Betula nigra

Noted for beautiful, exfoliating bark, River Birch is an excellent food source for wildlife, supporting hundreds of species of butterflies, moths, and songbirds. It is commonly found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of the Mid-Atlantic Region from Pennsylvania to Virginia.

Calycanthus floridus

This trouble-free shrub, also known as Carolina Allspice, delights the senses with fragrant, showy flowers when planted as a specimen or a screening hedge near a front door or patio. While primarily native to several southeastern states, it does well in central Virginia.

Carya glabra

Pignut hickory is best grown in humusy, rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best performance occurs in moist soils. Plants are generally intolerant of shade. This tree needs a large space within which to grow. Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. 

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Native Buttonbush, a wildlife favorite, is so common it is often overlooked. However, those who frequent sites along ponds and rivers likely recognize its sweet-scented, one-inch flower heads—suggestive of round pincushions when in bloom in summer. 

Chionanthus virginicus

The ethereal spring bloom of the fringe-tree, Chionanthus virginicus, qualifies this plant as one of North America’s most beautiful small flowering trees. Fringe-tree’s showy bloom delights any who visit this plant’s native habitats along streams, small rivers, and in drier sites at higher elevations throughout Virginia.

Clethra alnifolia

Summer sweet and spicy is the pleasant fragrance of this pollinator magnet that naturalizes readily in shady, damp places as well as coastal landscapes. The Virginia Native Plant Society honored Sweet Pepperbush as Wildflower of the Year in 2015.

Corylus americana

 The American hazelnut (Corylus americana) is relatively hardy, disease resistant, and adapts to various growing conditions. It is a large shrub or small tree, growing up to 12 feet tall and just as wide. Yes, it produces hazelnuts!

Euonymus americanus

This native shrub gives a spectacular show each fall. The raspberry color husks of the seed capsules burst open to reveal DayGlo orange covered seeds, hence the common name Heart’s-a-Bustin’. This surreal effect is fun to show children and adults!

Hamamelis virginiana

In 1994, the American Forestry Association recorded the largest Witch Hazel tree at 34.8 feet high in Bedford, Virginia. The last native shrub to bloom in autumn, its fragrant, yellow, spider-like flowers illuminate the landscape as leaves fall. Fruit matures the second season.

Magnolia virginiana

Lovely, lemon-scented, cup-shaped flowers appear mid-spring and bloom intermittently throughout summer, followed by showy, cone-like fruit. This elegant tree appears in two forms: often multi-trunked and deciduous north of North Carolina and single-trunked and evergreen southward. It is native to lowlands and freshwater swamps along the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Pinus taeda

The loblolly pine is a tall evergreen tree with long, thin needles and scaly bark. It grows along the edges of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers and wetlands.

Quercus shumardii

Shumard oak is a southern bottomland species with bright red fall color. It grows best on moist, well-drained loamy soils. Red oaks are a durable, long-lived species growing up to 100 feet tall with age. Supports over 500 pollinator species!

Sassafras albidum

Sassafras offers three-season interest: globelike clusters of chartreuse flowers in spring, leaves with three distinct shapes, dark blue fruit in red cups in summer, and foliage ranging from orange to crimson to purple in fall. This native is common in wood edges throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Sambucus canadensis

American Elderberry is a common, deciduous shrub that lights up our landscape from mid-May through June with huge and profuse clusters of white flowers that literally form a lacy veil over the shrub. The juicy fruit is edible when cooked and has long been a favorite for making pies, jams and jellies and even Elderberry Wine and pancakes.

Swida amomum

Silky dogwood is a native, medium- to large-sized, deciduous shrub. It is native to Virginia and is typically found in swamp borders, wetlands, and near streams and ponds. 

The silky dogwood prefers well-drained medium to wet acidic soils. It may be grown in full sun or partial shade, and it even tolerates close to full shade. Consider the silky dogwood for moist woodlands, naturalized areas, or sites near streams/ponds. It is also effective for erosion control.