Understory plants

One of the most graceful flowers of the woodland garden is trillium, a genus of more than 40 species of spring ephemeral perennials that are native to North America. Commonly called Wakerobin, Wood lily and Trinity flower, trilliums enchant us with single large blossoms poised above three whorled le

A guild is a team of plants that support, protect and nourish each other, working together for the benefit of all. A guild creates stability and best health because the variety of plants above brings a variety of roots and soil life below. The carefree, wild look belies a carefully crafted, low maintenance, smart garden.Words by Kath Irvine, from The Edible Backyard

article by Heather McCargo photos by Heather McCargo and Lisa Looke Reprinted with permission from The Wild Seed Project. There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory...

The Cornus Kousa is a spectacular non-native tree both as an accent in the garden or as an understory tree. Its spectacular blooms and elegant horizontal branches makes it a beautiful addition to any backyard landscape. Plant it alongside our native Cornus Florida and Redbuds to create a magical ga

You create a woodland garden by planting layers of vegetation, in the same way it grows in the wild. Trees are the tallest specimens. Underneath grows the understory level of smaller trees and shrubs. This article provides understory planting tips.

There are some excellent trees available for small spaces. The small maples in this article will work as a single specimen or in multiples.

Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' (AKA 'Valfredda', Creeping Bugleweed, Creeping Carpet Bugle, Sicklewort, Carpenter's Herb, A. tenorii) (Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip') as possible groundcover for area between front curb and sidewalk.