English lavender
Mounded woody subshrub
Settles in with light bloom.
Purple coneflower
Clumping upright perennial
Builds roots and a modest crown.
Genovese basil
Bushy tender annual herb
Annual crop reaches harvest size quickly.
Switchgrass
Upright warm-season grass
Narrow young clump.
Black-eyed Susan
Clumping daisy-form perennial
Establishes quickly with some bloom.
Annabelle hydrangea
Rounded deciduous shrub
Small framework with limited bloom.
Lacinato kale
Upright leafy biennial crop, typically grown as a cool-season annual
Annual crop reaches harvest size in one season.
Coral bells
Low mounded foliage perennial
Small but decorative mound.
Common milkweed
Erect colony-forming native wildflower
Builds roots and a few stems.
Common sunflower
Fast, erect coarse annual
Annual reaches full size, bloom, and seedhead stage in one season.
Fragrant plantain lily
Dense mounding herbaceous perennial
Small crown and modest foliage.
Highbush blueberry
Upright multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
Root establishment year.
Butterfly weed
Upright clump-forming native perennial
Deep taproot establishing; top growth modest; flowers unlikely.
Scarlet bee balm
Upright spreading native perennial
Establishing colony; some bloom likely in first summer.
New England aster
Tall upright native perennial
Modest first-year clump.
Wild columbine
Airy clumping native perennial
Small but blooms early.
Stiff goldenrod
Upright clump-forming native perennial
Steady establishment.
Little bluestem
Upright clumping native warm-season grass
Tight young clump.
Big bluestem
Tall upright clumping native warm-season tallgrass
Establishes deep roots; modest first-year top growth.
Winterberry
Multi-stemmed deciduous native shrub
Root establishment year.
Canadian serviceberry
Multi-stemmed small native tree
Young transplant year.
Christmas fern
Evergreen native fern with arching fronds
Young crown with a few fronds.
Common thyme
Low woody mounded herb
Young mound establishing.
Garden phlox
Upright clumping perennial
Establishing clump with light bloom.
Garden tomato
Sprawling or upright warm-season vegetable
Annual reaches full size, flowers, and fruit in one season.
Common yarrow
Spreading rhizomatous perennial with fine-textured foliage
Establishes a basal rosette with modest first-year bloom.
Northern spicebush
Broad rounded multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
Slow establishment; focus root development.
Wild bergamot
Clumping erect perennial with square stems and opposite leaves
First-year clump establishes with limited bloom.
Sweet Joe-Pye weed
Erect clump-forming perennial with whorled foliage
Establishes basal foliage; flowering modest in year one.
Eastern redbud
Small multi-trunked deciduous tree with broadly rounded crown
Slow establishment; first-year focus is root development.
Common witch hazel
Erect multi-stemmed open spreading shrub or small understory tree
Slow establishment; first-year focus is roots.
Woodland phlox
Low spreading clump-forming perennial that naturalizes by node-rooting stems
Establishes a basal mat; first-year bloom modest.
White oak
Broad rounded long-lived deciduous canopy tree with a strong central trunk
Slow establishment; first-year focus is the deep taproot.
Northern red oak
Broad rounded fast-growing deciduous canopy tree
Faster establishment than white oak; saplings grow 1-2 feet per year in favorable sites.
Red maple
Oval to pyramidal deciduous canopy tree with shallow surface root system
Fast establishment; saplings grow 1-2 feet per year in moist sites.
Sugar maple
Dense oval to rounded long-lived deciduous canopy tree with deep heavy shade
Slow establishment; first-year focus on root development.
Tulip tree (yellow poplar)
Tall pyramidal-to-oval deciduous canopy tree with a straight central leader
Fast establishment; saplings grow 2-3 feet per year in favorable sites.
Pawpaw
Small multi-stemmed pyramidal understory tree forming colonies via root suckers
Slow establishment; first-year focus on the taproot. Resist transplanting.
Sassafras
Multi-stemmed pyramidal-to-irregular deciduous tree forming colonies via root suckers
Slow first-year establishment; large taproot develops underground.
Flowering dogwood
Small understory deciduous tree with distinctive horizontal layered branching
Slow establishment; first-year focus on roots.
Southern magnolia
Large dense conical-to-pyramidal evergreen tree with low-sweeping branches
Slow establishment; medium growth rate overall.
Black chokeberry
Multi-stemmed open-rounded suckering deciduous shrub
Establishes a multi-stem base; modest first-year bloom.
Blue false indigo
Clumping shrub-like perennial with deep taproot
Establishes the deep taproot; modest first-year bloom.
Dense blazing star
Clumping erect single-stem perennial growing from a corm
Corm establishes; modest first-year bloom.
Virginia bluebells
Spring-ephemeral clump-forming perennial that dies back to underground roots by midsummer
Establishes underground roots; modest first-year display.
Swamp milkweed
Clumping erect perennial with lance-shaped opposite leaves
Establishes the taproot; first-year bloom modest.
California poppy
Clumping mounded annual or short-lived perennial with finely dissected foliage
Establishes from seed quickly; reaches full height + bloom in a single growing season.
Garden pepper
Compact mounded erect annual vegetable
Reaches full size in a single warm-season growing cycle.
