Wintergreen

Chimaphila

Chimaphila maculata ( Striped Wintergreen )
A perennial, reaching up to 1 foot in height, that is native to dry, acidic or sandy pine woods in eastern North America ( from Traverse City, Michigan to Wasaga Beach and Long Point in Ontario to southern Quebec to New Hampshire; south to northeast Mississippi to northern Georgia ). It is critically endangered in Ontario where just 4 populations remain and Quebec with just one tiny remaining population. It likely had a much wider range in the past in southern Ontario that would have included the Leamington area, Grand Bend, and a wider portion of Haldimand-Norfolk County. It is also endangered in Illinois, Maine and New York.
The lance-shaped leaves, up to 2.8 x 1 inch in size, are deep green with a whitish midrib and veins.
Up to 5 fragrant, white flowers are borne per umbel during late summer
Hardy zones 5 to 8, it thrives in partial to full shade on acidic soil with pine needle mulch. It is typically found in coniferous and pine-oak forests in the wild.

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* photos taken on Apr 27 2015 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on Aug 20 2016 in Olney, MD

* photos taken on Sep 18 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Nov 26 2019 @ Patuxent Research Reserve, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

Chimaphila umbellata ( Wintergreen )
Also called Pipsissewa. An evergreen, rhizomatous ( sometimes forming large colonies ) perennial, reaching up to 14 inches in height, that is native to dry upland coniferous woodland. It is a widespread native of North America's boreal and mixed forest region ( from Skagway, Alaska to far southwest Northwest Territories to Gimli, Manitoba to Lake Nipigon to Chapleau, Ontario to central Quebec to Labrador and Newfoundland; south to the mountains of California, AZ & NM to northeast Iowa to northern Indiana to southern West Virginia to North Carolina ). It is also native to the boreal region of northern Eurasia. It is rare in all of Maryland and critically endangered in Kentucky where it has a disjunct distribution in just one county in the south-central part of the State. It is also endangered in Saskatchewan. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was only noted as occurring on the Ohio lakeshore but likely also occurred sporadically in southern Essex County at that time.
The toothed, oblanceolate leaves, up to 2.8 x 0.9 inches in size, are glossy deep green. They are borne in pairs or whorls of 3 or 4.
The white to pinkish flowers, up to 0.6 inches wide, are borne per umbel of 4 to 8 during summer
Hardy zones 2 to 7, it thrives in partial to full shade on acidic sandy soil with pine needle mulch. It is typically found in coniferous forests in the wild.

* photos taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* historical archive photos

Polkadots

Dyschoriste linearis ( Polkadots )
A groundcover perennial, reaching up to 1 x 2.5 feet in size, that is native from western Oklahoma to western Texas.
The oppositely-arranged, oblanceolate leaves, up to 2.7 inches in length, are bright green.
The lavender-purple ( purple striped throat ) flowers, up to 1.1 x 1 inch in size, are borne during late spring, repeating during late summer if rainfall is adequate. The flowers are borne from the leaf axils. They attract butterflies and honey bees.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil. It is tolerant of extreme heat, drought, alkaline soil and temporary flooding.

* photo taken on Aug 23 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC

Toadflax

Linaria vulgaris ( Butter & Eggs )
A rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 3.3 x 1 foot, that is a widespread native of Europe and northern Asia where it is often found on roadsides and sand dunes. While I find it to be too beautiful to call a weed, it can become invasive on some sites. It is locally naturalized in eastern North America to as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska; southwest Yukon; Edmonton, Alberta; Ignace, Ontario; Chapleau, Ontario and Ottawa.
The linear leaves, up to 3 x 0.1 inches in size, are blue-green to mid-green.
The yellow flowers, up to 1 inch long, are borne late spring to mid-autumn. Linaria purpurea ( Purple Toadflax ) is similar except with pink or purple flowers.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun on sandy, well drained soil. It is very drought tolerant. Propagation is from division or seed sown during spring.

* photos taken on Sep 30 2014 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on July 14 2016 in Lions Head, Ontario

* photo taken on Aug 18 2021 in Windsor, ON

* photo taken on July 8 2022 in Goderich, ON

* photo taken on July 8 2023 in Meaford, ON

'Canon Went'
Pink flowers; it is otherwise identical to species.
It comes true from seed.

