1. Hardy Hibiscus

Name: Hibiscus moscheutos

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist soil

Size: To 8 feet tall

Zones: 5-10

Description: Dinner-plate-sized flowers adorn the plants through late summer and early fall and appear in shades of red, pink, and white.

1. Indian Pink

Name: Spigelia marilandica

Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 2 feet tall

Zones: 6-9

Description: Offers bright red flowers topped with yellow. Plant toward the front of the border and enjoy this native perennial throughout the season.

1. Crested Iris

Name: Iris cristata

Growing Conditions: Part sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 3-9

Description: Bears delicate blue, white, or purple flowers in mid-spring. Its small clumps of foliage provide textural contrast in the shady garden.

1. Oakleaf Hydrangea

Name: Hydrangea quercifolia

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and average soil

Size: 4 to 8 feet tall

Zones: 5-9

Description: Has leaves shaped like oak leaves and produces white, panicle-shaped flowers in summer.

1. Bee Balm

Name: Monarda didyma

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 4-8

Description: Bears bright red blooms through the summer months. Its aromatic foliage is usually ignored by deer and rabbits.

1. Mountain Mint

Name: Pycnanthemum spp.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and average soil

Size: 3 to 6 feet tall

Zones: 4-9

Description: A native wildflower and herb with a minty aroma and nectar-rich flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Birds also eat its seeds.

1. Helen's Flower

Name: Helenium autumnale

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

Description: A fall-blooming daisy available in warm gold, red, orange, and other autumnal colors. It provides color at the end of the season.

1. Swamp Sunflower

Name: Helianthus angustifolius

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist loamy soil

Size: To 8 feet tall

Zones: 5-9

Description: Produces showy yellow flowers from late summer to early fall and performs well in moist soil and clay loams. Shorter cultivars include 'First Light', which grows to 4 feet, and 'Low Down', which grows to about 2 feet.

1. Stokes' Aster

Name: Stokesia laevis

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 5-10

Description: A tough perennial with a long blooming season. Blue or lavender flowers appear continuously through summer and into fall.

1. Mock Orange

Name: Philadelphus lewisii

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and average soil

Size: 6 to 14 feet tall

Zones: 4-8

Description: A native shrub that works well as a specimen plant, in borders, or as a loose privacy hedge. It produces fragrant white flowers in spring that smell like orange blossoms.

1. Royal Catchfly

Name: Silene regia

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 5-8

Description: Produces bright red trumpet flowers in mid- and late summer and attracts hummingbirds.

1. Northern Sea Oats

Name: Chasmanthium latifolium

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

Description: An ornamental grass that tolerates light shade. Its delicate oat-like heads provide winter interest. It can spread quickly, so give it plenty of room or keep it contained.

1. Native Azalea

Name: Rhododendron spp.

Growing Conditions: Filtered shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: 2 to 15 feet tall, depending on variety

Zones: 4-9

Description: Deciduous native azaleas produce showy spring blooms in shades of gold, yellow, peach, orange, white, and flaming red.

1. Woodland Phlox

Name: Phlox divaricata

Growing Conditions: Full to part sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 16 inches tall

Zones: 3-8

Description: A disease-resistant perennial that tolerates shade and produces blue, purple, or white fragrant flowers in spring.

1. Swamp Lily

Name: Crinum americanum

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist to wet soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 8-11

Description: Produces clusters of pink or white flowers from spring to fall and has long, blue-green, strap-like leaves.

1. Bugbane

Name: Actaea racemosa

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist soil

Size: To 5 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

Description: Produces tall spires of white flowers from late summer into fall. It works well as an accent in shade gardens and performs best with plenty of moisture.

1. Rain Lily

Name: Zephyranthes candida

Growing Conditions: Sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 18 inches tall

Zones: 7-10

Description: Produces charming flowers in red, pink, and white during autumn.

1. Sweetbay Magnolia

Name: Magnolia virginiana

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and average soil

Size: 10 to 20 feet tall

Zones: 5-10

Description: A small native tree with fragrant, creamy white flowers and scarlet seed heads. It grows in most soils and can tolerate periodic flooding.

1. Pitcher Plant

Name: Sarracenia purpurea

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist or wet soil

Size: To 18 inches tall

Zones: 4-7

Description: A carnivorous plant suited to swampy areas, with interesting funnel-shaped leaves and unusual spring flowers.

1. Foamflower

Name: Tiarella cordifolia

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 3-8

Description: A groundcover for shady spots that produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in early spring.

1. Crossvine

Name: Bignonia capreolata

Growing Conditions: Full sun and average soil

Size: 30 to 50 feet tall

Zones: 6-9

Description: A fast-growing evergreen vine that can grow over fences or across the ground. It has dark green summer foliage and dark purple winter foliage. In spring, it produces orange, yellow, or orange-red flowers. It is drought-tolerant and can tolerate standing water for brief periods.

1. False Indigo

Name: Baptisia australis

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 5 feet tall

Zones: 3-9

Description: Produces blue or purple flowers in late spring, followed by blue-green foliage and charcoal-gray seed pods.

1. Louisiana Iris

Name: Iris spp.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist to wet soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 5-9

Description: Native to Southern wetlands and suitable for low-lying areas, ponds, rain gardens, and bog gardens. Flowers appear in late spring to early summer in shades of purple, blue, pink, yellow, red, and white.

1. Red Buckeye

Name: Aesculus pavia

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and average soil

Size: 25 to 30 feet tall

Zones: 6-9

Description: Produces 6-inch-long clusters of deep red flowers in spring. It can grow in clay, sandy soil, or loam and has some drought tolerance.

1. White Fringe Tree

Name: Chionanthus virginicus

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and average soil

Size: 12 to 30 feet tall

Zones: 4-9

Description: A small tree or large shrub with glossy dark green leaves, a domed shape, and clusters of white fringe-like flowers in spring.

1. Pink Muhly Grass

Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris

Growing Conditions: Full sun and any soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 5-9

Description: A native ornamental grass that adds late-season color with pink plumes. It tolerates heat, humidity, drought, poor soil, and salt.

1. White Oak

Name: Quercus alba

Growing Conditions: Full sun and average soil

Size: 50 to 80 feet tall

Zones: 3-9

Description: A massive, long-lived tree that provides cooling shade and habitat for wildlife.

1. Eastern Red Cedar

Name: Juniperus virginiana

Growing Conditions: Full sun and average soil

Size: 40 to 50 feet tall

Zones: 2-9

Description: An aromatic evergreen with a dramatic cone shape and red-gray bark. It is suitable for windbreaks and hedges and tolerates heat, poor soil, and drought.

1. Spotted Beebalm

Name: Monarda punctata

Growing Conditions: Full to part sun and dry soil

Size: 1 to 4 feet tall

Zones: 4-9

Description: A perennial that thrives in dry soils and tolerates poor soil, drought, and heat. Its lavender summer flowers attract pollinators, while deer and rabbits generally avoid it.

1. Indian Blanket

Name: Gaillardia pulchella

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in average soil

Size: 1 to 2 feet tall

Zones: 3-10

Description: Produces red-centered flowers fringed in yellow and works as a flowering groundcover. It tolerates poor soil, extreme heat, and drought.