|
Botanical name |
Common name |
Height |
Spread |
USDA zone |
Remarks |
|
Aruncus
dioicus |
goats beard, cutleaf |
4-7' |
3' |
3-9 |
Creamy-white flowers in branching plumes. Cut
back in fall. |
|
A d. 'Kneiffii' |
dwarf goatsbeard |
3' |
2' |
4 |
More compact. Worth growing for extremely
finely cut foliage. |
|
Asclepias
incarnata |
Swamp milkweed |
5' |
4-5' |
3 |
Tall tuberous-rooted perennial. Makes strong
clump. Prefers sun and rich humus soil. |
|
Aster novae-angliae in variety |
Michaelmas daisies |
5' |
3-4' |
2 |
Thrives in sun or semishade. May need support.
Well drained but moisture retentive soil. |
|
Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila' et al |
|
varies |
varies |
5-6 |
Wide range of colors. Finely divided leaves.
Spires of tiny colorful flowers in summer. |
|
Astilboides
tabularis aka (=Rodgersia tabularis) |
|
3-4' |
3-4' |
7 |
Great round leaves, foliage that is more
ornamental than the white flowers. Drooping cluster of small
creamy-white flowers. Grow in moist soil in sun or shade. |
|
Astrantia
major |
Masterwort |
24-36' |
18" |
4-9 |
Clump forming perennial with mid-green leaves.
Sprays of long-lasting green-tinged white or pink flowers. |
|
Camassia
leichtlinii |
Camassia |
3-4' |
12-24"" |
5-9 |
Tall slender spikes of star-shaped white or
violet flowers. Plant bulbs in fall in sun or part shade. Acid soil. |
|
Campanula lactiflora et al |
Bellflowers |
varies |
varies |
5-6 |
Thrives in moist but well-drained soil. Slugs
might be a problem. Delicate flower colors. |
|
Cardamine
pratensis |
Lady's smock or Cuckoo flower |
10" |
12" |
4 |
Delicate lilac flowers on straggly stems in
late spring and early summer. |
|
Celmisia Walkeri et al |
|
9" |
6' |
7 |
Alpine summer flowering evergreen subshrub or herbs. White
daisy-like flowers and long tapering leaves. Requires acid soil. |
|
Chelone
obliqua |
Turtlehead |
24-36" |
12-24" |
3-9 |
Stiff spikes of hooded rich lilac-pink flowers
in late summer. Does best in shade. |
|
Cimicifuga
simplex aka Actaea |
Bugbane, Black Cohosh |
4' |
24" |
5 |
Rod-like panicles of tiny white faintly scented
flowers in the fall. Like light shade. |
|
Clintonia
andrewsiana |
Bead lily |
24" |
12" |
8 |
Similar to lily-of-the-valley. Deep pink to
purple bell-shaped flowers in early summer. Blue berries. |
|
Coptis
trifolia |
Goldthread, Cankerroot |
6" |
6" |
3 |
Low-growing evergreen perennial with
saucer-shaped white flowers in spring. Good companion for ferns. |
|
Cornus
canadensis |
Creeping dogwood |
4-6" |
12" |
2 |
Forms ground cover of light green oval leaves.
Requires cool humus rich acidic soil. |
|
Darmera
peltata |
Umbrella plant, Indian Rhubarb |
3' |
24" |
5-7 |
Flatheads of pale pink flowers in spring. Good
for erosion control. |
|
Dierama
pulcherrimum |
Wand flower, Snowbells |
5' |
12" |
5-10 |
Bell-like deep pink to purple flowers rise above
strap-like leaves. Resents disturbance but reseeds freely once
established. |
|
Dodecatheon
pulchellum et al |
Shooting stars |
8" |
4" |
6 |
Vivid magenta to white flowers in late spring or early summer. Likes shade. |
|
Drosera
rotundifolia |
Common Sundew |
6" |
6" |
6 |
Carnivorous. Plant in equal parts sand and peat
moss. Fertilizer is harmful, must be nutrient poor as possible. White
flowers in summer. |
|
Eupatorium
purpureum |
Joe Pye weed, Queen of the Meadow
|
7' |
3' |
3-9 |
Wide flat terminal heads of pinkish-purple
flowers in late summer. Imposing end-of-summer display. |
|
Euphorbia
griffithii et al |
spurges or milkweeds |
24-30" |
24" |
5 |
White sap can irritate skin. Large number of
cultivars. Can be invasive. |
|
Filipendula
kamtschatica et al |
Meadowsweets |
5' |
8' |
3-8 |
Fernlike foliage. White or pale pink flowers. |
|
Francoa
appendiculata et al |
Bridal Wreath |
24" |
18" |
7 |
Spikes of small bell-shaped pale pink flowers.
