Plant List
Browse local plants for information and inspiration
SEASON
MICROCLIMATE
TYPE
SPRING
Phlox are a diverse group of plants available in an array of heights, colors, and growth habits. Tall varieties are excellent for cut flowers. Low, creeping varieties make a beautiful ground cover at the forefront of a border or covering a slope. Individual plants look great tucked into a rock garden or spilling over the side of a planter. All types attract butterflies and beneficial pollinators to the garden. Doesn’t like ‘wet feet’, so make sure soil is well drained.
Large petals create floral artistry atop tall sturdy stems. Shades of red, pink, purple, orange, yellow, white, and bicolor. It does best in dry, sunny locations. The Germanica species, often called ‘Bearded Iris’, is a gorgeous choice for bringing a burst of attention to the garden or a vase. Irises are an ideal option for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Makes a dependable mixed border plant and adds nice height to larger patio containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets.
Various shades of pink or white flowers bloom over a mound of tufted grass-like foliage. Dependable color and texture looks great all season. A fun, colorful, easy-care choice for hot, dry locations. Armeria, aka Sea Thrift, is an excellent companion to fleshy-leaved succulents. Perfectly sized for rock gardens, border fronts, and all kinds of containers. Combines beautifully with small ornamental grasses.
A favorite valued for its delicate blooms and beautiful foliage. Airy light stems are topped with elegant, large flowers available in a rainbow of solid or multi-colors. Attracts butterflies and pollinators to the garden. Best planted in groups for a full-season display of showy blooms. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Especially nice in part shade gardens. Terrific for hummingbird gardens. Easy to grow and very rewarding. Can reseed itself for a slowly expanding presence if desired.
Charming sweetly-scented bell-shaped white flowers bloom in spring. Long lasting, perfect for woodland settings. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. Makes a breathtaking border when planted en masse. Contraindication: Please note this plant is highly poisonous to pets and people if accidentally ingested.
Bleeding Hearts are an outstanding choice for adding color and texture to shady or woodland settings. All species have charming pink heart-shaped flowers and attractive foliage. Their bloom time is Spring to early Summer. Hybrids of differing sizes have been developed over the years to expand the range of flower colors and bloom time. Plan for them to go dormant during the heat of summer by planting close to other plants that can "fill in the gap" for a while, such as Hosta or Hellebores. This species of Dicentra will return when the weather cools again in the spring.
Masses of crisp white flowers have a luminous quality to them. Highly valued for its woolly blue-green foliage that creates a carpet spread or tumbles beautifully over rocks or slopes. Easy to care for and stylishly accents other bright colors. Perfectly sized for border fronts or garden fill. A reliable ground cover for any location.
Huge, silky flowers on long stems are sure to attract attention. Bright to pastel colors including orange, red, yellow, white, dark purple, coral, pink, and lavender. Bristly, fern-like foliage and unopened buds are interesting on their own. Dependable color and texture looks great all season. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Wonderful for rock gardens and containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets.
This reliable groundcover boasts burgundy-red to deep purple foliage, adding rich color to challenging shady locations. Bright blue flowers in the spring provide added interest through the seasons. Cool weather enhances the foliage color. Beautiful contrasted with other plants with silver or golden leaves. Colliquically called ‘Carpet Bugle’, this variety is known as ‘Braunherz’. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing.
An easy fast-spreading carpet of evergreen foliage that looks good all season. Fragrant, white flowers bloom in early summer. The perfect choice for brightening lifeless shaded areas. Beautiful in shady borders and woodland gardens, this is a reliable ground cover for any location. Effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing.
A stunning display for early season color in border plantings. Rich green foliage is complemented by unusual yellow flower bracts. Foliage turns a beautiful blend of orange, purple and red in autumn. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Best placed in groups.
This small bright foliage is a classic for filling in planters and rock gardens. Shades of violet, purple, pink, magenta, and white. A real mainstay for spring perennial beds. Clusters of color above compact, evergreen foliage creates an alluring blanket that butterflies are certain to find. Charming when tucked in between plants, into rock crevice, or walls. Tumbles beautifully over rocks, slopes, and banks. This delicate, small-scale ground cover requires regular irrigation in high arid climates.
Alyssum, affectionately called Basked of Gold, is an evergreen selection that thrives in difficult locations where other plants fail. Brilliant yellow flowers are set against gray-green foliage, typically in a rounded shape. Tumbles beautifully over rock borders, retaining walls, slopes, and containers. Adds a wonderful splash of color to the early season landscape. Deer resistant.
SUMMER
Campanula, aka Bell Flower, comes in mounding, spreading and upright varieties. Color variations include white, blue, pink, mauve, burgundy, violet, and purple. Bell-like blooms vary from dainty stars to large cups, and may be single or clustered, upright or dangling. With so many options, a choice variety can be found to fit most garden settings. Wonderful for mixed borders and rock gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Best planted in groups.
