Actaea racemosa (Bugbane)

Bugbane is a herbaceous, clumping periennal that is native to North America.   Averaging 18-36 inches wide and 2 1/2 feet wide it has fragrant white blooms in June - August.  Grow in moist soil in full to dappled  sunlight.  The common name (bugbane) is in reference to the odoriferous insect repellant properties of this plant.  You may want to stake the flower spires.  It has tall fernlike foliage which makes an attractive addition to the garden.
Purchased : 2006  
Status:11/09
This plant was doing well until it didn't get enough water during drought.  The leaves became "crispy" and never quite recovered.  We'll be monitoring it in 2010 more closely.  

Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair Fern, Northern Maidenhair)

Maidenhair is a woodland fern native to North America.  It grows 2 feet high by 1 1/2 feet wide. From spring to fall the finger like fronds have a lacy and airy appearance.  It grows well in moist but not wet soil.  It thrives in partial to full shade.  Maidenhair fern is inherently tough, although it has a delicate look to it.  They are lovely naturalized in a forested area and can impart an almost tropical feeling ot a more controlled garden.  This plant's fiddleheads emerge pink in the spring.  This is a low maintenance plant.  Propagate by division.
Donated: 2009  
Status:11/09
Too new to determine what if any problems this plant will have in our garden.

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Indian Turnip)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a native tuberous-rooted perennial.  It grows up to 2 feet high and 12-18 inches wide.  From April through June leaf stalks bear hooded spoth of green or purple with white stripes (the pulpit) and a green or purple spadix (jack).  This woodland plant likes moderate to moist soil in partial to full shade.  After the exotic looking flower fades, a cluster of red berries appear and lastsfor much of the summer.  The leaves fade away by mid summer if the plant is not watered regularly, but grows back in the spring from an underground tuber.  Seed sown in the fall will germinate the following spring.
Donated: 2007  
Status:11/09
This plant is did well in our garden in 2009.

Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger)

Ginger is a North American native groundcover (there is a non native variety as well) that grows six inches tall and eight inches wide.  It has lovely heart shaped dense foliage.  In the spring look under the leaves for interesting brownish maroon flowers.  It perfers moist soil in partial to full shade.  The heart shaped leaves smell like ginger when crushed.
Donated: 2008  
Status:11/09
This plant bloomed this year.  It did well until it had to contend with lack of water in the heat of the summer.  It did however, recouperate well once it got enough water.  It is spreading well.


Cercis canadensis (Redbud, Judas Tree, Spicewood Tree)

Redbuds are native to North America.  Growing 20-30 feet tall and 15-35 feet wide this understory tree is one of the earliest bloomers.  From March to May showy, light to dark pink flowers (approx. 1/2" in length) appear on bare stems and sometimes on the trunk before leaves appear.  Redbuds like moist but not soggy soil, however once established they can tolerate drought conditions.  The grow in either sun or light shade, generally at the edge of woodlands.  They can form a dense undergrowth in shady wooded areas.  When grown in sun Rebuds tend to be compact and rounded; in shade, they take a more loose, open and tall shape.  Redbuds may be large multi-trunk shrubs or small trees with a trunk divided close to the ground.  It is a legume and forms three inch seed pods containing ten to twelve seeds which fall to the ground in early winter.  They are fast growing, about 7-10 inches in five to six years and do well in either acid or alkaline soils as long as they drain well.  The are however, shortlived and may decline from disease after twenty years or so.  Some areas of Appalachia use the green twigs to season game which is where it's nickname Spicewood Tree comes from.
Donated: 2007  
Status:11/09
This plant is doing very well.   We transplanted one in early fall (making sure to provide plenty of water) and kept one where it was originally planted.   We originally had more but put them in a plant sale this year since we didn't need them.  When originally planted we compared bareroot potting vs potted plant and after two years didn't notice any significant difference.

