(Horseradish)

This hardy, coarse, deep-rooted perennial is the source of horseradish, the familiar, fiery condiment. It grows as a clump of large, toothed, puckered, dark-green leaves on long stems arising from a fleshy root that divides vigorously into offshoots and sends out tunneling stems to start new plants with such vigor that one plant soon becomes many. Unless dug out regularly, the new plants can become invasive pests. Even a tiny fragment of root left in the ground will grow a new plant.

From late...

(Chokeberry)

(Red Chokeberry, Red Chokecherry)

Spring finds the red chokeberry teeming with clusters of small white flowers, and the autumnal display of fiery red leaves and thousands of red berries that last well into winter is second to none. A mounding, deciduous shrub native to the eastern United States, it typically forms a thicket by sending out underground stems (rhizomes) that turn up and emerge to make new plants. Individual plants are narrow and upright, with a cluster of small, thin, dark brown branches that flare out into a leafy,...

(Brilliant Red Chokeberry, Red Chokeberry)

Unexcelled red fall foliage, masses of small, plump red berries and glossy green leaves make the chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' whole-heartedly embraced by gardeners. A mounding, deciduous shrub native to the eastern United States, it typically forms a thicket by sending out underground stems (rhizomes) into nearby soil that rise and emerge to make new plants. Individual plants are narrow and upright, with a cluster of small, thin, dark brown branches that flare out into a leafy, rounded canopy. The...

(Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry)

Small, pretty white blossoms in spring, orangey fall color and dark purplish-black berries make black chokeberry a great shrub for naturalistic massed plantings. An upright deciduous shrub that suckers to form a thicket of twigs and leaves, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the smaller, reddish-brown twigs. It is slightly...

(Autumn Magic Black Chokecherry, Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry)

With small, pretty white blossoms in spring, 'Autumn Magic' black chokeberry has orange-red to burgundy-tinged fall color and black berries. A compact, upright deciduous shrub that may form a thicket, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the twigs, which are reddish-brown.

Small clusters of five-petaled white flowers appear...

(Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry, Viking Chokeberry)

Small, pretty white blossoms in spring, orangey fall color and dark purplish-black berries make black chokeberry a great shrub for naturalistic massed plantings. An upright deciduous shrub that suckers to form a thicket of twigs and leaves, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the smaller, reddish-brown twigs. It is slightly...

(Purple Chokeberry)

Dainty white flowers dot this shrub's foliage in late spring, followed by astringent deep purple berries in summer and red fall foliage. The purple chokeberry is a thicket-forming upright deciduous shrub from the eastern United States, regarded as a naturally-occurring hybrid between the red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa).

The foliage is green, becoming deep green with a hint of gray because of the sparse hairs on the undersides of...

(Tall Oatgrass)

Tall oatgrass is a perennial tufted grass. It is native to Eurasia but is widely introduced in North America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand because it was originally planted as a pasture grass. It is now considered an invasive weed of old fields, prairies and natural meadows.

This prolific grass has medium green blades that are tall, upright, linear and rough to the touch. The inconspicuous pale green or purple flowers are produced in late spring and early summer and resemble oats. Oatgrass...

(Tall Oatgrass)

Bulbous oatgrass is a perennial clump-forming grass and spreads rapidly by round bulb-like corms. It is native to Europe but considered an invasive weed in the western United States. It spreads and quickly escapes beyond the confines of a garden, so most refrain from planting it.

This prolific grass has medium green blades that are short, upright, linear and rough to the touch. The inconspicuous pale green or purple flowers are produced in late spring and early summer and resemble oats.

Bulbous...