Green Spring Gardens

4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria Virginia 22312 phone: (703) 642-5173 fax: (703) 642-8095 www.fairfaxcounty/parks/gsgp

RECOMMENDED NATIVE HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS AND FERNS FOR SHADE GARDENS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA Native plants are species that existed in Virginia before Jamestown, Virginia was founded in 1607. They are uniquely adapted to local conditions. Native plants provide food and shelter for a myriad of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Best of all, gardeners can feel the satisfaction of preserving a part of our natural heritage while enjoying the beauty of native plants in the garden. Hardy herbaceous perennials form little or no woody tissue and live for several years. Some of these plants are short-lived and may live only three years, such as wild columbine, while others can live for decades. They are a group of plants that gardeners are very passionate about because of their lovely foliage and flowers, as well as their wide variety of textures, forms, and heights. Most of these plants are deciduous and die back to the ground in the winter. However, some species are semi-evergreen or evergreen, such as heartleaf or evergreen wild ginger (Hexastylis species). Ferns, in contrast, have no flowers but grace our gardens with their beautiful foliage. Herbaceous perennials and ferns are a joy to garden with because they are easily moved to create new design combinations and provide an ever-changing scene in the garden. They are appropriate for a wide range of shade gardens, from more formal gardens to naturalistic woodland gardens. The following are useful definitions: Cultivar (cv.) a cultivated variety designated by single quotes, such as Blue Pearl. A variety (var.) or subspecies (subsp.), in contrast, is found in nature and is a subdivision of a species. Full shade the amount of light under a dense deciduous tree canopy or beneath evergreens. Naturalistic use native plants that, when properly sited, perform well with minimal care; best used in an informal design that suggests a natural landscape. Most native species can be used this way, but this is the best way to use some species with informal growth habits or certain species that reseed readily. Woodland gardens are a wonderful way to use natives in this fashion. Part shade the amount of light in an area shaded part of the day, among deciduous trees with high branches, among deciduous trees with foliage that is not heavy, or among thinned deciduous woods.

The following is a list of native herbaceous perennials and ferns with ornamental value that perform well in shade gardens in the Washington, D.C. area. These plants tolerate or prefer varying degrees of shade. Most of these plants are native to Virginia; it is noted if they are not native to Virginia. Plants that are not native to Virginia are found in other southeastern states. Most of these plants prefer a moist, well-drained site. Light requirements, special cultural requirements or tolerances, and if a plant is semi-evergreen or evergreen are noted in the comments column. Plants that require wet sites are not included, such as skunk cabbage. Help conserve native plant populations by buying only propagated plants: do not buy plants collected from the wild. The North Carolina Botanical Garden has an excellent website about native plant nurseries for our region - Recommended Plant Sources 1

for Native Plants (http://ncbg.unc.edu/pages/48/). The Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society also sells plants twice a year at Green Spring (in May and September). The following plant information sheets list the month(s) of bloom, flower color, and any fall color for the perennials growing in the Virginia Native Plant Garden at Green Spring Gardens, as well as fall color for a few ferns: Ornamental Plants with Spring Bloom in the Virginia Native Plant Garden Ornamental Plants with Summer Bloom and Fruit in the Virginia Native Plant Garden September, October, and November in the Virginia Native Plant Garden: Bloom, Fruit, and Fall Color of Foliage In addition, native ornamental grasses and sedges for shade are covered in another plant information sheet (these documents are available in our Horticulture Center and on the Green Spring website): Recommended Hardy Ornamental Grasses and Sedges for Gardens in the Washington, D.C. Area.

NATIVE HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS Scientific Name Actaea racemosa (recently changed to this by USDA; still sold under older name Cimicifuga racemosa) Antennaria plantaginifolia Aquilegia canadensis Common Name Black Snakeroot, Black Bugbane, Fairy Candles Comments Light shade to part shade; likes calcium - add gypsum or lime when planting; some reseeding Full sun to light shade; prefers dry sites; reseeds readily Full sun to part shade; individual plants short-lived so allow reseeding; tolerates dry sites Light shade to part shade; reseeds readily Light shade to part shade; can go dormant in the summer; do not crowd or will be short-lived; some reseeding Light shade to part shade Light shade to full shade; likes moist sites - evergreen wild gingers (now classified as Hexastylis) are more tolerant of dry conditions Light shade to part shade; tolerate dry sites; A. cordifolius & A. divaricata are best used in naturalistic plantings, larger areas, & dry areas reseed readily

Plantain Pussytoes Wild Columbine

Aralia racemosa Arisaema triphyllum

Spikenard Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Aruncus dioicus Asarum canadense

