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 fern with one of the most distinctive frond architectures in the plant kingdom: delicate emerald-green fronds borne on black wiry stems arranged in a horizontal pinwheel (palmate) pattern. Mature plants form layered tiers of pinwheels. Deciduous but utterly charming through the growing season. Excellent for damp shade — moist rich woodland soils are the ideal habitat.