1. Bloodroot
Name: Sanguinaria canadensis
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 5 to 12 inches tall, 16 inches wide
Conditions: Full to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Pure white blooms with yellow centers are one of the earliest signs of life in springtime gardens. Large, deeply lobed leaves emerge after the flowers; these provide a dense, attractive ground cover that stays fresh most of the season, unlike the ephemeral foliage of other early-spring bloomers. Bloodroot foliage and roots taste bitter and contain toxic compounds that deer avoid. Use this eastern woodland native in place of hosta (Hosta spp. and cvs., Zones 3 to 9) for shady areas near trees.
2. Nodding Onion
Name: Allium cernuum
Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 12 to 16 inches tall, 1 foot wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist to dry soil
Nodding onion is an adaptable garden plant with pretty sprays of pink or white summer flowers atop elegantly nodding stems. A member of the…
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