Goatsbeard Wild Ginger

Aster - old name that is still commonly used; botanists have now divided American asters into different genera: A. cordifolius (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) A. divaricatus (Eurybia divaricata) A. macrophyllus (Eurybia macrophylla) Astilbe biternata

Heart-leaved Aster White Wood Aster Large-leaved Aster False Goatsbeard Light shade to part shade

Caltha palustris

Marsh Marigold

Cardamine concatenata (Dentaria laciniata) Caulophyllum thalictrioides Chelone glabra (Black Ace) C. obliqua Chrysogonum virginianum Note: var. australe is more vigorous but blooms less this variety is native to GA & other southeastern states Claytonia virginica

Cutleaf Toothwort

Blue Cohosh White Turtlehead Pink Turtlehead Green and Gold

Light shade to part shade in constantly moist or wet sites; spring ephemeral (summer dormant) Light shade to part shade; spring ephemeral (summer dormant); naturalistic use; some reseeding Light shade to part shade Full sun to light shade in moist or wet sites; some reseeding Light shade to part shade (can take full sun in moist sites when taller plants shade it somewhat); needs good drainage

Spring Beauty

Collinsonia canadensis Coreopsis major Delphinium exaltatum D. tricorne (a spring ephemeral summer dormant)

Northern Horse Balm Woodland Coreopsis Tall Delphinium Dwarf Delphinium

Dicentra eximia Note: D. cucullaria (Dutchmans breeches) is a spring ephemeral (summer dormant) & best for naturalistic use Enemion biternatum (Isopyrum biternatum)

Wild Bleeding Heart

Light shade to part shade; spring ephemeral (summer dormant); naturalistic use Light shade to part shade; naturalistic use; light reseeding Full sun to light shade; tolerates dry sites Light shade best; likes calcium - add limestone or gypsum to soil when planting; D. tricorne is best for naturalistic use only grows for a short period in the spring Light shade to part shade; D. eximia tolerates dry sites, has a long bloom period, & reseeds readily

False Rue Anemone

Eupatorium: old name that is still commonly used; botanists have now moved some species into different genera: Eupatorium fistulosum (Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus) Eupatorium coelestinum (Conoclinium coelestinum) Geranium maculatum

Joe Pye Weed Mistflower Wild Geranium

Light shade to part shade; spring ephemeral (summer dormant) & lowgrowing: has performed well in rock gardens & along building foundations Full sun to light shade; reseed readily; Joe pye weed is a tall perennial & can tolerate periodically wet sites; mistflower is a much shorter plant - it is primarily for naturalistic use because it dies out in patches but reseeds in new locations

Light shade to part shade

Helianthus divaricatus H. strumosus Note: H. angustifolius (swamp sunflower) grows best in full sun but can tolerate light shade if it is not crowded; also tolerant of periodically wet sites; some reseeding; October bloom & even into early November in some years Heuchera americana H. villosa (Autumn Bride & Purpurea) Hexastylis (the genus for the American evergreen species; formerly classified as Asarum) H. arifolia H. shuttleworthii (Callaway & Carolina Silver) H. virginica Iris cristata I. virginica Jeffersonia diphylla

Spreading Sunflower Roughleaf Sunflower

Full sun to part shade; tolerant of dry sites; best for naturalistic use due to spreading habit

American Alumroot Hairy Alumroot

Light shade to part shade; some reseeding Evergreen; light shade to part shade; tolerate drier sites but prefer moist sites; do not crowd these plants

Arrowleaf Heartleaf Largeflower Heartleaf, Mottled Wild Ginger Virginia Heartleaf Dwarf Crested Iris Southern Blue Flag Iris Twinleaf

Lobelia cardinalis

Cardinal Flower

Maianthemum racemosum (Smilacina racemosa) M. stellatum (S. stellata)

Mertensia virginica

False Solomons Seal, Eastern Solomons Plume Star-flowered False Solomons Seal, Starry Solomons Plume Virginia Bluebells

Light shade to part shade in dry or moist sites Full sun to light shade in moist or wet sites Light shade to part shade in rich, moist soil; likes calcium - add lime or gypsum to the soil when planting; often goes dormant in summer Full sun to light shade in moist or wet sites; short-lived perennial: allow reseeding; can be sensitive to rot when covered up by tree leaves in winter Light shade to part shade; some reseeding

Monarda didyma & cultivars that are powdery mildew resistant (Jacob Cline & Gardenview Scarlet) Pachysandra procumbens (native to NC, KY, TN & other southeastern states)

