Sep, white
USFWSBES
Caltha palustris
marsh marigold
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
4.9-6.8
C L
forested wetlands,
shrub swamps,
streambanks,
seeps, meadows
Region:
States:
M C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
clump-forming; needs
some periods of drier
soil; tolerates flooding to
6 inches
Apr-Jun, bright
yellow
RHW
Campanulastrum
americanum
(Campanula
americana)
American or tall
bellflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
5.5-7.5
C L S
rich moist
woods, rocky
wooded slopes,
streambanks
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
NY VA
WV
Jun-Aug, light
blue
capsule
RHW
Cardamine
concatenata
(Dentaria
laciniata)
toothwort
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
rich woods,
wooded bottoms,
calcareous rocky
banks
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
Apr-Jun, white,
purplish
RHW
Caulophyllum
thalictroides
blue cohosh
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
4.5-7
L
rich woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Apr-Jun, green-
yellow, green-purple
dark blue, berry
RHW

21
Herbaceous Plants
Chamaecrista
fasciculata
(Cassia
fasciculata)
partridge pea,
prairie senna
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
S
upland meadows,
fields, streambanks
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
pods coil after split open;
spreads
Jul-Sep, yellow
pod
RHW
Chamerion
angustifolium
spp. angustifolium
(Epilobium
angustifolium)
fireweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
recent clearings,
burned woodlands,
damp ravines, open
sandy areas
Region:
States:
M
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
Jun-Sep,
magenta, pink, rarely
white
capsule
RHW,PLANTSGAM
Chelone glabra
white turtlehead,
turtlehead
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
C L S
woods,
streambanks,
swamps, thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
strong grower; herbal
uses; host for Baltimore
checkerspot butterflyJul-Oct, white
capsule
RHW
Chimaphila
maculata
striped wintergreen,
striped prince’s pine
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
C L S
acidic woods,
frequently under
pines
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
flowers fragrant
Jun-Aug, white
capsule
RHW
Chrysogonum
virginianum
green-and-gold,
golden knees
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
open woods on
limestone, rocky
open woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
VA
WV
will bloom longer if kept
moist
Mar-Jun, yellow
USFWSBES
Chrysopsis
mariana
golden aster,
Maryland golden
aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
S
woods, openings,
roadsides,
serpentine barrens
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
Jul-Oct, yellow
RHW
Cimicifuga
racemosa
black snakeroot,
black cohosh, fairy
candles
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2.5-8.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
rich woods, wooded
slopes, ravines,
thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Sep, white
pod
RHW
Claytonia virginica
narrowleaf spring
beauty, spring
beauty
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich woods,
thickets, clearings
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Mar-May, white
with pink
capsule
RHW

22
Herbaceous Plants
Clitoria mariana
Maryland butterfly
pea
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
S
open areas Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
VA
WV
vine-like
Jun-Sep, pale
blue or pinkish
pod
RHW
Conoclinium
coelestinum
(Eupatorium
coelestinum)
mistflower, wild
ageratum
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
C L
old fields,
meadows; dry
sandy woods
and clearings,
damp thickets,
streambanks
Region:
States:
C
DC DE
VA
WV
Jul-Oct, blue,
violet or purple
capsule
RHW
Coreopsis tripteris
tall coreopsis, tall
tickseed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3.5-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
thickets, old fields,
forest edges,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC
VA
WV
flower has anise scent
May-Sep,
yellow
capsule
RHW
Coreopsis
verticillata
threadleaf
coreopsis
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
dry open woods,
clearings, roadsides
Region:
States:
P
DC MD
VA
WV
Jun-Oct, yellow
capsule
USFWSBES
Delphinium
tricorne
dwarf larkspur
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
rich woods,
calcareous slopes,
thickets, river bluffs
Region:
States:
M P
DC
VA
WV
Apr-Jun,
blue, violet, white,
variegated
pod
RHW
Desmodium
paniculatum
panicled or narrow-
leaf tick-trefoil
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
6-7
C L
clearings, edges of
moist or dry woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
not found near coast
Jul-Sep,
purplish or green
pod
RHW
Dicentra
canadensis
squirrel corn
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich woods Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
flowers hyacinth scented
Apr-May,
greenish-white, rose
tinge
capsule
RHW
Dicentra
cucullaria
Dutchman’s
breeches
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
rich woods Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
leaves basal; dormant in
summer
Apr-Jun, white
to cream
capsule
RHW

