Foliage and bell-shaped flowers that bloom all summer make Abelia popular. This hybrid of two Chinese species is also the hardiest Abelia.
This compact shrub is shorter and slightly less hardy than glossy abelia. It has darker pink flowers with orange throats.
Blue-green needles and symmetrical shape make this an ideal Christmas tree. This moderate- to fast-grower tolerates heat and drought better than most firs. Dislikes heavy clay soils.
This slow-growing and compact tree has blue cones, and horizontal branches covered with short shiny needles that have silver-white undersides. Best in cold climates.
An excellent Christmas tree, it has a symmetrical shape and upturned bluish green needles. The yellow-green cones lengthen to 6 in. (15 cm). Tolerates rocky soils with extra water.
Gray-green, 1-in. (2.5-cm)-long, triangular leaves and fragrant yellow flowers make this an excellent accent tree, barrier or screen shrub. Grows best in arid areas. Use on banks or slopes.
Early spring brings forth heavy clusters of orange-yellow flowers. The sickle-shaped, blue-green leaves grow to 12 in. (30 cm) long. Resists the Acacia psyllid. Use shrubs as wind barriers or screens.
This tough, upright tree has a graceful, weeping shape. The grayish leaves grow to 18 in. (45 cm) long and 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) wide, and contrast with the maroon bark. Light yellow flowers bloom in late winter to early spring.
Use this hardy, dense, multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree as a hedge, container plant or landscape accent. The dark green, 3-lobed leaves turn scarlet in fall. Fragrant yellow spring flowers turn to bright red fruit. Tolerates wind. Remove seedlings.
This deciduous tree is grown for its cinnamon bark, which exfoliates to expose hues of reds and browns. The 3-pronged leaves have silvery undersides and turn red in fall. Prune to shape.
These slow-growing deciduous trees are excellent in lawns, entryways, groves and under oaks. Some types are good in containers and for bonsai. Leaf color changes from red to green to yellow, orange or scarlet. Protect from wind and hot sun. Won't tolerate salts in soils.
This popular shade or street tree has 5-lobed leaves that turn yellow in fall. Green-yellow flowers bloom in early spring. Tolerant of air pollution. Its aggressive roots compete with nearby plants.
This short-lived, deciduous tree is perfect for exposed coastal conditions of salt spray and strong winds. Yellow flowers bloom above large, dark green leaves with purple undersides. No fall color.
This tree has spectacular fall colors which bring flocks of tourists to New England every year. Red spring flowers. This fast-grower resists storms and wind. Needs moist soil.
Its glowing fall colors and maple sugar makes this tree a magnet for the "leaf peepers" who flock to New England each year. Needs moist soil. Won't tolerate road salts.
Use this fast-growing vine to shade a patio. The edible kiwi fruit is fuzzless, so you can eat the skin. One rare variety, Issai, is self-fertilizing. Most female plants, however, need a male pollinator nearby.
This popular shade tree has large, dark green leaves and pink to red flowers. Leaf, twig and fruit litter make this a messy tree and a poor choice for planting along streets and pathways.
The attractive green to bronzy-green leaves grow rapidly. After blue flowers appear in spring, mow or trim old blossoms. Easy to divide. Don't let it dry out.
This fine-textured, twining vine has elegant bluish green, palmately compound leaves. The chocolate-purple flowers are noticeable, but not showy, and have a fragrance reminiscent of vanilla.
This short-lived tree has pink flowers that bloom best in warm summer climates. Prone to Mimosa webworm and deadly Mimosa wilt. Protect from strong winter winds.
One of the best Alders for home gardeners. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots enable it to use atmospheric nitrogen as a nutrient. Naturalized in the US, its wood was used to make clogs in Europe.
This multi-stemmed shrub has white flowers which give way to bluish-purple berries. Fall brings strong yellow and red leaf color. Native Americans used the berries to make pemmican, one of their winter foods.
This climbing vine is named for its small but spectacular berries, which develop through deepening shades of green, yellow and lilac to a rich porcelain-blue. The leaves are bright green, turning red in fall.
The largest in the family, it's known for its peeling reddish bark and white bell-shaped flowers that turn into brilliant red and orange berries. Very prone to root rot. Plant the smallest plants possible.
Twisted red bark and leathery dark green leaves grace this tree. Edible, but tasteless, strawberry-like fruit follows white to pink urn-shaped flowers. Tolerates desert and seashore conditions.
This small tree produces tasteless strawberry-like fruits. The handsome red bark sets off the leathery dark green leaves. Flowers are white to pinkish. Dwarf varieties are available.
This evergreen ground cover grows in sandy and rocky soils and on slopes where little else will grow. The dark green leaves turn reddish-bronze in fall. Easy to transplant. Tolerates seashore conditions.
This fast-growing twining vine has yellowish-green flowers that appear in June or July among densely layered foliage.
This popular dwarf deciduous shrub has deep crimson leaves. Plant in full sun for best leaf color. Use as a low hedge or foundation planting. Resists rust. Grows in dry conditions and urban landscapes.
Native to streambanks and wet areas, it tolerates hot, humid climates. Young plants quickly grow into single- or multi-stemmed trees. Pinkish-white bark turns cinnamon-brown or black as the tree ages. Resists birch borer. Prone to chlorosis in alkaline soils.
Native Americans once used the white bark to cover their canoes and dwellings. The outer bark peels off to expose reddish-orange inner bark. The airy foliage turns yellow in fall. Thrives in the cool north.
Delicate and lacy, it's grown for its striking white bark, weeping side branches and fine-textured leaves. Prune in summer or fall. Because of pest problems, it doesn't live long.
Bougainvilleas produce some of the showiest color displays of any vine. Vibrant colors including white, yellow, orange, pink, red, bronze, lavender and purple are available. Most cultivars are vigorous upright growers; others are shrubby or trailing. Beware of sharp thorns!
The trunk is broad at the base and tapers quickly. The branches are covered with glossy evergreen leaves that shimmer in the breeze. Small white flowers are inconspicuous. Use as a screen or high windbreak.
This low-maintenance shade tree tolerates air pollution, wind, drought, heat and most soil types. The leaves are dull green above and silver-gray beneath. Prune suckers.
Shoots of arching, spikelike flowers emerge from dark green leaves with white, feltlike undersides. Although most common cultivars of the deciduous or semievergreen Butterfly Bush bloom purple, it is shown here in white.
Among the hardiest of Boxwoods, it's the best choice for northern climates. Its bright green foliage turns brown-bronze in cold winters, which can be unattractive.
The yellow flowers with protruding red stamens last all summer on this small tree or shrubs. Needs heat to bloom. Give some deep watering in arid climates.
The brilliant lilac-violet berries mature in autumn on upright arching branches. Best fruiting occurs when planted in groups.
This fast-growing plant has upright arching branches covered with unique fruit in violet to metallic purple hues. Its green leaves turn yellow to purplish in the fall.
This dwarf features blood-red blossoms and handsome, small blue-green leaves. The flowers attract hummingbirds.
This small tree has graceful weeping branches. Its red flowers bloom in late spring, early summer, and sporadically throughout the year. Needs ample water. Protect from strong winds.
This broad, rounded shrub exudes a strawberry-banana-pineapple scent. The chocolate-red flowers develop into urn-shaped fruits that last all winter.
Japanese Camellias are the most popular of all camellias, with over 2000 named cultivars that offer a wide range of spectacular flower types, colors and bloom periods. Leaves are an attractive dark green, thick and leathery.
Sasanqua Camellias have small, attractive green leaves. Numerous cultivars offer a wide range of flower types and colors; several are fragrant; some grow prostrate; others can be trained to espalier up walls and trellises. More sun-tolerant than Japanese Camellias.
This fast-growing vine has bright red-orange, trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds.
It is grown for its anemone-like white flowers that have yellow stamens and a slight fragrance. The cultivar 'Elisabeth' is popular for its deep green leaves and multitudes of flower clusters.
This medium-sized tree is perfect for screens, hedges and narrow urban locations. Its deep green, finely textured leaves turn yellow in fall. Transplant in spring as ball and burlap.
Does well in heavy shade, so grow this small tree among taller ones. Fall color is red or red and yellow. The common name 'Musclewood' comes from the mature branches that look like flexing muscles.
Often cultivated as an orchard crop, its light brown to reddish pecan nuts are sweet. Often cultivated as an orchard crop. Fine-patterned foliage offers light shade. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. Resists oak root fungus.
In early summer, this fast-growing, coarsely textured tree blooms in white flowers with yellow stripes. Resists oak root fungus. 'Aurea' has soft yellow leaves. Dwarf variety, 'Nana,' never blooms.
This dense, medium-sized Ceanothus has short arching branches and narrow, deep green leaves. The vibrant blue flowers open from reddish buds. Grows in heavy soils. Tolerates summer water.
'Dark Star' features 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) clusters of dark blue flowers. The leaves are small, narrow and somewhat deer-resistant.
More tender than other hybrids, 'Frosty Blue' is a large mounding Ceanothus with glossy crinkled green leaves. Flowers are deep blue, frosted white, in 2.5 to 3 in. (6.25 to 7.5 cm) spikes.