Bee Balm

Light shade to part shade; spring ephemeral (summer dormant); reseeds readily in moist locations Full sun to light shade

Alleghany Pachysandra

Light shade to full shade; semievergreen to evergreen

Packera aurea (Senecio aureus) Golden Ragwort

Phlox divaricata P. paniculata & powdery mildew resistant cultivars such as Bright Eyes, David, Katherine, Nicky, & Shortwood P. stolonifera (Sherwood Purple is the most vigorous cultivar) Podophyllum peltatum (spring ephemeral - summer dormant) Polemonium reptans (Blue Pearl) Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum Rudbeckia laciniata

Wild Blue Phlox Garden Phlox

Full sun to part shade; moist to periodically wet sites; reseeds readily; invasive in certain garden locations Light shade to part shade; some reseeding Full sun to light shade (less problems with true bugs feeding on foliage in light shade); reseeds readily

Creeping Phlox

Mayapple Jacobs Ladder Smooth Solomons Seal Cutleaf Coneflower

Sanguinaria canadensis (spring ephemeral - summer dormant; Flore Pleno or Multiplex is a double-flowered form) Scutellaria serrata Sedum ternatum Silphium asteriscus (sometimes sold under old name - S. dentatum) S. perfoliatum Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Bloodroot

Light shade to part shade; does not like crowding by other plants; can be sensitive to rot when covered up by tree leaves in winter Light shade to full shade; naturalistic use best Light shade to part shade; some reseeding Light shade to part shade; tolerates dry sites Full sun to light shade; likes consistent moisture; best for naturalistic use floppy; some reseeding Light shade to part shade; goes dormant faster in dry sites; reseeds readily Light shade to part shade; tolerates dry sites Light shade to part shade; tolerates dry sites; some reseeding Full sun to light shade (S. asteriscus is the most shade tolerant); tolerate dry sites in shady areas; S. perfoliatum reseeds readily; light reseeding of S. asteriscus Light shade to part shade; naturalistic use best subtle beauty; some reseeding Light shade to part shade (Golden Fleece is also adapted to full sun); tolerate dry sites; some reseeding of S. caesia & S. flexicaulis Light shade to part shade; prefers moist, rich soil

Showy Skullcap Wild Stonecrop Southern Rosinweed

Cup Plant Blue-eyed Grass

Solidago caesia S. flexicaulis (Variegata) S. sphacelata Golden Fleece Spigelia marilandica (may occur in southwestern VA native to KY, TN, NC & other southeastern states) Stylophorum diphyllum

Wreath Goldenrod Zigzag Goldenrod Golden Fleece Goldenrod Indian Pink

Yellow Wood Poppy

Light shade to part shade; reseeds readily; can be somewhat invasive in moist sites; long bloom period

Thalictrum dioicum T. pubescens

Early Meadow Rue Tall Meadow Rue

T. thalictroides (preferred by USDA; Anemonella thalictroides is used by the Missouri Botanical Garden see note at end of document) Tiarella cordifolia - the spreading form is more vigorous than the clumping form (var. collina) Tradescantia virginiana (hybrids & cultivars are commonly grown in gardens) Note: T. hirsuticaulis is native to TN, NC, & other southeastern states - low growing, goes dormant in the summer, then comes back up again in late summer/early fall Trillium grandiflorum T. luteum (native to NC, KY, TN & other southeastern states; naturalized in VA) Red-flowered species: T. erectum T. sessile Uvularia grandiflora U. perfoliata U. sessilifolia (Variegata) Viola canadensis V. pubescens V. striata Note: V. sororia (common blue violet) is a species you probably wont plant it will naturally seed in Zizia aptera

Rue Anemone

Light shade to part shade; naturalistic use subtle beauty Full sun to light shade; tolerant of periodically wet sites & even dry sites; some reseeding Light shade to part shade; spring ephemeral (summer dormant)

Foamflower

Light shade to part shade

Spiderwort

Full sun (moist site) to part shade; reseeds readily so may prefer for naturalistic use; tolerates dry sites

Great White Trillium Yellow Trillium

Light shade to part shade in rich, moist soil; only buy propagated plants; some reseeding - seedlings look very different than mature plants

Red Trillium Sessile Trillium, Toad Trillium Large-flowered Bellwort, Great Merrybells Perfoliate Bellwort Sessile-leaved Bellwort Tall White Violet Yellow Violet Cream Violet

Light shade to part shade; U. grandiflora likes calcium - add lime or gypsum to the soil at planting Light shade to part shade for most species (V. striata & V. sororia also like full sun in moist sites); reseed readily & many species spread by rhizomes or stolons: can be invasive in certain sites so naturalistic use best