Common bean
Bush or climbing warm-season annual legume
Reaches full size + harvest within a single warm-season cycle.
Summer squash / zucchini / pumpkin
Sprawling or bushy warm-season annual vine
Reaches full size + harvest within a single warm-season cycle.
Cucumber
Climbing or sprawling warm-season annual vine with tendrils
Reaches full size + harvest within a single warm-season cycle.
Garden lettuce
Compact basal-rosette cool-season annual leafy green
Reaches harvest in 30-60 days; bolts + becomes bitter past prime in heat.
Indian grass
Erect warm-season clumping bunchgrass
Establishes clumping base; first-year bloom modest.
Summersweet (sweet pepperbush)
Multi-stemmed upright dense oval-to-rounded deciduous shrub
Slow establishment from container stock; first-year focus is roots.
Mountain laurel
Multi-stemmed dense rounded evergreen shrub
Slow first-year establishment; focus on root development in acid soil.
Foxglove beardtongue
Clumping erect perennial with basal foliage and tall vertical flowering stems
Establishes basal rosette; first-year bloom modest.
Black tupelo (black gum)
Pyramidal-to-rounded long-lived deciduous canopy tree
Slow first-year establishment; deep taproot develops.
Rosemary
Evergreen woody subshrub with needle-like aromatic foliage
Slow first-year establishment; focus on root development.
American red raspberry
Suckering cane-forming deciduous bramble
Canes (primocanes) develop in year one without fruit; root suckers extend the colony.
Sweetbay magnolia
Multi-stemmed semi-evergreen deciduous tree (evergreen in zones 8+, deciduous in colder)
Slow first-year establishment.
Southern live oak
Massive evergreen canopy tree with horizontally-spreading limbs
Very slow first-year establishment.
American sweetgum
Pyramidal-to-oval large deciduous canopy tree
Slow first-year establishment.
American sycamore
Massive deciduous canopy tree with broad rounded crown
Fast first-year establishment; sycamores grow rapidly.
Shagbark hickory
Tall narrow long-lived deciduous canopy tree with distinctive shaggy bark
Very slow first-year establishment; focus on the deep taproot.
Paper birch
Slender pyramidal-to-oval deciduous canopy tree with peeling white bark
Fast first-year establishment.
River birch
Multi-stemmed pyramidal-to-oval deciduous canopy tree with exfoliating salmon bark
Fast first-year establishment.
Eastern white pine
Tall pyramidal-to-irregular evergreen coniferous tree
Slow first-year establishment.
Vine maple
Multi-stemmed small understory deciduous tree or large shrub
Slow first-year establishment.
Blackhaw viburnum
Multi-stemmed upright deciduous shrub or small tree
Slow establishment; first-year focus on roots.
Arrowwood viburnum
Multi-stemmed upright spreading deciduous shrub
Establishes the root system; light first-year bloom.
Virginia sweetspire
Multi-stemmed arching suckering deciduous shrub
Establishes the root system.
Carolina allspice (sweetshrub)
Multi-stemmed rounded suckering deciduous shrub
Slow establishment.
Common ninebark
Multi-stemmed arching deciduous shrub with exfoliating bark
Fast first-year establishment.
Red-osier dogwood
Multi-stemmed thicket-forming suckering deciduous shrub
Fast first-year establishment.
Pinxter azalea
Multi-stemmed open-rounded deciduous shrub
Slow establishment.
Bearberry (kinnikinnick)
Prostrate creeping evergreen groundcover shrub
Slow first-year spread.
New Jersey tea
Compact rounded deciduous shrub with deep taproot
Slow first-year establishment; focus on deep taproot.
Oregon grape
Multi-stemmed upright evergreen broadleaf shrub
Slow establishment.
Salal
Multi-stemmed suckering evergreen broadleaf shrub
Slow establishment.
Western sword fern
Clumping evergreen fern with long arching pinnate fronds
Establishes basal crown.
Bloodroot
Spring-ephemeral clumping perennial that dies back to underground rhizomes by midsummer
Establishes underground rhizome.
Mayapple
Spring-ephemeral colonial perennial spreading by underground rhizomes
Establishes rhizome.
Foamflower
Clumping semi-evergreen woodland perennial with heart-shaped basal foliage
Establishes basal foliage.
Wild ginger
Colonial creeping deciduous perennial with rhizomatous habit
Establishes rhizome.
Wild geranium
Clumping woodland perennial with palmately-lobed foliage
Establishes basal clump.
Indian pink
Clumping upright perennial with terminal flower clusters
Establishes basal clump.
Swamp sunflower
Tall erect perennial sunflower with narrow foliage
Establishes clump.
New York ironweed
Tall erect clump-forming perennial
Establishes clump.
Cutleaf coneflower
Tall erect rhizomatous perennial
Establishes rhizome.
Spotted Joe-Pye weed
Erect clumping perennial with whorled foliage
Establishes clump.
Canada goldenrod
Erect aggressively-rhizomatous perennial
Establishes rhizome.
White wood aster
Clumping woodland perennial with wiry stems
Establishes clump.
Smooth blue aster
Erect clumping perennial with smooth blue-green foliage
Establishes clump.
Threadleaf coreopsis
Clumping perennial with fine threadlike foliage
Establishes clump.