Chrysogonum virginiana (Green and Gold)

A Northern American native, Green and Gold is a wonderful groundcover for woodland gardens. This wonderful plant spreads quickly.  It stands only four inches tall but is a tough drought resistant plant that is very easy to grow.  It has golden yellow daisy like blooms which it produces all summer long (although it does slow down during the worse of the heat/drought).  It has branching, hairy leaves. If the leaves become "crispy" cut them off, it will quickly produce new foliage.  It prefers well drained soil in sun to part shade.
Donated: 2007  
Status:11/09
The leaves of this plant did become "crispy" but nonetheless, they are looking good. It spread nicely from last year and we are very pleased with it's performance.      

Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf coreopsis, Tickseed)

Tickseed is a North American native herbaceous perennial which grows 18-36 inches tall and wide. Blooming from late spring until mid summer (cut back after intial flowering to promote a summer flush) the bright yellow single flowers appear on slendar stalks.  Threadlike narrow leaves are two to three inches long.  Ideally it likes full sun in well drained (dry) soil.  It is found growing in or near dry woodlands.  Tickseed can be a noxious, invasive plant.  This drought tolerant plant (which is suitable for zeriscaping) is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.  Tickseed is deer resistant and self sows freely.  Deadhead if you are not interested in having seedlings the next season.  Propogation may be achieved by several methods, by dividing the rootball or by various methods of seeding.  In collecting seeds, all the seed heads to dry on plants, then remove and collect them.  If properly cleaned, they can be successfully stored.  Seed may be sown directly outdoors in the fall.  In winter, the seeds may be sown in vented containers, cold frames or unheated greenhouses.
Donated: 2007   Additional plants bought: 2008
Status:11/09
This plant looked good for most of the year.  Towards the end of summer there was a mildew issue.  We cut them down to the ground and will keep an eye out for disease in the coming year.  This plant is near a smoke tree which has purple leaves making a nice contrast.       

Cornus sericea (Twig Dogwood)

Twig dogwood shrub is native to North America.   It grows 4-8 feet high and up to 10 feet wide. White blooms appear in spring but one of the best reasons to grow this shrub is the bright red or yellow twigs in the winter.  Once established it tolerates drought.  It perfers full sun to partial shade. Prune old wood to encourage bright twig color.
Purchased: 2007  Additional plants bought: 2009
Status:11/09
The original plants we bought in 2007 finally are starting to look better.  We were able to prevent futher deer damage.  They survived the dryness of this past summer pretty well.  The new plants however did not fair well.  We're not sure one of them will survive but will wait until Spring to determine whether to remove it.      

Geranium maculatum (Cranesbill, Native Geranium)

Cranesbill is a North American native groundcover.  It's sprawling, clumping habit makes it useful to fill in areas in garden beds.  It grows 18-24 inches wide/high.  The spring blooms can be lilac, pink or white and bloom for a long time.  It is not particular about water requirements once established.  It prefers partial sun/shade. This plant is easy to grow.
Purchased: 2007 and 2009
Status:11/09
This plant has done okay.  We added more this year since we only had three plants which hasn't made much of an impact yet although we haven't had it in our garden for three years yet, we decided to add a few more into the same area. The original one is "expresso" which has dark leaves and the new one is the non-hybridized version with green leaves.

Iris cristata (Dwarf crested Iris, Woodland crested iris)

Crested iris is a perennial native to North America.  This small (only 4-6 inches) plant blooms for a couple of weeks in April.  The flowers which can be pale blue, lavender or white are short lived but well worth the spring show.  It prefers fairly moist soil in partial to full shade.  Crested iris is suitable as a ground cover in shade gardens.  Make them showy by planting in drifts of 20-100.  The clumps will spread quickly and form dense colonies in optiumum growing conditions.  Watch for snails/slug damage. This plant is easy to divide by rhizomes just after blooming or in the fall after the leaves die down.  Although the bloom season is short, the soft drooping foliage of this plant alone makes it worth planting.
Purchased: 2006
Status:11/09
This plant has done very well under a tree in our garden.  They have spread very nicely and the drift of soft leaves look good throughout the summer.  We plan to divide this plant in the spring and add some around a second tree in our bed.