Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lathyrus vernus Blue

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 12″.  Blue Spring Pea.  Europe.  Blue, pea-like flowers in many racemes, bloom in profusion on this low-growing spring treasure.  Foliage is pinnate, providing an almost ferny effect.  Lovely and rare.  Partial shade.  2B & 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Arisaema heterophyllum

Family: (Araceae)

(P) to 3′.  Dancing Crane Cobra Lily.  China, Japan.  This late emerging Jack-in-the-Pulpit, when established, can reach up to five feet and become quite the show-stopper.  From a thick leaf stalk emerges a solitary, horseshoe-shaped leaf boasting over a dozen leaflets…very interesting.  The inflorescence is held above the foliage; the spathe is matte-green and curves over to resemble a cobra’s head, hence the common name.  From within the spathe comes a 12-inch long, greenish yellow spadix that curves out from under the hood of the spathe and stands erect.  Does best in well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea simplex (syn. Cimicifuga simplex)

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 4′. Bugbane.  China, Korea, Japan.  Small, numerous, creamy white, strongly fragrant flowers appear in long, terminal racemes.  The fluffy spires up to two feet long, rise above the foliage on upright, wiry stems. Astilbe-like, deeply cut, ternately compound foliage is an attractive deep green. Adds architectural height and a welcomed late-season bloom to the woodland garden.  Partial shade.  3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia forsskaolii

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 3+’. Indigo Woodland Sage. Balkan peninsula, Bulgaria to Turkey. This plant was named after Finnish explorer Peter Forsskål, a student of Carl Linnaeus.  Large basal clumps of textural green foliage give rise to long, branched flowering stems with whorls of showy, bi-lipped, violet-blue flowers with white streaks on the lower lip.  A great Salvia for open woodland plantings.  Blooms summer into early autumn.  Full sun to part shade.  Moist, well-drained soil. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Corydalis cheilanthifolia

Family: Papaveraceae

(P) to 18″.  A gorgeous little plant from China with alternate, pinnately compound fern-like leaves and spikes of yellow tubular flowers in spring.  Shade to partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helleborus foetidus

Family: Ranunculaceae

(P) to 2.5′.  Stinking Hellebore.  British native.  In mid-winter, terminal clusters of pendulous, green flowers are edged with red.  Dissected, shiny, dark green foliage.  Architectural.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 72ºF for 6 weeks, followed by 25-39ºF for 6-8 weeks.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Diphylleia cymosa

Family: (Berberidaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Umbrella Leaf.  A large-leaved native plant of the Appalachians growing along mountain streams.  Deeply lobed, acute, medium green leaves (one foot wide) show off six-petalled single white flowers with yellow anthers in May and June.  Striking and persistent blue fruit on red stems follows.  A great choice for the woodland.  Partial shade/shade.  3 & 7

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Syneilesis aconitifolia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 2′.  Shredded Umbrella Plant.  Japan.  Wonderful foliage plant very reminiscent of Aconitum, with woolly, peltate, filigreed leaves.  Clusters of small, fluffy pink flowerheads atop stiff, dark stems.  Intriguing.  Partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hydrophyllum virginianum

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Virginia Water Leaf.  Northeastern native.  Loose cymes of delicate, white-to-pale violet, campanulate flowers with protruding stamens.  Lobed irregular leaves.  Blooms May to July.  Partial shade.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hydrastis canadensis

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 18″.  Golden Seal.  This native of the Northeast is well suited to the woodland garden.  The palmately lobed leaves are extremely textural with a two-leafed flower stalk offering up an intriguing, solitary, yellowish green to greenish white, apetalous flower with prominent whitish stamens.  Golden Seal has a thick yellow rhizome, hence the common name.  However, the real treat is the inedible, scarlet red berries that sit atop the leaves and look like perfect raspberries.  Partial shade.  3 & 7 & Δ