Aromatic aster
Mounded clumping perennial with aromatic foliage
Establishes clump.
Garden sage
Mounding gray-leaved Mediterranean subshrub
Establishes woody base.
Oregano
Spreading mat-forming aromatic perennial herb
Establishes initial clump.
Spearmint
Aggressively rhizomatous spreading perennial herb
Establishes initial clump.
Chives
Clumping grass-like perennial onion-relative
Establishes small clump.
Parsley
Low biennial Apiaceae rosette (grown as annual)
Vegetative rosette; harvest leaves freely.
Carrot
Annual Apiaceae rosette grown for taproot
Harvest 60-80 days after direct-sow; foliage hosts black swallowtail larvae.
Garden pea
Annual climbing or bush legume
Harvest 55-70 days from direct-sow; nitrogen-fixing root nodules.
Garlic
Fall-planted Allium bulb harvested in summer
Plant cloves in fall; harvest bulbs the following summer.
Onion
Annual Allium grown for bulb
Plant sets in spring; harvest mid-summer when tops fall over.
Beet (and chard)
Annual root + leaf crop (same species used as beet or chard)
Harvest beets at 50-70 days; harvest chard continuously through season.
Wild strawberry
Low stoloniferous native groundcover with edible berries
Establishes initial crown.
Allegheny blackberry
Native thicket-forming biennial-caned thorny bramble
Primocanes vegetative; do not fruit.
Fox grape
Vigorous climbing tendrilled native grape vine
Establishes root system + initial cane.
Prairie dropseed
Clumping fine-textured native warm-season prairie grass
Slow establishment.
River oats
Native upright shade-tolerant grass with distinctive dangling seed heads
Establishes clump.
Side-oats grama
Clumping fine-leaved native warm-season prairie grass
Establishes clump.
Lady fern
Upright clumping deciduous temperate native fern
Establishes initial crown.
Ostrich fern
Tall vase-shaped rhizomatous native fern
Establishes initial crown.
Marginal wood fern
Vase-shaped evergreen leathery-leaved native fern
Establishes initial crown.
Northern maidenhair fern
Native fern with distinctive horizontal pinwheel fronds on black wiry stems
Establishes initial crown.
Blue flag iris
Clumping native wetland iris
Establishes initial rhizome.
Dwarf crested iris
Diminutive spreading native woodland iris
Establishes initial rhizome.
Hairy alumroot
Clumping native heuchera with velvety leaves + airy bloom panicles
Establishes initial crown.
American hazelnut
Rounded multi-stemmed deciduous suckering shrub
Root establishment year with modest top growth.
American persimmon
Medium-sized deciduous native tree with a rounded oval crown
Establishes a deep taproot; modest first-year top growth. Site selection is durable — trees stay where you put them.
American plum
Small suckering deciduous tree or thicket-forming shrub with a broad spreading crown
Establishes roots; modest first-year top growth.
Blue grama
Low clumping native warm-season shortgrass
Establishes a deep fibrous root system; modest first-year top growth.
Common fig
Spreading deciduous shrub or small tree with bold lobed foliage
Establishes roots; modest first-year top growth, often a single or few whips.
Pomegranate
Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree
Root establishment; modest top growth.
Sea buckthorn
Large multi-stemmed thorny suckering deciduous shrub
Establishes roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules; modest first-year top growth.
American basswood
Medium-to-large deciduous native shade tree with an ovate-rounded crown
Young whip establishing a single leader; modest top growth while roots develop.
Black walnut
Large single-trunked deciduous shade tree with an oval to rounded crown
Sends down a deep taproot; modest first-year top growth and difficult to transplant.
Borage
Rough, sprawling branched annual herb
An annual — germinates, flowers, sets seed, and dies within a single season; reaches full 1-3 ft size by mid-summer.
Comfrey
Coarse upright tuberous-rooted clumping perennial
Tuberous roots establish; modest first-year leaf mass.
Eastern prickly pear
Low, semi-prostrate clump-forming native cactus that spreads by rooting pads
Establishes shallow fibrous roots; a few pads, modest first-year spread.
American elderberry
Suckering, somewhat sprawling multi-stemmed native shrub forming colonies
Root establishment year; modest top growth.
Fennel
Upright branching aromatic herbaceous perennial, usually grown as an annual
Direct-sown in spring, fennel reaches full size, flowers, and sets seed in a single season.
Globe artichoke
Upright clumping perennial vegetable with bold silver-green foliage
Establishes the leafy clump; first-year bud production is light, especially from seed.
Golden currant
Upright, rhizomatous, multi-stemmed deciduous native shrub
Root-establishment year; modest top growth.
Green hawthorn
Dense, rounded, largely spineless small deciduous flowering tree
Young whip or small tree establishing roots; little top growth the first season.
Common olive
Evergreen Mediterranean tree with a rounded crown that gnarls with age
Slow establishment; needs full sun and sharp drainage.
Pecan
Large deciduous lowland shade tree with a broad rounded crown
Establishing a deep taproot; slow above-ground growth and difficult to transplant.
Red mulberry
Upright-spreading to rounded native deciduous shade tree
Establishes roots; water deeply through the first seasons.
White clover
Low prostrate mat-forming perennial legume that roots at the stem nodes
Establishes quickly from seed; creeping stems begin rooting at the nodes.
