'Hummingbird' Summersweet
Name: Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'
Zones: 4-9
Growing Conditions: Part shade and consistently moist to wet, acidic soil
Size: 2-4 feet tall and slightly wider
Description: A compact shrub with fragrant white flowers in late summer that attract butterflies. The flowers stand out against glossy, deep green foliage. It performs well even in deep shade and develops vibrant yellow fall color. Suitable for foundation plantings or group plantings.
'Mount Airy' Fothergilla
Name: Fothergilla major 'Mount Airy'
Zones: 4-8
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, acidic, well-drained soil
Size: 3-5 feet tall and wide
Description: Produces honey-scented, bottlebrush-like white and yellow flowers in spring. The dark green, bluish-gray foliage remains attractive through summer before turning yellow, orange, and red-purple in fall. Suitable for borders, foundation plantings, hedges, and native gardens.
'Henry's Garnet' Virginia Sweetspire
Name: Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'
Zones: 5-9
Growing Conditions: Sun or shade and moist to average soil
Size: 3-4 feet tall
Description: A compact shrub offering interest across three seasons. Fragrant creamy white flower spikes appear in early summer, followed by striking garnet-red foliage in fall that can remain attractive beyond the first frost. Suitable for group plantings, hedges, and woodland gardens.
'Ivory Silk' Japanese Tree Lilac
Name: Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk'
Zones: 3-7
Growing Conditions: Full sun and average, well-drained soil
Size: 20-25 feet tall
Description: A small, easy-to-grow tree that produces creamy white, fragrant flower clusters up to 12 inches long in May or June. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It has good resistance to powdery mildew and other common lilac diseases.
Variegated Fragrant Solomon's Seal
Name: Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'
Zones: 3-8
Growing Conditions: Shade
Description: A shade-loving perennial with graceful arching stems and creamy white-and-green variegated foliage. Fragrant bell-shaped flowers appear in spring, followed by blue-black fruit in autumn. The foliage turns clear yellow in fall. It works well in shady borders and woodland gardens and combines nicely with astilbes and ferns.
Black Gum or Tupelo
Name: Nyssa sylvatica
Zones: 5-9
Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained, acidic soil
Size: 30-50 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide
Description: A striking tree with brilliant yellow, orange, red, and purple fall foliage. It produces abundant nectar and dark blue fruits that provide food for birds. Allow plenty of space for its mature size.
'Raydon's Favorite' Aromatic Aster
Name: Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'
Zones: 3-8
Size: 2-3 feet tall
Description: A low-growing perennial covered with lavender-blue flowers in autumn. Gray-green foliage provides attractive texture throughout the growing season. It works well with ornamental grasses, sedum, catmint, bluebeard, and perennial sunflowers. The flowers are suitable for cutting and attract butterflies. Deer generally avoid it.
Dixie Wood Fern
Name: Dryopteris × australis
Zones: 5-9
Growing Conditions: Partial shade and moist, acidic soil
Size: Up to 4 feet tall
Description: An impressive natural fern hybrid that can remain evergreen in warmer regions. It works well as a vertical accent or backdrop for shade-loving perennials. It tolerates a range of sun and soil conditions but performs best in partial shade with moist, acidic soil.
'Leonard Messel' Magnolia
Name: Magnolia × loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
Zones: 5-9
Size: 15-20 feet tall
Description: Large purple buds appear before the foliage emerges and open into fragrant, star-shaped white flowers with narrow petals. The contrasting purple buds and white flowers create a striking spring display. Plant in a sheltered location to protect the flowers from cold spring winds. Mulching helps keep the shallow root system cool and moist.
'Gibraltar' Bush Clover
Name: Lespedeza thunbergii 'Gibraltar'
Zones: 5-8
Size: 4-5 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide
Description: A vigorous shrub with long, arching branches and abundant purplish-pink flowers in August or September. It works well in perennial borders where it has room to spread and can also cascade over walls or down slopes. Prune stems in late winter to encourage new growth and flowering.
Raulston Allspice 'Hartlage Wine'
Name: × Sinocalycalycanthus raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'
Zones: 7-9
Growing Conditions: Partial shade
Size: 6-9 feet tall
Description: A vigorous shrub producing deep burgundy-red, pleasantly fragrant flowers in spring. It has glossy, deep green foliage and develops golden-yellow fall color. It is a hybrid of native Carolina allspice and a rare Chinese counterpart.
'Blue Ice' Bluestar
Name: Amsonia 'Blue Ice'
Zones: 4-9
Growing Conditions: Sun or light shade
Size: About 1 foot tall
Description: A compact perennial with dark blue-violet, star-shaped flowers. Its narrow, willow-like foliage provides fine texture, while its upright habit makes it suitable for borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, and edging. The foliage develops clear yellow fall color.
Lacebark Pine
Name: Pinus bungeana
Zones: 5-7
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: 20-30 feet tall
Description: An ornamental pine with a pyramidal form and long, bright green needles. Its most distinctive feature is its exfoliating bark, which develops irregular tan and cream patterns as the tree matures. It is slow-growing and can be trained to have a single trunk.
'Cloud Nine' Switchgrass
Name: Panicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine'
Zones: 5-9
Growing Conditions: Full sun or light shade; moist sandy or clay soil preferred
Size: Up to 6 feet tall
Description: A tall ornamental grass with metallic blue foliage and tiny golden flowers that appear above the upright stems in summer. It is heat- and drought-tolerant and can withstand cold temperatures. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry conditions, and is generally avoided by deer.
