(Child of Two Worlds Goat's Beard, Goat's Beard)

A shorter, sturdier mound of ferny leaves and tall white plumes make Child of Two Worlds goat's beard a lovely accent plant that doesn't require staking. It is an upright perennial of woodlands from circumboreal regions-- native to eastern North America as well as Europe and across Siberia into eastern Asia.

The mid- to dark green leaves are large, and made up of many small oval leaflets that have teeth on their edges. Collectively they produce a lovely fern-like texture. In early and midsummer,...

(Orchid)

Growing in shallow, moist soil or directly upon moist rocks, this species of bamboo orchid is native to the middle elevations of southern China, Laos and Vietnam where growing conditions are warm and humid. In its natural habitat, this rhizomatous orchid is quite prolific and forms grass-like clumps.

The upright stems have grassy blades, which clasp the stem with basal sheaths, giving it the appearance of a grass or compact bamboo. In late summer to fall, tall, upright floral stalks appear which...

(Giant Reed)

Giant reed is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves. In late summer it produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. It spreads by underground rhizomes and is potentially invasive in tropical and subtropical regions where it may also...

(Giant Reed, Golden Chain Giant Reed)

Giant reed is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves. In late summer it produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. It spreads by underground rhizomes and is potentially invasive in tropical and subtropical regions where it may also...

(Variegated Giant Reed)

Variegated giant reed is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves with pale yellow longitudinal stripes. In late summer it sometimes produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Although it is less robust than most other forms of giant...

(Giant Reed)

Arundo donax var. versicolor is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves with white longitudinal stripes. In late summer it sometimes produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Although it is less robust than most...

(Giant Reed)

The giant reed cultivar 'Aureovariegata' is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves with yellow longitudinal stripes. In late summer it sometimes produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Although it is less robust than most other...

(Canadian Wild Ginger)

By far one of the best native herbaceous groundcovers for shade, Canadian wild ginger creates a lush, thick mat of heart-shaped leaves that shine from spring to fall. This very hardy woodland wildflower exists in fertile hardwood forests across the whole of eastern North America. As its common name suggests, its long, somewhat fleshy roots have a pungent, ginger-like taste and were valued for food and medicine by both Native Americans and early colonists. In some parts of eastern Canada they still...

(European Wild Ginger)

European wild ginger is an evergreen perennial native to Western Europe. It is grown for its attractive foliage as a groundcover. The hairy stalks give rise to lustrous, dark green leaves and inconspicuous, bell-shaped, greenish-purple or brown flowers that bloom in late spring.

European wild ginger performs best in partial to full shade in acidic or neutral soil. It can also be used in a woodland garden or at the edge of a shady border. Although not related to the culinary ginger the roots...

(Chinese Wild Ginger)

Spreading to form lush colonies of large silver-splotched evergreen leaves, this low-growing hardy perennial from China is an excellent choice for the woodland garden. The shiny dark green arrowhead-shaped leaves arise from short rhizomes which travel underground, creating an ever-expanding mass of foliage. The leaves typically have two longitudinal bands of silvery splotches. Foliage remains evergreen in zones 7 and up. Chubby cup-shaped purple flowers with pale spotting cluster at the base of the...