Black willow
Fast-growing single- or multi-trunked deciduous tree with a spreading, rounded crown
Establishes a shallow, fast-spreading root system in moist soil; rapid early shoot growth.
Pussy willow
Large multi-stemmed deciduous native shrub
Fast-rooting establishment year; modest top growth.
Quaking aspen
Medium-sized clonal deciduous tree with a narrow, rounded crown
Establishment year; fast-growing but short-lived overall.
Eastern cottonwood
Large fast-growing deciduous native bottomland tree with a broad open-rounded crown
Extremely fast establishment for a tree; a sapling can add several feet in a single season on a moist site.
Black cherry
Medium-to-large deciduous native shade tree with an oval-to-irregular crown
Young tree develops a long taproot that makes transplanting difficult; top growth is modest.
Chokecherry
Suckering, thicket-forming native large shrub or small tree
Establishes roots; modest first-year top growth, may begin to sucker.
Common hackberry
Medium-to-large deciduous shade tree with upright-arching branches and a rounded spreading crown
Establishment year — prioritizes root growth; needs deep watering through the first season.
Bur oak
Large deciduous shade tree with a broad, rounded crown
Slow establishment — bur oak develops a deep taproot early and invests little in top growth.
Sweet crabapple
Small deciduous native tree with a short, often crooked trunk and a broad, irregular, thorny crown
Establishment year; modest top growth while roots take.
American hophornbeam
Small-to-medium deciduous understory tree with a generally rounded crown
Root establishment; slow first-year top growth.
Ponderosa pine
Large single-trunked evergreen conifer with an open conical crown
Establishes a deep taproot; minimal first-year top growth.
Douglas fir
Narrow pyramidal evergreen conifer, branching to the ground when young and becoming cylindrical with age
Young pyramidal sapling branching to the ground; prioritize establishment.
Oregon white oak
Slow-growing deciduous tree with a broad, rugged, rounded crown; often shrubby when young
Invests in a deep tap root; very little top growth — slow-growing from the start.
Coast live oak
Broad-canopied evergreen tree with dense foliage and a short, often massive trunk
Slow establishment; deep taproot and root system develop before much top growth.
Western redbud
Multi-stemmed deciduous native large shrub or small tree with a rounded, spreading to vase form
Root establishment year; modest top growth on a drought-adapted native.
Pacific dogwood
Small deciduous tree with horizontal tiered branching and a rounded-to-conical crown
Establishment year; water deeply while roots take hold and keep a wide mulch ring off the trunk flare.
Toyon
Large multi-stemmed evergreen chaparral shrub, occasionally tree-like
Root establishment; modest top growth while the deep, drought-proofing root system forms.
Blueblossom
Fast-growing billowing broadleaf-evergreen shrub
Fast establishment year; size up quickly with good drainage and minimal summer water.
Common manzanita
Large evergreen chaparral shrub to small tree with crooked, spreading branches
Establishes a deep, drought-adapted root system; modest first-year top growth.
Fremont cottonwood
Large fast-growing deciduous riparian shade tree with a broad open spreading crown
Establishes fast in moist riparian soil; a vigorous first-year leader.
Blue elderberry
Large multi-stemmed native deciduous shrub to small tree
Root establishment; modest first-year top growth.
Firecracker penstemon
Slender upright flowering stalks above a low evergreen-ish basal rosette
Establishes a low basal rosette; little or no bloom the first year.
California fuchsia
Slender, highly-branched western-native subshrub / woody perennial
Establishes roots in lean, fast-draining soil; modest first-year top growth.
Adam's needle
Virtually stemless evergreen basal rosette with tall summer flowering stalks
Establishes the evergreen rosette; usually too young to send up a flowering stalk.
Soapweed yucca
Low evergreen rosette-forming native subshrub with a tall flowering stalk
Establishes a deep taproot; small first-year rosette.
Parry's agave
Rosette-forming evergreen succulent that suckers into a colony of rosettes
Establishes roots in sharply drained soil; modest first-year growth.
Russian sage
Woody-based upright clumping perennial subshrub with airy flowering panicles
Establishes its woody base and root system; modest first-year top growth and bloom.
Catmint
Low, spreading mounded clump of aromatic foliage
Establishes the crown and roots; flowers modestly in the first season.
Autumn-joy stonecrop
Upright to slightly spreading clump-forming herbaceous perennial
Establishes the clump; first-season bloom is modest.
Anise hyssop
Upright clump-forming herbaceous perennial of the mint family
Establishes a basal clump; some bloom possible the first season from spring planting.
Wild lupine
Erect clumping native herbaceous perennial legume
Establishes a taproot; modest first-year top growth and often no bloom.
Common blue violet
Low clump-forming rhizomatous native woodland perennial
Establishes a basal rosette; first flowers possible.
Short-toothed mountain mint
Clump-forming aromatic native perennial herb
Establishes a crown and roots; modest first-year clump.
Cardinal flower
Erect, clump-forming native herbaceous perennial with terminal flower spikes
Establishes a basal rosette in its first season; modest or no bloom.
Golden alexanders
Erect clump-forming native perennial forb
Establishes a basal clump; modest first-year flowering.
