Herbaceous perennials suitable for Monroe County woodlands
Species listed are generally conceded to be either native to Monroe County, Pennsylvania or, if absent on distribution maps, are found in distribution in surrounding counties and may have been missed in distribution analysis, extirpated due to development, or are reasonably expected to do well in local landscapes.
The list is restricted to those species that are commercially available for purchase, with relative availability measured by few (one to five mail order nurseries), several (six to fourteen mail order nurseries) and many (more than fifteen nurseries). In some cases, named varieties exist, but were not included in the rankings.
The purpose of the list is to provide for general groupings of species; once grouped, user is encouraged to evaluate relationships in greater detail to establish ecologically sound landscape patterns or woodland restoration.
Light references (SU for sun, PS for part shade and SH for shade) may not be accurate predictors in a specific habitat and should be used only as general guidance. See other articles relating to shade evaluation elsewhere on this site for details.
Moisture requirements are as reported by many observers. "Dry to moist" can suggest a range of habits or mesic, and both dry and moist are relative terms.
Soil notes are reported as discovered from many sources and are designed to assist in narrowing combinations to useful habitat collections.
| Species | Light | Water | Soil | Cty? | Avail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adiantum pedatum | PS SH | moist | sandy organic loam | Y | many |
| Aconitum uncinatum | PS | moist | rich | N | few |
| Actaea pachypoda | PS SH | moist | sandy clay loam | Y | several |
| Actaea podocarpa | PS SH | moist | rich humus | N | several |
| Actaea racemosa | PS SH | moist | clay sandy loam | Y | many |
| Actaea rubra | SU PS SH | moist | humus rich | Y | many |
| Agalinis tenuifolia | SU PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Agastache scrophulariifolia | SU PS SH | moist | humus rich | Y | many |
| Agrimonia parviflora | PS SH | moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Allium cernuum | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | many |
| Allium tricoccum | SH | moist | rich | N | several |
| Anemone canadensis | PS SH | moist | rich | N | many |
| Anemone cylindrica | SU PS | dry | sandy | N | many |
| Anemone quinquefolia | PS SH | moist | damp rich mucky | Y | few |
| Anemone virginiana | SU PS | dry-moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Antennaria neglecta | SU PS | dry - moist | clay loam | Y | few |
| Antennaria parlinii | SU PS | dry | sandy, well drained | Y | few |
| Antennaria plantaginifolia | SU PS | dry | sandy, well drained | Y | several |
| Antennaria virginica | SU PS | dry | sandy, well drained | N | few |
| Aplectrum hyemale | PS SH | moist | rich humus | Y | several |
| Apocynum androsaemifolium | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Apocynum cannabinum | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Aquilegia canadensis | SU PS | dry - moist | loam | Y | many |
| Arabis glabra | PS SH | dry - moist | rocky clay loam | Y | few |
| Aralia nudicaulis | PS SH | dry - moist | rich humus | Y | several |
| Aralia racemosa | PS SH | moist | rich humus | Y | many |
| Arisaema triphyllum | PS SH | moist - wet | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Arisaema dracontium | PS SH | moist - wet | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Aruncus dioicus | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy clay loam | N | many |
| Asarum canadense | PS SH | moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Asclepias amplexicaulus | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Asclepias exaltata | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Asclepias purpurascens | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Asclepias syriaca | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Asclepias tuberosa | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Asclepias variegata | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Asclepias verticillata | SU PS | dry | sandy clay humus | Y | many |
| Aster cordifolius | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Aster divaricatus | PS SH | dry | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Aster laevis | SU PS | dry | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Aster patens | SH | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | few |
| Aster pilosus | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Aster praealtus | SU PS | dry - moist | loam | N | few |
| Aster spectabilis | SU PS | dry | loam | N | several |
| Baptisia australis | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | many |
| Baptisia tinctoria | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Blephilia hirsuta | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | several |
| Cacalia atriplicifolia | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Calopogon tuberosus | SU PS | wet | rich sandy acidic | Y | few |
| Campanula americana | PS SH | moist | clay sandy loam | Y | several |
| Campanula rotundifolia | SU PS SH | dry | rocky sandy loam | Y | several |
| Cardamine diphylla | PS SH | moist | acidic, humusy | N | few |
| Caulophyllum thalictroides | SH | moist | organic loam | Y | many |
| Cerastrium arvense var arvense | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy | Y | few |
| Chamaelirium luteum | SU PS | dry | rich sandy loam | Y | several |
| Chimaphila maculata | PS SH | dry | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Chrysogonum virginianum | SU PS SH | dry - moist | loam | N | many |
