Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Before you do anything else, we urge you to read our How-To Article A Guide to Native Plant Gardening. It doesn't matter what part of the country you live in, this has important information.

We will certainly try to find a list of native plants that will grow in Bergen County, USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. Before we do that, though, we need to warn you that the problem you are having does not have entirely to do with plant selection, but mostly with location. The grasses we find that will grow in shade are not going to be mowable turf grasses, but taller grasses that will turn brown in drought and cold. Another problem, from your list of requests, is that most vegetables and fruit trees are not only not native to North America but need more sun to thrive. Even hardy and drought-tolerant plants need some irrigation in the early months of their lives, and "low maintenance" does NOT mean you can plant and forget.

Since it is now Summer, well, it is in Texas, anyway, you really won't need to be planting anything until Fall. Woody plants, like trees and shrubs, should either be planted in Fall or early Spring in your hardiness zone. Wildflowers should be seeded in early Spring, and perennials will usually not bloom until the second season. So, there is no Instant Garden. We suggest you use the time until you can begin planting to improve the conditions in which the plants will grow. We will search on plants that can tolerate "part shade," which we consider to be 2 to 6 hours of sun a day, and "shade," 2 hours or less. If the shade is created by trees, some trimming and limbing up to let more sunshine in can make a big difference. If they are BIG trees, it would be worth it to hire a licensed, trained arborist to do the trimming, someone who will make sure the trimming does not harm the trees. 

Next, try making amendments to the poor soil you have. Drainage is very key in getting most plants to do well. If your soil is clay, it will be even harder. Consider the possibility of raised beds.  Here is one article on the construction of such a bed from Popular Mechanics. Another take on the problem comes from About.com: Organic Gardening, Raised  Bed Gardens. Whether you raise it by construction of borders or simply by adding amendments to the soil, you will need to till or dig in compost or other organic materials, and be prepared to irrigate it when it is dry. With the improved drainage, the occasional flooding should be okay.

Follow each link to the page on that plant in our Native Plant Database to learn growing conditions, projected size, bloom time, etc. To make your own selections, go to our Recommended Species section, click on New Jersey on the map, and then Narrow Your Search by selecting from General Appearance,  Duration, Light Requirements, any other specifications you have.  For additional grasses, go to the Native Plant Database, select New Jersey and make the other choices in the Combination Search.

Herbaceous Blooming Perennials for Park Ridge NJ:

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) 

Claytonia caroliniana (Carolina springbeauty)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Shrubs for Park Ridge NJ:

Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)

Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea)

Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry)

Grasses for Park Ridge NJ:

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)

Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Tridens flavus (purpletop tridens)

From our Native Plant Image Gallery:

Achillea millefolium

Ratibida pinnata

Claytonia caroliniana

Coreopsis lanceolata

Gaultheria procumbens

Ceanothus americanus

Vaccinium angustifolium

Chasmanthium latifolium

Muhlenbergia schreberi

Calylophus berlandieri ssp. pinifolius