Wild ginger

A native eastern North American spring ephemeral wildflower with pristine white 8-12-petaled flowers in early spring (often the first major forest-floor wildflower of the year) wrapped by a single rounded glaucous leaf. Disappears by midsummer to underground rhizomes. The red rhizome sap was historically used by Indigenous peoples as a dye and ceremonial paint.

A native evergreen fern of eastern North America that holds leathery dark green fronds through winter and provides ground-level songbird cover - ideal for shaded woodland slopes and erosion-prone banks.

A low, clump-forming native woodland violet of eastern North America, grown for its early spring blue-to-purple flowers with conspicuous white throats held over glossy, heart-shaped leaves. It does not run, but self-seeds freely - to the point of being weedy in rich, moist ground. A larval host for fritillary butterflies and a nectar source for early bees and butterflies; the leaves are high in vitamins A and C.

A diminutive native woodland iris forming spreading mats of low sword-shaped foliage topped briefly in spring by delicate light-blue flowers with bold yellow + white "crests" running down each fall. One of the most charming native perennials for partly shaded sites. Among the smallest native irises (6-9" tall) - works beautifully as a groundcover under deciduous shrubs + along path edges. ALL parts toxic (typical iris caveat).

A native eastern North American semi-evergreen perennial with heart-shaped foliage and frothy white-to-pink spring flower spikes - among the most reliable native shade groundcovers for woodland gardens. Spreads by stolons in some forms; clumping in others (cultivars selected for both habits).

A native eastern North American spring ephemeral with distinctive umbrella-shaped leaves on paired stems, a single nodding white flower hidden beneath, and a single fleshy edible fruit when ripe. All other plant parts toxic; only fully ripe yellow fruit is edible. Forms extensive colonies via underground rhizomes in deciduous forest understory.

A full-shade woodland-floor community for deep shade beneath a closed canopy: an understory shrub, spreading groundcovers, spring ephemerals, and a large fern - eastern North American natives that expect low light and leaf-litter soil.