Z. aurea

Heart-leaved Golden Alexanders, Meadow Zizia Golden Alexanders, Golden Zizia

Full sun to part shade; some reseeding; species are similar - basal leaves are simple for Z. aptera & compound for Z. aurea

NATIVE FERNS
Scientific Name Adiantum pedatum Common Name Maidenhair Fern Comments Light shade to part shade; likes calcium - add gypsum or lime to the soil when planting if the soil is acid (tolerates alkaline soil - pH above 7) Light shade to full shade; tolerates alkaline soil

Athyrium felix-femina (our native is classified as subsp. asplenioides by the USDA but not IPNI see note at end of document) Cystopteris protrusa

Common Lady Fern, Asplenium Ladyfern

Woodland Fragile Fern, Lowland Bladder Fern Hay-scented Fern

Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Deparia acrostichoides (Athyrium thelypteroides) Diplazium pycnocarpon (Athyrium pycnocarpon) Dryopteris australis (natural hybrid of D. celsa D. ludoviciana) found in the wild in VA D. carthusiana

Silvery Glade Fern

Glade Fern

Wood Fern

Spinulose Wood Fern

D. celsa (natural hybrid of D. goldiana x D. ludoviciana found in the wild in VA) D. cristata D. goldiana D. ludoviciana (native to NC & other southeastern states only its hybrid D. australis is native to VA) D. marginalis

Log Fern

Light shade to part shade; naturalistic use; not fragile as the name implies but do not crowd Full sun (moist site) to part shade; tolerates relatively dry sites; naturalistic use in larger spaces because of its spreading habit Light shade to part shade; foliage turns black if soil dries out in summer so best in moist sites Light shade to part shade; likes limestone soils (high in calcium) but also does well in acid soils (pH below 7) Dryopteris species prefer light shade to part shade but some species can even tolerate full shade. For D. australis only: evergreen; moist to wet sites Mostly evergreen; performs well in consistently moist sites (also tolerates wet sites) Semi-evergreen; moist or wet sites

Crested Wood Fern Goldies Wood Fern Southern Wood Fern

Semi-evergreen to evergreen; moist or wet sites Moist sites best if want large plants architectural fern Semi-evergreen to evergreen; consistently moist sites best

Marginal Wood Fern

Evergreen; tolerates alkaline soil; moist sites best but tolerates dry sites better than many ferns

Matteuccia struthiopteris Note: Keep away from natural populations in northern VA critically imperiled in VA Onoclea sensibilis

Ostrich Fern

Light shade to part shade; moist or wet sites; tolerates alkaline soil; for larger spaces because of its spreading habit

Sensitive Fern

Osmunda cinnamomea O. claytoniana O. regalis (var. spectabilis is the variety that is native to VA not sold under this name; another variety is native to Europe & Asia) Phegopteris hexagonoptera (Thelypteris hexagonoptera ) Polystichum acrostichoides

Cinnamon Fern Interrupted Fern Royal Fern

Light shade to part shade; moist or wet sites; tolerates alkaline soil; best for naturalistic use moths love to eat foliage Light shade to part shade; moist or wet sites Light shade to part shade; moist sites; tolerates alkaline soil Light shade to part shade; moist or wet sites Note: these species are large, architectural ferns Light shade to full shade

Broad Beech Fern Christmas Fern

Evergreen; light shade to full shade; tolerates dry sites Thelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern Light shade to part shade; for larger spaces because of its spreading habit Woodwardia areolata Netted Chain Fern Light shade to part shade; moist or wet sites; best for naturalistic use An unusual fern: Cheilanthes lanosa (hairy lip fern) an evergreen fern that loves rock walls & rock gardens in full sun to light shade. A note about scientific names: Current names are from the International Plant Names Index (IPNI; www.ipni.org/index.html) and/or the USDA PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/; this website also has many photographs of native plants). If a second scientific name is given, it is usually an old name that is still seen in some references or used by some nurseries (Aster and Eupatorium are notable exceptions). The Missouri Botanical Garden is also an excellent reference for plant names, gardening information, and photographs: the Kemper Center for Home Gardening Plantfinder features plants in their Kemper Center display gardens and is one of my favorite websites about ornamental plants (www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/alpha.asp). Another resource is their plant name database for plants throughout the world at w3TROPICOS (http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html). 2007 Developed by Brenda Skarphol, Curatorial Horticulturist at Green Spring Gardens (with the assistance of Aleta Gadino, Virginia Native Plant Garden Intern). Updated 4-07.

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