shrub NE

English Lavender, True Lavender, Common Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Lamiaceae

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterWater regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, irrigate only during prolonged dry periods.

🗺️Zone5a - 9a

Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic ✨ fragrant_flower

📏 Height: 1-3 feet

Ideal pH6.5 – 8

herb_non_graminoid LC

Escarole, Broad-Leaved Endive, Batavian Endive, Scarola

Cichorium endivia

Asteraceae

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterProvide steady, deep watering (1 inch per week) to prevent leaf toughness and excessive bitterness.

🗺️Zone4a-10b

Easy ✨ deer_resistant

📏 Height: 10-14 inches (25-35 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.2

tree LC

Flowering Dogwood, Eastern Flowering Dogwood, American Dogwood

Cornus florida

Cornaceae

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterMaintain consistent moisture through summer dry spells; provide 1 inch of supplemental irrigation weekly during establishment. Avoid overhead watering to mitigate foliar fungal spore germination.

🗺️Zone5a-9a

Moderate ✨ air_purifying

📏 Height: 15-30 feet (4.5-9 m)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.5

herb_graminoid LC

Chinese Fountain Grass, Swamp Foxtail Grass

Cenchrus alopecuroides

Poaceae

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterEstablish with regular watering; mature clumps are highly drought-tolerant and require supplemental irrigation only in severe heat.

🗺️Zone5a-9b

Easy ✨ deer_resistant

📏 Height: 2-4 feet (60-120 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

herb_non_graminoid NE

French Marigold, Marigold

Tagetes patula

Asteraceae

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterWater regularly at soil level to keep young plants moist. Once established, allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Avoid wetting foliage to prevent fungal outbreaks.

🗺️Zone2a - 11b (Grown as Annual)

Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic ✨ fragrant_flower

📏 Height: 0.5-1.5 feet

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

subshrub LC

French Tarragon, Estragon, Dragon's Mugwort

Artemisia dracunculus

Asteraceae

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterDraught-tolerant once established; avoid overwatering, especially in winter when wet soils rot crowns.

🗺️Zone4a-8b

Moderate ✨ fragrant_foliage

📏 Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)

Ideal pH6.5 – 7.5

herb_non_graminoid LC

Garden Cosmos, Mexican Aster, Cut-Leaf Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus

Asteraceae

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterDeep, infrequent watering during prolonged droughts. Once established, plants thrive under low-moisture regimes.

🗺️Zone2a - 11b

Easy ✨ deer_resistant

📏 Height: 3-6 feet

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

climber LC

Garden Pea, English Pea, Snap Pea, Snow Pea, Shelling Pea, Field Pea

Pisum sativum

Fabaceae

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterConsistent moisture required during flowering and pod fill. Approx. 1 inch per week. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal foliar diseases.

🗺️Zone3a - 11b (Cool-season annual; thrives in 55-70°F / 13-21°C)

Easy ✨ air_purifying

📏 Height: 1-2 feet (bush), 4-6 feet (climbing)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

herb_non_graminoid LC

Chinese Peony, Garden Peony, Common Garden Peony

Paeonia lactiflora

Paeoniaceae

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterProvide 1 inch of water weekly during spring growth and bud swell. Once established, deep taproots tolerate dry periods; avoid overhead watering to prevent Botrytis.

🗺️Zone3a - 8b

Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic ✨ fragrant_flower

📏 Height: 2-3 feet

Ideal pH6.5 – 7

herb_non_graminoid LC

Garlic, Cultivated Garlic, Hardneck/Softneck Garlic

Allium sativum

Amaryllidaceae

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterWater regularly during spring vegetative and bulbing phases; withdraw irrigation completely 2-3 weeks before harvest to prevent bulb skin staining and rot.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic ✨ fragrant_foliage

📏 Height: 1.5-3 feet (45-90 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7

herb_non_graminoid NE

Ginger, Culinary Ginger, Garden Ginger, Ginger Root

Zingiber officinale

Zingiberaceae

☀️SunPartial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterMaintain constant, even moisture throughout the active vegetative cycle; decrease watering sharply as foliage begins autumn senescence.

🗺️Zone9a-12b

Moderate ✨ fragrant_foliage

📏 Height: 3-4 feet (90-120 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.8

herb_non_graminoid NE

Gladiolus, Sword Lily, Garden Glad

Gladiolus hortulanus

Iridaceae

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterMaintain 1 inch of water per week during active growth; avoid overhead watering to prevent botrytis.

🗺️Zone7a-10b

Moderate ⚠️ Mildly Toxic ✨ deer_resistant

📏 Height: 2-5 feet (60-150 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7