Cup-like blooms of pink, yellow, or white bring a welcoming coolness and softness to the hot sunny gardens where this species of Oenothera thrive. Lays low and easily spreads out with vigorous undemanding happy presence. Provides color, ground cover, and hummingbird-enticing scent over a full season. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Tumbles beautifully over rocks, slopes, and banks. A reliable cover for any location.
Soft feathery plumes and finely cut foliage add a unique touch of color, light and texture to shadier gardens. Catches the eye when planted in group, providing a spectrum of pinks, purples, or white. Leave dried flowers untrimmed at season's end to provide winter interest in the garden. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Looks great in woodland settings. Ideal for specimen, foundations, and mass plantings. Especially nice in waterside gardens.
Known as “Blue-eyed African Daisy” because of the glowing blue flower centers, this dainty yet durable annual plant offers a full-season display in white or pastel yellow and orange flowers. Some varieties open and close with the daily movement of the sun. Originates in the hot, dry regions of South Africa, making it a perfect selection for novice gardeners or anyone seeking a low-maintenance landscape. Thrives just about anywhere, in sunny beds, borders, rock gardens and containers. Plant a number closer together for bold color impact.
Lobelia, aka Cardinal Flower, species can be found throughout the world. These plants are recognizable by their distinct flower formation. No matter the native habitat, the flowers have a similar structure of three large lower petals (known as the "lip") and two upper petals (these are the "ears"). Hummingbirds and butterflies flock to these flowers. Those gardening with pollinators and wildlife in mind would do very well to include Lobelia in their gardens. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Looks great in woodland settings. Especially nice in waterside gardens. Best planted in groups.
Balloon-like buds burst open into beautiful star-shaped flowers. Adds a touch of class to any garden planting. This delicate favorite is sure to attract attention. Colors of blue, purple, pink, and white.
Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Perfect for all kinds of containers.
Any easy-care choice for sites with poor soil. Bright, fringy blooms in white, blue, and pink have a very casual, prairie flower appearance and are highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Dwarf varieties are available and taller varieties may need staking to support their flower heads. Ideal for beds and borders. Reseeds itself, making it a dependable mixed border plant. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Terrific plant for butterfly gardens.
A mountain native suited to dry rocky soils and sunny locations. Dainty blooms blanket short mats of fine-leafed foliage over a long bloom season. Brings a light, and airy touch ideal for softening the look of rock gardens or mixed containers. Perfectly sized for border fronts, it spreads naturally and looks great spilling over container edges. Tumbles beautifully over rocks, slopes, and banks.
This wonderful, all-around performer emits a delightful scent. Produces whorled clusters of tubular florets and deliciously fragrant foliage. Flowers are loved by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Outstanding for planting near walkways, decks and patios where scent can be enjoyed. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Variety of heights and colors allow for visual appeal anywhere it’s placed in the garden.
Hybridizing has produced a dazzling array of Coral Bells. Perfect for gardeners who like to express their creativity through foliage color and texture. Heuchera, aka Coral Bells, are native to woodlands, prairies and mountains, so there are varieties suited to any garden. Airy clusters of little bell-shaped flowers add a blush of color in summer. Makes a wonderfully dependable mixed border plant for part-shade. Looks great in woodland settings. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts.
Classic and cheerful white petals and bright yellow center and a long bloom period. Some varieties have dwarf habits, well-suited to smaller gardens while others are almost shrubby in their height and bushiness. There are also varieties with fringy blooms, lacking the egg yolk yellow center, that can bring the balance of crisp, clean white to mixed plantings. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets.
Dianthus caryophyllus, aka Carnations, produce fragrant loosely-tufted blooms sure to catch the attention of nose and eyes. Amazing annual varieties and colors give the gardener a selection of heights and branching habits to fit a range of gardening needs and space; from large cutting gardens to mounded tufts, to lush planters on a patio. Perfect for adding instant color to any location. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Makes a lovely gift.
This flamboyant plant always makes a bold statement. Huge banana-like leaves topped with bright blooms add a tropical touch to the landscape. Cannas are available in an array of foliage with flowers in colors of pink, red, orange, yellow, salmon and white, and leaves in green or purple. They are dependable performers year-round in frost-free climates, and are perennial if roots are kept from freezing. Hummingbirds will flock to this plant. A perfect choice for beds and planters. Stunning in larger patio containers.
Each precious trumpet-like bloom of a Daylily only lasts for one day! Most varieties offer up daily blooms for several weeks others re-bloom throughout the entire summer. Flowers show in colors of red, pink, orange, yellow, purple, and bi-color. With over 50,000 registered varieties, choosing a mix of Daylilies with different colors and bloom times is easy and assures a colorful garden for months. Excellent for borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Combines beautifully with small ornamental grasses. Plant in drifts or bands for dazzling effect.
