(Lace Lipfern, Lipfern)

During a wilderness hike west of the Continental Divide in the American Pacific Northwest, you'll encounter a frilly, lacy-foliage fern growing on and among igneous rocks on slopes. The lace lipfern's narrow, upright fronds grow from a short, clumping rhizome. The native range extends from central California and Nevada northward to the border with British Columbia, Canada. High elevations protect this fern from excessive summertime heat and drought stresses.

The lace lipfern produces upright,...

(Hairy Lipfern)

Fine hairs cover the light green fronds of the hairy lipfern, delicate-looking deciduous, clumping fern. It is native to granite rocky slopes and ledges from the Catskill Mountains to central Missouri and southward to the Florida panhandle. It grows at higher inland elevations, protected from intense summertime sunlight from nearby trees, shrubs or sheltering rocks. It develops a short, slow-growing rhizome to form an attractive leafy clump.

Hairy lipfern produces upright, long, triangular-shaped...

(Woolly Lipfern)

Fuzzy fronds and a neat, clumping habit make the woolly lipfern a superb choice for a woodland rockery or enchantment-themed garden. Woolly lipfern naturally inhabits rocky slopes and ledges from the southern Appalachians and Ozark highlands into north-central Mexico. It grows at higher inland elevations, protected from intense summertime heat on both acidic granite and more alkaline limestone rocks and soils. It develops a short, slow-growing rhizome to form the attractive leafy clumps.

Woolly...

(Lyon's Turtlehead, Pink Turtlehead)

Native to regions along the Appalachian Mountains, which extend from the southeastern to northeastern United States, Lyon’s turtlehead is an upright perennial grown for its stems topped with clusters of two-lipped, tubular, rose or purple-pink flowers. Wild populations can be found growing in rich, moist soils in open forests and along stream banks.

Deep green, opposite, lance-shaped leaves line the tall stems of this pleasing woodland native. In late summer and autumn the turtle head-like...

(Lyon's Turtlehead, Pink Turtlehead)

This vigorous cultivar of Lyon's turtlehead has particularly vibrant rose-pink flowers and attractive dark green leaves. Originating from regions along the Appalachian Mountains, which extend from the southeastern to northeastern United States, Lyon’s turtlehead is an upright perennial grown for its stems topped with clusters of two-lipped, tubular, rose-pink flowers. Wild populations can be found growing in rich, moist soils in open forests and along stream banks.

Deep green, opposite, lance-shaped...

(Turtlehead)

The rose-flowered turtlehead is an attractive hardy perennial that's native to the central and eastern United States. It is adapted to moist woodlands and forest edges.

Turtlehead forms vigorous clumps that spread slowly over time. Its upright stems are lined with deep green leaves with coarsely serrated edges. In mid to late summer they become topped with dense short spikes of rosy two-lipped tubular flowers that look like turtle's heads. These are attractive to hummingbirds and make sweet...

(Mexican Tea)

Long prized in Mexico as an herb and medicinal plant, this weedy annual or short-lived perennial from tropical America is naturalized worldwide from the tropics to the temperate zones. Plants form clumps of erect, waist-high stems with alternate, oval, toothed leaves. Bruised leaves emit a pungent, disagreeable odor. In summer, long spikes of small greenish flowers appear at the stem tips and leaf axils. Tiny greenish single-seeded fruits follow the flowers. Plants readily self-sow.

Mexican...

(Japanese Allspice, Wintersweet)

Break the dreariness of winter with the fragrant flowers that don the wintersweet. Native to the woodlands in China, this slow-growing shrub with an upright but broad shape can begin to look a bit leggy and unkempt with old age.

Depending on climate, the bare branches reveal many bowl-shaped flowers that face downward, appearing anytime from midwinter to early spring. The fragrant flowers' waxy petals are light lemony yellow with a center that is sienna to purplish brown in color. Dry fruits...

(Chinese Fringetree)

The billowing, wispy, white flower clusters of Chinese fringetree bring a magnificent touch to the spring landscape. Native to eastern China, Korea and Japan, this deciduous plant grows as a shrub naturally but can be trained as a small tree if lower branches are removed. Taking a while for new spring leaves to emerge, the bright green oval foliage has slightly lighter colored undersides that can be hairy. By mid to late spring, the new growth is topped by masses of clusters of white fragrant blossoms,...

(Common Fringetree, Granddaddy Graybeard)

The wispy white flower clusters of common fringetree add a delightful haze to the spring garden. This native to the southeastern United States is a hardy deciduous large shrub or small tree that naturally inhabits moist woodlands. It covers a broad range of distribution, from New York State to Texas, so it is best to plant from regional stock.

When mature, the common fringetree develops an irregular, spreading crown. Its leaves are oblong and medium green with varying degrees of glossiness....