This large, mounding shrub has dark green leaves and medium blue flowers. Tolerates heavy soils. Responds well to pruning.
This 12 to 20 ft. (3.75 to 6 m) tall shrub, easily trained as a small tree, has light blue flower spikes, 3 to 5 in. (7.5 to 12.5 cm) long, which complement the large, dark green leaves.
This wide-spreading 1 ft. (30 cm) tall ground cover or low shrub is a California coastal native. Fragrant flowers are blue to purple. Spiny, dark green foliage is deer-resistant. In hot climates, protect from afternoon sun, and water occasionally.
This 1.5- to 2.5-ft. (45- to 75 cm)-tall, bright green, glossy shrub tolerates coastal wind and salt spray. Slightly fragrant flowers are light blue. Can be damaged by cold.
This tree has silver-blue needles and tolerates air pollution, but not wet soils. On young trees, pinch branch tips or cut back to encourage compactness. Limbs break under heavy loads of snow.
The softest and lightest textured of the cedars, its drooping branches bear needles in shades of green, blue and gray. Best cedar for hot, humid climates. Watch for chlorosis in alkaline soils.
Often used as a street or shade tree in the Midwest and Plains regions, its small red to purple fruits are sweet and edible. Doesn't require winter chill. Resists oak root fungus.
Dense, sparkling, dark green foliage is dotted with small red flowers in spring. Flat leathery pods on female trees are dark brown.
In spring, purplish leaves unfold. They mature into heart-shaped foliage that is dark green on top and grayish underneath. Fall leaves are yellow or apricot.
One of the most popular native desert trees for use in hot and dry landscapes, its tiny leaves and spiny branches give a bluish-green hue to the entire plant. Tolerates drought.
Pink flowers appear on reddish branches, and are followed by bright purple, pointed leaves that slowly fade to purple-green. Needs winter chill. Shade in hot climates. Prone to canker.
Five-petaled red, orange, pink or white flowers bloom in abundance on this vigorous shrub in early spring. Round green-yellow fruits follow. Cut stems in bud, bloom indoors.
The only palm native to the Mediterranean, it's also one of the hardiest of all palms. Group as a foreground planting or as a hedge. Mulch during rainy season.
Trumpet-shaped, fragrant, spring flowers appear on the tree for many weeks, followed by long seed capsules. Lilac-colored flowers with two yellow stripes attract birds.
The flowers smell like orange blossoms. Needs full sun in cool summer areas and partial shade in hot climates. In dry situations, give periodic deep water. Prune to shape and fan.
New rose-pink foliage arrives with small yellow flowers. In autumn, leaves turn yellow and crimson before dropping. Thrives in desert heat. Its wood is the source for camphor.
White, 3-in. (7.5-cm)-wide flowers with a large crimson spot at the base of each petal contrast with the dark green, glossy foliage. The leaves are a source of ladanum, a resin used in perfumes.
This compact shrub is planted as a ground cover. The leaves are small and covered with short dense hairs. The white flowers have a cluster of prominent yellow stamens.
This hardy, Mediteranean shrub has 2-in. (5-cm)-wide, ivory, papery flowers with prominent yellow stamens. The gray-green leaves are fragrant on warm days. Drought tolerant.
Its reddish-purple, 3-in. (7.5-cm)-wide flowers with a dark blotch at the base of each petal look like small Poppies.
This spreading, mounding shrub has gray-green leaves and pink flowers. It thrives in full sun and sandy soil; use to control erosion. Prune tips to encourage dense growth.
The hardiest of commercially grown lemons, it produces a bounty of fruits that have a sweeter, less acidic taste than those of other varieties. On dwarf root stock, it grows 6 ft. (2 m) tall by 8 ft. (2.5 m) wide, making it the best lemon for containers.
These spectacular flowering vines vary in shape from large open saucers to tiny pendulous bells. Hundreds of cultivars are available in a multitude of colors. Most cultivars are hybrids of European and Asian species.
Along with the fragrant white variety, two others, with deep pink and with pastel pink flowers, are available. Grow in soil similar to that for Rhododendrons.
This is a pale pink-flowering variety from the white-flowering species.
Many tiny white flowers bloom on this mounded evergreen shrub, which is also sold as Diosma reevesii or D. alba. Grows 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall by 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide in acidic or sandy soil.
Graced with tiny pink flowers, this plant is also called Diosma pulchra. Some may reach 10 ft. (3 m) high, though a 5 ft. (1.5 m) height is more common.
This perennial ground cover has roundish, hairy gray-green leaves and lavender-blue flowers. Tolerates drought and poor soils.
The creamy yellow flowers develop into strawberry-like fleshy fruit. The dark, lustrous evergreen leaves turn a bronzy fall color. Fruit causes litter. Wind tolerant.
The most popular flowering dogwood, its white, pink or red flower bracts develop in spring. Needs well-drained soils, fertilizer and summer moisture. Mulch to maintain cool, moist soil. Transplant as ball and burlap. Won't tolerate air pollution.
These small trees have creamy white flowers, attractive raspberry-like fruit and excellent scarlet fall color. Bark peels on mature trees. Transplant as ball and burlap in early spring. Won't tolerate drought or wet conditions. Protect from strong winds.
This small tree or shrub has bright yellow flowers in March and April. They develop into bright red, edible fruits that attract birds. No serious pests. Transplant as ball and burlap. Tolerates alkaline soils.
The sight of cardinals searching for food among the brilliant red branches of Redtwig Dogwood in a snow-covered landscape is unforgettable. Tiny white flowers, white fruit and purplish-red fall color make this a four-season ornamental shrub.
This shrub's yellow upright-arching branches, tiny white spring flowers, white fruit and dependable fall color make it a popular accent.
Pink flowers bloom between deep green leaves with gray undersides. Thrives in full sun with little supplemental water. Spreads to 8 ft. (2.5 m) wide.
This popular ornamental shrub features contorted branches and hanging yellow catkins. It can be container-grown. Its marvelously twisted branches and twigs are best shown off against winter snow.
Smoky clusters appear on this deciduous tree or shrub against round or oval light green leaves. Leaves turn red or yellow in autumn.
Its dark green leaves turn reddish in fall and are followed by bright red fruit in winter. Its low-growing, densely foliated branches root as they creep along the soil.
Named after the Bearberry Manzanita for its comparable trailing branches of evergreen foliage that root as they grow along the ground and for its persistent showy red fruit. Use a glossy dense mat of Bearberry Cotoneaster to cascade over walls or trail down a sloping bank. Less susceptible to insects and disease than most other Cotoneasters, but watch for mites.
The flat horizontal branches are arranged in a distinctive fishbone pattern that draws attention in rock gardens, trailing over walls or along sloping banks. Espalier Rock Cotoneaster for emphasis. Semideciduous in mild climates. Prune stray vertical branches to maintain prostrate habit.
Its small white flowers develop into shiny red berries that stay on branches through mid-winter. An excellent hedge. Less prone to disease and insects than most Hawthorns. Transplant when dormant.
The airy, lacy leaves that grow from the top of the trunk are less than 4 ft. (1.25 m) long. Excellent in containers or as bonsai indoors or out. Leaves look best if plant is in partial shade.
This fast-spreading, warm-season grass is good for high-traffic areas in hot, dry climates. It resists diseases and tolerates a range of soils. Available as seeds and sprigs. For a finer-textured lawn, plant a hybrid Bermuda grass which is available as sod, sprigs, or plugs. Good choices include 'Santa Ana', 'Tifgreen', and 'Tifdwarf'.
This Southwest desert native is named for its silver-blue to gray branches that look like smoke. Fragrant flowers are violet-blue. Beware of sharp branchlets. Growth rate skyrockets with summer water.
Rosy pink flowers bloom on this 1-ft. (30-cm)-high, 3-ft. (90-cm)-wide ground cover shrub. After bloom, topdress with peat moss and sand to help root trailing stems. DoesnÆt like transplanting.
The leathery foliage has thin yellow margins and fragrant reddish purple flowers with nearly white throats. Needs at least 3 hours of shade daily.
One of the easiest Daphnes to grow. The white flowers fade to pink. In warmer climates, it's semi-evergreen to evergreen. Use in borders, around foundations or at woodland's edge.
In late spring, D. gracilis displays large, showy clusters of 5 petaled white flowers on bright green foliage. Its branches gracefully arch to 3 ft. (90 cm) high and 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) wide. Dense spreading habit.
Its weeping form has low-branching, wide-spreading limbs with large, deep green, oval leaves and brightly colored orange fruit.
This tree has large, deep green leaves and fissured bark. The yellow-orange oval fruits are 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) in diameter and ripen after first frost. Prune off basal suckers.
Blood-red flowers with yellow throats appear for long periods during the warmer months. Flowers attract hummingbirds. Water young plants frequently until established.
The most popular Hop Bush, its leaves turn reddish-purple during colder months. Needs full sun for deepest leaf color. Tolerates coastal to desert environments and, once established, drought.
This bushy shrub or small spreading tree has peeling, brown bark in winter and silvery-green leaves. Creamy yellow flowers give way to yellow fruit. Resists oak root fungus.