23
Herbaceous Plants
Dicentra eximia
wild bleeding heart
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
rocky woods and
cliffs, rich woods
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
VA
WV
sometimes cultivated
Apr-Sep,
pink/white
capsule
RHW
Dodecatheon
meadia
shooting star
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
open woods,
meadows, slopes,
prairies
Region:
States:
M
DC MD
VA
WV
Apr-Jun, white
with yellow, lilac
capsule
RHW,RHW
Doellingeria
umbellata
var. umbellata
(Aster umbellatus)
flat-top white aster,
parasol whitetop
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-7.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L S
open areas, woods Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Aug-Oct, white
RHW
Erigeron
pulchellus
robin’s plantain
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
open woods,
meadows, wooded
slopes, roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Apr-Sep, blue,
pink, white
capsule
RHW
Erythronium
americanum
trout lily, yellow
trout lily, dogtooth
violet
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L S
woods, rich slopes,
bottomlands,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Mar-Jun, yellow
capsule
RHW
Eupatorium
dubium
Joe-Pye weed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
S
swamps, bogs,
marshes, swales
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
Jul-Oct, purple,
rarely white
capsule
RHW
Eupatorium
fistulosum
Joe-Pye weed,
trumpet weed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
4.5-7
C L
floodplains,
meadows, thickets,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
herbal uses
Jul-Oct, pink-
purple
capsule
RHW
Eupatorium
hyssopifolium
hyssop-leaved
thoroughwort,
hyssop-leaved
eupatorium
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-4.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
dry fields,
roadsides, railroad
right of ways,
woods, fields, salt
meadows
Region:
States:
C
DC DE MD
VA
Jul-Oct, white
capsule
RHW

24
Herbaceous Plants
Eupatorium
maculatum
spotted Joe-Pye
weed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
5.5-7
C L
floodplains,
swamps, alluvial
thickets, grasslands
Region:
States:
M P
DC
NY
WV
Jul-Sep, purple
to pale lavender
capsule
CAB
Eupatorium
perfoliatum
common boneset
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
C L S
floodplains,
swamps, bogs,
streambanks,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Oct, white
capsule
RHW
Eupatorium
purpureum
green-stemmed
Joe-Pye weed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
open woods, fields,
floodplains
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
occurs in drier, shadier
habitats than other joe-
pye-weeds; injured or dried
plant has vanilla scent
Jul-Oct, pink,
purple, cream
capsule
RHW
Eurybia divaricata
(Aster divaricatus)
white wood aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
dry woods,
clearings
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Oct, white
RHW,USFWSBES
Gentiana clausa
closed gentian,
bottle gentian
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.8-7.2
L
moist open woods,
streambanks,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
PA VA
WV
Aug-Oct, blue
capsule
USFWSBES
Geranium
maculatum
wild geranium,
wood geranium
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
woods, roadsides,
fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
adaptable plant; long bloom
time; spreader; herbal uses;
explosive seed capsuleApr-Jul,
lavender or pink
capsule
RHW
Goodyera
pubescens
downy rattlesnake
plantain
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
very handsome throughout
winter
Jun-Aug,
whitish
USFWSBES
Helenium
autumnale
yellow or common
sneezeweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
4-7.5
C L S
woods, swamps,
riverbanks, alluvial
thickets, meadows,
marshes, ditches
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tolerates wet areas; showy
flowers; herbal uses
Jul-Nov, yellow
capsule
USFWSBES