Eye-catching spires of densely packed colorful flowers are sported on strong stems. Unsurpassed for providing a dramatic display in the garden or the vase. Delphiniums (including Larkspur) have held a valuable position in traditional flower gardens for generations. The intricate blossoms are beautiful up close, and from a distance their tall spikes make a grand and colorful splash. Colors of blue, violet, purple, white, pink and bi-color. Small species are terrific for border fronts, rock gardens or containers. Tall ones are a favorite for using in cut arrangements. All Delphiniums are loved by bees and butterflies!
Sky blue flowers are complemented by attractive feathery foliage. A splendid choice for adding soft texture to the landscape. Flax remains in bloom for up to 3 full months. Excellent for borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings.
A brilliant range of red, orange, and yellow blooms add a cheerful touch to the landscape. Gaillardia, aka Blanket Flower’s, long bloom season, drought tolerance, and excellent cut flowers make this an ideal choice for every sunny garden setting. Perfect for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Wonderful for rock gardens and containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets.
This rugged North American native plant is carefree and incredibly easy to grow. Sprays of aster-like flowers in bright pink, red, orange, blue, and purple, are produced over a full summer season. Tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions makes it a dependable mixed border plant. Looks great in rock gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets.
A real standout in heavily shaded locations. Charming dainty blue flowers and rich variegated green heart-shaped leaves. Early summer blooms provide one of the hardiest perennials for long-lasting interest. Beautiful in shady borders and woodland gardens. Especially nice in waterside gardens. A reliable ground cover for any location. Contraindication: Has a tendency to spread indiscriminately, which is perfect for areas where other plants don’t grow.
Sea Holly, aka ‘Blue Hobbit’, features strong silver-blue stems holding distinctive blue pincushion flowers. An easy to grow, long-lived selection that is heat and drought tolerant. Adds a touch of fanciful texture or whimsy to the garden. Globe Thistle is a similar flower with a simpler classy silhouette of ball-on-stalk. Both are a reliable solution for hot or windy locations where nothing else can grow. They are a magnet for all sorts of pollinators and birds love the seeds. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Excellent accent for fresh or dried arrangements.
AUTUMN
Asters provide a lively burst of color to the late season landscape featuring a mass of color-themed daisies in almost every hue. The flowers attract butterflies and pollinators to the garden. Wonderful for porch containers, mixed borders, and rock gardens. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Tip: Plant in spring to establish the roots and they’ll fulfill their perennial potential.
Autumn Stonecrop is a terrific upright succulent with sturdy stem and lush clusters of dusty pink flowers in late summer and autumn. Since it stores water in its leaves, it's incredibly heat- and drought-resistant, and pollinators love the wide, dense flowers. The dried flower heads turn russet adding winter garden interest. Cut stalks to the ground in spring when new growth first appears. Classic plant for rock gardens. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Combines beautifully with small ornamental grasses.
Salvia, or Perennial Sage, boasts long-lasting bloom stalks in blues, purples, pinks, and white. Their richly textured foliage make them a favorite of gardeners, and an excellent addition to perennial gardens. The flowers are loved by bees as well. Wonderful for mixed borders and rock gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Plant in drifts or bands for rich and stunning effect.
Or Black Eyed Susans, these sunflower-like beauties will love the brightest spot in your garden. Sow the seeds directly in the soil at any point in the summer to get some splashy autumn blooms. Prized for its adaptability to many growing conditions, Rudbeckia’s late blooming season and vibrant flowers are a perfect complement to the season’s shifting colors. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens.
Chrysanthemums bring a burst of autumn color for containers or in the garden bed. Warm tones of every shade in reds, russets, purples, pinks, oranges, yellows and white. Foliage forms a dense bushy mound covered with flowers which bloom over a long period of time. Excellent for adding new dimension and color to the landscape in late summer and fall when many plants may be getting tired and leggy. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers to liven porches and patios.
Pansies can withstand the cold of winter, but they can't tolerate heat. Plant 'em at the end of summer and they'll bloom until a hard frost. Then expect to see their smiling faces pop up again in the spring. Pansies have been a garden favorite since initial hybrid varieties were developed from wild Viola species back in the 1800’s in England. A mood-lifting choice for beds and borders. Superb for baskets, containers and window boxes. Wonderful for combination plantings.
Autumn reds and oranges look great, but you’ll love seeing a splash of pink through your window this Sept. Large, delicate blooms atop tall stems, brighten the perennial garden and dance with the wind from summer into autumn. These do best in moist part-sun or part-shade areas. Excellent for borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Looks great in woodland settings. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Excellent cut flowers.
You might know Colchicum by its other name, Autumn Crocus, which grow from bulb-like corms. The name "Naked Ladies" comes from the fact that the flowers emerge from the ground long before the leaves appear. Plant it for the joy of seeing fresh flowers at the end of a long, hot summer, with blooms between August and September. Contraindication: The species is commonly cultivated as an ornamental, in spite of its toxicity.
