The plants that we have designated as our "favorites" earned that distinction because of the relative ease with which they grow in this area and the significant contribution they make to our gardens. They are the plants that we have found to be the most useful, interesting and reliable; that give the biggest return on our investment of time, money, effort; and that most consistently meet our expectations. The list is by its nature selective. There may be many others that deserve to be included. These are the plants with which we are most familiar at this time, where we have actual "hands on" experience growing the plant in this area.
The Favorite Plants web page used information from the Gardeners' Exchange Group Gardener's Notebook "Favorite Plants" section, which was researched and developed by Anne Moss, Wendy Maddox, Barbara Broerman, Jacque Seldeen, and Suds Suddarth.
[Click on a photo below! To come: Alphabetical sort; Category sort]
ACANTHUS spinosus (uh-KAN-thus spih-NOH-sis)
Bear’s breeches, Spiny bear’s breeches
Perennial, 4 – 5’ tall, blooms in June and July.
Purple hood over white lipped flowers rise on stalks above a clump of deeply cut, spiny leaves.
Mulch the first winter after planting. Difficult to move once established.
Full sun or Partial sun/shade
+ Drought tolerant.
Google images
DICENTRA (deye-CENT-rah)
Bleeding heart
Perennial, 18 — 36″ high, blooms May thru June.
Pink, red or white flowers.
Partial sun/shade or Shade.
D. spectabilis (spek-tuh-BILL-iss) Common bleeding heart (traditional species)
Foliage disappears by midsummer, so place it next to other plants that will fill in the space.
D. eximia (ex-ee-MEE-uh) Fringed bleeding heart. Blooms and foliage last all summer.
D.formosa (for-MOH-suh) Pacific bleeding heart. Blooms and foliage last all summer.
Google images
Yankauer Nature Preserve
107 acres; 2 mi. of trails. Gently sloping land ending in bluff overlooking Potomac. Spring-Dutchman’s Breeches, Jack in the Pulpit, Trillium and Twin-leaf. Autumn-Paw Paw.
BERKELEY County, WV. From Shepherdstown take Shepherd Grade Road 1.5 mi. to stop sign at Y. Go left on Scrabble Road. About 1.5 miles further, a road intersects on the left side with Scrabble road; stay to the right. After another 1.5 miles stay on Scrabble road as it turns left at yet another Y (there is a barn on the left). Drive two more miles and turn right onto Rt. 5/4, also called Newton School Road, which leads to the Whiting Neck development. The Yankauer Preserve is a little less than .5 mi. on the right. The entrance is marked by two Nature Conservancy signs on old gate posts. You can park on the right side of the road about 100 feet past the entrance.
Glengary, along Back Creek
BERKELEY County, WV. Mile-long stretch of road along creek with massive Virginia bluebells (Mertensis virginiata) and other delicate flowers in late April.
Rt. 45 South from Martinsburg to Glengary. Turn left at Glengary. The creek is along the left. (Per Suds Suddarth.)