25
Herbaceous Plants
Helianthus
angustifolius
swamp sunflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-5.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4-7
L S
swamps, moist,
sandy areas
Region:
States:
C
DC DE MD
VA
Aug-Oct, yellow
capsule
RHW
Helianthus
decapetalus
ten-petaled or thin-
leaved sunflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
S
fields, bottomlands,
stream banks,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Oct, yellow
capsule
BZ
Helianthus
divaricatus
woodland
sunflower, rough
sunflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
dry open woods,
wooded slopes,
shale barrens,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Sep, yellow
capsule
RHW
Heliopsis
helianthoides
oxeye sunflower,
oxeye
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.6-6.8
L S
fields, open
woods, floodplains,
thickets,
streambanks
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
long bloom time
Jun-Sep, pale
yellow
capsule
RHW
Hepatica nobilis
var. acuta
(H. acutiloba)
sharp-lobed
hepatica
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
rich upland woods,
rocky slopes
Region:
States:
M
NY PA VA
may bloom throughout year
(rarely)
Mar-Jun, bluish,
white, pink
capsule
UWIKJS,UWIKJS,UWIJRS
Hepatica nobilis
var. obtusa
(H. americana)
round-lobed
hepatica, liverleaf
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
dry or rocky woods,
dry upland slopes
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Mar-Jun, white
to lavender
capsule
RHW
Heracleum
maximum
(H. lanatum)
cow parsnip
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3.5-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.4-7.3
C L S
rich woods, wooded
roadside banks,
marshy flats,
streambanks,
ditches
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
can cause a dermatitis
(skin) reaction
May-Aug, white
to pink
RHW
Heuchera
americana
alumroot
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
rich woods, rocky
slopes, shale cliffs
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
long bloom time; many
cultivars and hybrids; semi-
evergreenApr-Jun, green,
white, pink, purple
capsule
MOBOT

26
Herbaceous Plants
Heuchera villosa
hairy heuchera,
hairy alumroot
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
damp rocks, rich
wooded slopes
Region:
States:
M
DC MD
VA
Jun-Oct, white
to greenish to pinkish
capsule
PLANTSJSP
Houstonia
caerulea
bluet, innocence,
Quaker-ladies
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
meadows, fields,
and thickets, open
woods, forest
edges
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
Apr-Jun, blue,
lilac, white
capsule
RHW
Hydrophyllum
virginianum
Virginia waterleaf
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
woods, thickets,
streambanks
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
May-Aug,
lavender, white
capsule
RHW
Hylotelephium
telephioides
(Sedum
telephioides)
Allegheny
stonecrop
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
dry rocky places Region:
States:
M
DC MD
NY VA
WV
naturally occurs in bare
rock outcrops, but does
well in garden; rare in PA,
threatened in NY
Aug-Sep, pale
pink
pod
RHW
Ionactis
linariifolius
(Aster linariifolius)
stiff-leaf aster,
flaxleaf whitetop
aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
grasslands,
successional
shrublands, oak-
hickory forest, dry
rocky woods and
edges
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
Aug-Oct, blue,
yellow eye
RHW
Jeffersonia
diphylla
twinleaf
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich woods Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
VA
WV
Apr-May, white
capsule
RHW
Lespedeza
capitata
round-head bush
clover
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
L S
fields, thin woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Sep,
yellowish white
UWIKJS
Impatiens
capensis
(I. biflora)
jewelweed, touch-
me-not
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.4-7.4
C L S
moist meadows,
swamps,
streambanks, open
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
ripe seed pod explodes with
contact; remedy for poison
ivy itchingMay-Oct,
orange, yellow, white
capsule
USFWSBES