This spiny evergreen shrub has wavy olive-green leaves dotted with brown. Look for clustered fragrant flowers and red fruits dusted with silver. Prune this Japanese native to control suckers.
A slow-growing shrub with hanging, red-veined bell-shaped flowers, and dark green whorled leaves which flame brilliant orange or red in fall. Flowers come in yellow-green or shades of white, pink and red.
The sweet, yellowish, apricot-like fruit ripens in spring. To improve fruit quality, thin small fruits to let light into the center, and thin fruit crop. Drought-tolerant once established. Somewhat prone to fireblight.
The glossy dark green foliage contrasts with the long-blooming rosy-red flowers. Compact and large flowered varieties available.
One of the showiest flowering gum trees, it has red, pink or white flowers and seed capsules that are good for use in arrangements. Tolerates heat, drought, fog, wind and city conditions Prune deadwood, and remove excess seed pods.
A favorite eucalyptus for the lower desert regions of Arizona, it tolerates heat, drought, wind and many soil types. It has a dense crown of blue-green leaves. Prune to shape this medium-sized tree.
Named for its willow-like, peppermint-scented leaves, this tree has deeply furrowed, fibrous, shedding red-brown bark. Prune to shape. Stake young trees to promote strong straight trunks.
Prune young trees heavily in spring to promote growth of the rounded, gray-green leaves used in dried arrangements. Stake young trees. Mature trees have gray-green foliage and shedding gray bark. Clusters of creamy white flowers appear in winter. Won't tolerate wet soils or strong winds.
This dense, deciduous, spreading shrub makes an excellent hedge or screen. Its dark green leaves turn brilliant red in the fall. Small, greenish yellow flowers appear in early summer. Scattered fruits are bright orange-red. Plant against dark evergreens. Spreads 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) wide.
It's about half as high as the species and is just as wide as it is tall. An excellent hedge or screen, its leaves turn brilliant red in the fall. Greenish yellow flowers are inconspicuous and are followed by small red fruits. Twigs are corky and winged. Looks very interesting in winter. If grown in full sun, soil should not be very dry.
Seen climbing trees, chimneys and rock walls, this plant's aerial rootlets attach themselves to anything they touch. Once established, Wintercreeper Euonymus tolerates coastal wind and salt spray, heat, poor soils, shade and drought. The leaves are dark green with serrated edges.
The oblong, evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves make it a useful screen or hedge. The inconspicuous flowers develop into pinkish fruit with red seeds against light green leaves. In northern climates, it's deciduous or semi-deciduous. Usually a rounded shrub, but sometimes prostrate and rooting where branches touch the ground. Tolerates wind and salt spray. Prune to shape at any time.
One of the most noble specimen trees, the crown often branches to the ground in a wide-spreading canopy of rich, dark green leaves. There are many garden varieties, some grown in containers.
For largest fruit crop, plant males and females of this California favorite together.
One of the most shade tolerant lawn grasses, this dark green, fine-textured, cool-season grass is used mostly in blends or on slopes too steep to mow. Mow to 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm), or use in meadows. Doesn't like soggy sites.
This tree bears edible figs and has large, bright green, lobed leaves and smooth gray bark. More popular varieties include Brown Turkey, Genoa, Kadota and Mission. Prone to root nematodes.
This dense matting covers walls and buildings, and pulls off plaster and paint when removed. Young plants have small, heart-shaped, finely textured leaves of deep green. Mature plants have leathery, lighter green, oblong leaves 2 to 4 in. (5 to 10 cm) long.
Grown for its arching branches that are covered with golden-yellow flowers in spring. Plant at the top of banks and walls where its long branches can cascade downward.
Water this hardy early bloomer during dry spells to prevent wilting.
In spring, fragrant white flowers bloom, and in fall, leaves turn yellow to scarlet. Feed with acid fertilizer. Prune to rejuvenate old plants.
Named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, this is one of the US's most beautiful natives. Dark green leaves turn into burgundy-red fall color. Flowers are 3 in. (7.5 cm) across. Prone to vascular wilt disease.
This is a perfect tree for the Midwest and plains states because of its winter hardiness and adaptation to hot, dry summers. Its dark green leaves turn yellow in fall. Once established, tolerates drought. Seedless varieties available.
The most popular of all the hybrids, it has long-blooming 3-in. (7.5-cm)-wide flowers. Flowers are bright yellow inside and tinged orange outside. Leaves are fuzzy green and covered with rust-colored hairs.
Fuchsia are among the most colorful of all garden blooming shrubs. Hundreds of cultivars have been developed with a wide range of flower colors and shapes varying from trailing to arching to mounded. All fuchsias do best in cool summer climates.
Tassel-like flowers hang from its branch tips in winter. Leaves are leathery and deep green. Native to coastal California and Oregon. Prune to shape as a bush, espalier or small tree. Needs good drainage.
This almost indestructible ground cover has dark green leaves and bright red, edible fruits. Crushed fruit and leaves have a minty scent and are the source of Wintergreen oil.
Mature tree has a rounded crown. Creamy white flowers are insignificant. Prune to shape. Give some water to speed growth. Healthy trees are virtually pest-free.
This twining vine with clusters of bright yellow, fragrant, tubular flowers can also be grown as a ground cover. The shiny green leaves are deciduous in colder climates. All parts of plant are poisonous.
This is a generic plant. It can act as a placeholder in your design.
Leaves are deeply cut like those on maidenhair ferns. Tolerates heat, air pollution, salt and coastal conditions. Resists pests and disease, including oak root fungus. Rarely needs pruning.
This thornless tree reaches 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) tall and wide. The green leaves appear in late spring, then turn yellow and drop in early fall. Mature trees are frost-hardy, but young trees may suffer frost damage.
This large mounding shrub has arching branches of bright green, needlelike foliage. Its bright red flowers with prominent stamens bloom for several months.
Grow this shrub for its dense, bright green, needlelike foliage and long-blooming pink and white flowers. Less-drought resistant than other Grevilleas.
Use this shrub, with its dark green rosemary-like leaves and spidery fall and winter flowers, as a clipped or unclipped hedge. Withstands heat and drought, but looks best with some water.
The pure white flowers yield winged seed pods that remain all winter. A shrub in the cooler Northern regions, it reaches tree height in favorable climates. Best pruned into a single-trunked tree when young. The dark green leaves turn yellow in fall.
This spreading, deciduous shrub, produced from H. mollis and H. japonica, is larger than other witch hazels. Its clustered flowers bloom December to March.
Entwine this vigorous vine around a tree trunk or use it as a ground cover. Its tiny flowers are violet-purple. Tolerates full sun and wind.
Its deep green vigorous-growing foliage makes a solid mat or climbing screen, good for espalier. Over 60 varieties offer various shaped leaves, colored veining and smooth, curled or ruffled edges. Small flowers are followed by tiny, round black fruits. Drought-tolerant once established, but best with some water.
The best-known and easiest to grow of Alum Roots, its mounds of heart-shaped or round, lobed foliage are bronze to green in color. The flowers are white to coral to red.
This deciduous, upright, dense shrub spreads with age. In summer, broadly bell-shaped, 2.5- to 4-in. (6.25- to 10-cm)-wide flowers bloom in red, purple, violet or white. Can be trained into a tree-like shape.
This deciduous ground-hugging perennial is grown for its attractive, dark metallic green, heart-shaped leaves.
This poisonous climbing vine has waxy, dark green, heart-shaped leaves with fine-toothed edges. Slow to establish, it then becomes a rapid grower. Produces large, flat clusters of showy white flowers.
Large clusters of blue, pink or white flowers bloom in early summer. These rapid-growing, 4- to 6-ft. (1.25- to 2-m)-high and wide shrubs have broad, thick, shiny green leaves with serrated margins.
In autumn the long-lasting creamy white summer flowers of the Oakleaf Hydrangea fade to pink, and the deeply lobed oak-like leaves turn wine-red.
A vigorous ground cover with large, yellow bushy flowers which withstands heat, drought, poor soil, and competition. Cut to ground in early spring every other year. Can be invasive.
This low, matlike, deep green ground cover brings forth pure white flower clusters that cover the plant for several weeks in spring.
This spreading dwarf female shrub has a compactly branched, mounding growth habit. Green young branches and handsome, quite small dark green oval leaves with few spines. Glossy black berries in fall.
This hardiest evergreen holly makes an excellent hedge. Grows well in seashore gardens. Has black berries.
The young branches of this deciduous, dense, suckering shrub are purplish green. Sawtoothed bright green leaves and a profusion of long-lasting, red berries that persist on bare branches during winter. Need both sexes for fruiting.
One of the best hollies for southern gardens, Yaupon Holly is adaptable to alkaline soils, dry and wet sites, heat and coastal salt spray. The 0.25 in. (0.75 cm) translucent scarlet fruit appear in profusion without a pollinator. Inconspicuous flowers. Available in several cultivars. Prune to shape.
This large, fast-growing Holly can be trained as a tree. Excellent for Southern gardens, this Holly, with shiny dark leaves and large red berries, bears fruit at an early age. Best pollinated by Ilex cornuta or Ilex æEdward StevensÆ.
