Fagus grandifolia (American beech) is a majestic, upright deciduous tree with a wide-spreading canopy that sometimes almost touches the ground. Small green and brown flowers bloom mid-spring and develop into three-winged edible nuts that persist into winter attracting a variety of small woodland animals and birds. One of the most stunning ornamental features of Fagus grandifolia is the smooth pale gray bark. It is easy to identify a Fagus in public spaces because the even, flat surface of these trees almost always has some form of carving in it which is not good for the tree. Coming across a specimen or grove of trees that have not been blemished is a treat! Dark green, glossy, serrated foliage turns bronze in fall and will often persist through a good portion of the winter. F. grandifolia excels as a specimen tree, shade tree, or part of a naturalized planting area.

Prunus serotina (black cherry) is an upright, deciduous tree with poisonous dark green, glossy, finely serrated leaves that turn bright yellow and orange. In late spring hundreds of bright white flowers open on long racemes, attracting a wide array of bees and butterflies. These flowers give way to small dark edible fruit that mature in late summer. The deep red drupes are edible, often used in jams or wine, and sought after by a variety of woodland birds. The wood is commonly used as timber for furniture. P. serotina is both drought and salt tolerant, making it a very durable plant overall. However, if given exceedingly good conditions this plant can be weedy. P. serotina does well as a specimen tree or mass planting in naturalized areas.

Spiraea alba (meadowsweet) is a dense, suckering, mounding shrub found throughout much of northeastern North America. S. alba has narrow, toothed foliage that may be susceptible to fire blight and leaf spot. Long panicles of small white flowers bloom at the top of the plants upright stems. These blooms attract many different bees and butterflies. S. alba excels when planted as a mass in wet naturalized sites or in consistently watered garden beds.

Trillium flexipes (bent trillium) has long-blooming, creamy white flowers on bent pedicels with a single whorl of medium-green leaves. This plant grows from underground rhizomes and will slowly colonize an area. This species prefers alluvial soils often found in flood plains. T. flexipes is endangered in the state of New York.

Trilliums are ephemeral woodland plants that are slow to develop and grow from seed but will spread by rhizomes to form colonies. The genus name comes from the Latin word for three because all of the plant parts of Trillium occur in triplet. The seeds have a fatty structure attached (elaiosome) that attracts many ant species. They provide a food source for the ants while the ants provide a seed dispersal mechanism for the Trillium. This plant was also used by Native Americans for a wide range of medical treatments but may be mildly toxic if ingested. Numerous native Trillium species are exploitably vulnerable or endangered many states so it is important to buy these plants from reputable nurseries rather than collect them from the wild. That being said, Trillium is a great plant for massing in moist woodland gardens or naturalized areas.