Blue vervain
Rough, clump-forming upright perennial branching above into candelabra-like flower spires
Establishes a basal clump; modest first-year top growth on moist ground.
Boneset
Large, hairy, clump-forming native herbaceous perennial
Establishes its clump and root system in consistently moist soil.
Wild senna
Tall upright clumping native herbaceous perennial legume
Establishes a deep taproot; modest first-year top growth.
Prairie smoke
Low rhizomatous native prairie perennial forming a soft, hairy groundcover mat
Establishes a low rosette of ferny leaves; modest first-year bloom.
Apple
Deciduous fruiting orchard tree, size set by rootstock (dwarf to standard)
Young grafted whip establishing its scaffold branches; little to no fruit.
Sweet cherry
Single-trunked deciduous flowering and fruiting tree
Establishes its root system; minimal top growth and no fruit.
European pear
Upright, pyramidal deciduous fruit tree
Establishes its root system; little top growth and no fruit. Most trees take 4-5 years before bearing.
Jujube
Small droopy-branched, somewhat spiny deciduous tree or large shrub
Establishment year; may sucker from the roots.
Groundnut
Twining herbaceous tuberous perennial vine
Establishes tubers and roots; modest first-year vining and little or no bloom.
Sunchoke
Tall, rhizomatous, colony-forming herbaceous perennial sunflower
Tubers planted after last frost sprout and reach much of full height the first season; below-ground rhizomes begin colonizing.
Common hops
Herbaceous twining perennial vine that dies back to perennial roots each winter
Establishes perennial rootstock; first-year vines run shorter than mature length.
Rhubarb
Clump-forming herbaceous perennial vegetable
Establishes the root crown; do not harvest the first year.
Asparagus
Clump-forming herbaceous perennial from a crown; ferny summer top growth
Crowns establish; let all spears grow into fern to build the root reserves. Do not harvest.
Lemon balm
Bushy upright herbaceous perennial herb
Forms a leafy clump the first season; harvestable leaves by midsummer.
Sweet corn
Tall upright warm-season annual grass
Direct-sown after soil warms; rapid seedling and early-vegetative growth.
Potato
Bushy upright cool-season annual grown for underground tubers
Sprouts emerge from seed pieces; vegetative growth begins.
Sweet potato
Trailing tender perennial vine grown as a warm-season annual
Slips set out after the last frost establish roots and begin trailing.
Spinach
Low cool-season annual leafy vegetable in a basal rosette
Seedling and young rosette; first leaves harvestable as soon as they reach usable size.
Cabbage
Low head-forming cool-season leaf vegetable grown as an annual
Seedling rosette of loose outer leaves establishing shallow roots.
Broccoli
Upright cool-season annual vegetable with a single terminal head over a basal rosette of leaves
Seedling/transplant stage: leafy rosette establishes shallow roots.
Radish
Fast cool-season annual root vegetable; bolts to an upright flowering stalk
Germinates and forms a leaf rosette within days of sowing.
Eggplant
Upright tender herbaceous perennial grown as a warm-season annual vegetable
Transplant 8-10 weeks after an indoor start; establishes once nights hold at or above 65F.
Okra
Tall upright warm-season annual vegetable
Seedling stage after warm-soil direct sowing; slow until heat arrives.
Leek
Upright biennial onion-family vegetable grown as an annual, forming a fan of strap leaves above a blanched stalk
Seedling and early leaf growth; thin, grass-like at first.
Celery
Upright clump of fleshy ribbed leaf stalks from a basal crown
Seedlings started indoors ~10 weeks before last frost; slow, even early growth.
Dill
Upright annual herb with stiff hollow stems and feathery foliage
A true annual, dill is direct-sown in spring and reaches full size, flowers, and sets seed in a single season.
Cilantro
Upright warm-season annual herb that bolts to a branched flowering stem
Direct-sown seed germinates and forms a rosette of broad, scalloped lower leaves — the prime cilantro-harvest stage.
Bay laurel
Aromatic evergreen large shrub or small tree, pyramidal and easily kept pruned
Slow establishment; evergreen and easily kept small by pruning.
French tarragon
Shrubby clumping rhizomatous culinary perennial herb
Establishes from a cutting or division; light harvesting only the first season.
Sweet marjoram
Bushy upright-mounding aromatic sub-shrub
Grown as a warm-season annual outside zones 9-10 — reaches full 1-2 foot size in a single season from a spring start.
French marigold
Compact bushy warm-season annual
Annual — sown or set out after last frost, it reaches full 6-12 inch size and blooms the same season.
Common zinnia
Bushy upright branching warm-season annual
Seedling-to-juvenile stage 3-6 weeks after direct sowing; first true leaves and branching begin.
Petunia
Low mounding-to-spreading tender perennial grown as a warm-season bedding annual
Transplanted bedding start after frost; mounds out and begins flowering within weeks.
Impatiens
Low succulent-stemmed mounding tender perennial grown as a shade annual
Set out after last frost; pinch young stems to encourage branching and compact growth.
Zonal geranium
Shrubby mounding tender perennial grown as a bedding or container annual
Reaches full bedding size in a single season; typically grown as an annual and replaced or overwintered indoors.
Cosmos
Upright, airy warm-season annual with finely divided foliage
As an annual, cosmos completes its life in one season — germinating, flowering from early summer, and setting seed until frost.