One of the best fruit-producing hollies, with a broad mounding form, abundant red berries and bluish green foliage. It makes a hardy hedge or accent plant. The male clone, æBlue Prince,Æ is the preferred pollinator.
Heat- and cold-tolerant, this dense, mounding holly has abundant 0.25-in. (0.75-cm)-wide bright red berries and glossy dark green leaves. The male clone, æChina Boy,Æ is the preferred pollinator.
Left unpruned, it forms an arching, spreading, mounding shrub. Pruned, it becomes a shrub or hedge. Lemon-yellow flowers bloom winter through spring. Use to cover an arbor, bank or large wall. Tolerates heat and a variety of soils. Give some summer water.
The cold-hardiest Jasmine is a mounding, scrambling shrub that can be trained as a vine. Its bright yellow flowers have no fragrance. In winter, force dormant cut branches to bloom by starting them indoors. Controls erosion.
These tall, wide, deciduous trees are excellent shade trees. Need full sun. Watch for moths and husk flies.
Popular in Southern California for its prostrate form, this irregularly branched, sage-green Juniper has both needle and scalelike foliage. Watch for bagworms.
Excellent for bonsai, this low-growing juniper has striking steel-blue foliage. Perfect for coastal conditions.
An excellent ground cover for dry, windy seashore conditions. Its bluish green-needled foliage is bluer and more heat-tolerant than J. conferta. Has fewer pest problems than other junipers.
This highly adaptable U.S. native thrives in a variety of garden environments. Tolerates acid or alkaline soils, and drought and coastal conditions. More colorful in winter than the species.
The branches grow one on top of another, forming a cushionlike 4- to 6-ft. (1.25- to 2-m)- wide mat. Prune or shear to shape this low shrub. Bluish-green foliage retains its color all year. Produces brown or black fruit.
Junipers can be found in almost any height, width, shape, or foliage color. Over 170 species are sold in nurseries, of which 30 varieties can be used as ground cover. Choose a variety that is adapted to your local climate.
This dense, low, mounding Juniper's intense steel-blue needles make them a challenge to integrate into the garden. Tolerates dry soils but not southern heat and humidity.
This slow grower has rich green, glossy, oval leaves. Its attractive white to rose bell-shaped flowers hang in terminal clusters. Watch for leaf spot.
This round-headed tree has colorful flowers whose greenish seed pods turn yellow, then brown, in fall. Grows equally tall as wide. Plant in a sheltered location in colder climates. Short-lived.
Blossoms hang like chains from its branches. Single-trunked trees are vase-shaped, while multi-trunked trees are rounded. Foliage is especially dense. Best in the Northeast and Pacific coastal areas.
Long-lasting crinkly, crepelike flowers grace this plant in summer and early fall. Light green summer leaves turn red, orange or purplish in autumn. Prune hard in spring. At home in the South.
Shorter than L. indica, it's hardier in more temperatures, resists mildew and has a slightly longer blooming season. Give occasional deep watering. Prone to chlorosis.
This perennial has dark green or silver-white leaves which may flush pink. Small, hooded, pink flowers bloom from late spring to mid-summer. May be invasive.
Masses of purple flowers cover this drought-tolerant, fast-growing shrub. Dark green leaves are tinted red or purple in cold weather.
A pyramidal tree of great beauty, its spring foliage is the lightest of greens. It lives long and its leaves are fine-textured. Older trees' branches spread wider. Valued as lumber.
The pointed, 0.25 in. (0.75 cm), oval leaves resemble Baby's Tears. Summer brings a liberal sprinkling of light blue starlike flowers. Tough enough to take foot traffic.
Use its fresh or dried bay leaves in cooking. Prune into topiary or formal hedges, or use as a background shrub. Dark berries follow small clusters of greenish-yellow flowers.
Loose, papery, shredding bark develops on the trunks and branches of these picturesque trees. Their fine-textured, gray-green leaves are round and small. Modest white flowers appear in spring.
Its double flowers are light rose-pink.
Its dark red, double flowers show off against the dark burgundy vertical foliage.
The tallest of the L. scoparium, its large, pink, single flowers bloom for several months.
This large shrub to small tree features showy, light pink flowers. Pink buds open to large, double flowers.
These tough desert plants tolerate some alkalinity if given sufficient drainage. Silver-gray foliage and purple flowers offer pastel color in summer.
This evergreen, upright, shrub or tree has large, glossy, dark green leaves. Panicles of small, tubular white flowers, 10 in. (25 cm) long, appear in late summer.
One of the hardiest and most carefree Privets, its branches arch gracefully. Its dense leaves are evenly spaced along somewhat flattened sprays. Use as a specimen or informal hedge. Heavy pruning destroys its natural shape.
One of the most spectacular fall color trees for gardens or city parks, its maple-shaped leaves last until late autumn. Pyramidal shape when young; older trees have a rounded crown.
This magnificent shade tree has large greenish-yellow flowers with orange centers. Its 5-in. (12.5-cm)-wide leaves turn yellow in fall. Resists oak root fungus.
The classic Lily Turf has solid green strap-like leaves. Lavender, purple or white spikes add subtle color.
This fine-textured perennial ground cover quickly spreads by underground runners. Its pale lilac to white flowers poke up through deep green, grasslike foliage. Remove old flowers.
Its fragrant, creamy white flowers bloom in late winter to early spring, and yield red berries in early summer. In warmer climates, the foliage is partially evergreen. Thin yearly.
Its compact arching branches have rounded leaves and raspberry-red flowers. New leaves are light green and darken to medium green. Another form of this shrub has white flowers.
This magnificent 30- to 40-ft. (9- to 12-m)-tall tree has cup-shaped, white flowers in summer to early fall and dark green, leathery leaves year-round. Protect from direct south sun.
Profuse, white star-shaped flowers appear early in season in late winter and last through early spring. This hardy, slow-growing shrub adapts to most climates. Pink flowering types available.
This trouble-free Magnolia grows to 60 ft. (18 m) tall in the south, while in the north it reaches 10 to 20 ft. (3 to 6 m) Flowers are creamy white. Dark green leaves are silvery white beneath. Tolerates wet areas.
The white, pink or reddish purple saucer-shaped flowers with white insides precede 6 in. (15 cm) long, deep green, oval leaves. Roots are close to surface so use care when working around them.
Oregon's state flower works well in dry, shady locations. Its leaves turn bronzy in fall. Drought-tolerant in cool coastal areas, but give supplemental water in warmer, drier inland locations.
Its leathery, horizontal leaves have spiny tips and edges. Lemon-yellow flowers bloom in spring, followed by light blue berries. Leaves donÆt show much fall color.
A good erosion-controlling ground cover, its leaves are blue-green in summer and purple-green in cold winters. Best in full sun near coast and in partial shade elsewhere. Water occasionally in summer.
Cortland and Gravenstein are two popular choices. Regularly fertilize, prune, spray, and water for optimum fruit. Watch for apple maggots, codling moths, scab and fireblight.
This compact bush blooms profusely in alternating years. Its pink buds open into fragrant white flowers. Bright red fruit lasts into winter. Resistant but not immune to fireblight and leaf spot.
This graceful specimen tree has a broad crown of weeping foliage. The cultivar 'Green Showers' has broader leaves on more pendulous branches.
This pendulous shrub can be trained into a single-trunked weeping tree. Flower spikes are white, and bark is gray. Give some summer water in drier inland locations.
Gray-green leaves and brown bark grow on this large shrub or small tree. Seed capsules grow along the stems with a totem pole effect. Tolerates some neglect.
One of the most ornamental of Melaleucas, its abundant, long-blooming mauve flowers fade to white. Its bark is thick, spongy and reddish-yellow, and its roundish leaves are gray-green.
An excellent single- or multi-trunked street or grove tree, it tolerates wet or dry soil. It has thick, spongy, whitish bark and yellowish-white flowers. Has become a pest tree in the Everglades.
Similar in appearance to the Coast Redwood, it has fine textured, green needlelike leaves. The leaves turn a pink-brown in fall, dropping to reveal the red-brown trunks of older trees. Use in lawns.
One of the most elegant and popular of all ornamental grasses, with finely textured, dark green leaves with silver midribs. Plumes are beige.
Bright green rosemary-like leaves grow densely on this ground cover's long trailing branches. Its branches root in moist soil. White summer flowers followed by purple berries. Somewhat drought-resistant.
This popular shrub or small tree is grown for its dark green, year-round foliage. Train as a multi-trunked shrub or single-trunked tree, or clip as a hedge. Drought-tolerant along coast. Give some water and protect from hot afternoon sun in drier, warmer, inland locations.
This popular eastern native shrub is deciduous to semi-deciduous, depending on location. Tolerates coastal conditions and poor soils. In the wild, this shrub suckers to form large colonies.
Grows slowly to 8 ft. (2.5 m) with its delicate leaves spreading horizontally. New growth starts out reddish, turning green with maturity.
Its foliage turns brilliant orange to red in fall. When female and male trees are planted close together, females produce purple or blue fruits, which attract birds. Bare crooked branches and dark gray, alligator skin-like bark make a picturesque winter scene.
