Winter Interest

Trees & Shrubs

Broadleaf Evergreens: Broadleaf evergreens also keep their leaves through the winter. Broadleaf evergreens include Rhododendron, Boxwood, Holly, and Mountain Laurel. 

Myrica: This plant is known for its small, grey fruit that grows on its branches through the winter. It does best in full sun to partial shade and does best in average to evenly moist conditions. 

Needled Evergreens: Needled evergreens keep their green needles through the winter months. Needled evergreens include Cypress, Fir, Balsam, Spruce and more. 

Paper Birch: Paper Birch features stunning snow-white peeling bark and golden leaves in the fall. These do best in full sun to partial shade and prefers to grow in average to moist conditions. 

Witch hazel: Witch hazel is a large shrub that features yellow flowers that bloom anytime between October-March. This plant is very adaptable. It will grow well in full sun to full shade and average to wet conditions. 

spring Interest

Perennials

Bleeding Heart: Bleeding heart features delicate heart-shaped flowers in shades of reds and pinks with white tips. They flower in late spring with bright green foliage until mid-summer. Performs well in both full sun and full shade, and average to moist conditions. 

Columbine: Columbine features large flowers with bold colors that bloom mid-spring. Performs well in both full sun and full shade, and average to evenly moist conditions. 

Creeping Phlox: Creeping Phlox is available in a variety of colors with evergreen, ground-hugging, dense growth. Their dazzling, delicate flowers blanket the plant in the spring.  A great choice for attracting pollinators in full sun to partial shade spots. 

Euphorbia: Euphorbia is a mounded herbaceous perennial with dense, flattened yellow flowers that bloom in the spring months. 

Helleborus: Helleborus have beautiful cup-shaped flowers, strong red stems and dark green foliage with pale veins. They are an herbaceous evergreen perennial.

Pasque flower: Pasque flowers are an early spring blooming flower, with bell-like flowers and feathery foliage. Grows best in full sun to partial shade, and adaptable to both dry and moist conditions. 

Primrose: Primrose have delicate clusters of flowers blooming in a variety of colors in early spring. They thrive in partial shade to shade and prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil. 

Viola: Violas are herbaceous perennials that bloom in early spring. They prefer full sun to partial shade and average to most soil conditions.

Trees & Shrubs

Aronia: Aronia is a compact shrub with clusters of small white flowers and black berries. It flowers in mid spring and produces its berries in late summer through the winter. This plant does best in full sunlight and will tolerate dry to moist growing conditions. 

Azalea: Azaleas have an extraordinary and stunning showing of large and delicate blooms in mid spring. Available in a variety of colors, these shrubs prefer full sun to partial shade. Avoid hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun. 

Deutzia: Deutzia is a beautiful low growing shrub that creates a carpet of little white flowers in mid to late spring. It should be grown in full sunlight but is adaptable to both dry and moist conditions.  

Flowering Quince: Flowering Quince is a small shrub that becomes covered in beautiful cup shaped flowers that bloom in spring. This plant should only be grown in full sunlight and is adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Forsythia: Forsythia is an early spring flowering shrub with stunning gold, bell-shaped flowers. Grow in full sunlight, it is very adaptable to both dry and moist conditions. 

Fruiting Trees: Fruiting trees feature beautiful flowers in the spring before their fruit is ready. We carry apple, cherry, pear, plum and peach trees at Longfellow’s.

Lilac: Lilacs are showstopping shrubs that produce sweetly fragrant, light purple blooms. They should be grown in full sunlight and is adaptable to both dry and moist conditions. 

Magnolia: Magnolias come in a variety of colors and have large cup shaped flowers that create a spectacular showing in the spring. This shrub is relatively low maintenance and prefers full sun to partial shade, and evenly moist, well-drained soil. 

Ornamental Crabapple: Flowering Crabapple trees become covered in clusters of small flowers in shades of pink, whites, and reds in mid spring. Grow in full sunlight and average to moist conditions. 

Rhododendron: Rhododendrons are a broadleaf evergreen shrub that produces delicate cup shaped flowers in early spring. They do best in partial sun to shade. Avoid hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun.

Serviceberry: Serviceberry is a small tree that produces beautiful showy white flowers in the spring and also stunning color in the fall. This tree does best in full sun to partial shade and prefers average to moist conditions. 

summer Interest

Perennials:

Astilbe: Astilbe is a shade loving plant, featuring tall plumes of feathery flowers. These are low maintenance plants and are most effective when planted in groupings. 

Baptisia: Baptisia, also known as False Indigo, is beautiful perennial that prefers to grow in full sun. False Indigo blooms in spikes of pea flowers available in a variety of colors.

