Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anemonopsis macrophylla

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. False Anemone. A Japanese aristocrat. Handsome, glossy, dissected foliage. Late-season, nodding, waxy, pink-purple, anemone-like flowers. Wonderful in a woodland setting. Partial shade. 4 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anemone virginiana

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Central and eastern United States. This plant has long petioled, toothed basal leaves. The flowers are greenish white and not long lasting. However, the fuzzy, white, cotton ball-like seedheads provide an interesting addition to the garden throughout the summer. Not fussy. Partial shade. 3 & 6 & T2

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

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′. One of the darkest leaved Cimicifugas. Stems are a rich purplish brown with pure white, upright, fragrant flower spikes in September. Not all seedlings will be as dark as ‘Brunette’, but definitely worth a try. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

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

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′. Early Snakeroot, Black Cohosh. An eastern North American native with branched wands of white, bottlebrush flowers. Blooms prolifically in June. Light green, divided foliage remains at three feet tall. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

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

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 3′. Bugbane, Rattletop, Snakeroot. Numerous creamy, tufted, sessile flowers bloom on spikes from August through October. Shiny lobed and toothed leaves are very attractive in the woodland. Self-sows nicely. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Maianthemum racemosum (syn. Smilacina racemosa)

Family: (Asparagaceae)

(P) to 3′. Solomon’s Zigzag, False Spikenard, Treacleberry. A North American native that is most welcomed in the woodland. Arching, bright green stems and six-inch long, elliptic to lanceolate leaves with prominent, parallel veining. Fluffy, linen-white flowers bloom on panicles in late spring. Red to purple berries follow. Moist soil. Partial shade to shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Caulophyllum thalictroides

Family: (Berberidaceae)

(P) to 2′. Blue Cohosh. North America. Pale blue-green, dissected foliage. Small, greenish brown flowers with yellow anthers followed by brilliant metallic blue berries in late summer. Partial shade. 1 & 2B, 3 & T2 for 4 weeks, then 7 for 4 weeks & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Glaucidium palmatum

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′. Japan. Large-lobed, jagged leaves of fresh green are the background for the Poppy-like flowers of delicate lavender. A sight to behold in the middle of May. Cool seedpods follow. Moist soil. Partial shade. 3 & 7 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heuchera americana

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 2′. Rock Geranium, Coral Bells. A native to eastern North America with attractive, mottled, palmately lobed simple leaves. Small, five-petalled, white flowers on upright slender racemes bloom in early summer. Partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Jeffersonia diphylla

Family: (Berberidaceae)

(P) to 18″ in flower. Jefferson’s Twinleaf. A native New Yorker. In early spring the emerging foliage is striking in shades of pinkish purple. The stems stay dark and the foliage unfurls into two, blue-green, kidney-shaped, lobed divisions. The eight-petalled, white, cup-shaped flowers face upwards and display a cooling light green centre and creamy yellow coloured stamens. Interesting pear-shaped seed pods with pointed hinged lids hold the shiny brown seeds. Moist woods. Partial shade/shade. 3 & T2 & Δ