This spreading, evergreen tree is slow-growing and short-lived. Gray-green leaves with silvery undersides. Tiny, fragrant white flowers in late summer. Small edible fruits are shiny black when ripe.
Dark green, grass-like leaves grow 12 to 15 in. (30 to 37.5 cm) tall. Spikes of lilac flowers bloom in late summer, followed by blue-black berries.
Grown for its dark green, leathery, hollylike leaves and extremely fragrant flowers. Prune to control size and shape. Often kept as a 6- to 8-ft. (2 to 2.5 m) shrub, or occasionally trained as an espalier.
Its leaves turn maroon to purple in fall. Flower clusters grow 10 in. (25 cm) or more. For best autumn color, plant in full sun and water regularly. Don't plant in lawns or near other competitive trees.
One of the most popular evergreen ground covers for shaded areas, its 9 to 12 in. (22.5 to 30 cm) stems hold glossy, dark green leaves and spikes of 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) white flowers. Spreads to form colonies in woodland areas.
A tough, fast-growing vine that grows practically anywhere. It tolerates coastal conditions, drought, heat, pollution and poor soils. Its deep green leaves turn vivid scarlet in fall, especially in full sun.
The large vine that gave the Ivy League its name, this plant tolerates dry, poor soils and salty air but prefers acid, moist soils. The leaves turn brilliant orange to red in fall. Prune to control growth.
One of the few passion vines that is hardy beyond the South and Pacific West. It has showy, complex flowers that are blue, white and orange, and deep green, lobed, leaves that are evergreen except in northern locations.
This broad-spreading tree has unique ridged and furrowed bark that develops corklike patterns on its trunk and wide-spreading branches. Leaves and fruit smell like turpentine when crushed.
Growing to 10 ft. (3 m) tall, this deciduous, upright shrub bears clusters of fragrant, creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer.
Hardy to -30║ F, this is an excellent flowering shrub for northern gardens. The fragrant Minnesota Snowflake Mock Orange with its large, showy, white double flowers, grows 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) tall.
This large multiple-stemmed shrub spreads to make a rounded, coarse-textured hedge or small tree. Leathery mature leaves are deep green. Needs good air circulation.
This popular, 10- to 15-ft. (3- to 4.5-m)-tall shrub or small tree has small, fragrant, spring flowers. Use cut branches in arrangements. No berries. Heat- and mildew-resistant.
This deep green conifer's finely textured branchlets hang from its slightly upright branches. Thrives in cold climates. Prune in early spring if needed. Use dwarf varieties in rock gardens.
One of the most widely planted spruces, it tolerates cold, drought, heat, wind and exposed locations. The bluish-green needles grow on dense, drooping branchlets. Needles are aromatic when crushed. Needs good air circulation.
Perfect for eastern gardens, its two-tone needles and weeping branches form a narrow pyramidal crown. Protect from strong winter winds in the north.
This graceful spruce is grown for its dense, compact pyramidal form. Its needles are short, dark green and shiny. Protect from strong winter winds in northern climates.
One of the hardiest and most popular of all the spruces, its striking gray-blue needles grow in whorls around the entire twig. Many cultivars are available. Dormant oil sprays turn its needles green.
Japanese Pieris supplies year-round beauty with its deep green leaves and long-blooming, waxy red, pink or white, urn-shaped flowers that cluster at branch ends.
This rapid-growing specimen tree's orange-red barked trunk develops into an irregular-shaped flat-topped crown. The tree is popular as a bonsai specimen and as a host for matsutake fungi.
This long-lived pine requires little maintenance, which makes it an excellent specimen tree for Midwest and Great Plains gardens. Its blue-green needles grow in a dense mass, so it is an excellent wind screen.
An excellent small tree for rock gardens, bonsai and informal hedges, it also grows well in containers. Prune to shape, if necessary. Tolerates salt spray and cold winds, but not desert heat.
This pine tolerates urban conditions better than most. As the tree matures, it changes shape from pyramidal into a rounded crown. It has long, sharp, dark green needles. Tolerates seashore conditions.
Pyramidal in youth, it matures into a picturesque wide-spreading tree with dense bluish green needles. Good for containers and bonsai. Tolerates seashore conditions.
This long-lived pine matures into a broad-shaped flat canopy that makes for an excellent shade tree. The bright green needles grow up to 8 in. (20 cm) long. The edible seeds are called pine nuts. Tolerates coastal conditions, drought and heat, once established.
Often used in landscapes or sheared as a hedge, this native pine has long, bluish green, fine-textured needles. It doesn't tolerate road salt or ocean spray. White Pine Blister Rust can be a serious problem.
Commonly grown as a Christmas tree, this pine is also used for windbreaks, screens and picturesque irregular-shaped specimens. Common in the eastern U.S. Prefers acid soils. Prune to keep dense for screening.
Grow as a Christmas tree, landscape pine, coastal dune stabilizer, bonsai specimen or container plant. Its needles are bright green, stiff and 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) long. Prune to any shape. Tolerates coastal conditions.
In fall, its compound leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, scarlet or crimson. Its red fruit ripens to blue-black. Tolerates heat, alkaline soils and coastal and desert conditions. Resists oak root fungus.
Gray-green feltlike leaves and tiny reddish flowers cover this large-scale, seaside windbreak shrub or small tree. Dwarf cultivars grow slowly to about 3 ft. (90 cm) Prune to control size and shape.
Dense, wavy-edged, green leaves and contrasting black twigs grow on this large-scale shrub or small tree. Its purple flowers are particularly fragrant at night. Tolerates coastal conditions. Prone to scale and aphids.
In late spring clusters of very fragrant, star-shaped, creamy white flowers cover this dense shrub or small tree. Leaves are glossy, leathery and thick. In cooler climates, plant against a south- or west-facing wall.
Taller than the London Plane Tree, it also has whiter bark. More prone to disease than other Plane trees. Doesn't tolerate city conditions.
A commonly planted street tree, it's hardy as far north as Massachusetts. Relatively free from disease.
This cone-shaped tree is often used in the South and Southwest for screens and hedges. It has a short trunk, a broad crown and deep green leaves. Tolerates heat and low humidity, but not wet soils.
Popular for its fine texture, this cool-season, blue-green lawn grass grows best in the West, Northeast, North central and mid-Atlantic regions. Use in pastures and meadows. Fertilize in the fall and spring. Mow at 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm)
Grown for its glossy, dark green, flat needles. Use as a tree, hedge, espalier, topiary or container plant. Also sold as P. elongatus.
Creamy white clusters of male flowers appear in early summer, followed by edible reddish purple fall fruits. This shrub has a full, lush, pyramidal form created by its leathery leaves with paler undersides.
More heat- and drought-tolerant than Fern Pine, it most often grows 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall. Because it grows slowly, it's also a good container plant indoors or outdoors. Needles are dense and dark green.
This perennial evergreen twining vine has dense foliage and greenish-white, fragrant flowers. The leaves unfold bronze-red and mature to green. Tolerates wind, salt spray and poor soils.
This medium-sized fern grows well in moist to seasonally dry shady areas. Does best in rich, organic soils. Use as ground cover under trees and in mixed shady borders. Prune off dead or damaged fronds.
Its creamy bark, heart-shaped leaves and yellow fall color make it a favorite native tree. Best in mountainous or northern climates. Elsewhere, insects and disease make it a short-lived tree.
This shrub with dense growth and habit flowers for several months in summer when few woody plants do. Available in larger, mounded forms.
This fast-growing, evergreen shrub or tree has shiny bright green leaves that form a dense mound. Use as a screen or hedge in mild climates. Fragrant white flowers appear in spring. Prune to control shape and size. Protect from afternoon sun in hot summer climates.
Similar in appearance and landscape use to English Laurel, this evergreen grows larger and more slowly than its cousin, and its white flowers are slightly larger. Tolerates heat, wind and alkaline soils.
Plant early, middle, and late season fruiting varieties to lengthen your harvest. Need winter chill, below 45░F, for abundant fruit and summer heat. Elberta and Nectar are favorites.
This ornamental tree has shiny dark green leaves, single pink flowers and handsome red-bronze bark. Foliage blazes orange in fall. It lives long (30 to 50 years). Well-drained soil is essential. Plant with enough space to develop properly. Won't tolerate smog.
The cultivars of these small-to-medium trees offer fine flower display. 'Amanogawa,' a narrow columnar tree, bears semidouble pink flowers. 'Kwanzan' has double pink flowers. The semidouble white flowers of 'Mt. Fuji' are also fragrant. 'Shirofugen' has double white and pink flowers. All need well-drained soil.
Plums comprise several different species in the stonefruit (Prunus) genus, including the common or European plum (Prunus domestica), the Japanese plum (Prunus japonica), and the Damson plum (Prunus insititia), as well as some hybrids with native American plums that have been bred to withstand harsh winters.
This is one of the hardiest purple-leaf Plums. Its masses of single pink flowers appear just before its dark purple foliage, creating a massive floral display. Prune out crossing branches.
This vigorous tree has graceful arching branches. In early spring, its almond-scented white to pink flowers open before the leaves. The small fruits are shiny and black. Needs well-drained soil.