Bee Balm: Bee Balm features dense mounds of brightly colored, firework-like blooms. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and is most effective when planted in groupings. 

Blanket Flower: Blanket Flowers come in a variety of red and yellow blooms over fuzzy gray-green leaves. They prefer full sunlight and are highly attractive to bees and butterflies. 

Catmint: Catmint blooms with spires of small, blue-purple flowers. Best grown in full sun to partial shade, catmint often reblooms if sheared after flowering. 

Creeping Thyme: Creeping thyme is a dense groundcover which is covered in little flowers that bloom in early summer. This plant grows best in full sunlight and average to dry locations.

Daylily: Daylilies are a boldly scented, trumpet-shaped flower that is available in a wide variety of colors. Blooming in early summer, daylilies are best grown in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Delphinium: Delphinium is a fast-growing plant with tall flower covered stems. These are best grown in full sun and are great in cut flower gardens. 

Dianthus: Dianthus, also known as pinks, are fragrant, frilly, double flowers. These prefer to be grown in full sunlight and average to moist conditions, never drying out. 

Echinacea: These large, daisy like flowers are a favorite of pollinators. Echinacea, also known as Coneflowers, are a relatively low maintenance plant that prefers to be grown in full sun. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Foxglove: Foxglove produces tall spikes of tubular flowers blooming mid-summer. This plant does best in part shade and average to evenly moist conditions. 

Hibiscus: Hibiscuses have large and showy flowers available in a wide variety of colors. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and requires evenly moist, well-drained soil. 

Iris: The large and frilly flowers of Irises make for stunning showstoppers in any garden. They do best in full sun to partial shade and bloom in early summer. 

Joe Pye Weed: Joe Pye Weed is a tall plant with fragrant clusters of flowers. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. 

Lavender: Lavender’s beautiful and fragrant spikes bloom through the summer. These flowers turn a coppery color during the fall and, its attractive grayish green evergreen foliage persists through the winter. Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Lilies: Lilies produce large and showy fragrant blooms that make a beautiful focal point in gardens. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and average to evenly moist conditions. 

Lobelia: Lobelia is a trailing perennial that beautifully spills over the edges of containers. Its tiny flowers and leaves bring a delicate texture to your garden. Lobelia should be grown in a location with partial shade or is shaded from hot afternoon sun. 

Peony: Peonies feature blooms with a mass of delicate petals in early summer. Preferring partial shade to full sun depending on the variety, these sweet-smelling flowers are a showstopper in any garden. 

Russian Sage: Russian Sage features delicate spikes of lavender flowers blooming in late summer. This is a relatively low maintenance plant and is a great choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. Grow in full sunlight and dry to average conditions. 

Salvia: Blooming in early summer with masses of beautiful spikes of flowers on strong stems. Its foliage keeps its bright green color throughout the season. Salvia prefers to grow in full sunlight, but it adaptable to both dry and moist conditions. 

Shasta Daisy: Shasta Daisies have beautiful white daisy flowers with yellow eyes that bloom late summer. They do best in full sun to partial shade in average to evenly moist soil and are beautiful cut flowers.

Tall Phlox: This plant grows clusters of delicate flowers atop tall stems that blooms in mid to late summer. These are a great choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and does best in average to evenly moist conditions.

Tickseed: Tickseed has beautiful, daisy like flowers available in a variety of colors. Blooming in early summer, Tickseed prefers to grow in full sun and is a great choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. 

Veronica: These unique, spiky flowers are available in pinks, blues, and purples atop of fresh green foliage. Veronica is an evergreen perennial and typically keeps its form and foliage year-round. Veronica grows best in partial shade to full sun.

Yarrow: Yarrow blooms with flat top flowers in a variety of colors in early summer. Yarrow has long lasting blooms and prefers to grow in full sunlight and average to dry conditions. 

Trees, Shrubs, Vines & Roses

Butterfly Bush: Butterfly Bush is a compact shrub with spikes of flowers that bloom in mid-summer and are available in a variety of colors. Grow in full sunlight, it is adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Clematis: Clematis produces beautiful large flowers on its vines in early to mid-summer. Grow in full sun to partial shade and average to evenly moist conditions. Should be planted near a trellis or structure it can climb on. 

Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon): Rose of Sharon is a tall, upright shrub with delicate, showy flowers that come in pinks, blues, and whites. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and average to moist conditions.

Honeysuckle: Honeysuckles have dark green foliage and produce yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers on their branches in early summer. This is a great choice for attracting butterflies and pollinators to your yard. Grow in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Hydrangea arborescens: Hydrangea arborescens are rapid growing shrubs that produce large white or pink ball shaped flowers in early spring. Grow in partial shade to full sun, they will adapt to most garden locations.

