Arisaema triphyllum — Jack in the pulpit. Shade to part shade. 1’-2’ tall. Unusual flower, red berries in fall. Moist to wet. Heavy shade OK, Walnut tolerant. There and male and female plants. The fascinating thing about this plant is that, from year to year, an individual plant can change from male to female. The female plant sports the bright red berries shown above. Both male and female have the unusual flower.
Caltha palustris — Marsh marigold. Ground hugging, dark green glossy leaves. Bright yellow flowers in spring. Standing water OK. Deer and rabbit resistant. It can tolerate temporary dryness, by going dormant. When moisture resumes it will come back.
Coreopsis rosea — Pink tickseed. Sun to part sun. Thin threadlike delicate leaves, small pink flowers in summer rise above the leaves to about 12”. Can be used as a ‘ground-cover’. Deer resistant. Supports songbirds, pollinators, and butterflies.
Lobelia cardinalis — Cardinal flower. Dark green basal leaves. Bright red flowers in spikes up to 2 foot high. Lights up the shade garden. Prefers shade to part shade. Can tolerate more sun with more moisture. Hummingbirds love it! Walnut tolerant
Lobelia siphilitica — Great blue lobelia. Blue-Violet flowers late summer to fall. Native bees, hummingbirds and other butterflies visit this lush spike. Sun to shade. Deer resistant. Clay soil OK.
Mertensia virginica — Virginia bluebells. A spring ephemeral whose foliage gradually disappears as spring progresses into summer. Typically grows in moist areas will tolerate drier sites in summer. Part sun to shade. Blue-violet bell-shaped flowers. Provides nectar for various bees and occasionally the ruby-throated hummingbird.
Supposedly if you squish the flower, it will look like the face of a monkey. Hence the common name, Monkey Flower.
Mimulus ringens — Monkey flower. Attractive light green foliage and violet to blue flowers. Sun, moist soil. Long blooming, allow to re-seed. Bumblebees and other pollinators visit this flower.
Penstemon digitalis – Beardtongue. Sun, wet to moist soil. Tolerates clay, sand, alkaline soil, heat, drought, and dry shade. Bees, butterflies, sphinx moth and hummingbirds visit the flowers. Blooms white in June and July. Clay soil OK.
Sedum ternatum – Stonecrop. Mat-forming evergreen succulent. This plant can adapt to dry or moist, becoming plumper with more moisture. Part sun to light shade is best. Tolerant of shade, rocky soil, and alkaline soil. Walnut tolerant and deer resistant. White flowers in early summer.
Senecio aureus — Golden Groundsel. Dark green round leaves cover the ground. Spikes of happy yellow flowers reaching 1’ to 2’ cover the plant in late spring. Long bloom period. This plant will form a mat on the ground in any wet area. Part sun to part shade, moist to wet soil. Butterflies and pollinators.
