Plants in Early American Gardens - Fraxinella

Fraxinella; White Gas Plant (Dictamnus albus)

This handsome, long-lived perennial, native from southern Europe to northern China, has been cultivated in American gardens since the early eighteenth century. Thomas Jefferson noted planting “Fraxinella in center of NW shrub circle” at Monticello on April 16, 1807. Jefferson received the plant from his friend and Washington, DC nurseryman, Thomas Main. It is also called Gas Plant because it emits a volatile vapor that can be ignited on a still evening.

Plants in Early American Gardens - Bare Root White Flowering Dogwood

Bare Root White Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Cornus florida is an understory tree, native to eastern North America, which was introduced to American gardens by 1731. Philadelphia botanist and nurseryman John Bartram sold Cornus florida in 1783, and Thomas Jefferson included "Dog-wood" on a list of trees in 1771. Jefferson also made several shipments of seed to his Parisian friend, Madame de Tessé. Flowering Dogwood, the state flower of Virginia, is one of the most popular small trees for residential planting in the U.S.

Plants in Early American Gardens - American Hazelnut

American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)

The American Hazelnut is native from New England to Saskatchewan and south to Florida. It is often found along fencerows and at the edge of woodlands. In 1640 the New England poet William Wood wrote of the “Snake murthering hazel,” presumably referring to the formidable switches or stems. Jefferson listed the American Hazel in 1771 as a shrub not exceeding 10 feet for a shrubbery at Monticello. The edible nuts have a flavor similar to the European hazelnut and are eaten by squirrels, woodpeckers, grouse, and other wildlife.

Books/Herbals/Manuscripts - Tho Jefferson (1743-1824) to Bernard M'Mahon 1806

Thomas Jefferson by Tadeusz Andrzej Bonawentura Kosciuszko (1746 - 1817)

The American gardener's calendar; adapted to the climates and seasons of the United States. Containing a complete account of all the work necessary to be done in the kitchen-garden, fruit-garden, orchard, vineyard, nursery, pleasure-ground, flower-garden, green-house, hot-house, and forcing frames, for every month in the year; with ample practical directions for performing the same… by Bernard M'Mahon

"Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr McMahon for the book he has been so kind as to send him. from the rapid view he has taken of it & the original matter it appears to contain he has no doubt it will be found an useful aid to the friends of an art, too important to health & comfort & yet too much neglected in this country . . . " — Thomas Jefferson to Bernard McMahon, 25 April 1806

Research & images & much more are directly available from the Monticello.org website. 

Plants in Early American Gardens - Wild Bleeding Heart

Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)

This wildflower is native to the mountainous regions of Eastern North America from New York to Georgia. It was being cultivated by Annapolis, Maryland artisan William Faris in 1793 and recommended for the flower garden in 1859 by Boston seedsman and garden writer Joseph Breck, author of The Flower Garden or Breck’s Book of Flowers, 1851. At the turn of the 20th century, British garden writer William Robinson noted that the Dicentra eximia “combines a fern-like grace with the flowering qualities of a good hardy perennial.” He considered the species useful in rock gardens, mixed flower borders or for naturalizing by woodland walks.