Nasturtium
Sprawling-to-climbing tender annual; dwarf-bushy or trailing/vining by type
An annual — direct-sown plants reach full sprawling or climbing size and flower the same season.
Snapdragon
Upright spike-forming tender perennial, usually grown as a cool-season annual
Pinch young stems to encourage a bushier, multi-spike plant.
Calendula (pot marigold)
Upright bushy cool-season annual herb
Seedling-to-young-plant stage; pinch back to encourage compact bushy growth.
Sweet alyssum
Low mat-forming mound of well-branched stems
Grown as a cool-season annual: fast from seed to a flowering mound in a single season.
Pansy
Low mounding cool-season bedding plant, often run as an annual or biennial
Set out small established transplants in early spring (or fall in mild/deep-South climates); they bloom within the first season.
Garden rose
Deciduous thorny flowering shrub
Establishes roots and basal canes; first-season bloom is modest.
Peony
Erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial
Establishes roots from the planted rootstock; modest top growth and few or no flowers the first season.
Daylily
Clump-forming herbaceous perennial with arching strap-like foliage and naked flowering scapes
Establishes its fan of foliage and root system; sparse first-year bloom.
Tulip
Upright spring-blooming bulb with a single flower per stem
Fall-planted bulbs reach full flowering size and bloom the first spring.
Daffodil
Clump-forming bulbous perennial with leafless flowering stems above strap-shaped foliage
Fall-planted bulbs flower the first spring; clump still small.
Shasta daisy
Upright clump-forming herbaceous perennial
Establishes the clump; first-season bloom is modest.
Clematis
Deciduous twining large-flowered climbing vine
Establishes roots; modest top growth with few flowers. Shade the root zone.
Bearded iris
Clump-forming rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with upright sword-shaped foliage
Newly planted rhizomes establish foliage; bloom may be sparse the first spring.
Common lilac
Upright, multi-stemmed, suckering deciduous shrub
Root establishment; little top growth.
Border forsythia
Upright, arching multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
Root-establishment year; modest top growth.
Crape myrtle
Upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree
Root establishment; modest top growth.
Japanese maple
Rounded deciduous small tree or large shrub with layered branching
Slow establishment as a young nursery tree; prioritizes root growth over height.
Common boxwood
Dense rounded to broad-rounded evergreen shrub
Slow to establish; modest first-year growth as roots develop.
Catawba rhododendron
Large rounded to spreading multi-stemmed broadleaf evergreen shrub
Slow-establishing shallow fibrous roots; keep mulched and never let roots dry out.
Japanese spirea
Dense, upright, mounded deciduous shrub
Root establishment year; modest top growth.
Garden strawberry
Low stoloniferous herbaceous perennial forming a mounding rosette
Establishes the crown and first runners; pinch off all flowers the first year so the plant invests in roots and stolons rather than fruit.
Peach
Small rounded deciduous fruit tree
Establishes roots and scaffold limbs; focus on training the open-center framework, not fruit.
Apricot
Small spreading deciduous fruit tree (dwarf to standard depending on rootstock)
Establishment year; little fruit.
European plum
Erect deciduous large shrub or small tree
Young nursery-grafted tree establishing roots; little fruit.
Wine grape
Woody deciduous tendril-climbing vine, pruned to a trained framework
Establishment year — train a single trunk to the support; little to no fruit.
Watermelon
Sprawling prostrate annual vine
Direct-sown or transplanted in late spring; vines begin running once soil is warm.
Cantaloupe
Trailing or climbing warm-season annual cucurbit vine
Annual — sown after frost, the vine runs, flowers, and ripens its melons all in one growing season.
Lemon
Small thorny broadleaf-evergreen citrus tree
Establishes roots; container or young field stock. Protect from frost and wind.
Pumpkin
Sprawling annual trailing vine with large lobed leaves and big yellow flowers
Seedlings emerge after soil warms to 65°F; vines begin to run and set their first flowers.
Cauliflower
Cool-season annual brassica forming a single central curd over a leaf rosette
Seedling/transplant establishes the leaf rosette in cool soil.
Brussels sprouts
Single upright stem with sprouts forming in the leaf axils; grown as a cool-season annual
Indoor-started or nursery transplant set out in early-to-mid summer; builds leafy rosette and stem.
Collard greens
Upright cool-season leafy biennial grown as an annual, forming a non-heading leaf rosette on a stout stem
Seedling to young rosette; leaves harvestable at about the size of a human hand.
Arugula
Low cool-season annual leafy vegetable in a basal rosette
Seedling and young rosette; in St. Louis seed sown after the last spring frost typically germinates in May.
Bok choy
Low non-heading cool-season leaf vegetable grown as an annual
Seedlings emerge from seed sown about a quarter-inch deep; thinnings are already edible.
Turnip
Cool-season annual root vegetable with a leafy basal rosette over a swollen storage root
Seedlings emerge fast from a direct sowing; thin to 2-4 inches to give each root room.
Parsnip
Cool-season biennial root vegetable grown as an annual; first-year leafy rosette over a long taproot
Slow to germinate (2-3 weeks); builds a leafy rosette while the taproot lengthens underground.