Needs winter protection. |
|
Gentiana
asclepiadea |
Willow gentian |
3' |
24" |
5-9 |
Sprays of trumpet shaped flowers of the richest
blue. Plant in shade or part shade. Neutral to acid soil preferred. |
|
Geranium
'Johnson's Blue' |
Cranesbill |
12" |
24" |
5 |
Clump forming perennial with deep blue flowers
all summer. Will grow in all soils except waterlogged. |
|
Geum rivale |
Water avens |
12-18" |
12-18" |
3 |
Nodding cup shaped red flowers in summer. Grow
in sun or part shade. |
|
Helleborus
orientalis |
Lenten Rose |
18" |
18" |
6 |
Flowers in winter or early spring. Wide variety
of colors and hybrids. Grows best in semishade. |
|
Helonias
bullata |
Swamp pink or Stud flower |
15-18" |
12" |
6 |
Dense heads of little starry pink scented
flowers. Grow in sun. |
|
Heloniopsis
orientalis |
|
12" |
12" |
7 |
Mauve-pink flowers in spring. Perennial but may
need winter protection. |
|
Hemerocallis |
Day lilies |
24-36 |
30 |
4 |
Extremely large variety of
colors flowering times, and sizes. |
|
Heuchera cylindrica
'Greenfinch' |
|
24 |
I5 |
4 |
Perennial with evergreen
foliage. Good ground cover. |
|
Hibiscus grandiflora |
Swamp hibiscus |
8 |
6 |
9 |
Not frost hardy below 23
degrees. |
|
Hosta |
|
20-36 |
36 |
4 |
Grown for wide selection of
foliage. Many varieties and cultivars. |
|
Houttuynia cordata |
|
6-12 |
varies |
5 |
Aromatic heart-shaped
leaves. Creeping rhizomes will spread in wet soil or shallow water. Prefers
semi shade. |
|
Iris chrysographes |
Iris |
24 |
24 |
5 |
Many named varieties.
Similar to t. Sibirica. Specialized cells in flower petals refract light. |
|
I. ensata |
Japanese Iris |
24" |
12 |
4 |
Prefers slightly acid soil.
Many named varieties and colors. |
|
I. sibirica |
Siberian iris |
2-4 |
3 |
4 |
Many varieties and colors.
Good transition plant. |
|
Jeffersonia diphylla |
Twinleaf |
1' |
9 |
5 |
Slow growing perennial. Cup
shaped white flowers in late spring. Prefers shade. |
|
Juncus effusus |
Spikerush, softrush |
1 to 2' |
|
all |
Narrow, dark green leaves grow from a perennial rootstock to form a clump.
Clusters of small, brown flowers are produced at the tops of certain stems.
|
|
Juncus effusus spiralis |
Corkscrew spikerush |
24" |
|
|
Similar to Juncus effusus
except that the stems are spiralled, which creates an interesting effect.
Grows up to 2 feet high and forms clumps which can be divided every couple
of years. |
|
Leucojum aestivum et al |
Summer snowflake |
20 |
12 |
4 |
Bell-shaped white flowers
with green tips in spring. |
|
Ligularia dentata |
|
4 |
24 |
4 |
Shaggy orange daisy-like
flowers in midsummer. Needs shade. |
|
Lilium superbum |
Turks cap lily |
10 |
12 |
3 |
Whorls of lance-shaped
leaves. Loose clusters of nodding flowers with recurved petals. Grow in
neutral to acid soil. |
|
Lobelia cardinalis |
Cardinal flower |
24-36 |
12 |
3 |
Many varieties and species.