Japanese Toad Lily's starry orchid-like blooms with variegated petals of all colors are a late season delight. Tall stems of glossy, heart-shaped foliage provide a nice backdrop to other shade or part sun perennials all summer, then burst into bloom for a late summer and autumn display. Consistent soil moisture through summer assures the most prolific show of blooms. Appropriate near water and in damp woodland settings. Effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing. Makes a breathtaking specimen plant.
Creeping Sedum fills in with a carpet of succulent ground cover featuring variegated green leaves that turn bright red-purple in autumn, some species topped with red-russet flowers. One of the least demanding and most satisfying perennials in the garden. Drought tolerant and deer resistant. Classic use for borders and rock gardens. Looks great spilling over container edges and filling in between border stones.
A bushy autumn perennial with a multitude of upright stems. Has a delicate yet defining presence with its dainty lavender colored blooms and fine silvery-purple leaves. A striking companion to plants of broader leaf or with gold hues. Ideal for defining edges, foundations, and looks stunning in mass plantings. Combines beautifully with small ornamental grasses. Not related to the herbal sage plant. Makes a dependable selection for any garden.
Striking when in full fruit, ornamental peppers are little annual plants with a tropical appeal. Most varieties hold their peppers in an upright position above the foliage. Although ornamental peppers are edible, most people find them too hot to enjoy. They do best in full sun with even watering once the soil gets slightly dry. Excellent for containers or borders, and they make great gifts.
Echinacea, or Cone Flower, is a prairie native and a tough, self-reliant plant that blooms late-summer to autumn. Dusky purplish-rose petals arch back from a central, spiky seed cone. The blooms are held on sturdy stems. Attracts butterflies to the garden. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings. Deer resistant.
WINTER INTEREST
SHADE
Show-stopping rounded clusters of flowers in white, blue, green, pink, or purple, put on a spectacular show in midsummer. This shrub has a beautiful shape that needs little if any pruning, save at season’s end. Acid soils will support shades of blue or purple, while alkaline soils turn blooms pink. Stems of dwarf species are short and green, while others are taller and more woody. Hydrangeas love water and require moist soil and/or regular irrigation. They do best in part or full shade. Ideal for borders, hedges or as a specimen plant. Excellent for along fences and walls. Best used in groups. Flowers are great for drying.
Hybridizing has produced a dazzling array of Coral Bells. Perfect for gardeners who like to express their creativity through foliage color and texture. Heuchera, aka Coral Bells, are native to woodlands, prairies and mountains, so there are varieties suited to any garden. Airy clusters of little bell-shaped flowers add a blush of color in summer. Makes a wonderfully dependable mixed border plant for part-shade. Looks great in woodland settings. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts.
Bleeding Hearts are an outstanding choice for adding color and texture to shady or woodland settings. All species have charming pink heart-shaped flowers and attractive foliage. Their bloom time is Spring to early Summer. Hybrids of differing sizes have been developed over the years to expand the range of flower colors and bloom time. Plan for them to go dormant during the heat of summer by planting close to other plants that can "fill in the gap" for a while, such as Hosta or Hellebores. This species of Dicentra will return when the weather cools again in the spring.
Autumn reds and oranges look great, but you’ll love seeing a splash of pink through your window this Sept. Large, delicate blooms atop tall stems, brighten the perennial garden and dance with the wind from summer into autumn. These do best in moist part-sun or part-shade areas. Excellent for borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Looks great in woodland settings. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Excellent cut flowers.
This reliable ground cover boasts burgundy-red to deep purple foliage, adding rich color to challenging shady locations. Bright blue flowers in the spring provide added interest through the seasons. Cool weather enhances the foliage color. Beautiful contrasted with other plants with silver or golden leaves. Colloquially called ‘Carpet Bugle’, this variety is known as ‘Braunherz’. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing.
A real standout in heavily shaded locations. Charming dainty blue flowers and rich variegated green heart-shaped leaves. Early summer blooms provide one of the hardiest perennials for long-lasting interest. Beautiful in shady borders and woodland gardens. Especially nice in waterside gardens. A reliable ground cover for any location. Contraindication: Has a tendency to spread indiscriminately, which is perfect for areas where other plants don’t grow.
Begonias are a classic and colorful choice for annual beds and containers. Ideal for shaded or part-shade areas. They offer bright blooms and fascinating foliage which varies from scalloped and waxy paddles to silvery or angel-wing shapes. The multitude of varieties also offers different flower forms including dainty, simple petaled wax blooms, lush multi-layered blooms, or dangling blooms. A perfect choice for beds and borders. Superb for baskets, containers and window boxes. Wonderful for combination plantings.
