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.

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea', Creeping Jenny, Primulaceae

Genus and species, cultivar:  
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
Common Name: Creeping Jenny
Family Name: Primulaceae

This is a creeping plant that grows into water. It has tiny yellow cup-shaped flowers and opposite leaves with wonderful golden color which die back in the winter. This plant is also good for baskets and containers.

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

Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Bleeding Heart, Fumariaceae

Genus and species:  
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Common Name: Bleeding Heart
Family Name: Fumariaceae


This plant can make HUGE shrubs, especially in the shade. They come in pink and white flowers. The pink flowered plants tend to have pinkish stems, while the white flowered ones are green.


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

Iberis sempervirens, Candytuft, Brassicaceae

Genus and species:  
Iberis sempervirens
Common Name: Candytuft,
Family Name: Brassicaceae

This is a so-called old-fashioned plant you may find in your grandmother's garden. The foliage looks a lot like Phlox subulata (conifer-like) and it always has white flowers. The flowers have four petals, though it looks like two. It is a full sun perennial, needs drainage, and is good for walls. It also has a nice long bloom time starting in mid-spring.

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

Geranium macrorrhizum, Bigroot Geranium, Geraniaceae

Genus and species:  
Geranium macrorrhizum
Common Name: Bigroot Geranium
Family Name: Geraniaceae

This plant likes part shade to full sun. It has very pungent foliage, a common flower with five petal, always with a bulge in the back where the ovary is. It gets to be about 6" tall and spreads by sending out large micro-rhizomes.


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