Both grow in zones 5-8 and provide great benefits to wildlife while also adding interest to your gardens.

Diervilla sessifolia - Southern Bush Honeysuckle

Available in 1 gallons ($18) and 3 gallons ($30)

This is a native, compact, deciduous shrub that grows to 3-5' tall and wide. The common name comes from the flowers resembling those in the Honeysuckle family (Lonicera), but don't fear - this plant is not related nor invasive! Fragrant, pale yellow flowers start blooming in early summer and are an important food source for bumble bees and butterflies, and the long-blooming terminal cymes provide a reliable nectar source for hummingbirds. This suckering shrub forms thickets, which provide sturdy shelter for ground-nesting birds. is our go-to for anyone looking to add a shrub to their pollinator garden - it never disappoints! Southern Bush Honeysuckle thrives in windy, sunny, dry sites where most other plants won't grow. It is also drought tolerant, deer resistant, extremely hardy and adaptable to a range of soil types - it can even tolerate some shade. It spreads by suckers and will form small thickets which is ideal for stabilizing banks or as a groundcover. It is found growing naturally in the southern Appalachian mountains on bluffs, slopes, stream banks and along woodland borders.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Available in 2 gallons, current height is 4', $30

An ancient tree known for its fossil records from as far back as 65 million years ago. This species was thought to be extinct until it was found in the 1940s growing wild in China. Dawn Redwood was widespread in the Northern hemisphere in the Tertiary Period, but are not considered native to North America today. Unlike the redwood species native to the West Coast, this ancient tree grows well on the East Coast. Putting on over 24" of growth a growing season it is considered one of the fastest growing trees. Dawn Redwoods form a pyramidal shape reaching 75-100' tall and 15-25' wide. This tree is unique, as it's a deciduous conifer - the feathery branchlets of needles turn a bright copper color in the fall before they drop. This tree does best in moist, slightly acidic conditions and can tolerate some drought. This is a great tree to add along creeks/rivers, ponds, moist woodlands, and as a specimen in the water garden. It's amazing at how disease and pest resistant this tree is, but it's not surprising as it's been around for millions of years to adapt and evolve. Another great attribute of this tree? It is deer resistant!