27
Herbaceous Plants
Liatris pilosa
var. pilosa
(L. graminifolia)
grass-leaf
blazingstar
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
open woods,
forest edge, salt
marsh edges, dune
hollows
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
Aug-Oct, purple
capsule
RHW
Liatris scariosa
eastern or northern
blazing star, tall
gayfeather
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
dry upland woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
Aug-Sep,
lavender to rose-
purple
capsule
RHW
Liatris spicata
gayfeather,
blazingstar, spiked
blazing star
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.6-7.5
C L S
moist meadows,
open areas
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE
VA
WV
Jul-Aug, rose-
purple or white
capsule
USFWSRL
Liatris squarrosa
plains blazing star
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
dry open fields and
banks
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE
VA
Jul-Sep, rose
capsule
RHW
Lilium canadense
Canada lily
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L
fields, thickets,
woods
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Aug,
yellow, orange, red
capsule
RHW
Lilium
philadelphicum
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
L S
open woods, forest
edges, thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Aug,
yellow, red-orange
capsule
RHW
Lilium superbum
Turk’s cap lily
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
4-8’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L S
meadows,
streamsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
leaves in whorl around
stem; takes several years
to bloomJul-Aug, yellow-
orange, orange-red
capsule
RSMNPS
Limonium
carolinianum
sea lavender
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
6-8.5
C L S
irregularly flooded
high salt marshes
Region:
States:
C
DE MD
NY VA
Jul-Oct,
lavender
PLANTSLA
tolerates salinity to 30 ppt
wood lily

28
Herbaceous Plants
Lobelia cardinalis
cardinal flower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.8-7.8
C L
fresh tidal and
nontidal marshes,
wooded swamps,
seeps, banks of
ponds, rivers,
streams
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
long bloom time; biennial,
must reseed
Jul-Oct, redRHW
Lobelia siphilitica
great blue lobelia
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
C L S
woodlands,
meadows, swamps
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
long bloom time; white
cultivars available
Aug-Oct, blue,
violet
capsule
RHW,USFWSBES
Lupinus perennis
lupine, sundial
lupine
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
open woods,
fields, roadsides,
streambanks
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY VA
WV
prefers acidic soil
Apr-Jul, blue,
rarely pink or white
pod
RHW
Maianthemum
canadense
Canada mayflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
fragrant flowers
May-Jul, white
pale red speckled,
berry
RHW
Maianthemum
racemosum
ssp. racemosum
(Smilacina
racemosa )
false Solomon’s
seal
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
dry to moist woods,
clearings, bluffs
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
flowers in plume-like
clumps at tip of stem;
herbal usesMay-Jul, white
red, berry
PLANTSJA,PLANTSWSJ
Medeola
virginiana
Indian cucumber
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
rhizome is edible
May-Jun,
yellowish
dark purple or
black, berry
RHW,RHW
Melanthium
virginicum
Virginia
bunchflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
woods, seepages,
clearings
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
Jun-Aug,
greenish
capsule
RHW
Mertensia
virginica
Virginia bluebells
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4.5-8
C L
rich wooded slopes,
floodplains
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
dormant in summer; flower
color blue, pink, or white
according to soil acidityMar-Jun, pink
turning blue
Mar-May,
nut/nut-like
RHW