Tall spikes of red flowers. Will survive in water-logged soil. |
|
Lychnis flos-cuculi |
Ragged robin |
18 |
12 |
3 |
Shaggy-petalled flowers
well suited to the wild garden. Rose pink or white flowers. |
|
Lythrum salicaria |
Purple loosestrife |
4' |
4' |
|
Can be invasive but
cultivars are less so. Rose or pink flowers. Illegal in some states. |
|
Meconopsis betonicifolia |
Tibetan poppy |
3' |
18 |
3 |
Blue poppies require cool
temperatures. Hybrids are hardier and more weather resistant. Requires acid
soil, |
|
Mirnulus cardinalis |
Monkey musks |
3' |
24 |
7 |
Several species, M. ringens
is more cold tolerant. Scarlet to lilac colored flowers. Short lived
perennial. |
|
Monarda |
Bergamonts |
30-36 |
18 |
7 |
Many colors. Thrives in Sun
with moist soil. |
|
Narthecium ossifragum |
Bog asphodel |
8-12 |
0-2 |
4 |
Spear shaped leaves and
bright yellow flowers. Grow in boggy parts of a natural pond. |
|
Omphalodes cappadocica |
Forget-me-not |
6" |
10 |
6 |
Carpeting perennial with
intense blue flowers like forget-me-nots. Prefers cool shade and moist soil. |
|
Orchids |
|
varies |
varies |
6 |
Many terrestrial species.
Some are very cold tolerant dying back in winter and reemerging in spring.
Many endangered in the wild. |
|
Persicaria amp |
Knotweeds |
4' |
4' |
varies |
Spikes of red flowers until
frost. Thrives in sun or shade with moist soil. |
|
P.
bistorta |
Knotweed |
24 |
24" |
4 |
Pink flower stalks in late
spring |
|
Petasites japonicus var.
giganteus |
Giant butterbur |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Spreading roots are useful
to bind clay banks. Creamy white daisy-like flowers in early spring. |
|
Phlox maculata |
Wild sweet William |
3' |
1' |
5 |
Tall spikes of brilliant
color in summer. Pink, lilac. Or white flowers. |
|
Physostegia virginia |
Obedient plant |
3' |
24 |
5 |
Pinkish-mauve flowers from summer to fall. Other colors
are available. |
|
Podophyllum hexandrum |
|
12" |
12" |
6 |
Requires moist humusy shade. White Saucer shaped
flowers are followed by red egg shaped fruits. |
|
Polygonatum odoratum |
Solomons seal |
24" |
12" |
4 |
Thrives in shady woodland areas with well drained humus
rich soils. |
|
Primula
|
|
24 |
12- 8" |
5-7 |
Many species offering wide range of shapes and colors.
Needs partial shade and moist heavy soils with lots of humus. |
|
Ranunculus |
|
24 |
18 |
5 |
R. aconitifolius and H.
licaria albus are suited to the bog waterside garden. |
|
Rheum palmatum |
Ornamental rhubarb |
6 1/2' |
6 1/2' |
5 |
Deeply cut leaves emerge red and mature green from the
top, later. |
|
Rodgersia aesculifolia |
|
6' |
3' |
6 |
Grown primarily for the foliage. Flower heads emerge in
summer. |
|
R.
pinnata 'Superba' |
|
3' |
3' |
6 |
Abundant deep pink flowers. |
|
Sarracenia
purpurea ssp.. Purpurea |
Huntsman's Cup or Pitcher plant |
12" |
12" |
6 |
Carnivorous. Rosettes of green pitchers with
reddish-purple veins. Flowers are dark red. |
|
Sidalcea malviflora |
'Jimmy White' |
4' |
3 |
6 |
Suitable or drier edges of bog gardens. Purple pink
mallow-like flowers. |