Majestic spikes of showy blooms make a bold statement in the landscape. A perfect choice for brightening lifeless shaded areas. The common name for this plant comes from a hood-like sepal on the flower reminiscent of an old fashioned cowl worn by monks. Especially nice in woodland gardens. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Best planted in groups.
Bright yellow flowers are held high above lush fan-shaped leaves. This plant grows in a shapely rounded style and gardeners adore it for its folded leaves which catch the sparkly morning dew. Its soft green foliage adds interest even when the plant is not in bloom. Easy to care for with low maintenance that lasts all season. Stylishly accents other bright colors in the garden. Best planted in groups. Lady’s Mantle does well in either sun or shade. With it’s happy yellow blooms, this plant is a favorite ground cover for for shady places.
A favorite valued for its delicate blooms and beautiful foliage. Airy light stems are topped with elegant, large flowers available in a rainbow of solid or multi-colors. Attracts butterflies and pollinators to the garden. Best planted in groups for a full-season display of showy blooms. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Especially nice in part shade gardens. Terrific for hummingbird gardens. Easy to grow and very rewarding. Can reseed itself for a slowly expanding presence if desired.
Stunning feathery plumes of cream colored flowers in late spring or summer make Goatsbeard a distinguished favorite. A shade loving plant, its fernlike foliage and wispy blooms lend airiness to gardens and look especially stunning en masse. Often sprouting up to 4’ tall and spreading to 3’ wide, this shrub is an excellent choice for a stand-out background plant in a border or woodland garden. Often mistaken for its lookalike, Astilbe, Goatsbeard is a plant from an entirely different plant family.
Wild Ginger is a real standout in heavily shaded locations! Grown for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Small purplish-russet flowers appear in spring. Combines well with Hosta in woodland gardens or near water. Beautiful and effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing.
Sedge forms graceful upright clumps of slender, arching leaves. A beautiful Japanese native, the Carex species are cool season grasses that grow naturally in grasslands and marsh areas throughout the world. They bring a relaxed, unstructured feel to the landscape. Creative gardeners will love the artistic possibilities of this plant for contrasting color, size, and texture. Available in an array of colors ranging from green and bronze to variegated combinations of green, gold, and white. Sizes range from 8” inches to 3’ feet, and textures from whispy to spiky. Many species are evergreen and provide garden interest year-round. Ideal for edging large beds or walkways, great in mass plantings, and adds a soft touch to rock gardens.
One of the best native ornamental grasses, Chasmanthium is valued for its ability to grow in almost any condition, especially shade. Seed clusters arch gracefully from atop the foliage and last into winter. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes.
Campanula, aka Bell Flower, comes in mounding, spreading and upright varieties. Color variations include white, blue, pink, mauve, burgundy, violet, and purple. Bell-like blooms vary from dainty stars to large cups, and may be single or clustered, upright or dangling. With so many options, a choice variety can be found to fit most garden settings. Wonderful for mixed borders and rock gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Best planted in groups. They grow best in sun, but will also thrive in partial shade.
Soft feathery plumes and finely cut foliage add a unique touch of color, light and texture to shadier gardens. Catches the eye when planted in group, providing a spectrum of pinks, purples, or white. Leave dried flowers untrimmed at season's end to provide winter interest in the garden. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Looks great in woodland settings. Ideal for specimen, foundations, and mass plantings. Especially nice in waterside gardens.
Distinctive rose-pink or white flowers on tall stalks resemble little turtle heads with open mouths. Dense, lustrous foliage looks good all season long. This unique selection is sure to attract attention. Grows well in part shade and moist woodland settings.
Eastern native groundcover produces an abundance of bright yellow 1-inch star shaped flowers that stand out against the low-growing green fuzzy foliage. Excellent for brightening shaded landscapes with its long bloom time. Grow in masses, as edging or in small patches.
Fairy Candles is a summer-blooming shade-loving woodland plant that has played an important role in patent medicine. Known by a long list of common names including Black Cohash, Black Snakeroot, and Bugbane. Green or purple leaves add color and texture to the garden, while a delicate eye-catching display of mauve to white bottlebrush flowers bloom when the shade is at its peak.
Tall elegant stalks display multiple rows of tubular blossoms that would certainly be most stylish on the paws of any woodland fox! Foxgloves are eye-catching in the garden, providing height, vertical interest and a good bright range of variegated colors in shades of pink, white, lavender, and apricot. A perfect choice for beds and borders. Especially nice in woodland gardens. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings. Terrific for pollinators. Does well in part shade. Contraindication: This plant is toxic for pets and humans if accidentally ingested.
Japanese Painted Ferns, of Athyrium ferns, offer a great assortment of colors and textures. This is an ideal plant for adding interest and color if you have a specifically moist, shaded location where blooming plants may not thrive. A very tidy, beautiful, and carefree selection that adds a soft texture to the garden and great balance when contrasted near plants with large, bold foliage. Deer resistant.
