Welcome to Awesome Native Plants
SPRING is HERE
Twinleaf - Jeffersonia diphylla
As you are out looking for early spring flowers you would be lucky to spot one of these showy white flowers. Twinleaf is critically imperiled (S1). However, they would be a fine addition in a shady spot in your garden. Twinleaf is not an ephemeral and its leaves will make a distinctive ground cover in the summer. Keep this rare plant alive in NJ; plant one this year.
Read more on Twinleaf: Click here. Also see our 'Gardener News' article 'Flower For A Day'
SPRING is in the AIR
Broom Crowberry - Corema conradii
Broom crowberry is a ground-hugging, shrubby plant. It needs open, sandy areas to grow and has specialized wildfire needs. In NJ it exists only in the central Pinelands. It is G4, S2. The NJ DEP is attempting to restore habitat for this plant. It blooms mid March to early April. We have the best photos of the male and female flowers. See what the flowers look like!. In central and north Jersey, skunk cabbage is starting. In our winter walks we have already have seen spring beauty leaves peeking above the leaf litter. Soon they and bloodroots will be blooming. Learn about them at our Spring Plant Profiles & Photos
Time to prepare for Spring
Red maple - Acer rubrum
Punxsutawney Phil predicts early spring!
These deep red female flowers from way up in the tree canopy will be telling you spring is here. The trees usually bloom starting in late March or early April.
Did you know that red maple trees are usually either male or female?
Learn a little more about a tree that brings in spring with pollen and nectar to early insects and later is filled with vibrant fall colors:
Click here.
Also See our Spring Plant photos & profiles
A Christmas Wish
Castilleja coccinea - Scarlet Indian Paintbrush -New Page
Did you know that there is a indian paintbrush (Castilleja) in the east and is native to NJ?
At one time it was found in almost every county in NJ! It has not been seen for years!
It would be wonderful to see this showy plant again in NJ!
Read about them Click here.
About AWESOME NATIVE PLANTS
This is the website of Millie & Hubert Ling. This site was created in September 2021 and is is dedicated to Native Plants mainly of New Jersey with a focus on the Plant Profiles & Photos pages. The goal here is to continue these. Also we will be adding trip reports of our many hikes in NJ. Hubert is a regular writer for the Gardener News and we will be republishing some of his articles. Continued in 'About Us': Click Here
WHY all the FUSS about NATIVE PLANTS?
What are they and why they are important?. Get the definitions and why they are important and how to find out if a plant is native or not. Also, NEW, added information on rarity in NJ. Click Here
in our 'Resources" section.
Looking around in NATURE: HIKES
Start planning where to hike for next year. NEW: Added: a list of conservation organizations that have preseves which are great places to see native plants. Click Here
BEAUTY and BEYOND
Get to know your native plants. Visit our Plant Profiles & Photos section for photos of not only the beautiful flowers but also their parts and what makes them work.
'GARDENERS NEWS' reprints
Hubert Ling as NPSNJ horticulture has been writing articles for 'Gardener News' since 2015. Some of his articles are being reprinted here. See them at Resources .
Culversroot, Veronicastrum virginicum, growing tall caught by the morning sun
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
(Anglican hymn)
Study and photography unfolds a whole new dimension of intricacies and interdependencies that commands deference and awe.
"The Lord God made them all"