Bushy plant with near heart-shaped leaves and tiny greenish-white summer flowers on panicles; flowers are followed by hanging clusters of showy fall fruits that ripen to purplish-black and are eaten by birds. Borne on soft stems, the leaves move in the breeze.

American Spikenard can be grown in a container, as well as columbine and Christmas fern, also pictured. Photo credit: Carol Davit.