XERISCAPE
Yarrow, the Achillea species, are noted for their delicate, ferny foliage that brings a soft texture to the landscape. The bright blooms are a magnet for pollinators in the summer. A garden favorite for generations because of its exceptional tolerance to just about any sunny or arid location with well-drained soil. Low-growing varieties are ideal for edging or ground covers. Taller varieties are great for cut flower arrangements.
DEER RESISTANT
Yarrow, the Achillea species, are noted for their delicate, ferny foliage that brings a soft texture to the landscape. The bright blooms are a magnet for pollinators in the summer. A garden favorite for generations because of its exceptional tolerance to just about any sunny or arid location with well-drained soil. Low-growing varieties are ideal for edging or ground covers. Taller varieties are great for cut flower arrangements. Deer resistant.
Snowdrop anemone is a spring-blooming, spreading perennial with slightly nodding, white flowers that rise above green maple-leaf-shaped foliage. Excellent for a woodland garden. Cold hardy. Deer Resistant.
Echinacea, or Cone Flower, is a prairie native and a tough, self-reliant plant that blooms late-summer to autumn. Dusky purplish-rose petals arch back from a central, spiky seed cone. The blooms are held on sturdy stems. Attracts butterflies to the garden. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings. Deer resistant.
Sky blue flowers are complemented by attractive feathery foliage. A splendid choice for adding soft texture to the landscape. Flax remains in bloom for up to 3 full months. Excellent for borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings. Deer resistant.
Alyssum, affectionately called Basked of Gold, is an evergreen selection that thrives in difficult locations where other plants fail. Brilliant yellow flowers are set against gray-green foliage, typically in a rounded shape. Tumbles beautifully over rock borders, retaining walls, slopes, and containers. Adds a wonderful splash of color to the early season landscape. Deer resistant.
Masses of crisp white flowers have a luminous quality to them. Highly valued for its woolly blue-green foliage that creates a carpet spread or tumbles beautifully over rocks or slopes. Easy to care for and stylishly accents other bright colors. Perfectly sized for border fronts or garden fill. A reliable ground cover for any location. Deer resistant.
Japanese Painted Ferns, of Athyrium ferns, offer a great assortment of colors and textures. This is the ideal plant for adding interest and color to moist, shaded locations where blooming plants may not thrive. A very tidy, beautiful, and carefree selection that adds a soft texture to the garden and great balance when contrasted near plants with large, bold foliage. Deer resistant.
This reliable ground cover boasts burgundy-red to deep purple foliage, adding rich color to challenging shady locations. Bright blue flowers in the spring provide added interest through the seasons. Cool weather enhances the foliage color. Beautiful contrasted with other plants with silver or golden leaves. Colloquially called ‘Carpet Bugle’, this variety is known as ‘Braunherz’. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing. Deer resistant.
Creeping Sedum fills in with a carpet of succulent ground cover featuring variegated green leaves that turn bright red-purple in autumn, some species topped with red-russet flowers. One of the least demanding and most satisfying perennials in the garden! Drought tolerant and deer resistant. Classic use for borders and rock gardens. Looks great spilling over container edges and filling in between border stones.
COLORADO NATIVE
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
An elegant clump-forming grass that offers a fine alternative to Karl Foerster grass. With feathery summer flowers and attractive fall and winter presence, this grass suits a variety of sites and conditions. Perennial. Tips from the pros: May reseed so remove unwanted seedlings as needed. Using large bark mulch may eliminate this problem.
Graceful fine-textured gray-green mounds topped by clouds of tiny ruby flowers that glow brilliantly when backlit in autumn. Persistent winter beauty, superb in mass plantings, accents, and erosion control. Tips from the pros: Very easy. Position where the rose-colored fronds will be backlit by the sun if possible. If grown in sandy soil, will need regular watering and growth will be slower. A popular full season grass brought from the southern Great Plains.
GROUNDCOVER
Veronica, or Creeping Speedwell, is a durable, drought tolerant selection is a proven performer. Small, shiny green leaves and lavender to white flowers make a nice display. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. A reliable ground cover for any location. Perfect selection for filling in between paving stones. Withstands moderate foot traffic.
Scleranthus uniflorus, also referred to as Australian Astroturf, or Lime Lava, is a soft moss-like ground cover. This slow growing beauty does best in sun to part-sun with moist, well drained soil and regular irrigation.
Creeping Sedum fills in with a carpet of succulent ground cover featuring variegated green leaves that turn bright red-purple in autumn, some species topped with red-russet flowers. One of the least demanding and most satisfying perennials in the garden. Drought tolerant and deer resistant. Classic use for borders and rock gardens. Looks great spilling over container edges and filling in between border stones.