Associated with the Greek goddess Athena, the red fruit of the pomegranate is used to make beverages and preserves. The hard rind of the fruit is deep yellow to red. Bright green to golden-green leaves turn yellow in fall.
When trained against a west- or south-facing wall as an espalier, Scarlet Firethorn's orange-red berries create a spectacular fall display. Good container plants, but watch out for thorns. Protect from winter winds in the North and ensure air circulation in the South. Watch for apple scab and twig blight.
Its strong upright branches give it a distinct pyramidal shape. Some popular varieties include 'Anjou,' 'Bartlett,' 'Bosc' and 'Cascade.' Most need cross-pollination by another variety to produce fruit. Resists oak root fungus.
Named after its shiny green, toothed leaves, this Oak is a good lawn, shade or specimen tree. Fall foliage is yellow or gold-brown. Prune out dead or damaged branches. Tolerates wind. No serious pest problems.
One of the most popular native Oaks in California, they often stand as solitary giants in grasslands or groves along seasonal streams. Native Americans once used the acorns for flour. Give some extra water to newly planted trees until established. Deeply water mature or established trees in drought years only. Resists oak root fungus.
This native Oak is popular because it tolerates planting beneath its open, broadly pyramidal canopy. Its bright green leaves turn a brilliant scarlet in cold autumn weather. Difficult to transplant. Best in dry, acidic soils. Tolerates limestone.
Used as a shade tree in much of southern Europe, it can also be pruned as a hedge. Forming a dense canopy, the hollylike leaves are deep green above and yellowish silver beneath. Stake when young until trunk develops. Tolerates coastal conditions. No summer water.
This long-lived Oak thrives in the Midwest. Its wood is split into thin sheets to make shingles, hence one of its common names; the other comes from its lustrous green leaves that look like a Mountain Laurels' foliage. Leaves turn russet-red in fall. Transplants more easily than most oaks. Minimal pest problems.
This Southern Oak transplants easily and tolerates wet soils. Its olive green lustrous leaves vary in shape and last well into winter. Several disease and insect problems; Mistletoe infestations can be severe. Prune out weak-wooded limbs damaged in wind or ice storms.
One of the most widely planted native Oaks, its deeply cut, dark green leaves turn scarlet in the fall. Easy to transplant. Iron chlorosis is correctable with fertilizers.
Slender branches, a stately trunk and willowlike leaves make this an elegant tree. Its finely textured, bright green leaves turn a dull yellow to orange-red in fall and last for several months. Easy to transplant. No serious insect or disease problems.
These long-lived trees with their massive, broad-spreading crowns are best used in parks and other large-scale landscapes. Their hardwood has been used in ship building, wine barrels and furniture.
Its bark is the source of cork used in wine bottles, bulletin boards and shoes. The small, evergreen leaves have serrated margins. Tolerates desert conditions. Stake young trees, and prune to shape.
This is the long-lived Oak of Southern mansions, plantations and parkways, where its massive trunk and wide-spreading limbs are draped with Spanish moss. Thrives in deep, moist soils. Tolerates salt spray. With water, tolerates desert climates. Prune to remove deadwood.
Prune, as a single-trunked tree, multi-trunked shrub or hedge, to keep the shiny, evergreen foliage dense. Tiny greenish-yellow flowers yield black fruit.
The berries on this compact shrub begin green, turn red and finally ripen in fall to purplish-black. The leaves are dark green above and paler beneath. Give some summer water.
This mounding, bushy shrub bears fragrant, star-shaped flowers in 4- to 6-in. (10- to 15-cm)-wide clusters. Grow in warmer climates. Prune to shape.
Its attractive oval, dark green leaves present clusters of fragrant, white flowers, which develop into purple-black berries. The dwarf cultivar, æMinor,Æ grows to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall.
Grown for its oval, leathery, dark green leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers. It forms a compact mound with dark burgundy new growth. Tolerates heat and coastal conditions.
A vigorous, compact shrub with waxy, deep green leaves, its large, fragrant flowers are pastel pink with a bronze blotch. Plant in filtered shade beneath tall trees or partial sun.
This slow-growing compact shrub has deep green leaves and pink to rosy purple spring flowers. For white flowers, the variety 'Album' is popular.
This is one of the best late-flowering white Rhododendrons, with a low, broad-spreading, dense habit. The leaves are narrow and glossy dark green. The funnel-shaped flowers are pure white with yellow spots.
The flowers on this 19th-century hybrid are small, mostly single and sometimes hose-in-hose. Plants are tiered or mounded. Many varieties are available. Plant in half sun.
This heat- and drought-tolerant shrub has white or pinkish clusters of spring flowers. Its velvety red berries are coated with a sticky substance. Grows best with occasional deep water.
The hanging rosy-red spring flowers yield edible bluish-black berries. Rapid spring growth with sufficient moisture. Prune to shape and control growth. Keep dry in late fall to promote dormancy.
This evergreen ground cover thrives in dry shade with little supplemental water. Plant it in the shade of native Oaks and other drought-tolerant trees. Its small leaves are glossy, deep green and fragrant when crushed. Inconspicuous flowers are rose- to maroon-colored. The wine-red trailing branches often root as they grow along the ground.~~Tolerates coastal conditions. Prune to keep low.
White, fragrant spring flowers hang in 4- to 8-in. (10- to 20-cm)-long clusters. The 2- to 4-in. (5- to 10-cm)-long pods last through much of the winter, rattling in the breeze as they dry. Highly prone to insect damage.
This long-blooming climbing rose has velvety blood-red flowers and yellow stamens. Its attractive foliage is dark green. Prune annually.
This climber is popular for its semidouble, scarlet, cup-shaped flowers. It blooms from June into fall. Prune annually.
Its small, light pink flowers, shaped like miniature hybrid Teas, bloom heavily in spring with some flowers through fall. Needs little to average water, once established. Disease resistant. Prune to shape.
One of the longest blooming climbers, its bright yellow flowers appear throughout the growing season. Can be grown as large, loose shrub. Widely available.
Its pink or white flowers with pointed petals and light fragrance bloom heavily through spring and into fall. The leaves are deep green and glossy. Tolerates partial shade.
Although it blooms for only a few weeks in spring, its frothy clusters of scentless, double yellow or white flowers nearly cover the plant. Nearly evergreen and thornless, it is extremely vigorous; try it as a ground cover.
This vigorous, arching shrub makes an excellent low hedge. The small, plump, ruffly flowers appear in large clusters in the spring with smaller clusters appearing all season.
Species and hybrids of this old garden rose type bloom from spring into late fall, with many colors. Develop large red rose hips. Leaves turn orange in autumn. Give this coarse aggressive plant space; spreads by aggressive underground rhizomes, forming large impenetrable clumps. Often clipped into a formal hedge. Thrives in coastal conditions of wind, poor soils and salt spray.
Use this fine-textured, fragrant dwarf as a ground cover or in rock gardens, or trail it over walls. Prune to accentuate the gnarled branches on mature plants.
Season your food with this cultivar. Its wide, stiffly erect form offers rich blue flowers and gray-green leaves.
This dense, evergreen ground cover's stems spread horizontally and quickly root in the soil. In winter, its crinkled, deep green leaves turn a purplish red. Prune to control and direct growth.
This graceful willow has bright yellow twigs at the tips of its pendulous branches. Its 6 in. (15 cm) bright green or yellow green leaves are long and narrow, with paler undersides.
Smaller than the Golden Weeping Willow, this broad-crowned tree has olive-green foliage on its drooping branches. Light green catkins appear in spring.
Grow this compact, moisture-loving shrub for its fine-textured, blue-green leaves, and supple slender branches that are purplish in youth and turn gray to olive-gray at maturity. Good as a hedge, or along streams or ponds. Watch for aggressive fibrous roots that out-compete nearby plants for moisture and nutrients.
This plant is slower growing than the green-leafed type, and contrasts nicely when planted with it.
The faster-growing bright green mixes nicely with gray-leafed plants.
This ground cover grows 2 ft. (60 cm) tall and is ideal for along buildings and under trees. Fruits are blue-black. Spreads at a slow to moderate rate by underground runners.
Growing slowly to 6 ft. (2 m) tall, it becomes a dense mound of shiny, deep green foliage, or will grow in patterns up a wall. Fruits are red. Flowers are strongly fragrant.
This conifer has distinctive fleshy, dark green needles. As cut foliage, they last for weeks in water. The 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-long cones mature in 2 years. Used in bonsai.
Its deep green, flat needles are arranged in flat sprays. Fire-retardant, reddish brown bark covers its thick trunk. Yellow leaves in summer indicate iron chlorosis.
This dense shrub has pale, yellow-green leaves, scarlet berries and fragrant flowers. For fruit production, plant a male pollinater near a female. A type of this shrub also produces ivory berries. In northern climates, give winter protection. Watch for mites in dry climates.
This fast-growing vine has clusters of showy white flowers. Its dark green leaves take on a purplish hue in full sun. In milder climates, this vine is evergreen and blooms for most of the year.
