Wildlife Species Library

Plants

smooth black sedge

Carex nigra

A striking wetland staple known for its coal-colored spikes and hardy nature. The smooth black sedge is a cornerstone...

Plants

Smooth Brome

Bromus inermis

A hardy and persistent perennial, Smooth Brome is easily identified by a unique 'W' mark on its leaves. While beautif...

Plants

smooth crabgrass

Digitaria ischaemum

A resilient specialist of the sunny lawn, smooth crabgrass is a master of low-profile survival. Easily identified by ...

Plants

Smooth Meadow-grass

Poa pratensis

Often called the king of lawn grasses, Smooth Meadow-grass is a hardy perennial that forms the lush, emerald carpet o...

Plants

Smooth Pigweed

Amaranthus hybridus

A towering summer annual, Smooth Pigweed is a resilient pioneer that turns disturbed soil into a bustling wildlife bu...

Plants

smooth sumac

Rhus glabra

A champion of the autumn landscape, the smooth sumac offers more than just brilliant red foliage; it is a vital winte...

Plants

Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

Famous for flowers that 'snap' open like a dragon's mouth, these garden favorites are more than just a pretty face—th...

Plants

social sedge

Carex socialis

A delicate, mat-forming native sedge that transforms shaded woodland floors into lush green carpets. Social sedge is ...

Plants

Soft Rush

Juncus effusus

The structural architect of the backyard pond, Soft Rush provides a striking green silhouette while serving as a bust...

Plants

Soft Spinifex

Triodia pungens

Meet the sticky architect of the Australian desert. Soft Spinifex isn't just a grass; it's a resinous sanctuary that ...

Plants

Soft Tree Fern

Alsophila smithii

Known as the kātote, the Soft Tree Fern is the elegant, cold-hardy soul of the New Zealand bush. Its distinctive skir...

Plants

Solomon's plume

Maianthemum racemosum

An elegant woodland resident with arching stems and feathery white blooms, Solomon's plume transforms into a ruby-red...

Plants

Sour Cherry

Prunus cerasus

A burst of springtime white followed by a summer of crimson, the Sour Cherry is a backyard powerhouse that sustains p...

Plants

Southern bush honeysuckle

Diervilla sessilifolia

A resilient mountain native, the Southern bush honeysuckle brightens the Appalachian highlands with its sulfur-yellow...

Plants

Spanish Broom

Spartium junceum

Spanish Broom is a Mediterranean marvel, painting hillsides in brilliant gold and filling the air with a sweet, honey...

Plants

spearmint

Mentha spicata

A refreshing staple of the herb garden, Spearmint is a vigorous perennial that doubles as a high-traffic nectar hub f...

Plants

Spiked Sedge

Carex spicata

A striking, clump-forming perennial that adds architectural flair and vital habitat to the backyard. With its star-li...

Plants

spiny amaranth

Amaranthus spinosus

Armed with needle-sharp spines and a resilient spirit, the spiny amaranth is a fascinating survivor of the backyard l...

Plants

spotted knapweed

Centaurea stoebe

An aggressive survivor from Eastern Europe, spotted knapweed is a master of adaptation. Known for its 'spotted' purpl...

Plants

spreading phlox

Phlox diffusa

A resilient mountain gem that carpets the western wilderness in a tapestry of lavender and white blossoms.

Plants

Spring Snowflake

Leucojum vernum

Emerging through the late winter frost, the Spring Snowflake is one of the earliest signs that warmer days are ahead....

Plants

squarrose knapweed

Centaurea triumfettii

A gem of the alpine meadows, the squarrose knapweed dazzles with its silver-tinted leaves and electric blue sunburst ...

Plants

squarrose sedge

Carex squarrosa

Recognizable by its spiky, mace-like seed heads, the Squarrose Sedge is a geometric wonder of the wetlands. This hard...

Plants

Squirrel's Tail

Justicia betonica

A striking tropical shrub famous for its white and green-veined flower spikes that mimic the fluffy tail of a squirre...

Plants

Squirreltail

Elymus elymoides

With its whimsical, bottle-brush seed heads that dance in the prairie wind, Squirreltail is the quintessential grass ...

Plants

Star jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides

A fragrant masterpiece of the backyard, Star Jasmine is an evergreen climber that provides year-round shelter for bir...

Plants

starch grape-hyacinth

Muscari racemosum

A fragrant spring jewel originally from the rocky slopes of Turkey, the starch grape-hyacinth is prized for its musky...

Plants

Sticky mouse-ear chickweed

Cerastium glomeratum

A fuzzy, resilient harbinger of spring, Sticky mouse-ear chickweed brings life to garden borders with its tiny white ...

Plants

stout wood reed

Cinna arundinacea

Standing tall in the quiet damp of the forest, the stout wood reed is a master of the shaded wetland. Its silvery, dr...

Plants

summer grape

Vitis aestivalis

The summer grape is the king of the upland canopy, providing a lush vertical playground and a bountiful purple harves...

Plants

Swamp Fern

Thelypteris confluens

A delicate yet hardy inhabitant of the water's edge, the Swamp Fern creates lush green carpets that serve as a sanctu...

Plants

Swamp Jessamine

Gelsemium rankinii

A double-blooming beauty of the Southern wetlands, the Swamp Jessamine lights up the garden with brilliant yellow tru...

Plants

swamp loosestrife

Decodon verticillatus

The graceful architect of the marsh, Swamp Loosestrife creates vibrant pink-fringed arches that serve as living bridg...

Plants

Swamp Sawgrass

Cladium mariscus

The undisputed architect of the wetlands, Swamp Sawgrass is a towering sedge known for its formidable serrated leaves...

Plants

sweet Joe-Pye-weed

Eutrochium purpureum

A towering monarch of the late-summer garden, Sweet Joe-Pye-weed is a nectar-rich skyscraper that attracts clouds of ...

Plants

sweet vernal grass

Anthoxanthum odoratum

One of the first signs of spring, sweet vernal grass fills the air with the nostalgic scent of vanilla and freshly cu...