Hydrangea paniculata: Hydrangea paniculata feature stunning and reliable blooms. All varieties start with white blooms in mid-summer that change to pink/red tones by late summer. These plants are easy to care for, they prefer full sun and average to moist conditions. 

Mock Orange: Mock Orange is stunning flowering shrub that becomes covered in citrus scented blooms in early summer. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and average to moist conditions. 

Ninebark: Ninebark is a stunning shrub with changing foliage that produces clusters of small flowers in early summer. Plant in full sun to partial shade, it is adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Potentilla: Potentilla is a dense shrub with ferny foliage and beautifully bright flowers in early summer. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and will grow in both dry and moist conditions. 

Roses: Roses are a wonderful option for early summer interest. These have long lasting blooms that are available in a wide variety of colors and blooms. Grow in full sunlight and average to evenly moist conditions.

Spirea: Spirea is a type of shrub that produces rounded clusters of tiny blooms in early summer that continue to bloom through the summer. Grow in full sunlight and average to moist conditions. 

Summersweet: Summersweet is a fragrant shrub featuring spikes of white flowers in mid to late summer. It is a great choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Plant in full sun to partial shade and average to wet conditions.  

Weigela: Weigelas are mounded shrubs featuring rounded clusters of trumpet shaped flowers that bloom in early summer. Plant in full sun and average to moist conditions. 

fall Interest

Perennials:

Anemone: Anemones are fall blooming perennials producing an abundance of poppy-like flowers in a variety of colors. Plant in full sun to partial shade, this plant prefers to grow in average to moist conditions. 

Aster: Asters produce compact mounds covered in blue, purple, and pink flowers. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade, it prefers to grow in average to moist conditions.

Bugbane: Bugbane blooms with bottle brush flowers above lacy foliage in late summer, continuing to bring color to gardens through the fall. This plant is versatile and performs well in both full sun and full shade and prefers to grow in moist to wet soil.  

Ornamental Grass: Ornamental grass is a great way to add height and textural interest into your late season garden. It is heat tolerant and low maintenance, preferring full sun to partial shade. 

Rudbeckia: Rudbeckia, also known as Black Eyed Susans, are stunning golden yellow daisies with dark eyes. Rudbeckia thrives in full sunlight and is adaptable to both dry and moist locations. 

Sedum: Available in a wide variety of colors and flowers, Sedum is a beautiful option for full sun to partial shade garden spaces. Place in partial shade to full sun and is adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions. 

Turtlehead: Turtlehead produces tubular flowers on the ends of tall stems from late summer to mid-fall. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade and prefers to grow in average to wet conditions. 

Trees & Shrubs: 

Birch: Birch trees are stunning in all seasons, with their peeling bark and foliage that fades to beautiful golden yellows in the fall. Plant this tree in partial shade to full sun, and in average to wet conditions. 

Blueberry Bushes: Blueberry bushes produce their delicious fruit in mid-summer with their leaves turning a beautiful orange/red in the fall. These plants perform best in full sun and prefers average to evenly moist conditions. 

Chokeberry: Chokeberries are a compact shrub and have beautiful red to purple fall color. This plant grows best in full sunlight. It is very adaptable and will tolerate both dry conditions and even some standing water. 

Maple: Maple trees are a New England classic with their stunning orange, yellow and red foliage in the fall. Plant somewhere that gets partial to full sun. Certain varieties of this tree can grow up to 80 feet tall. 

Serviceberry: Serviceberry trees produce beautiful clusters of white flowers in early spring with their leaves turning a vibrant shade of red in the fall. Grow in full sun to partial shade and average to moist conditions for best success. 

Dogwood: Red and Yellow Twig Dogwood are both wonderful options for fall interest with their colorful stems and their changing leaves. Plant in partial shade to full sun. Dogwood is tolerant of both dry and moist conditions, with the ability to even tolerate standing water for short periods of time. 

Viburnum: Viburnums are covered in beautiful, fragrant ball-shaped clusters of small flowers in the spring and showstopping red foliage in the fall. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and average to moist conditions. 

Winterberry: In the early fall, winterberry shrubs shed their leaves to reveal their beautiful bright red berries, which are very popular with birds. Plant in full sun to partial shade and moist to wet soil. 

Witch hazel: Witch hazel is a large shrub that features yellow flowers that bloom anytime between October-March. This plant is very adaptable. It will grow well in full sun to full shade and average to wet conditions.