Helleborus foetidus (Bear's Foot Hellebore, Stinking Hellebore)

Stinky hellebore is a non-native herbaceous perennial.  This plant is poisonous.  It grows 18 inches high/wide.  It is often grown for it's dark leathery green foliage which remains throughout the year.  The "flowers" are light green with purple margins.  This plant like moist well draining soil but will tolerate droughts once established.  It thrives in partial to full shade.  This plant gets it's name because it emits a somewhat unpleasant oder when bruised.  It will self sow freely if it is planted in optimum conditions.
Purchased: 2006
We originally planted three plants.  The first one died almost immediately.  The second one died a year later and the third one followed the next year.  We believe that they had a problem when we purchased them with their root systems. When the third one died, we noticed the roots were mushy with white fungus like smears on them.  Interestingly, we have Helleborus Orientalis in the same area and have not seen any problem with them.  

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)

This wonderful shrub is native to North America.  Growing 6-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide, it is a plant for all seasons.  The large oak shaped leaves have great fall color.  The large clusters of white flowers turn pinkish and then light brown by the end of fall.  The peeling bark is particularly nice in the landscape in the winter.  This shrub does not tolerate wet soils.  Growing anywhere from full sun to part shade this is an easy shrub to grow.  Parts of this plant are poisonous.  Deer can be a problem when growing this plant.
Donated: 2007 and 2008
We planted this twice in the same spot.  In both cases the root systems seemed to be completely eaten almost immediately.  We have since planted a ninebark near the same area which appears to be doing okay.

Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire, Gooseberry)

Sweetspire is a semi-evergreen shrub native to North America.  It grows four feet tall and six feet wide.  From June to July, this shrub produces very fragrant white spires of blooms.  In autumn, it has orange to bright red leaves which provide contrast to the light tan seed heads.  The leaves hang on long after most deciduous plants have dropped their leaves and will remain until temperatures reach 15-20° F.  It thrives in moist soils but will adapt to dry conditions if watered well until well established.  It also naturalizes well into thickets, through suckers, if left unchecked and although it will grow well in either sun or shade, it does best with at least six hours of sun daily.  Growth rate is medium to fast, particularly in moist areas.  It can be propagated by cuttings or division wich will rot in about four weeks readily (root hormone is not necessary).  Cuttings should be taken between May and September and division of suckers are best done in autumn.
Purchased:  2006
We planted three of these shrubs and they all died within the first couple of years.  We believe that it was because our soil did not at the time have enough compost added to it to enable it to hold on to moisture.  Since all three died there is also the possiblity that there were problems with the plants when we bought them that we didn't know existed.

Monarda didyma (Bee balm)

This herbaceous perennial is native to North America.  Averaging three feet high and two feet wide it blooms from June-September.  Blooms can be lavendar, rose, pink, red or white.  This plant likes full to part shade and moist soil.  It is an upright plant that is easy to grow.  It can suffer from powdery mildew, particularly if air cannot circulate around the plant.  It is deer resistant and attract bees.
Donated: 2007
This plant was doing okay with the following exceptions:  it developed mildew very quickly and it didn't bloom very well.  Both of these conditions may be due to the fact that it was planted in an area that might have been to shady.  We made the decision to remove the plant entirely since we didn't have a place with more sun available and we didn't want the mildew spreading to other plants (although we may be a little late on this since the coreopsis developed mildew this year)

Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive fern, Bead fern)

Sensitive fern is a perennial, deciduous fern that is native to North America.  It grows 18-20 inches tall and 12 inches wide.  Grown for it's fronds which appear in late spring and persist until frost, this plant also maintains it's fertile fronds for winter interest.  Watering needs are average perferring moist, loamy, silty or sandy soil.  It grows in partial sun to light shade but will tolerate full sun if sufficient water is provided to assure consistent moisture.  Sensitive ferns grow in wet meadows and woods, swamps, stream banks usually in slightly acidic soil.  The few loose leaves develop directly from rootstock.  The erect infertile leaves are two to three feet tall.  The fertile fronds of senstive fern bear spores in beadlike structures which split open to release spores and their leaves become dark brown through winter.  The root system consists of stout rhizomes which spread fibrous roots.  The branching rhizomes sometimes form small vegetative colonies. Propagate by dividing rhizomes.  The foliage is toxic to horses if eaten in quanity.  Deer may eat the fronds to a limited extent but the fern has limited value to wild life.  The name "sensitive fern" refers to the infertile leaves and their sensitivity to frost.  
Donated: 2008 and 2009
Our garden may not be moist enough for this plant even with the amount of compost we've put on the garden since it's inception.  We may try this plant one more time in another area before giving up on it entirely.  Although the one we put in this year appeared to die almost immediately, we'll be looking for any signs of it's return in the spring.

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