Wildlife Species Library

Plants

False Cleavers

Galium spurium

A master hitchhiker and expert climber, False Cleavers uses thousands of tiny hooks to scramble over its neighbors. T...

Plants

False Fox-sedge

Carex otrubae

A hardy and architectural gem of the wetlands, the False Fox-sedge offers dense cover for small creatures and strikin...

Plants

false nettle

Boehmeria cylindrica

The false nettle is a sting-free powerhouse for your backyard ecosystem. A favorite of Red Admiral butterflies, this ...

Plants

Fen Bedstraw

Galium uliginosum

A delicate, star-flowered scrambler that thrives in the dampest corners of the landscape. Fen Bedstraw brings an airy...

Plants

few-flowered sedge

Carex pauciflora

A delicate specialist of the northern peatlands, the few-flowered sedge is famous for its unique downward-pointing fr...

Plants

Fiddle-leaf Fig

Ficus lyrata

With its massive, violin-shaped leaves and commanding presence, the Fiddle-leaf Fig is the ultimate 'it' plant of the...

Plants

field sedge

Carex praegracilis

The resilient 'expressway sedge' that transforms highways and backyards alike into lush, emerald meadows. A favorite ...

Plants

Firebush

Hamelia patens

The ultimate 'living bird feeder,' Firebush is a vibrant tropical shrub that provides a constant supply of nectar and...

Plants

Firespike

Odontonema tubaeforme

A towering beacon of brilliant red, Firespike is the ultimate 'gas station' for hummingbirds and butterflies. This ar...

Plants

fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

A spectacular herald of summer, Fireweed transforms disturbed landscapes into seas of brilliant magenta. This hardy w...

Plants

Fishbone Fern

Nephrolepis cordifolia

The Fishbone Fern is a resilient and architectural masterpiece of the plant world, easily recognized by its ladder-li...

Plants

Flame vine

Pyrostegia venusta

A cascading waterfall of brilliant orange, the Flame vine is a winter-blooming powerhouse that transforms fences into...

Plants

Floating Heart

Nymphoides senegalensis

Floating Heart is a master of the wetlands, gracing African waters with its delicate, fringed white blossoms and icon...

Plants

flower-of-an-hour

Hibiscus trionum

A fleeting beauty of the summer garden, the flower-of-an-hour reveals its stunning dark-eyed blooms for only a few ho...

Plants

Fly Honeysuckle

Lonicera xylosteum

A resilient and bushy woodland staple, the Fly Honeysuckle is famous for its paired 'twin' flowers and brilliant red ...

Plants

Forbes' Glory-of-the-snow

Scilla forbesii

A brilliant sapphire carpet that defies the winter chill, Forbes' Glory-of-the-snow is one of the first splashes of c...

Plants

fox grape

Vitis labrusca

The bold, aromatic ancestor of the Concord grape, the Fox Grape is a vertical sanctuary and a wild autumn banquet for...

Plants

fox sedge

Carex vulpinoidea

With its signature bristly seed heads that resemble a bushy fox's tail, Fox Sedge is a cornerstone of the backyard we...

Plants

Foxtail Bristle-grass

Setaria italica

An ancient grain with a modern purpose, Foxtail Bristle-grass is a stunning ornamental that doubles as a high-energy ...

Plants

fragrant sumac

Rhus aromatica

A powerhouse of the backyard ecosystem, fragrant sumac offers citrus-scented foliage, brilliant fall colors, and esse...

Plants

Frank's sedge

Carex frankii

A champion of the rain garden, Frank's sedge is easily recognized by its distinctive, bristly seed heads that look li...

Plants

French broom

Genista monspessulana

A golden-flowered invader from the Mediterranean, French broom is a master of rapid expansion, transforming backyards...

Plants

fringed sedge

Carex crinita

With its elegant, drooping seed heads and fountain-like foliage, Fringed Sedge is the 'weeping willow' of the marsh w...

Plants

fringed willowherb

Epilobium ciliatum

A hardy and prolific wildflower, the fringed willowherb is a master of dispersal, using silky wind-blown seeds to col...