| Claytonia caroliniana | PS | moist - wet | rich | Y | few |
| Claytonia virginica | SH | moist | loam | Y | many |
| Clintonia borealis | SH | moist | humusy loam | Y | few |
| Collinsonia canadensis | SH | dry - moist | organic loam | Y | few |
| Conopholis americana | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Coptis trifolia ssp groelandica | SH | moist | humusy loam | Y | few |
| Crataegus coccinea | SU PS | dry - moist | avg loam | Y | few |
| Crataegus crus-galli | SU PS | dry - moist | clay sandy loam | Y | many |
| Cryptotaenia canadensis | PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Cunila origanoides | SU PS | dry | sandy rocky loam | Y | few |
| Cypripedium acaule | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy acidic | Y | several |
| Cypripedium parviflorum | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Deparia acrostichoides | SU PS SH | moist | acidic sandy loam | Y | few |
| Desmodium canadense | SU PS SH | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Desmodium paniculatum | SU PS | dry - moist | clay loam | Y | few |
| Dicentra canadensis | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | several |
| Dicentra cucullaria | PS SH | dry - moist | rich loam | N | many |
| Dicentra eximia | PS SH | dry - moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Dioscorea villosa | PS SH | dry - moist | rocky | Y | several |
| Disporum lanuginosum | PS SH | moist | clay loam | N | few |
| Dodecatheon meadia | SU PS SH | moist | sandy loam | N | several |
| Doellingeria umbellata | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Equisetum sylvaticum | SU PS Sh | moist | sandy clay loan | Y | few |
| Erythronium albidum | PS | moist | humusy loam | N | several |
| Eupatorium aromaticum | PS SH | dry | sandy | N | several |
| Eupatorium maculatum | SU PS | moist | clay loam | Y | many |
| Eupatorium purpureum | SU PS | moist - wet | clay sandy loam | Y | many |
| Eupatorium rugosum | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Eupatorium sessilifolium | SU PS | dry | rocky sandy loam | Y | few |
| Euphorbia corollata | SU PS | dry | sandy | N | several |
| Eurybia macrophylla | SU PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Fragaria vesca spp americana | PS SH | moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Fragaria virginiana spp virginiana | SU PS | dry -moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Gentiana andrewsii var andrewsii | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy humusy loam | Y | many |
| Gentiana clausa | SU PS | moist - wet | rich loam | Y | few |
| Geranium maculatum | SU PS | moist | humusy loam | Y | many |
| Geum canadense | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Geum lanciniatum | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Goodyera pubescens | PS SH | dry - moist | clay sandy loam | Y | many |
| Helianthemum bicknellii | SU PS | dry | sandy sterile loam | Y | few |
| Helianthemum canadense | SU PS | dry | gravelly loam | Y | few |
| Helianthus decapetalus | SU PS | moist | sandy | Y | several |
| Helianthus divaricatus | PS | dry | sandy | Y | several |
| Helianthus strumosus | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Heliopsis helianthoides | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Hepatica nobilis | PS SH | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Heracleum lanatum | SH | moist | organic clay sandy loam | N | several |
| Heuchera americana | PS SH | dry | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Hieracium venosum | SH | moist | organic clay sandy loam | Y | several |
| Houstonia caerulea | SU PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Hydrastis canadensis | PS SH | moist | humusy loam | N | many |
| Hydrophyllum virginianum | PS SH | moist | humusy loam | Y | several |
| Hypoxis hirsuta | SU PS | dry - wet | sandy | Y | several |
| Ionactis linariifolia | PS SH | dry | sandy | Y | several |
| Iris cristata | SU PS | dry - moist | rich sandy loam | N | many |
| Iris verna | PS | dry | sandy loam | N | several |
| Jeffersonia diphylla | PS SH | moist | loam | N | many |
| Juncus tenuis | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Krigia biflora | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Lespedeza capitata | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Lespedeza violacea | SU PS | dry | sandy | Y | few |
| Lespedeza virginica | SU PS | dry | sandy | Y | several |
| Lilium canadense | SU PS | moist - wet | organic loam | Y | several |
| Lilium philadelphicum | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Lilium superbum | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy loam | N | many |
| Linnaea borealis | SU PS SH | moist | cool acidic humus | Y | several |
| Lobelia cardinalis | SU PS SH | moist - wet | humus rich sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Lobelia spicata var spicata | SU PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Lobelia syphlitica | SU PS SH | moist - wet | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Ludwigia alternifolia | SU PS | moist | sandy | Y | several |
| Lycopodium annotinum | PS SH | dry - moist | rich acidic humus | Y | few |
| Lycopodium clavatum | PS SH | dry - moist | rich acidic humus | Y | few |
| Lycopodium obscurum | SH | dry - moist | rich acidic humus | Y | few |
| Maianthemum canadense | PS SH | moist | clay sandy acidic loam | Y | several |
| Medeola virginiana | SU PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Mertensia virginica | PS SH | moist | rich sandy loam | N | many |
| Mitchella repens | PS SH | moist | rich humus | Y | many |
| Mitella diphylla | PS SH | moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Mitella nuda | SH | moist | organic sandy clay | N | few |
