Alchemilla mollis, Lady's Mantel, Rosaceae

Genus and species:  Alchemilla mollis
Common Name: Lady's Mantel
Family Name: Rosaceae

This is a small perennial grown for the interest in foliage. It has floppy, hairy leaves with serrated edges, and pinkish/mauvish flowers.

Photo taken April 4, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Garden.

Ajuga reptans, Ajuga/Bugleweed, Lamiaceae

Genus and species:  Ajuga reptans
Common Name: Ajuga or Bugleweed
Family Name: Lamiaceae

This is a classic tough groundcover. It takes part to full shade and blooms dark sock-puppet like purple flowers in the spring. The stems are square, the leaves are opposite, and this plant also comes in a variegated form.

Photos taken April 4, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Garden.

Veronica peduncularis, Creeping Speedwell, Scrophulariaceae

Genus and species:  
Veronica peduncularis
Common Name: Creeping Speedwell
Family Name: Scrophulariaceae

This plant is great for sunny spots, especially between pavers. Tolerant to zone 4, this plant gets about six inches tall and blooms in the spring. It has opposite, long, narrow, and toothed leaves that turns bronze in the fall.

Photo taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.    

Tulipa species and hybrids, Tulip, Liliaceae

Genus and species:  
Tulipa species and hybrids
Common Name: Tulip
Family Name: Liliaceae

A plant you may commonly see in public gardens, this plant flowers in a variety of colors. It has six petals and very broad leaves, unless it is an ornamental species, like Tulipa clusiana (pink and white flowers with fine leaves, pictured below)

Photos taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.   

Stylophorum diphyllum, Celandine or Woodland Poppy, Papaveraceae

Genus and species:  
Stylophorum diphyllum
Common Name: Celandine or Woodland Poppy
Family Name: Papaveraceae

From the poppy family, this plant has blue/green oak like leaves with a matte texture. It has one stigma, yellow sap, and always blooms yellow flowers. It also grows as native wildflowers-- no cultivars exist.

Photos taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Pulmonaria saccharata, Lungwort, Boraginaceae

Genus and species:  
Pulmonaria saccharata
Common Name: Lungwort
Family Name: Boraginaceae

This is an old plant used for medicinal purposes. It is relatively cold tolerant (zones 5-8). It is a nice spring shade perennial and likes moist spots. This plant also has spotted leaves; like most hybrids with the species saccharata, the leaves look like they've been sprinkled with sugar. And as is most plants in the Boraginaceae family, the flower petals start pink and turn blue.


Photo taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum', Variegated Solomon's Seal, Asparagaceae

Genus and species, cultivar:  
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum
Common Name:
Variegated Solomon's Seal
Family Name: Asparagaceae


This is a fabulous perennial that does well in the shade. It is hardy to zone 4 and it's heat tolerant (known to do well in Georgia). The foliage stays all summer and turns golden in the fall. It has some vertical height, spreads by rhizomes right under the soil, and blooms little bell flowers that hang.

Photos taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens. 

Podophyllum peltatum, Mayapple, Berberidaceae

Genus and species, cultivar:  
Podophyllum peltatum
Common Name: Mayapple
Family Name: Berberidaceae


Native to southwestern Virginia, this plant kind of looks like little umbrellas. The foliage is peltate--the leaf joins the stem right in the middle of the leaf. It spreads, forming colonies by rhizomes. One can tell how old the plant is by the number of leaves--usually two or one leaf per season plus a flower cleft.

Photos taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Phlox subulata, Moss Phlox, Polemoniaceae

Genus and species:  
Phlox subulata
Common Name: Moss Phlox
Family Name: Polemoniaceae

This is a super common full-sun landscape perennial. The flowers always have five petals and come in purple, pink, and white. It is fairly evergreen with prickly juniper-like foliage and a North American native.

Photos taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

 

Muscari armeniacum, Grape Hyacinth, Asparagaceae

Genus and species:  
Muscari armeniacum
Common Name: Grape Hyacinth
Family Name: Asparagaceae


This plant comes from a true bulb which is hardy to zones 5-8. The leaves are long and grassy, and the flowers look like grape clusters with a light fragrance. They tend to reseed a lot so don't be surprised if you see them sprouting somewhere else in your yard!


Photo taken March 28, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.