Hamamelis virginiana 8-20' x same. Small fall-flowering tree or large shrub. Brilliant golden-yellow fall color. Quirky yellow flowers in November. Z3.
Salvia azurea 3-5' tall. North American native with delicate spires of sky-blue tubular double-lipped flowers and sweetly scented foliage. Incredible in mixed bouquets. Blooms from August to October. Z4.
Viburnum cassinoides 5-6' × same. Dense suckering native shrub. White flowers from spring to early summer. Edible black fruit. Plant more than one for fruit. Z3.
Origanum vulgare 18-20" tall. Fragrant green and purple leaves used for culinary purposes. Given plenty space in full sun, it sprawls and is attractive to pollinators. Z4.
Cornus alternifolia 20' x 30-35'. Small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub with tiers of horizontal branches and fragrant white 2-3" flower clusters. Z3.
Verbena stricta 12-48" tall. North American native. Attractive to pollinators, most notably the Buckeye butterfly. Birds will devour the seeds! Blooms June through August. Z3.
Achillea millefolium 24-28" tall. Charming bright magenta-violet flower clusters. Sturdy and upright, sports its vibrant color for a long bloom season, even in the heat.
Crotolaria juncea Annual legume. Rock star cover crop builds organic matter, fixes atmospheric nitrogen, controls harmful nematodes, and still finds time to be beautiful! Grows vigorously in warm conditions.
Monarda fistulosa 3-4' tall. Our native wildflower species with aromatic lavender blossoms. This is the variety most commonly used for medicinal purposes. Z3.
Pycnanthemum virginianum 24-36" tall. Makes a tasty minty tea traditionally used to settle indigestion. Spreads readily. Densely flowered, attractive to pollinators. Native. Z4.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 4-6' tall. North American native. Blooms range from blue-purple to lavender-pink with yellow eyes. Attractive to pollinators. Z3.
Monarda punctata Open pollinated. A whimsical beauty with complex blossoms and many culinary and medicinal uses. Its oregano-like aroma and flavor is lovely for tea and seasoning.
Symphytum × uplandicum 24–48" tall. Great companion plant for orchards. Excellent addition to the compost pile. Rich in silica, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. Z3.
Cornus sericea 8-10'. Multi-stemmed spreading shrub excellent for hedges and borders. Red stems admirable in the winter. Valuable native wildlife plant. Z2.
Cornus amomum 8-12' x same. Large rounded long-limbed shrub. Effective for erosion control, wildlife or pollinator habitat. Maroon bark visible in winter. Suckers and spreads. Native to eastern U.S. Z4.
Lonicera × brownii 10-20'. Tall climbing honeysuckle. Non-invasive! Attractive to pollinators, especially hummingbirds. Species is native to North America. Z3.
Castanea pumila 15-30' x 10-20'. Once an important food for indigenous peoples. Somewhat resistant to chestnut blight. Native to much of central/eastern U.S. Z4.
Cornus mas 20-25' x 15-20'. Bright red pear-shaped edible fruit. Each seedling will be unique. Will pollinate each other and any named cornelian cherry cultivar. Z4/5.
Prunus tomentosa 6-10' x same. Broad dense highly ornamental fruiting shrub blooms early. Excellent hedge and edible landscape plant. Plant two or more for pollination. Z2.
Myrica pensylvanica Waxy blue skin. 5-10' x same. A common sight along Maine’s rocky shores. Fragrant glossy deep green leaves and small waxy berries. Fixes nitrogen and feeds wildlife. Z2.
Ceanothus americanus Small compact shrub fixes nitrogen and attracts pollinators. Leaves historically used as tea and medicine. Grows in poor soils. Native to N. America. Z4.
Symphoricarpos albus 5-6' x same. Wildlife and medicinal shrub native to eastern U.S. is quite beautiful all season. Berries are insipid to humans but adored by birds. Easy to grow and adaptable to most conditions. Z3.
Rhus aromatica 5-6' x 6-8'. Leaves emit a pleasing aroma when crushed. Phenomenal fall colors. Adaptable and easy to transplant. Useful in erosion control. Native to eastern U.S. Z3.
Ilex verticillata Bright-red berries stand out through the winter, providing late-spring forage for birds. A staple of the Maine landscape. Unsexed seedlings, plant several for berries. Z4.
Schisandra chinensis 20' or taller. Ornamental vines produce flavorful medicinal berries. Adaptogenic fruit used to build the immune system and rejuvenate the body. Z4.
Catalpa speciosa 40-60'. Dense foliage of heart-shaped leaves provides excellent shade. Incredibly fragrant jasmine-scented white blossoms. Grows rapidly. Attracts pollinators. Native to central U.S. Z4.
Salix pendulina f. salamonii ‘Chrysocoma’ 50x50'. The classic weeping willow. Very large majestic graceful wide-spreading tree with golden drooping branches. Attracts loads of pollinators. Z3.
Echinacea purpurea 3-5' tall. Spiny seedheads are a beautiful coppery yellow-brown, surrounded by a single row of reflexed lavender-purple petals. Tinctured roots boost the immune system. Z3.
Codonopsis pilosula Open pollinated. Perennial to Zone 4. Used in Chinese medicine like ginseng, but considerably easier to grow than true Panax ginseng.
Philadelphus lewisii 4-5' x 3-4' Medium-sized loosely arching ornamental blooming shrub. A “blizzard” of sweet citrusy fragrance from white blossoms in late spring. Z3.