On trees 5 years and older, creamy white summer flowers bloom in 1-ft. (30-cm)-long sprays. The 'Regent' variety flowers when 2.5 years old. Plant against a background of evergreens. Prone to canker, twig blight and potato leaf hopper.
This Mountain Ash is grown for its showy orange-red berries that ripen in late summer.
Its long blooming season, compact shape and clusters of white, pink and deep rose flowers all on the same shrub, make it one of the most popular Spiraea. 'Shirobana's' dense, deep green foliage makes it perfect for edgings or small-scale plantings.
Deep rose-pink flowers cover this low-growing, bushy, compact shrub in June and July. Otherwise, enjoy creamy yellow foliage. Up to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) wide.
One of the most popular Spiraeas. In June and July it's a spray of graceful arching branches covered with showy, creamy white clusters of lightly fragrant flowers.
Cup-shaped, single white flowers with orange centers and yellow or deep red to purple fall color give seasonal interest to this tree.
This tree is ideally situated on slopes, in a raised bed or near a patio where you can look up into its hanging flowers. Its flowers are slightly fragrant. Yellow autumn foliage.
This variety has larger leaves and fruit clusters than the species. Its small pinkish flowers yield large, round, white berries.
This wide-spreading bank or ground cover produces coral-red fruit that's white underneath. Usually reaches a height of only 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm)
The best known species of Lilac has fragrant flowers that rise from oval, pointed, dark green leaves. Shrubs can reach 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) tall. Hundreds of varieties are available.
Shape this dense Yew into a hedge or screen or grow as a pyramidal specimen. Its dull green leaves are yellowish underneath. Cultivars have varying sizes and shapes. Prone to beetles, spider mites and scale.
This male hybrid makes an excellent dense, rounded, low hedge. Other hybrids, 'Stoveken' and 'Hicksii,' are tall and columnar. The male clone, 'Hatfieldii,' is tall and pyramidal.
Its flowers cluster at the end of its branches. Its finely textured leaves are shiny and deep green. The variety 'Aurea' is smaller and has yellow flowers.
New foliage is bronzy-red, changing to deep green, or with sun, to bronzy-green or purplish-red. The fragrant, yellow flowers are followed by yellow to red-orange berries, which split to reveal shiny black seeds. A variegata with white-bordered leaves and a pink tinge exists.
This long-bloomer's leaves are gray-green above and silvery white beneath. Cultivars include the more compact 'Compacta' and 'Azureum,' with deeper blue flowers. Cut back in early spring.
Somewhat heat-tolerant, this hardy Arborvitae doesn't burn or discolor in winter. Its dense, compact, pyramidal shape makes it an excellent screen, specimen or hedge.
Use this cone-shaped tree for background plantings, screens or hedges. Its bark is reddish-brown. Its many cultivars vary from 1.5 to 30 ft. (45 cm to 10 m) high. Use dwarfs in foundation plantings.
Plant this low-growing, small-leaved deep green ground cover in rock gardens, herb gardens, along pathways, and between stepping stones. Prune back every 2-3 years to rejuvenate.
The best variety for a ground cover, it spreads its fragrant gray foliage quickly to make flat carpets, cascade over walls or fill in between stepping stones. Crushing underfoot releases its sweet smell. Soft pink flowers appear in summer.
Its large scale makes it an excellent lawn, street or shade tree. Its heart-shaped leaves are dark green on top and blue-green beneath. Tolerates urban conditions.
This popular vine or ground cover has glossy, deep green, leathery leaves and fragrant star-shaped white flowers. Protect from afternoon sun in hot climates. Prune tips to encourage dense growth.
Don't mistake inferior elms, such as U. pumila, for this fine-textured, fast-growing specimen or shade tree. Fall color is yellow to reddish-orange.
Deciduous, upright, slightly arching shrub. Dark, almost blue green, lustrous leaves turn red in fall. In spring, small white flowers bloom in profusion, followed by sweet, edible, blue black berries that ripen in late summer.
Its tiny white flower clusters develop into bright red berries. The irregularly toothed green leaves turn a vibrant red to burgundy in fall. Don't use sulfur sprays.
Bright, cranberry-red berries grow on this multi-stemmed shrub well into winter. The dark green, maple-like leaves often turn a maroon-red in fall. Clusters of small, white, fertile flowers are surrounded by sterile flowers. Grows rapidly in wet soils. Varieties from dwarf forms to yellow-berried shrubs are available.
Snowflake-shaped flowers cover this deciduous, spreading shrub in late spring and early summer. Dark green leaves turn reddish purple in fall. Fruits are bright red, maturing to black.
An evergreen shrub with leathery, glossy, green leaves, its fragrant white- and pink-tinted flowers mature into red berries. Use as a screen or hedge. Tolerates heat, wind and poor soils. Remove winter-damaged leaves.
A dense evergreen, its dark green leaves grow on burgundy-colored stems. Pink buds open to white flowers, which develop into striking but small, dark, metallic-blue berries. Use as a hedge or standing alone. Tolerates heat, wind, dust and air pollution.
Its large clusters of waxy, pinkish-white blooms appear in early to late April, before the leaves and have a Gardenia-like fragrance. Evergreen in southern areas, it reaches 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) tall by 4 to 5 ft. (1.25 to 1.5 m) wide.
This deciduous, 4- to 6-ft. (1.25- to 2-m)-tall and -wide shrub with dark green foliage has pink buds that open into very fragrant white flowers in spring. In fall, reddish-black fruit appear.
More upright-growing than Common Periwinkle, it spreads rampantly and has naturalized in wild areas of warmer zones.
Not as invasive as Large Periwinkle, this easy-to-grow, tough spreader has intermittent, commonly-found blue flowers and lush foliage.
Palm-like, gray, aromatic leaves and fragrant spikes of lavender-purple flowers make this a popular accent. The variety æAlbaÆ has white flowers, and æRoseaÆ has pink flowers.
Showy, rose-pink flowers, pale pink to white inside, bloom in late spring and early summer, attracting bees and hummingbirds. Reaches 6 ft. (2 m) tall and wide.
Its flowers open sequentially from the base of their pendulous clusters to the tip. It blooms longer, and has longer flower clusters than Chinese Wisteria.
Flowers open simultaneously along each of the clusters before leaves appear. Its flower clusters are shorter and less fragrant than Japanese Wisteria. Flowers are white or violet.
Grown as a commercial Christmas tree, this blue-green conifer has flat sprays of scalelike leaves. In dry, hot climates, susceptible to spider mites. Prone to canker fungus and bagworm.
This spiny, slow-growing shrub has shiny yellowish to light green leaves that turn darker green in shady locations. Grows to about 0.5 or 0.75 the size of the species.
Mature trees have flaky peeling bark that exposes orange-brown inner bark. Its trunk divides into many stems to create its spreading vase shape. Autumn color is yellow or russet. Few pests.
One of the most popular varieties, it has bronzy leaves and purple flowers. Also sold as 'Bronze Beauty' and 'Purpurea.' Plant in full sun to maintain bronzy leaf color.
Brightly colored, its leaves are edged with pink and cream, which complement its bluish purple flowers. New growth is burgundy-red. DoesnÆt like dry soil. Plant in full sun for best leaf color.
Its loose sprays of yellow-green flowers rise above the 15-in. (37.5-cm)-tall mounding plant. Use flowers and leaves in flower arrangements. Leaves are used in Europe as a medicinal herb.
Pure white, nodding, fragrant flowers appear in late spring and bloom again during cool fall weather. Plants form dense, ground-covering colonies.
Pure white flowers rise above a tuft of gray-green pubescent leaves. Plant under spring-blooming bulbs. Double, white- and pink-flowering types are also available.
Grown for its glossy, deep-green, slightly cupped leaves. The inconspicuous, darkly colored, bell-shaped flowers are hidden by foliage.
Its yellow-speckled glossy leaves add bright foliage to shady areas.
Narrowly oblong, bright green leaves on this compact, arching, dense shrub turn brilliant orange-red in fall. Watch for thorns.
Its colorful reddish-purple deciduous leaves turn bright red in fall. In shady locations, leaves are reddish-green. Its yellow flowers are tinged with purple.
This deciduous dwarf variety has showy reddish-purple summer leaves that turn bright red in fall. Plant in full sun for best leaf color. Yellow flowers are tinged with purple.
Deciduous rose-pink new leaves are mottled with deeper red purple splotches. They mature to deep reddish-purple and turn brilliant orange-red in fall.
The bright green leaves turn brilliant colors in fall. Bright red berries also appear on this upright, compact deciduous shrub in fall and last into winter.
This deciduous shrub is colorful year-round. New leaves are a rich green and become glossy, dark green with maturity, turning yellow with red tinge in fall. Bright red fall berries last into winter.
This slow-growing evergreen is covered in smooth, glossy, dark green leaves with whitish undersides. They turn purplish in winter. Berries are blue-black. Reaches 3 to 6 ft. (90 cm to 1.8 m) tall and wide.
One of the hardiest and most reliable plants, this boasts brilliant red new leaves in full sun and bluish crimson flowers in shade. Grows back quickly from frost damage.