Ginger
Clumping tropical herbaceous perennial with reed-like pseudostems rising from an aromatic rhizome
Sprouts from a planted rhizome section; pseudostems and foliage develop over the warm season.
Turmeric
Clumping tropical rhizomatous herbaceous perennial
Rhizomes planted in spring break ground and push the first leafy shoots in warm soil.
Dahlia
Upright tuberous-rooted herbaceous perennial, often grown as a summer annual
Tubers planted in spring reach full size and bloom mid-summer to fall in a single season.
Gladiolus
Upright corm-grown perennial with sword-shaped leaf fans and one-sided flower spikes
Reaches full flowering size the same season the corm is planted — roughly 70-100 days from planting to bloom.
Common hyacinth
Low spring-flowering bulb with a single dense flower spike over basal strap-shaped leaves
Fall-planted bulb flowers the following April at full spike density.
Dutch crocus
Low spring-blooming corm (bulbous geophyte) with grassy leaves
Fall-planted corms flower the following spring at near-full height but as single corms.
Asiatic lily
Upright bulbous perennial on rigid, unbranched stems
Bulbs planted in fall or very early spring emerge and flower the first summer, though the clump is still modest.
Garden mum
Compact, clump-forming herbaceous perennial mound
Establishes a low mound; pinch back through midsummer for bushy, compact growth.
Lantana
Upright frost-tender broadleaf evergreen shrub, grown as an annual in cold climates
Grown as an annual in most of North America — reaches full bedding size in one warm season.
Annual vinca
Mounding to spreading tender perennial grown as a warm-season annual
Set out as a transplant after frost; slow to start until soil warms.
Morning glory
Fast-growing twining annual climbing vine
Grown as an annual — germinates, climbs 8-10 feet, blooms, sets seed, and dies in one season.
Hollyhock
Tall, upright, short-lived perennial with rigid unbranched flowering spires
Biennial habit: forms a low rosette of large heart-shaped leaves the first year; usually no bloom.
Bleeding heart
Mounded, arching herbaceous perennial that goes summer-dormant
Establishes a crown from a spring or fall planting; modest first-year top growth.
Wax begonia
Compact mounding tender perennial grown as a warm-season bedding annual
Transplanted starts fill in and begin blooming within weeks of warm-soil planting.
Sweet pea
Cool-weather annual; bushy mounding or tendril-climbing vine on support
Annual — sown early, climbs to 6-8 feet and blooms within the same cool season.
Coleus
Mounding tender tropical foliage perennial, grown as a warm-season annual outside its hardiness range
Reaches full mounded size within a single warm season from a starter plant or cutting; grown as an annual outside zones 10-11.
Camellia
Upright broadleaf evergreen flowering shrub
Establishment year; slow-growing, prioritizes roots in sheltered part shade.
Gardenia
Rounded broadleaf-evergreen shrub with glossy dark-green foliage
Establishes roots; needs acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil and light-to-moderate shade.
American holly
Upright, pyramidal native broadleaf evergreen tree
Slow root establishment; minimal top growth.
Eastern red cedar
Broadly conical to columnar evergreen coniferous tree
Establishes a deep, drought-tolerant root system; slow visible top growth.
American arborvitae
Dense conical to narrow-pyramidal single-trunked evergreen tree
Establishment years; slow steady upward growth from a young whip or rootball.
Bald cypress
Large pyramidal deciduous conifer with a buttressed base
Establishment year; focus on root growth.
Ginkgo
Large deciduous shade tree, pyramidal when young and broadening with age
Establishment year; slow, somewhat sparse initial growth.
Weeping willow
Large deciduous tree with a broad-rounded weeping crown of branches sweeping to the ground
Establishes fast from a whip or young tree in moist soil near water.
Rose of Sharon
Vigorous upright vase-shaped multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
Establishes roots; modest first-year top growth, may bloom lightly.
Sweet orange
Small rounded broadleaf-evergreen subtropical fruit tree
Establishes roots; minimal fruiting on a young tree.
Key lime
Vigorous small evergreen tree to large shrub
Establishes in the warmest, wind-protected spot in full sun; tender to cold.
Grapefruit
Rounded, spreading broadleaf-evergreen citrus tree with thorny twigs
Young grafted tree establishing roots; little or no fruit.
Kiwifruit
Vigorous deciduous woody climbing vine, trained on a sturdy trellis or arbor
Establishes roots and first cane growth; needs a sturdy support to climb.
Avocado
Multi-stemmed frost-tender broadleaf evergreen tree
Establishes from a grafted whip or sprouted pit; tender to any frost.
Asian persimmon
Deciduous tree with a rounded, spreading crown
Establishes in deep, moist, well-drained soil; promptly remove root suckers unless a naturalized effect is wanted.
Quince
Multi-stemmed deciduous small tree or large shrub with crooked branches
Establishes its root system with little top growth; suckers when young and must be trained to a single trunk to keep it as a tree rather than a thicket.
Maypop (purple passionflower)
Fast-growing tendril-climbing native vine, woody in mild winters and herbaceous in cold ones
Establishes roots and a first season of vining growth; train onto a support.
Ramps
Low colonial spring-ephemeral woodland perennial from a bulb
Slow to establish from seed or bulb; first-year leaves are small and the colony is sparse.
