Greene's Rush is a grass-like plant that grows well in sandy soils along the coast, with high salt tolerance. It provides a good source of nutrition for coastal songbirds. An excellent choice for rain gardens, as this plant tolerates intermittent moisture and drought. Prefers cool weather, so most growth occurs during the spring and fall. 

Long's Sedge is a grass-like plant found in seasonally wet areas. Their wild populations are considered vulnerable in New York. The flowers begin in late spring, and the following seeds provide important nutrition to waterfowl and songbirds. Best planted in areas that are prone to flooding, but do not stay waterlogged. 

The American Holly is a great alternative to its European counterpart. This evergreen tree, in cultivation, can reach up to 30 feet after many years. The strong trunks are resistant to damaging winds, and deer do not like to eat the armed leaves. The flowers attract pollinators, and the fruit is eaten by songbirds. Both male and female plants are required to produce fruit. The fruit is toxic.

Rough Wood Aster, named for its rough-textured stems, is a rounded, deciduous shrub. The blue-violet to white flowers bring interest for the fall season, attracting many pollinators towards the end of the season. It is naturally found near bodies of water and prefers to stay consistently moist- a great choice for adding to a rain garden design. 

Spotted Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous perennial growing up to 7 feet tall. It boasted the northernmost native range of the genus, reaching New Quebec and the Mid-Boreal Uplands. It is loved by all kinds of pollinators, such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Carpenter Bees. The pale pink to purple flowers open late summer to early fall. It is tolerant of deer, rabbits, and high moisture, being found in the wild in sunny wetlands. The leaves will crisp if allowed to dry out. The plants would appreciate afternoon shade during the summer months.

Also known as the hairy white old-field aster, a common aster that grows more compact than others in the species.  Its name comes from its very hairy stems.  Many clustered small white flowers adorn its stems during late summer through fall, attracting pollinators.  Many birds such as turkey, grouse, and sparrows enjoy its seeds during the winter.

Also known as Summersweet, Clethra is a common flowering bush found along the shores of our freshwater features (ponds, lakes, rivers) and wetter woodland edges.  Aptly named, its narrow clusters of blooms are quite fragrant during mid to late Summer, attracting copious bees and other pollinators.  These flowers grow into peppercorn-shaped seeds in late Summer.  A great addition to any rain garden and hedgerows.

This plant is prized for its long bloom season, and is good for naturalizing or in a rain garden. Has a minty aroma when crushed.  Can spread aggressively.

The leaves have a bluish cast in the summer, with finely-textured, pink-tinged, branched flower seed heads that hover over the foliage like a cloud. Leaves turn a bright yellow in the fall.

Is found growing in rocky/sandy soil and dry, open woods, gravel stream banks, thickets, prairies, bluffs, glades, roadsides, railroads. Tolerates droughts and floods. It naturalizes easily through self seeding but also propagates through rooting of its prostrate stems. The showy blooms grow on new wood, so cut back to the ground in the winter and it will come back next with vigor in the spring.