Hakone Grass, Golden Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra

Poaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunPartial Shade, Full Shade, Partial Sun

💧WaterMaintain even moisture; avoid allowing roots to dry out completely in summer.

🗺️Zone5a-9b

📏Height1-2 feet (30-60 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.8

Japanese Maple, Smooth Japanese Maple, Palmate Maple

Acer palmatum

Sapindaceae

LC Moderate

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterMaintain consistent soil moisture, especially during establishment and hot summer periods. Deep, infrequent soaking is preferred over light sprinkling; avoid waterlogged root conditions.

🗺️Zone5b - 8b

📏Height10-25 feet (3-7.5 m)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.8

Japanese Pachysandra, Japanese Spurge, Carpet Spurge

Pachysandra terminalis

Buxaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunPartial Shade, Full Shade

💧WaterProvide regular moisture until established; once rooted, exhibits good tolerance to dry shade under tree roots.

🗺️Zone4a-8b

📏Height6-12 inches (15-30 cm)

Ideal pH5 – 6.5

Kale, Borecole, Curly Kale, Dinosaur Kale

Brassica oleracea

Brassicaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterRequires consistent moisture (1-1.5 inches per week). Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool.

🗺️Zone2a - 9b

📏Height12-24 inches

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Kohlrabi, German Turnip, Turnip Cabbage

Brassica oleracea

Brassicaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterWater regularly (1 inch weekly) to promote rapid vegetative growth and maintain crisp, fiber-free stem flesh.

🗺️Zone2a-11b

📏Height1-1.5 feet (30-45 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Leek, Garden Leek, Broadleaf Leek

Allium ampeloprasum

Amaryllidaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterProvide regular, moderate moisture (25 mm/week); avoid overhead watering late in the day to minimize leaf rust.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

📏Height2-3 feet (60-90 cm)

Ideal pH6.5 – 7.5

Lemon, True Lemon, Common Lemon

Citrus limon

Rutaceae

NE Moderate ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterDeep, regular watering. Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent Phytophthora root rot.

🗺️Zone9a - 11b

📏Height10-20 feet

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.5

Lemon Balm, Sweet Balm, Melissa

Melissa officinalis

Lamiaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterModerate regular watering; allow upper soil surface to dry slightly between cycles.

🗺️Zone4a-9b

📏Height1.5-2.5 feet (45-75 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Lemongrass, West Indian Lemongrass, Citronella Grass

Cymbopogon citratus

Poaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterGenerous watering during summer; reduce irrigation in winter when dormant.

🗺️Zone9a-11b

📏Height3-5 feet (90-150 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Lesser Periwinkle, Common Periwinkle, Myrtle, Dwarf Vinca

Vinca minor

Apocynaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Highly Toxic

☀️SunPartial Shade, Full Shade, Partial Sun

💧WaterWater regularly during the first growing season to establish root network; highly drought tolerant once established in shaded microclimates.

🗺️Zone4a-9b

📏Height3-6 inches (8-15 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Asiatic Lily, Oriental Lily, Garden Hybrid Lily

Lilium hybrids

Liliaceae

NE Easy ⚠️ Highly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterProvide roughly 1 inch of water weekly during active vegetative growth and flowering; ensure perfect sub-surface drainage around the basal plate.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

📏Height2-5 feet (60-150 cm)

Ideal pH5.8 – 6.8

Sacred Lotus, Indian Lotus, Bean of India, Nelumbo

Nelumbo nucifera

Nelumbonaceae

LC Moderate

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterSubmerge under 15-50 cm of warm standing water with at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.

🗺️Zone4a-11b

📏Height3-6 feet (90-180 cm emergent)

Ideal pH6.5 – 8