29
Herbaceous Plants
Mimulus ringens
monkeyflower,
Allegheny
monkeyflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
L
open swamps,
meadows, shores
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
interesting flowers
Jun-Oct, blue
capsule
RHW
Mitchella repens
partridgeberry
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
dry acidic woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
two flowers form one fruit;
berry edible; slow creeper,
forms mats under treesMay-Jul, white
July-Dec, scarlet,
berry
USFWS,RHW
Mitella diphylla
twoleaf miterwort,
bishop’s cap
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
rich, woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Apr-Jun, white
capsule
RHW,RHW
Monarda
bradburiana
(M. fistulosa)
wild bergamot,
horsemint
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
6-8
C L
fields, thickets,
roadsides, forest
edges
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
confused with bee-balm (M.
didyma); aromatic; herbal
usesJun-Sep, pink
to purple
nut/nut-like
RSMNPS
Monarda didyma
beebalm, Oswego
tea
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L
creek banks,
floodplains, woods
Region:
States:
M
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
showy flowers; aromatic;
herbal uses
Jul-Sep, red
nut/nut-like
USFWSBES
Monarda punctata
horsemint, spotted
bee-balm
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
L S
open sandy fields Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
Jun-Oct, yellow
and purple
nut/nut-like
RHW
Nuttallanthus
canadensis
(Linaria canadensis)
blue, old-field, or
Canada toadflax
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
maritime grasslands
and shrublands,
successional
shrubland, woods,
fields
Region:
States:
M P C
MD
NY VA
WV
delicate flowers; prefers
well-drained soil
Apr-Sep, light
blue
capsule
PLANTSWSJ
Oenothera biennis
common evening
primrose
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
5-7
C L S
cultivated fields,
waste ground,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
flowers open in evening;
biennial
Jun-Oct, yellow
capsule
RHW

30
Herbaceous Plants
Oenothera
fruticosa
narrow-leaved
sundrops
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4.5-7
C L S
fields, meadows,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
May-Sep,
yellow
capsule
RHW
Oenothera
perennis
sundrops
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
fields, pastures,
roadsides, shaly
slopes
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
similar to evening primrose
(O. biennis); long bloom
time; spreaderMay-Aug,
yellow
capsule
UWIRWF
Opuntia humifusa
(O. compressa)
eastern prickly-pear
cactus
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
L S
sandy coastal
dunes, shaly soils
Region:
States:
M C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
fruit edible, used for jelly
Jun-Jul, yellow
purplish to deep
red, fleshy
RHW
Osmorhiza
longistylis
sweet cicely, anise
root
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
rich woods, wooded
slopes, thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
all plant parts have anise
scent
May-Jun, white
to green
RHW
Oxalis violacea
violet wood sorrel
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
woods Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
PA
WV
Apr-Jul, violet
capsule
RHW
Packera aurea
(Senecio aureus)
golden ragwort,
golden groundsel
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L
moist fields,
woods, floodplains,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
wetland plant; long bloom
time; aggressive spreader
Apr-Aug, yellow
capsule
RHW
Penstemon
digitalis
beardtongue, tall
white or foxglove
beardtongue
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.5-7
C L S
open woods,
meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tolerates poor drainage;
variety of cultivars
Jun-Aug, white
or faintly purple
capsule
USFWSBES,RHW
Penstemon
laevigatus
smooth or eastern
beardtongue
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
rich woods, fields Region:
States:
M
DC MD
VA
WV
May-Jul,
purplish
capsule
UWIMRB

31
Herbaceous Plants
Phlox carolina
thick-leaved phlox
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
L S
open woods Region:
States:
M
DC
VA
May-Jun, pink
to purple, rarely white
capsule
PLANTSWSJ
Phlox divaricata
woodland or wild
blue phlox, wild
sweet William
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
5.5-7.2
C L S
rich woods Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
aromatic; showy flower;
dormant in summer (leaves
disappear); frequently
cultivated; evergreen
Apr-Jun, blue,
lavender, white
capsule
RHW
Phlox maculata
phlox, meadow
phlox, wild sweet
William
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.9-6.8
C L
meadows,
streambanks,
thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DE
PA VA
WV
aromatic; showy flowers;
a frequent escapee from
cultivationMay-Sep, rose,
pink, purple, rarely
white
capsule
PLANTSWSJ
Phlox paniculata
summer phlox,
garden phlox
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich, open woods,
roadsides,
streambanks,
thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC
PA VA
WV
aromatic; showy flowers
frequently escapes from
cultivationJul-Oct, pink,
red-purple, white
capsule
RHW,USFWSBES
Phlox stolonifera
creeping phlox
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
rich woods Region:
States:
M
DC MD
VA
WV
Apr-Jun, blue,
red-purple, violet
capsule
RHW,USFWSBES
Phlox subulata
moss phlox, moss-
pink
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
5.7-7.5
C L S
rock crevices,
ledges
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
NY VA
WV
nice rock garden plant
Apr-Jun, rose,
pink, white
capsule
USFWSBES,USFWSBES,RHW
Physostegia
virginiana
obedient plant,
false dragonhead
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
moist open areas,
streambanks,
shorelines
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
PA VA
WV
flowers showy; spreads
rapidly by underground
stems; best in full sun; can
escape cultivation
Jun-Sep, pink
to purple
nut/nut-like
USFWSBES,USFWSBES
Podophyllum
peltatum
Mayapple
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich woods, open
fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
ripe fruit edible; woodland
groundcover; mottled
foliageApr-May, white
yellow, berry
RHW

