Over the past three to four years we have been creating a series of gardens and small woodlands on our property either from existing lawn area or reclaimed scrub brush. Our priorities until now have been to put in many trees and shrubs and not focus too much on the 'floor'. These areas were either mulched (in the case of the lawn to kill the grass) or I have spent a large amount of time mulching and trying to eliminate invasive weeds (especially garlic mustard). This year, I would like to really work on the perennial layer.

Another development over the past four years or so is that I have gravitated towards more and more natives. Although I still use some 'exotics' I would say I now plant about 70-80% native trees and shrubs. Having said that, I've come up with a list of native perennials I'm thinking of adding this year. As I don't have experience with many of these I'd really appreciate some feedback on the list. I'm trying to steer away from any aggressive varieties or varieties that will seed to quickly and becme hard to control as much of our woodlands still have small trees and I already spend a lot of time keeping up with the current invasives.

For areas where I already have filtered to full shade, average to moist conditions:

Anemone quinquefolia
Arisaema triphyllum
Asarum canadense
Cornus canadensis (may be difficult in my soil)
Cypripedium parviflorum
Dicentra cucullaria and canadensis
Erythronium americanum
Hepatica acutiloba
Heuchera americana
Mertensia virginica
Podophyllum peltatum
Polemonium reptans
Polygonatum pubescens
Polystichum acrostichoides
Sanguinara canadensis
Smilacina racemosa
Tiarella cordifolia
Trillium grandiflorum
Viola canadensis
Viola pubescens

Areas where trees have not really created full cover yet but will as they grow.

Aquilegia candensis
Erythronium americanum
Gernaium maculatum
Lilium philadelphicum
Penstemon digitalis
Lupinus perennis
Heuchera americana
Sisyrinchium montanum (I already have some I can use)
Viola canadensis
Viola pubescens

In these areas I already have some hostas, exotic coral bells, sweet woodruff, tiarella cultivars in the shady areas from my other gardens. I will remove these over time. Similarly in the sunnier areas I have filled some spots in with some non-natives for now.

Thanks for any thoughts and ideas. It will be quite a dollar investment so I want to make good choices.