| Moehringia laterifolia | SU PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Monarda clinopodia | SU PS | dry | sandy clay loam, rocky | Y | few |
| Monarda didyma | SU PS | moist | rich sandy loam | Y | many |
| Monarda media | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Osmorhiza claytonii | SH | moist | rich loam | Y | several |
| Osmorhiza longistylis | SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Pachysandra procumbens | PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | many |
| Panax quinquefolius | PS SH | dry -moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Penstemon hirsutus | SU PS | dry | rocky sandy loam | Y | several |
| Phlox divaricata | PS SH | moist | clay sandy loam | Y | many |
| Phlox stolonifera | PS SH | dry - moist | rich loam | N | many |
| Phlox subulata | SU PS | dry | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Podophyllum peltatum | PS SH | dry - moist | humusy loam | Y | many |
| Polemonium reptans | PS SH | moist | rich sandy loam | N | many |
| Polygala paucifolia | PS SH | moist | rich | Y | few |
| Polygonatum biflorum | PS SH | dry - moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Polygonatum pubescens | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Porteranthus trifoliata | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Potentilla arguta | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | N | many |
| Potentilla simplex | SU PS SH | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Prenanthes alba | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | few |
| Pycnathemum muticum | SU PS | moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Pycnathemum virginianum | PS | moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Pyrola elliptica | PS SH | dry - moist | loam | Y | few |
| Ranunculus abortivus | SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Ranunculus fascicularis | SU PS SH | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Ranunculus recurvatus | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Sambucus canadensis | SU PS SH | dry - moist | sandy clay organic loam | Y | many |
| Sambucus racemosa | SH | dry - moist | loam | Y | many |
| Sanguinaria canadensis | SH | moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Scutellaria incana | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy clay | N | many |
| Scutellaria integrifolia | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy clay | Y | few |
| Scutellaria laterifolia | SU PS | moist | sandy clay | Y | many |
| Sedum ternatum | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Senecio obovatus | PS SH | moist | humusy loam | Y | few |
| Silene stellata | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Sisyrinchium angustifolium | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Sisyrinchium montanum | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Solidago altissima | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | few |
| Solidago bicolor | PS | dry | sandy | Y | several |
| Solidago caesia | SU PS SH | dry-moist | clay loam | Y | many |
| Solidago flexicaulis | PS SH | moist | loam | Y | many |
| Solidago nemoralis | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Solidago odora | SU PS | dry | clay sandy loam | Y | several |
| Solidago rugosa | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Solidago speciosa var speciosa | SU PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Solidago ulmifolia var umifolia | SU PS | dry | rocky sandy loam | Y | several |
| Spiranthes cernua | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy clay loam | Y | few |
| Streptopus amblexifolis var americanus | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Streptopus roseus var perspectus | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Symplocarpus foetidus | PS SH | moist - wet | clay sandy loam | Y | several |
| Tephrosia virginiana | SU PS SH | dry | sandy | Y | several |
| Thalictrum dioicum | PS | moist | rich loam | Y | several |
| Thalictrum pubescens | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | several |
| Thalictrum revolutum | SU PS | dry | sandy clay loam | Y | few |
| Thalictrum thalictroides | PS | dry - moist | sandy humus | Y | many |
| Tiarella cordifolia | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Trillium cernuum var cernuum | PS SH | moist | rich | Y | few |
| Trillium erectum | SH | moist | loam | Y | many |
| Trillium grandiflorum | SH | moist | loam | N | many |
| Trillium sessile | PS SH | moist | loam | Y | many |
| Trillium undulatum | SH | moist | loam | Y | several |
| Trollius laxus | PS | moist | clay loam | Y | few |
| Uvularia grandiflora | SH | moist | loam | N | many |
| Uvularia perfoliata | SU PS | moist | loam | Y | several |
| Uvularia sessifolia | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Veratrum viride | PS SH | wet | sandy clay loam | Y | several |
| Viola bicolor | SU PS | dry | rich loam | Y | few |
| Viola blanda | SU PS SH | moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Viola canadensis | SH | moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Viola cucullata x saggitata | PS SH | moist | rich loam | Y | few |
| Viola hirsutula | PS SH | dry | rich loam | N | few |
| Viola labradorica | SU PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Viola pedata | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | many |
| Viola pubescens var pubescens | PS SH | moist | loam | Y | several |
| Viola sororia | PS | wet | rich loam | Y | many |
| Viola striata | PS | moist | rocky sandy loam | Y | several |
| Zizia aptera | SU PS | dry - moist | rich loam | Y | many |
| Zizia aurea | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | many |
| Galearis spectabilis | PS SH | moist | rich | Y | few |