32
Herbaceous Plants
Polemonium
reptans
Jacob’s ladder,
Greek valerian
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L S
rich or rocky woods,
wooded floodplains
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
attractive flowers; slow
spreader; herbal uses
Apr-Aug, blue
capsule
RHW
Polygonatum
biflorum
Solomon’s seal,
dwarf Solomon’s
seal
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
woods Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
flowers dangle along stalk
Apr-Jun, white
or green
blue to black, berry
RHW
Polygonatum
pubescens
Solomon’s seal,
downy Solomon’s
seal
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
States:
M P C
DE
NY PA VA
WV
herbal uses; edible
Apr-Jun,
yellowish-green
blue to black, berry
UWIKJS
Porteranthus
trifoliatus
(Gillenia trifoliata)
Bowman’s root
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
open upland
woods, clearings,
rocky slopes,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
PA VA
WV
established plants drought
tolerant; spreads to form
tight clumps; seldom needs
dividing; yellow fall color
May-Jul, white
pod
RHW
Pycnanthemum
incanum
hoary mountain
mint
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
C L S
upland woods,
fields, thickets,
barrens
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Sep, white
to lavender, purple
spots
nut/nut-like
RHW
Pycnanthemum
tenuifolium
narrow-leaved
mountain mint
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
streambanks,
floodplains, moist
fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Sep, purple
to white
nut/nut-like
PLANTSRM89
Rhexia virginica
Virginia meadow-
beauty
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
L
open areas Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
VA
WV
also R. mariana for MD
Jun-Sep, dark
pink
capsule
RHW
Rudbeckia fulgida
early, eastern, or
orange coneflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
moist fields,
meadows
Region:
States:
P
DC DE MD
VA
cultivars have nice foliage
Jul-Oct, yellow-
orange, black eye
capsule
USFWSRL

33
Herbaceous Plants
Rudbeckia hirta
black-eyed Susan
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
6-7
C L
fields, meadows,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Oct, yellow,
black eye
capsule
USDAMG
Rudbeckia
laciniata
tall, green-
headed, or cutleaf
coneflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-10’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4.5-7
C L S
floodplains,
streambanks, fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
herbal uses
Jul-Sep, yellow
capsule
RHW
Rudbeckia triloba
three-lobed
coneflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-4.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
fields, open woods,
rocky slopes
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Oct, yellow
or orange
capsule
PLANTSWSJ
Ruellia
caroliniensis
Carolina wild
petunia
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
woods, roadsides,
thickets, waste
places
Region:
States:
C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
actually in the nightshade
family, flower fragile; a
highly variable speciesMay-Aug,
lavender-blue
capsule
RHW
Sabatia angularis
rose pink, common
marsh-pink
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
C L S
moist open woods,
fields, marshes,
meadows; uplands,
shores
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
Jul-Oct, pink
or white
capsule
RHW
Salvia lyrata
lyre-leaf sage
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
moist pastures,
upland woods,
thickets, waste
areas
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
VA
WV
Apr-Jun, violet
nut/nut-like
RHW
Sanguinaria
canadensis
bloodroot
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich woods, open
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
showy flowers, but blooms
fleetingly; herbal uses
Mar-May, white
capsule
RHW
Saxifraga
pensylvanica
eastern swamp
saxifrage
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
C L S
wet woods, bogs,
swamps
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
Apr-Jun, white
to green
capsule
RHW