SHRUBS
A gorgeous combination of color on a single shrub. New foliage emerges orange then matures to golden yellow. Produces flat clusters of dusky pink flowers through the summer. Foliage turns orange in autumn. Flowers attract pollinators. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. Ideal for borders, hedges or as a specimen plant. Beautiful grouped or en masse.
This easy to grow shrub is a real showstopper in the spring when its branches are covered with pink, puffy, double-petaled flowers. This is an ornamental almond that does not produce nuts. When flowering is complete, prune the shrub down to 6-12" (15-30cm) above the base. This will encourage fresh new growth for the summer, and an abundance of flower buds for next spring. Versatile selection can be grown as a small tree or large shrub. Makes a breathtaking specimen plant.
Hibiscus syriacus, or Rose Of Sharon, brings a refreshing burst of tropical-looking blooms just when the garden needs a boost! Varieties are available with single or double flowers in a range of colors. Beautiful as a garden centerpiece, yet also effective as a hedge. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant. Can be shaped as a large shrub or a small tree.
Potentilla is a compact and finely branched shrub with long-flowering blooms in a range of colors including white, pink, peach, and yellow. Drought tolerant and deer resistant, it is a top choice for adding color to sites with dry, poor soil. Excellent for use in difficult spots where nothing else can survive. Wonderful for mixed borders and rock gardens. Beautiful in groupings.
Violet blue flowers are a welcome sight in late summer, beautifully set against attractive silvery foliage. Displays good drought tolerance. Adds a touch of class to any garden planting. Highly fragrant flowers and foliage attract an assortment of pollinators! An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant.
Arching branches of small white blossoms provide a beautiful effect. Extremely hardy, versatile and low maintenance shrub. Display improves with each passing year. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. Ideal for borders, hedges or as a specimen plant. Beautiful as a garden backdrop.
Boxwoods are prized for their dense evergreen foliage and their tolerance of pruning. Among the many varieties available, the most popular is light-green. Size and growth habits can be found to suit any garden setting. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. Looks beautiful in the garden as a specimen or clipped hedge, or in rows. Excellent for planting along fences and walls. Can be used to create topiaries.
Prized for its peeling bark and arching branches of either light green or purple-red foliage. Small white flowers, pink-tinged, are followed by red berries. Thicket-forming deciduous shrub. An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant. Beautiful grouped or for planting along fences and walls.
Let this bright red autumn foliage set your landscape on fire! Outstanding autumn color highlights this as a favorite deciduous garden shrub. Display improves with each passing year. Provides flair to autumn and winter landscapes. Ideal for borders, hedges or as a specimen plant.
Springtime or early winter blooms open on somewhat bare branches to brighten your garden in peach, white, red, or orange.
A favorite fast growing shrub with dense green foliage in various species sizes (Common for tall hedges, or Amur for fence-height). Deciduous in colder environments. Creamy white blooms are followed by attractive black berries which birds love. Tolerates heavy pruning. An ideal selection for a hedge with a neat clipped appearance. Great for privacy screening or blocking unsightly views. Best planted in groups.
Golden chartreuse-yellow foliage is accented by fragrant white flowers. Blue-black fruit persists throughout winter and attracts birds. Tolerates heavy pruning. Looks beautiful in the garden as a specimen. Ideal featured as a clipped hedge. Great for privacy screening or blocking unsightly views. Best planted in groups.
TREES
Beautiful double rose-shaped pink flowers burst into show-stopping bloom in spring. Young, bronze-tinted leaves mature to green in summer, turning orange-bronze in autumn. Smooth satin bark and hardy stems. Display improves with each passing year. Mid-sized tree with rounded shape that does well in full sun. Makes a breathtaking garden feature or row. No fruit.
Magnificent small white flowers appear before the leaves emerge in spring. Tiny Yoshino berries are edible, but only birds and small animals enjoy consuming them. Beautiful satin bark with delicate branching pattern. Display improves with each passing year. Makes a breathtaking specimen. Beautiful as an entrance feature.
Beautiful ornamental specimen in colors of white, purple, violet, and off-white. Can be grown as a small tree or large shrub. Wonderfully fragrant blooms are a treat for the senses. A very hardy species that requires little pruning. Attractive, reddish brown bark adds winter interest. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. Excellent as a foundation or border plant. Outstanding near walkways, decks and patios where scent can be enjoyed. Attracts pollinators.
Crabapples are perfect for adding year round structure and interest to the landscape. Colors range from white, to pink, and magenta. Vibrant lightly-scented spring blooms are followed by small, attractive fruits in summer which the birds eat. Often the fruits persist, providing a compliment to autumn's foliage and a colorful contrast to winter's snow. A hardy favorite for landscape focal points. Ideal for large scale plantings. Provides instant color and form to the landscape.
