Visit Local Nurseries Or Garden Centers In Your Area

Wood Poppy

Wood Poppy has deeply lobed, blue-green foliage that forms an attractive ground cover that adds texture and interest to the landscape even when the plant is not blooming. It bursts into a profusion of cheerful yellow flowers with four petals in early spring, creating a picturesque display that enlivens the garden. These vibrant blooms contrast the fresh green leaves, creating a focal point in any garden design. The wood poppy is native to the eastern part of the United States and Ontario, Canada. However, it's endangered in Canada due to habitat loss. It's officially known as Stylophorum Diphyllum. Gardeners commonly refer to it as the yellowwood or celandine, and it's part of the Papaveraceae family. This wildflower is frequently found in forests, rivers, streams, and ravines. History buffs may be pleased to know that American Indians once used the yellow sap as a clothing dye. Prized Features of the Wood Poppy The Stylophorum Diphyllum is loved for its yellow to orange four-petaled flowers. It can reach heights of 18 inches, and the flowers can grow to two inches across. The leaves of this brilliantly-colored wildflower are green or gray-green, and they contain lobed leaves that can get up to six inches. Gardeners can expect this flower to bloom from March to May. The Stylophorum Diphyllum thrives in areas that mimic its natural habitat. This means it does well in shade gardens, native regions being rewilded, water features, available shade, and wooded areas. Gardeners can even plant it under and around tall shade trees and shrubs to help brighten the area. Wildlife Seen Around the Wood Poppy The seeds of Stylophorum Diphyllum primarily attract chipmunks. However, the pollen in the flowers has been known to attract various bees. Ideal Companion Plants For Wood Poppy The Stylophorum Diphyllum does well around other wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and ornamental grasses. Some ideal companion plants include bleeding hearts, foamflowers, wild ginger, hostas, columbines, and spiderworts. Gardeners can also pair it with ostrich ferns, Virginia bluebells, wild geraniums, and the woodland phlox. Gardeners can enjoy Wood Poppy anywhere in their yards. However, they may find it looks best under and around trees and shrubs and as part of a wildflower or native plant garden. It can also be planted alongside shaded paths to help define the walkway.

Ostrich Fern

Ostrich Fern is a deciduous species typically found in moist woodlands and meadows. It is characterized by its distinctive pinnate fronds and preference for limestone-rich soils. This captivating and versatile plant offers many benefits when utilized in landscaping projects. With its unique characteristics and striking appearance, this fern can contribute to various outdoor spaces' aesthetic appeal and ecological balance. Vibrant, feathery leaves are the most attractive feature of this verdant plant. It typically grows in a clearing or meadow, but it will happily take root in your yard if you plant it in the correct location. Thanks to its hardiness, you can enjoy having this plant’s lovely colors for a large portion of the year. It can survive during the winter, so you won’t have to replant it each spring. Ostrich Fern's Characteristics Scientists know this plant as the Diplazium pycnocarpon. It grows using creeping rhizomes, so it can quickly fill a garden bed once it is established. Because of this, gardeners commonly use it as a background plant. It can be put in the back of your bed to create a backdrop for more colorful flowers. Using Ostrich Fern For Native Gardens In recent years, native landscaping techniques have become a popular trend nationwide. Because this plant is native to the United States, it will grow in various locations. Ideally suited for the shade, it produces graceful arches and tall fronds. Other than native plant gardens, it is also famous for woodland gardens. The Stunning Fronds Of Ostrich Fern The most significant selling point of Ostrich Fern is its fronds. Once the plant reaches full size, the fronds resemble gigantic feathers. When grown in an area with enough shade, these fronds develop a lovely, light green color. These fronds can grow up to 4 feet tall. After they reach maturity in the summer, they are typically taller than an average child. Because of their vivid color, Ostrich Ferns are popular in professional and personal landscape designs. The leaves grow in bilateral rows on either side of the frond. When it is time to reproduce, some of the fronds produce spores. It can also reproduce by sending out stolons underneath the ground. Each frond grows in a bunch known as a colony, typically including about five to six fronds. While this stunning plant loves growing near ponds, lakes, and rivers, it can also enjoy growing in your garden.

Cardinal Flower

The Red Cardinal Flower has vibrant red blooms and tall, erect stalks. It adds color and elegance to gardens, parks, and various outdoor spaces. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it offers several advantages, making it a popular choice for landscapers and gardeners. The scarlet-hued Lobelia cardinalis is a perennial in the bellflower family. Its tall, nectar-filled bloom spikes attract hummingbirds and create a beautiful display in your garden. The plant's common name refers to the red robes a Roman Catholic cardinal wears.     Natural Habitat Of The Cardinal Flower Lobelia is native to the North and South American continents and blooms from July through September. This moisture-loving plant grows on stream banks and in low woods, marshes, and meadows across the United States. If you want to create a handsome show in your garden, Lobelia will surely delight. The plant's fiery spires yield brilliant red blooms that open gradually from the bottom to the top of their racemes. Each long, narrow, tube-shaped blossom has two flat upper petals and three lower petals at the tips. The delicate plant crown leafy 2’-4' stems, covered with shiny, lance-shaped, bright green leaves that sometimes have a bronze or reddish tint. The leaves alternate as they climb the stems, enhancing the blooms to create a lively riot of color. Cardinal Flower is a favorite of gardeners who love adding bold splashes of crimson. This plant is perfect for shady woodland plots, wet meadow plantings, water gardens, pollinator gardens, and rain gardens. Its long stems can add height to borders and create depth when placed in the back sections of your landscape. The blossoms are most spectacular from midsummer into fall and make excellent cut blooms. Ecology Of The Cardinal Flower Some people say Lobelia will bring hummingbirds in from the sky. The plant's blooming period coincides with the late-summer migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds traveling south to Mexico. The birds pollinate the plant by dipping their beaks into the plants' long, red tubes. The blossoms are also beautiful to swallowtail butterflies and bees, making them a wonderful centerpiece in a pollinator garden. Cardinal Flower Is A Bold Statement In Any Garden  When you want to make a bold, beautiful statement in your garden, include the Cardinal Flower in your plan and celebrate the summer season.