(Interrupted Fern)

A clump-forming herbaceous perennial with stately fronds "interrupted" by curious spore-bearing bodies that resemble shriveled bunches of grapes, this eastern North American and east Asian native is among the first ferns to appear in spring. Silky down from the emerging fiddleheads is collected by hummingbirds to furnish their nests. The fiddleheads unfurl to form a lush whorl of fresh green foliage, achieving imposing proportions in rich soil.

This impressive and interesting fern grows easily...

(Regal Fern)

Regal, that is of outstanding merits, is but one way to describe the tremendously elegant fronds of the regal fern. A deciduous large fern that grows from an upright, massive rhizome that can become trunk-like, it is native to eastern North America, much of Europe and extreme northern Africa in moist swamps and bogs. The upright rhizome can branch with age and is covered in hairs and scars wrapped in black fibrous roots, called osmunda fiber.

Ranging from modestly sized to massive, the fronds...

(Royal Fern)

Regal, of outstanding merits, is but one way to describe the tremendously elegant fronds of the regal fern. Variety spectabilis is a deciduous large fern that grows from an upright, large rhizome that can become trunk-like and it is found in eastern North America. The upright rhizome can branch with age and is covered in hairs and scars wrapped in black fibrous roots, called osmunda fiber.

The arm's length-sized fronds of this fern are feather-like. This species of Osmunda is...

(American Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood )

Best distinguished by its hops-like brown fruits, strong slender trunk and deep green leaves, hop hornbeam is native across the forests of eastern North America where it is a common understory tree. It is slow-growing, deciduous and attains a conical or rounded crown at maturity. Its brown, vertically exfoliating bark is lightly grooved and moderately attractive.

The simple leaves of the hop hornbeam are deep green, tapered, and edged with fine, serrate teeth. In fall the foliage turns yellow-brown...

(Wood Sorrel)

Commonly dubbed “wood sorrel”, many would take one look at its bright green, trifoliate leaves and call it “Irish shamrock”, though this small, mat-forming perennial is native to areas far beyond Ireland. In fact, it can be found growing in temperate woodlands across the expanse of the Northern Hemisphere.

Wood sorrel grows from small bulb-like rhizomes that go dormant in winter or during periods of drought. In spring, light green leaves with three heart-shaped leaflets blanket the ground. The...

(Pachysandra)

This trailing shrub from China and Japan is one of the best and most widely used evergreen groundcovers for shaded sites. Glossy dark green oval leaves cluster in large whorls at the end of prostrate stems, forming a dense mat of foliage. Plants spread by far-reaching underground runners to eventually cover large areas. Short frothy spikes of small flowers adorn the stem tips in late spring. Several cultivars have been selected for leaf color and habit.

Pachysandra likes partial to full shade...

(Japanese Spurge)

One of the best and most widely used evergreen groundcovers for shaded sites, Japanese spurge is a trailing shrub from China and Japan. The cultivar 'Green Carpet' is prized for its especially dark glossy-green foliage and low ground-hugging habit. The handsome leaves cluster in large whorls at the end of prostrate stems, forming a dense mat of foliage. Plants spread by far-reaching underground runners to eventually cover large areas. Short frothy spikes of small flowers adorn the stem tips in late...

(Japanese Spurge, Silver Edge Japanese Spurge)

One of the best and most widely used evergreen groundcovers for shaded sites, Japanese spurge is a trailing shrub from China and Japan. The leaves of the cultivar 'Silver Edge' are rimmed with creamy-white. The handsome leaves cluster in large whorls at the end of prostrate stems, forming a dense mat of foliage. Plants spread by underground runners which are less wide-ranging than those of plain-leaved forms. Short frothy spikes of small flowers adorn the stem tips in late spring.

Pachysandra...

(Japanese Spurge, Variegated Japanese Spurge)

One of the best and most widely used evergreen groundcovers for shaded sites, Japanese spurge is a trailing shrub from China and Japan. The leaves of the cultivar 'Variegata' are rimmed with creamy-white. The handsome leaves cluster in large whorls at the end of prostrate stems, forming a dense mat of foliage. Plants spread by underground runners which are less wide-ranging than those of plain-leaved forms. Short frothy spikes of small flowers adorn the stem tips in late spring.

Pachysandra likes...

(Big Ben Herbaceous Peony, Herbaceous Peony)

The large, fragrant, fully double flowers of 'Big Ben' are deepest rose red and appear early in the season. This old American selection was bred by Edward Auten Jr. of Princeville, Illinois in 1943. Like most double peonies, the flowers are heavy and should be staked to keep them from flopping in inclement weather.

The herbaceous peony is an all-time garden favorite. This large, bushy perennial originates from eastern Asia and has been bred for thousands of years. There are literally hundreds...