34
Herbaceous Plants
Saxifraga
virginiensis
early saxifrage
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
rock crevices, dry
slopes, woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Mar-May, white
capsule
RHW
Scutellaria
integrifolia
rough or hyssop
skullcap, helmet
flower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M W
swamps, bogs,
moist woods, fields
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
May-Jul, blue,
pink, white
blackish,
nut/nutlike
RHW
Sedum ternatum
mountain
stonecrop, wild
stonecrop
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
damp rocks, rocky
banks, cliffs, woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
creeping stems; used in
rock gardens
Apr-Jun,
greenish-white
pod
RHW
Senna marilandica
(Cassia
marilandica)
Maryland or
southern wild senna
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4-7
L S
dry roadsides,
thickets, open
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
pods important food for
upland gamebirds
Jul-Aug, yellow
pod
USFWSBES,USFWSBES
Silene caroliniana
wild pink
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
dry open woods,
rocky slopes,
roadside banks,
shale barrens
Region:
States:
M C
DC DE MD
VA
semi-evergreen; native to
limestone areas
Apr-Jun, white
to pink
capsule
RHW
Silene stellata
starry campion,
widow’s frill
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
wooded slopes,
roadside banks,
barrens
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
drought-tolerant;
naturalizes in woods
Jun-Sep, white
capsule
RHW
Silene virginica
fire pink
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
upland woods,
wooded slopes,
streambanks,
clearings
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE
VA
WV
Apr-Jul, dark
pink to red
capsule
RHW
Silphium
perfoliatum
cup plant
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3-8’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
floodplains, fields,
moist meadows,
woods
Region:
States:
M P
DC
VA
WV
Jul-Oct, yellow
capsule
PLANTSDL

35
Herbaceous Plants
Sisyrinchium
angustifolium
(S. graminoides)
blue-eyed grass
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5-7
C L
grassy areas, damp
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
grasslike leaves; also S.
montanum in NY
Apr-Jun, blue-
violet
brown, capsule
CMNRCS
Sisyrinchium
atlanticum
coastal or eastern
blue-eyed grass
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
marshes, meadows,
low woods
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
leaves grasslike,
more slender than S.
angustifoliumMay-Jul, blue-
violet
capsule
UWIJS
Solidago caesia
bluestem
goldenrod, wreath
goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.5-7
C L
rich deciduous
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
stems bluish or purplish
Aug-Oct, yellow
capsule
RHW
Solidago
canadensis
var. scabra
(S. altissima)
tall or late
goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
3.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L
woods, fields,
riverbanks,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jul-Nov, yellow
capsule
UWI,RRK
Solidago
canadensis
Canada goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
4.8-7.5
C L S
fields, roadsides Region:
States:
M P C
DE
NY VA
WV
Jul-Oct, yellow
capsule
UWIMRB
Solidago
flexicaulis
broad leaf or zig
zag goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.3-7
L
moist woods, rocky
wooded slopes
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Oct, yellow
capsule
RHW
Solidago juncea
early goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-4’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
S
fields, meadows,
rocky slopes,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Jun-Oct, yellow
capsule
RHW
Solidago
nemoralis
gray, dwarf, old-
field, or one-sided
goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
6.5-7.5
L S
fields, open woods,
roadsides
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tolerates poor soils
Jun-Nov, yellow
capsule
RHW