Russian Hawthorn features gorgeous white flowers in spring and outstanding autumn color. A fine choice for the landscape with excellent flower, fruit, and foliage! Hawthorns' decorative clusters of small berries are beautiful for winter interest and a favorite of wildlife, but not tolerable to the human stomach. Available in both tree and hedging forms. Provides instant dappled shade and structure to the landscape.
Northern Catalpa produces showy white flowers amid large light-green heart-shaped leaves in late spring. Broad branches curve upward, producing a round or oval shape. 12-18” bean-like seed capsules change color from green to brown, splitting open when ripe. It is tolerant of most environments, sun or partial shade, but prefers deep, moist soil. Because of the large leaves and seed pods, this is not a tree to plant if annual debris is objectionable. Grows 40'-60' with a 20-40' spread.
A fast-growing tree that will brighten any garden with delicate fern-like leaves that emerge pale yellow and age to bright green, turning a cheerful golden color in autumn. Newer varieties are thorn-less and pod-less. Although the flowers in late spring are not showy, they are often fragrant and a great source of nectar for pollinators. The tiny leaves, clustered along the branches, add fine texture to the landscape and make for minimal cleanup after leaf drop. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. Provides filtered shade and large-scale beauty to landscapes. Tolerant to air pollution and urban stress.
Delicate full green foliage and a robust growth structure make this a perfect dappled shade tree. It bears leathery, reddish-brown seed pods that add winter interest to the landscape. Kentucky Coffee Tree, or Gymnocladus dioicus, is in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to North America. Tolerant of a wide range of soils makes it suitable for a variety of environments. Grows to heights of 50’-75’ with a spread of 40’-50’ feet.
Oak trees provide a classic and long-lived accent in the landscape. Their dense foliage and broad-reaching branches combine to create a wonderful, shade-giving canopy. Acorns produced in the autumn are a source of nutrition for many forms of wildlife, such as deer, squirrels and chipmunks. A classic favorite for landscape focal points and as a source for shade. Grows to heights of 60-80 feet, with a spread of 40-60 feet.
Beautiful blue color and short full needles are the hallmark of this favorite large evergreen for Northern landscapes. Various species offer a range of shapes and sizes to suite any location, including Baby Blue, Fat Albert, and Hoopsii. Mix with a variety of dwarf to mid-sized evergreens for a stunning year round display. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes. Best used for large scale plantings.
Iconic natural pyramidal shape with beautiful short green needles and 4-6” pine cones. This is the typical Christmas tree. Dougless Fir belongs to a genus of about six species of evergreen trees of the conifer family Pinaceae, native to western North America and eastern Asia. Adds gorgeous fall and winter interest to any landscape. When mature, the Rocky Mountain Douglass Fir is a very large tree, typically reaching 115-158 feet in height.
An extremely hardy, versatile and low maintenance evergreen tree. Pyramidal when young, broad and flat-topped when mature. Attractive dark brown bark and long stiff green needles. Excellent for use in difficult spots where nothing else can survive. Perfect for screens, windbreaks, mass planting or planted as a specimen. Provides shade and large-scale beauty to landscapes. Grows 50-60 feet in height with a spread of 20-40 feet.
The Quaking Aspen is a delight of color, movement and sound. If there were a Guinness Book of World Records for trees, the Quaking Aspen would be in it. First, it has the widest natural range of any tree in North America, spanning 47 degrees of latitude (equal to half the distance from the equator to the North Pole), 110 degrees of longitude (nine time zones) and elevations ranging from sea level to timberline. It is also the largest living organism, growing in clones that reproduce primarily by sending up sprouts from an extensive connected root system. And as far as the oldest…a clone in Minnesota has been estimated to be thousands of years old! It is not a tree for all places, but planted in the right location, it’s beauty is exponential.
Typically grows from 20-80 feet tall with a trunk the diameter of 3-18” inches.
Flaming autumn foliage will set your landscape ablaze! Glossy green leaves change to lovely autumn shades of yellow, orange and red. Maples are an extremely hardy, versatile and low maintenance tree or shrub. Various species for Colorado offer a range of size and growth habits suitable for almost location, including Amur, Ginnala, Autumn Blaze, and Japenese. Rounded habit can be manipulated with pruning for desired form. A stunning favorite for autumn landscape focal points.
A beautiful, easy-care large deciduous tree with glossy, heart-shaped foliage. Green leaves provide a wonderful backdrop for dainty yellow, fragrant blooms in summer and shade to stunning gold in autumn. An excellent choice for summertime shade and an attractive silhouette in winter. Provides instant shade and structure to the landscape. This majestic tree grows 50'-90 feet in height with a spread of 30-50 feet.

“Pink Crystals” Many gardeners consider these shimmering heads of bright ruby and silver flowers the most beautiful new contribution to bed or border. It sparkles like champagne bubbles. Annual. Tips from the pros: Plant larger specimens as they will bloom earlier and provide longer bloom.