Common camas
Erect spring-flowering native bulb with basal grass-like foliage
Fall-planted bulb establishes roots; first spring leaves and a modest scape.
Beach plum
Low, rounded, densely branching deciduous coastal shrub
Root establishment in lean sandy soil; modest first-year top growth.
Ground cherry
Low, branching, sprawling annual (tender perennial where frost-free)
Grown as an annual: sown indoors and transplanted out, it reaches full size and fruits in a single season.
Honey locust
Large deciduous native shade tree with a rounded, spreading crown
Establishment year; fast-growing once roots take.
Yoshino cherry
Deciduous flowering tree with a spreading, broad-rounded, open crown
Establishment year; prioritize root growth and even moisture over top growth.
Peppermint
Rhizomatous, upright herbaceous perennial herb spreading into a ground cover
Establishes a leafy clump and begins running by rhizomes; harvestable leaves by midsummer.
German chamomile
Upright, branching aromatic annual herb
Seedling and young rosette of feathery foliage after sowing in spring; from indoor starts begun 6-8 weeks before the last frost or direct sowing before the last spring frost.
Lovage
Tall, imposing clump-forming herbaceous perennial herb
Establishing clump from seed or root division; leaves can be harvested lightly once the plant is actively growing.
Garden sorrel
Clump-forming herbaceous perennial herb with a basal leaf rosette
Establishes a basal clump of leaves the first season; young leaves harvestable for the best, mildest flavor.
Summer savory
Erect, multi-stemmed bushy annual aromatic herb
Seedling and young branching plant; growth is rapid and leaves can be harvested within about two months of sowing (NC State Extension).
Salad burnet
Low mounding herbaceous perennial herb in a basal rosette
Forms a low rosette of pinnate leaves the first season; young leaves harvestable as soon as they reach usable size.
Stevia
Tender perennial herb with weak, floppy stems, grown as an annual in most climates
Young plant from a starter plant or indoor-started seed; pinch growing tips to encourage a bushier, leafier habit.
Chervil
Erect, spreading, fine-textured cool-season annual culinary herb
Direct-sown seed germinates (the seed needs light, so it is pressed onto the surface, not buried) and forms a low rosette of feathery light-green leaves — the prime leaf-harvest stage.
Kohlrabi
Low, compact cool-season annual vegetable with a swollen edible stem
Seedling stage from an indoor sowing 6-8 weeks before the last frost, or a direct sowing about 2 weeks before the last frost (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).
Edamame (soybean)
Columnar, dense, multi-stemmed mounding warm-season annual legume
Seed germinates best at a soil temperature between 75 and 85F (NC State Extension); inoculate seed with a soybean nitrogen-fixing inoculant for best results.
Fava bean
Stiffly erect cool-season annual legume
Seed sown direct in cool soil germinates into an erect seedling; growth is rapid (NC State Extension) and the nitrogen-fixing legume establishes quickly.
Rutabaga
Spreading, slow-growing cool-weather biennial root crop grown as an annual
Direct-sown seed germinates and forms a low rosette of deep blue-green, deeply lobed leaves; thin seedlings to give each plant room (NC State Extension).
Mustard greens
Erect, fast-growing cool-season annual leaf vegetable
Direct-sown seed germinates and forms a leafy rosette; growth is rapid (NC State Extension) — young leaves are the prime salad-harvest stage.
Endive
Erect, rapid-growing cool-season leafy annual forming a low rosette
Seed germinates and forms a young leafy rosette; growth is rapid (NC State Extension), and the plant develops over about 70-100 days to harvest.
Celeriac
Cool-season biennial root vegetable grown as an annual, forming a first-year rosette over a swollen root
Seed started indoors about 10 weeks before the last spring frost; young seedling and establishing rosette (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).
Tall verbena
Erect, open, see-through clump of thin wiry flowering stems
Fast-growing from seed or a transplant; reaches much of its height and begins flowering by late summer of the first season (NC State Extension lists a rapid growth rate).
Oakleaf hydrangea
Upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
Establishes roots and the multi-stemmed crown; growth is slow (NC State Extension), so size gains the first season are modest.
Bigleaf hydrangea
Rounded, mounded, woody deciduous flowering shrub
Establishes roots and woody framework in a protected, partly shaded site; flowers sparingly the first season after planting.
Hardy hibiscus
Upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial with a woody base
Establishes the crown and woody base in moist soil; flowers modestly in the first season.
Garden salvia
Erect, clump-forming, multi-stemmed aromatic perennial
Establishes the crown and roots in its first season; flowers modestly while the clump fills in (NC State Extension lists it as a clump-forming perennial).
Sweet William
Dense, erect, rounded clump of leafy flowering stems
Establishes a leafy basal rosette from a spring or summer sowing; as a biennial-leaning plant it often builds foliage the first year and flowers the next (NC State Extension lists growth by division and seed).
Lily of the valley
Low, spreading rhizomatous perennial groundcover
Establishes its rhizomes and roots from divided pips; foliage emerges and the planting begins to knit together, with modest first-season bloom.
Lamb's ear
Low, mat-forming clump of woolly silver foliage in basal rosettes
Establishes basal rosettes and roots; the woolly foliage mat begins to knit together in the first season.