36
Herbaceous Plants
Solidago odora
sweet goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
dry open woods,
barrens
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE
NY VA
WV
Jul-Oct, yellow
capsule
RHW
Solidago rugosa
wrinkle-leaf or
rough-stemmed
goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5-7.5
L S
fields, woods,
floodplains,
roadsides, waste
places
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
tough plant; aggressive;
strongly colonial
Aug-Nov,
capsule
RHW
Solidago
sempervirens
seaside goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
5.5-7.5
L S
coastal areas,
dunes
Region:
States:
C
DC DE MD
VA
coastal plant, may occur
where road salts are used
Jul-Nov, yellow
capsule
RHW
Solidago speciosa
showy or slender
goldenrod
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
2-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
dry to moist open
woods and fields
Region:
States:
M P
DC MD
NY VA
Jul-Oct, yellow
capsule
PLANTSTGB
Spiranthes cernua
nodding ladies’
tresses
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-2’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
4.5-6.5
C L S
meadows, open
woods, roadsides,
bogs
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
orchid flowers; herbal uses
Jul-Nov, white
USFWSBES
Stachys tenuifolia
(S. hispida)
hedge nettle
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-3.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
5.7-7.4
C L S
wooded
bottomlands,
streambanks,
meadows, fields
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
VA
WV
Jun-Aug, white
to pink
nut/nut-like
RHW
Stellaria pubera
star chickweed,
great chickweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
woods, shaded
rocky areas
Region:
States:
M P ?
DC MD
VA
WV
Mar-Jun, white
capsule
RHW
Symphyotrichum
cordifolium
(Aster cordifolius)
heart-leaved aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
upland meadows,
woods
Region:
States:
M P C
DC
NY PA VA
WV
Aug-Oct, blue-
violet to rose
RHW

37
Herbaceous Plants
Symphyotrichum
ericoides
var. ericoides
(Aster ericoides)
heath, white heath,
or dense-flowered
aster; frostweed
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-6.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
L S
dry fields, forest
edges, woods,
thickets
Region:
States:
M P
DC DE MD
NY
WV
forms dense mounds
Jul-Nov, white,
rarely blue, violet,
rose
RHW
Symphyotrichum
laeve var. laeve
(Aster laevis)
smooth blue aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D
C L S
open areas, forest
edges
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
Aug-Oct, pale
blue, violet, white
MOBOT
Symphyotrichum
novae-angliae
(Aster
novae-angliae)
New England aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-6’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
open woods,
seasonal wetlands,
shores, meadows
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
showy, frequently
cultivated; tolerates drier
soils and seasonal floodingAug-Oct, violet
USFWS
Symphyotrichum
novi-belgii
var. novi-belgii
(Aster novi-belgii)
New York aster
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-4.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
L
thickets, meadows,
shores
Region:
States:
P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
Jul-Oct, blue-
violet
RHW
Symplocarpus
foetidus
skunk cabbage
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-3’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
W
4-7
C L S
fresh tidal and
nontidal marshes
and shrub swamps,
forested wetlands,
seeps
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY VA
WV
flower inconspicuous,
emerges before leaves; sap
has skunk-like odorFeb-May, green
to purple-brown
RHW,USFWSBES
Thalictrum
dioicum
early meadow rue
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1-2.5’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M
L
rich rocky woods,
ravines, alluvial
terraces
Region:
States:
M P C
DC MD
NY PA VA
WV
Apr-May, green
to purple
capsule
RHW
Thalictrum
pubescens
(T. polygamum)
tall meadow rue
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
1.5-9’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
M W
rich woods, low
thickets, swamps,
meadows,
streambanks
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
foliage similar to
columbines; clump-forming;
delicate flowers; species
very variable
Jun-Aug, white
RHW
Thalictrum
thalictroides
(Anemonella
thalictroides)
rue anemone,
windflower
Height:
Flowers:
Fruit:
0.5-1’ Light:
Moisture:
Soil pH:
Soil type:
D M
C L S
wooded banks and
thickets
Region:
States:
M P C
DC DE MD
NY PA VA
WV
foliage similar to
columbines
Apr-Jun, white
RHW
capsule

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