Thimbleweed

The attractive flowers of thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) help give the plant its name, as they have five sepals resembling petals surrounding a central area that looks like a thimble. The flowers bloom in April and May, with the seed heads that result remaining on the plant well into winter. Thimbleweed is an herbaceous perennial that is native to much of eastern and central North America, growing northward through USDA zone 2. Thimbleweed grows to 3 feet in a full sun or partially shady spot. Use it in shade gardens or in woodland plots. Place thimbleweed in a native wildflower scenario, or plant it in naturalized areas with other wild plants. While bees will gladly visit thimbleweed, mammals tend to leave it be since its leaves irritate their mouths, notes Illinois Wildflowers.

Bleeding Heart

The flowers of the bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), shaped like a small pink heart, hang in rows from a drooping stem during April and May. This low-maintenance perennial originates from Asian nations such as Korea and China. Hardy to USDA zone 3, bleeding hearts are a staple of gardens across America, growing to 3 feet in full to partial shade. A dry environment in the summer, or a damp one in winter, are bad settings for the bleeding heart. The leaves will go dormant by the middle summer months, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Put bleeding hearts among ferns and various types of hostas, so when the plant finishes blooming and goes dormant, the other species will compensate for it.

False Spikenard

You will encounter large colonies of false spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum) in the wild, since this perennial hardy to USDA zone 3 spreads through its roots. False spikenard's biggest ornamental assets include its foliage, delicate white flowers and red berries. The plant grows to 3 feet in woodlands; you can plant it in partial shade. Inappropriate for hot sites, the false spikenard will thrive near a pond or wetland. Use it in wildflower gardens and naturalized portions of your acreage. False spikenard is especially striking in mass plantings, notes the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.