Aconitum fischeri (Monkshood, Wolfsbane)

The monkshood planted in our garden is not native to North America.  It is a perennial plant that grows 24-36 inches tall and 15-18 inches wide.  It prefers sun to partial shade with moist soil.  One of the best attributes of this plant is the lovely blue flowers that appear in mid to late autumn.  To control the legginess this plant can sometime have, trim 1/3 of the plant in mid summer or provide some type of support.  The native variety does not require this extra care. Divide in early spring or late fall.  All parts of Monkshood is poisonous.  Use gloves when handling.
Purchased: 2007
This plant is struggling but we are researching what we can do to help make it a happier plant.  We believe that the drought this summer took it's toll on this plant and it did not bloom.  We will also trim it by about 1/3 during the summer to hopefully make the plant more compact.  Given it's bloom time we really would like to find a way to keep this plant.

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Cameo' (Flowering Quince)

This blooming shrub is not a native of Norh America.  This variety has lovely peach colored blooms from early spring through summer.  It likes to be grown in well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. In optimum conditions this plant will grow to 4-5 feet tall and wide.  The resulting fruit is attractive to birds.  This particular cultivar is thornless.  Renewing pruning is often beneficial.  Drought tolerant once established.
Purchased: 2006
This plant started out looking good this year but seemed to suffer during the dry conditions in the summer.  It may also be in an area that is too shady for optimum growing conditions.  We will monitor it closely in the next year to hopefully help it establish.

Epimedium (Barrenwort)

Barrenwort is a non-native perennial groundcover.  It only grows six to eight inches tall.  The delicate blooms come in an array of colors - lavender, rose, yellow, white, copper and pink.  It blooms from mid to late spring and some varieties have leaves that remain through winter (trim them in early spring before the flowers and new leaves appear).  Barrenwort thrives in partial to full shade and will tolerate dry soil once it is established.  Divide either in spring after blooming or in autumn before a hard freeze. Deer resistant plant with attractive heart shape leaves.  Slow to moderate, depending on variety and growing conditions, to spread.
Purchased: 2006
This plant appears to be doing well.  The variety "sulphureum" is doing better than the other two ("lilafee" and "niveum").  "Sulphureum" is also one of the varitites that keeps it's leaves in the winter. The decisions was made that if more Epimedium would be added to the garden we would only add this particular one.  We plan to divide them in the spring.

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

Lenten Rose is a non-native herbaceous perennial that grows 2 feet high/wide.  This plant is great for the winter garden since it maintains its leaves all winter.  Blooms of white, green, pink, rose, purple or speckled can appear as early as the end of December.  Likes moist, well drained soil.  Does not like to dry out in the summer.  Thrives in partial to full shade.  This is the most commonly grown of the Helleborus.  It has large nodding flowers in a variety of colors.  Trim back the old foliage before blooms appear.  Propagate from seed or by division in autumn.  Do not move often.  Lenten rose is very so to establish.  Plant is poisonous.
Purchased: 2006
This plant is doing great.  This year we have seedlings which we plan to transplant in the spring. The plants are getting larger and the blooms were large.  Since this plant does not like to be moved we won't be dividing them.

Phlox divarigata (Woodland phlox)

This non-North American native groundcover is evergreen.  It is a good plant to use as filler between other plants.  It grows 12-15 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide.  It blooms in spring with blossoms being either light blue, white or lavender.  It likes moist humus-rich conditions.  It prefers partial to ful shade.  Woodland Phlox can reseed heavily to create a beautiful display in naturalized or woodland areas.  It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  This plant can suffer from powdery mildew in hot humid conditions.  Shear the plant back after blooming to encourage new growth and help combat the mildew.  Leafy shoots spread along the ground, rooting at the nodes.  Foliage will die down if allowed to dry out in summer or if it is in too much sun but the plant will return the following spring.
Donated: 2007
This plant has done well in our garden.  It has start spreading.  We need to be careful not to cover it with mulch in the spring.

Pieris japonica 'Prelude' (Prelude Pieris, Japanese Pieris)

Pieris is a not native to North America.  It is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that grows from 1 1/2 feet high and 2-3 feet wide.  In spring, urn-shaped, weakly fragrant flowers appear in drooping clusters. They start out pink and turn white as they age.  It has evergreen foliage making it a great asset for winter interest.  It has bright pink new growth which ages to dark green and finally turns bronze-green in late fall.  It prefers well drained soil with average amounts of water in sun to partial shade. This slow growing dwarf variety can be grown from cuttings.  Hardy in zones 5 - 8.  Foliage is poisonous. Deer resistant.
Purchased: 2009

Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal)

This herbaceous perennial is a native of North America grows one to three feet tall.  From April through June they produce one to five small, bell-shaped flowers.  Flowers of some varities may be chartreuse, yellow, white or near-white.  From August through October bluish-black berries appear.  Being a woodland native this plant perfers shaded locations in well-drained, moist, loamy soil. Solomon's Seal, which is a member of the lily family is fairly tough and will tolerate less than ideal conditions.  If planted in optimum conditions, Solomon's Seal will mulitply very rapidly by creeping rhizomes.  If propagating by seed, sow in autumn for germination in early spring.  Roots may be divided at any time, although fall is the perferred time.
P. biflorum - native variety
P. falcatum - non native variety
Purchased: 2006 

Pulmonaria saccharata (Lungwort, Bethlehem Lungwort, Jerusalem Sage)

This herbaceous perennial is not native to North America but does well in our mid-atlantic climate.  Growing 1 1/2 feet high by 2 feet wide in partial to full shade, this beautiful plant can be used as a groundcover.  In spring, blossoms are pink when they first open and fade to blue as they age.  It has the added attraction of pretty spotted foliage which will last until frost if given enough water during drought conditions.  This plant is intolerant of strong sun light.  Propagate either by division or by seed.
Purchased: 2006

Tricyrtis hirta, Tricyrtis japonica (Toadlily, Hair Toad Lily)

Toadlily is not native to North America.  This herbaceous perennial grows 18-24 inches tall and wide.  This plant blooms in late summer to mid fall.  The interesting blooms come in purple, white or near white (sometimes spotted) and the foliage comes in green, chartruese or yellow mottled.  It requires consistent moisture and should not be allowed to dry out between waterings.  The will tolerate dry conditions but will not thrive without sufficient water.  It grows well in partial to full shade.  All parts of toadlily are poisonous if ingested.  It is deer resistant.  Propagate by seeds which can be sown in winter in vented containers, cold frames or unheated greenhouses.  Seeds may also be sown before the last frost in the spring. Dividing the clumps every three to five years will keep them growing vigorously and producing more flowers.
Purchased: 2006