Acanthus spinosus

Acanthus spinosus (bear’s breeches)

Acanthus spinosus has shiny dark green leaves which are deeply dissected and tipped with spines (hence deer resistant). The handsome foliage adds great coarse texture to a partial shaded garden. Features pure white, snapdragon-like flowers surrounded by contrasting spiny purple bracts that last all season. Large flower spikes…

Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’

Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’ (red maple)

According to Klyn Nursery, “A columnar red maple! Narrower when young, this tree becomes a broad column at maturity with a spread ranging from 18–25’. Green foliage turns yellow-orange to reddish-orange in fall. ‘Bowhall’ can be used as a shade…

Acer rubrum ‘Brandywine’

Acer rubrum ‘Brandywine’ (red maple)

According to Klyn Nursery, “Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, the ‘Brandywine’ is a selection from the native species Acer rubrum. It forms an upright, oval crown as it matures but does not…

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Fantasy’ (Freeman maple)

According to Klyn Nursery, “Being a Freeman maple, the ‘Autumn Fantasy’ is a hybrid of Acer rubrum and A. saccharinum resulting in A. rubrum’s strong branch structure and A. saccharinum’s fast growth. The ‘Autumn Fantasy’ really takes this to heart with an improved…

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a tree native to eastern North American. It is the only beech (genus Fagus) native to North America. Native range The geographic range of American…

Castanea dentata

American chestnut

Where can you find this plant? In Ohio: Stump sprouts persist in places, but no large mature trees known due to chestnut blight. At HF&G: Holden Arboretum, by Corning Visitor…

Fulica Americana

American Coot

Voice: Loud variety of harsh cackles, grunts, and croaks. The most common sound is a loud “kuk, kuk, kuk.” Frequently found in open marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes, american coots are…

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Voice: Most common loud repeated caw-caw-caw  American crows are highly adaptable, very intelligent birds. They are one of only a few species of bird that has been observed modifying and…

Ulmus americana

American elm

American elm (Ulmus americana) is prized for its adaptability, ease of transplanting, fast growth, and its vase-shaped habit. It is a favorite nesting tree of the Baltimore oriole. The foliage…

Carduelis Tristis

American Goldfinch

Voice: A variable and intricate mix of warbles and trills, with a distinctive tone. Often calls while in flight po-ta-to-chip American Goldfinches are found in every land habitat in every…

Setophaga ruticilla

American Redstart

Andrew C, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Voice:  Rapid three syllable word that sounds like cheerily, cheer up, cheerio with pauses between; call is a loud rapid peek with a soft alternating tut . Many people in Ohio consider American Robins the harbinger of spring…

Spizelloides arborea

American Tree Sparrow

Voice: High whistled tseet tseet followed by short whistles. Strictly winter visitors, American tree sparrows, can be commonly seen in old fields, grassy meadows and at bird feeders. Despite their name, American tree sparrows, are not associated with trees, instead foraging and nesting on…

Scolopax minor

American Woodcock

Voice: A nasal “peeent” call by both sexes The American Woodcock, otherwise known as a Timberdoodle, is a shorebird. However it is not like a typical shorebird spending its time…

Cladrastis kentukea

American yellowwood

Cladrastis (klad-RAS-tis) kentukea is a very uncommon yet beautiful tree first discovered in the Cumberland region of Tennessee by French botanist André Michaux in 1796. It may still be found…

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ (big bluestem)

This bluestem cultivar is a tall, perennial, warm season grass. It is a great ornamental selection due to its attractive foliage which changes color seasonally, good architectural height and interesting flower/seed heads. Blackhawks’ is an exciting new cultivar grown…

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry)

Asclepias incarnata ’Cinderella’

Asclepias incarnata ’Cinderella’ (swamp milkweed) 

‘Cinderella’ features clusters of 2 in. wide vanilla-scented flower heads. Individual flowers within each cluster boast deep pink reflexed petals and a pink to white crown. This selection of swamp milkweed is easily grown in medium to wet soils…

Asclepias verticillata

Asclepias verticillata (whorled milkweed) 

One of the most charming species of milkweed, A. verticillata’s finely textured needle-thin leaves whorl around its stem towards clusters of dainty white fragrant flowers that bloom between June and September. Both drought and deer resistant, “Whorled” milkweed…

Fraxinus spp.

Ash

White ash (F. americana) and green ash (F. pennsylvanica) are valuable trees grown for landscaping or harvested for lumber to make furniture, tool handles, and baseball bats. Black ash trees…

Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’

Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’

Aster ‘Alma Potschke’

Aster ‘Alma Potschke’

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’ (astilbe)

 Plants are characterized by graceful, fern-like mounds of mostly basal leaves.  Plumes of snow white, feathery flowers create a very showy landscape accent in moist areas in a shaded to dappled shade setting. ‘Deutschland’, a hybrid cultivar of Japanese…

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Japanese painted fern)

One of the easiest and most rewarding hardy ferns, this selection performs well in any rich, evenly moist soil. It forms a compact clump of fronds, dark green in colour, overlaid in olive and silvery-pewter, with contrasting…

Athyrium otophorum

Athyrium otophorum (eared lady fern)

Athyrium otophorum, commonly called eared lady fern, is a deciduous, Asian woodland species which typically grows to 18″ tall and features erect, triangular, dusky green fronds with dark burgundy stems. Young pale green fronds emerge throughout the growing…

Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’

Autumn fern

Strix varia

Barred Owl

Voice: 8–9 notes, described as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” Traditionally known as the “swamp owl,” the barred owl is an inhabitant unbroken oldgrowth wet forests. Barred…

Ceryle alcyon

Belted Kingfisher

Voice: Dry rattling sound, loud and raspy Belted Kingfishers are one of the most widely distributed birds in North America. In Ohio kingfisher can be found year round with the…

Bergenia ‘Winterglut’

Bergenia ‘Winterglut’ (pigsqueak)

Pig squeak, named because of the noise produced by rubbing a leaf between thumb and finger, is a clump-forming perennial which is primarily grown as a ground cover and features large rosettes…

Poecile atricapillus

Black-capped chickadee

Voice: Song: two note whistle with the second note slightly lower. Call: Says its own name chick-a-dee-dee-dee Black-capped chickadees are one of the most commonly recognized backyards bird in Northern…