'Springside White'
Pure white flowers, it is otherwise identical to species.
It comes true from seed.

Cestrum

Cestrum
A genus of deciduous or evergreen, shrubs or small trees that are part of the larger nightshade family.
Most species thrive in full sun to partial shade on just about any fertile, well drained soils that are moist during summer. Propagation is from seed or softwood cuttings.

* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

Cestrum aurantiacum ( Orange Cestrum )
A semi-evergreen to evergreen, scrambling, large shrub, reaching a maximum size of 20 x 10 feet, that is native from Mexico to Guatemala. It can be kept pruned as a more tidy shrub.
The aromatic, ovate leaves, up to 7 x 3 inches in size, are bright green. The leaves are slightly hairy at first then becoming smooth.
The orange flowers are borne 10 to 15 on terminal clusters, up to 4 inches wide, during spring and summer. They often repeat bloom during autumn.
Fleshy white berries follow.
Hardy zones 8 to 12 ( reported by Bustani Plant Farm to be root hardy as far north as Oklahoma City ).

Cestrum diurnum ( Day Jessamine )
A fast growing, small tree, reaching a maximum size of 35 x 38 feet, that is native to tropical America and the Caribbean.
The elliptical leaves, up to 6 x 2 inches in size, are bright green.
The white, tubular flowers are borne up to 20 on a panicle that is up to 4 inches in length. The flowers are fragrant during the daytime.
They are followed by small, purple berries.
Hardy zones 8 to 12. It is moderately salt tolerant and very drought tolerant.

Cestrum elegans ( Red Cestrum )
Also called Cestrum purpureum. A fast growing, arching shrub, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 10 feet, that is native to tropical forests of Mexico. Some records include: 5 years - 10 x 6.5 feet.
The aromatic or oblong leaves, up to 7 x 3 inches in size, are hairy and olive-green.
The red to bright purple, tubular flowers are borne on dense, terminal panicles during summer to fall.
They are followed by rounded, purplish-red berries.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

'Smithii'
Lance-shaped leaves are orange to scarlet-red flowers.

Cestrum 'Newellii'
A fast growing, arching shrub, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 10 feet. It can become invasive in some regions. Some records include: 5 years - 10 x 6.5 feet.
The aromatic, narrowly-ovate leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are hairy deep green.
The unscented, rich deep red flowers are borne on clusters up to 5 inches in length. They may appear throughout the year in mild climates.
They are followed by rounded, deep red berries.
Hardy zones 8 to 12.

Cestrum nocturnum ( Night-Scented Jessamine )
A fast growing, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 20 x 13 ( rarely over 12 ) feet, that is native to the Caribbean. It has become invasive in some parts of the world including Australia.
The thick leaves, up to 8 x 2 inches in size, are bright green.
The abundant, very fragrant, bright greenish-yellow, tubular flowers are borne summer into late autumn. The scent can be detected as far away as 50 feet during night.
They are followed by ovoid white berries.
Hardy zones 9 to 12 ( possibly even 7 & 8 as a perennial on protected sites with deep winter mulch ).

Cestrum 'Orange Peel'
The very vigorous hybrid between Cestrum diurnum and C. nocturnum. Reaches up to 12 x 10 feet, or up to 8 x 8 feet if grown as a perennial.
The lance-shaped leaves are glossy mid-green.
The fragrant, bright orange tubular flowers appear late spring through mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( perennial in zone 7 ) in full sun to partial shade.

* photo taken on June 19 2016 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on July 5 2016 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC

* photos taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Cestrum parqui ( Green Cestrum )
A fast growing, suckering, upright, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 18 x 10 feet, that is native to Chile. Some records include: 5 years - 5 x 6.5 feet. It can become an invasive weed in some warmer climate regions.
The lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, up to 6 x 1.7 inches in size, are mid-green.
The abundant, bright yellow, tubular flowers are borne on terminal racemes throughout most of the year. The flowers are fragrant at night.
They are followed by purplish-brown berries.
Hardy zones 8 to 12 ( 7b as a perennial on protected sites with deep winter mulch...prunings from the old christmas tree makes a good protective mulch ).