A hardy, mounding shrub, its new leaves start out red, fading to green with yellow edges. Raspberry pink flowers and variegated foliage make this a colorful accent.
Rare "true blue" flowers bloom in airy clusters on 12- to 18- in. (30- to 45-cm)-high stems. Types with variegated leaves, with creamy white or white borders or silver spots, are available.
This vigorous bush has intensely deep purple flowers.
For small gardens and large containers, this Butterfly BushÆs dwarf spreading habit and small leaves and flowers fit well. Prune to shape.
Extra-long spikes of deep pink fragrant flowers, plus attractive gray-green leaves, make this Dutch cultivar a highly desirable Butterfly Bush.
The richer color of the purplish-red flowers makes this one of the best of the red Butterfly Bushes.
The large silver-white blossoms are perfect for a white flower garden.
Hardier than B. sempervirens and less popular than its varieties, this evergreen shrub grows 3 to 4 ft. (90cm to 1.25 m) tall and wide. Trim in summer. Mulch around plants to keep roots cool. Don't let soil become waterlogged.
This evergreen shrub forms a broad mound that reaches 3 ft. (90 cm) tall and wide. The small, fine-textured leaves are dark green.
Masses of bright reddish-purple flower spikes appear on arching branch tips several times in spring and summer, and fade to lavender. Its narrow, dark green leaves have a lemon scent if bruised. Woody seed capsules last for years. Also known as C. c. 'Violaceous'.
Large, deep red, peony-shaped flowers with a slight fragrance bloom on this vigorous, upright-growing bushy shrub.
Delicate white single blossoms, often blushed pink, bloom on a spreading plant, which you can easily espalier against walls or train over trellises.
Large, semi-double white flowers with ruffled petals bloom on an upright, bushy plant. Sprays of foliage and flowers make striking floral arrangements.
Wide-open, bright red flowers with showy yellow stamens bloom in winter on this upright, densely leafed, deep green shrub. Bring container plants inside for winter color.
Although invasive, its masses of lavender-blue flower clusters in early summer makes this a favorite. Cut back old flower spikes to encourage new blossoms.
This container plant spreads rampantly by ground-hugging runners. Best grown in pots or hanging baskets, in partial shade. White-flowering forms are available.
The many trumpet-shaped flowers, 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) wide and bright salmon-red, attract hummingbirds.
Stiff, dull green or bright blue-gray needles cover its upright branches. Barrel-shaped female cones are pale green, ripening to brown, while males are always pale brown. Won't transplant.
A rock garden favorite, its many white woolly leaves grow to 6 in. (15 cm). If not kept under control, this species can be invasive. Varieties æSilver CarpetÆ and æYo-YoÆ are more refined and compact than others.
This 1-ft. (30-cm)-tall green ground cover turns bronze-red in fall. Prune hard in winter to encourage compact spring growth. WonÆt tolerate shade.
Clusters of pink pealike flowers appear 2 to 3 weeks before the dark green leaves unfold. Foliage is golden in fall. Plant out when young.
Rosy purple, pealike flowers bloom on old growth as well as new. Multi-stemmed shrub reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and wide. Established plants tolerate dry soil and heat. Grows exceptionally well in Arizona's high deserts.
This popular Flowering Quince with double apricot-pink flowers has a low spreading habit.
Large tomato-red flowers fill this low-spreading shrub.
Its silver-edged leaves form a neat mounding ground cover or container plant. Small yellow flowers clusters appear in fall. Prohibited in some areas since it is a host to white rust.
This scented, late-spring bloomer has double white flowers, 4 to 5 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) wide, with a hint of green at their bases.
One of the hardiest and more popular Clematis, the 5- to 6-in. (12.5- to 15-cm)-wide, bright magenta flowers appear in summer and fall.
A summer-blooming Clematis, its 7-in. (17.5-cm)-wide, rosy-mauve flowers have chocolate-purple pods, called anthers, at the end of the stamens.
An old favorite, the 6- to 7-in. (15 to 17.5 cm)-wide, creamy white flowers bloom in June and September.
An improved version of C. Jackmanii, its large, dark violet-purple flowers grow up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) across. Watch for mildew in shady locations.
In late summer and early fall, this vigorous grower has masses of white, citrus-scented flowers that fade into feathery seed heads, and last until winter.
A generous bloomer, its mauve-pink petals have carmine bars. The 8-in. (20-cm)-wide flowers bloom from May to June and again in September. Flowers fade in full sun.
This summer bloomer has 5- to 6-in. (12.5- to 15-cm)-wide, carmine-red flowers and golden stamens.
These vigorous, upright shrubs have blood-red stems and creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer. Whitish fruits follow flowers. Leaves are gray-green with creamy white margins.
This low-branched tree or large shrub produces clusters of star-shaped, yellowish white flowers in early summer. Fruits are blue-black. Its bright green leaves turn reddish purple in fall. Easily transplanted.
Colorful year-round, its clusters of small flowers are surrounded by large, ruby red bracts. New leaves are reddish, turning dark green, then red again in fall. Clusters of bright red fall berries last after leaves have fallen.
The small flowers on this spreading shrub or tree are surrounded by four large, colorful pink or red bracts. Dark green leaves turn red and purple in fall. Clusters of red berries last after leaves have fallen.
This shrub spreads by underground stems, producing large clumps of dark green leaves that turn reddish purple in fall. Star-shaped, white flowers are followed by white fruits. Spreads 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) wide.
Its leaves darken to purplish black, often with a glowing maroon-red margin, and the "smoke" is bronze.
This evergreen shrub's tightly matted branches are covered with dull green leaves. Pinkish white flowers are followed by bright red fruits. Reaches 6 ft. (2 m) tall and 3 ft. (90 cm) wide. Won't tolerate wet soils.
This shrub, which grows only 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm) high, has long prostrate branches that root along the ground, glossy green foliage and red fruits. Less susceptible to insects and disease than most other Cotoneasters.
This evergreen shrub is covered with dark green, oval leaves with bluish white undersides. Produces small white flowers in mid-summer, then clusters of deep red berries that last into winter.
This vigorous, upright, free-fruiting plant has a distinctive branching which forms a herringbone pattern.
This vigorous evergreen shrub needs little care. White flowers appear in early summer, followed by clusters of bright red fruits. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and wide. Won't tolerate wet soils. Use low growing and trailing forms as ground covers.
This old and classic hawthorn has 3-in. (7.5-cm)-long, stiff, deadly thorns. White flowers in late spring are followed by bright red fruits that last through fall and winter. Glossy, dark green leaves turn bronze-red in fall. Reaches 20 to 30 ft. (6 to 9 m) tall and 20 to 35 ft. (6 to 10.5 m) wide. Avoid very wet soil. Watch for fireblight. Attracts birds and bees.
Accent any garden with this BroomÆs vigorous, garnet-red flowers highlighted with a narrow band of gold.
This is a low-mounding Broom with soft cream-yellow flowers.
Perfect for the small garden, it is upright, compact and fine textured. Covered with white flowers in spring, it turns reddish in fall. In hot summers, likes some afternoon shade.
Blooming from late spring until fall frost, this Maiden Pink has bright rose-red flowers rising from a wide-spreading mat of grass-like green leaves. Does best in well-drained, sandy soil.
The branches of its multi-stemmed clumps are drooping. Tubular, 0.5 in. (1.25 cm), violet-blue flowers bloom on stems that may have spines. Fruit clusters are 1 to 6 in. (2.5 to 15 cm) long. Good in containers.
This evergreen shrub has spineless branches and leaves that are green on top, silvery underneath. Flowers are silvery-white, and fall fruit is red. Semi-evergreen in colder areas.
The waxy leaves have yellow centers and green margins.
This upright shrub bears creamy yellow flowers with red veins and red tips.
Its rosy red flowers bloom in early April. Varieties range in color and height, from white to deep pink and from 5 in. (12.5 cm) (æWinter BeautyÆ) to 12 in. (30 cm) (æKing GeorgeÆ).
Its white flowers bloom on 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-long branches summer into fall. Vigorous-growing, but prune lightly, only to shape. Bushier than E. carnea.
This plant resembles 'Bowles mauve,' but is smaller, with a deeper purple flower.
Can get 15 to 25 ft. (4.5 to 7.5 m) tall, but its slow, open growth usually reaches 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 to 2.5 m) Its fragrant, white flowers turn into fruits, which change from green to deep red, at which point they are edible. Coppery green leaves deepen to purplish or red in cold weather.
This rambling, evergreen ground cover reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90cm) in height. Its dark green leaves turn purple in fall and winter. The greenish white flowers are followed by fruits with pinkish red hulls.
This low-growing evergreen shrub has dark green leaves with golden-yellow margins.
This dense, mounding, evergreen dwarf reaches 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) tall and wide. Small, round, pinkish-red fruits follow greenish-white flowers. Easy to transplant in spring or early fall.
The rounded, dark green leaves of this evergreen shrub have irregular white margins. Leaves become pink-tinged in fall and winter. Its tiny, greenish white flowers are followed by pea-sized, pinkish red fruits.
This evergreen creeping shrub grows 4 to 8 ft. (10 to 20 cm) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) wide. The thin green leaves are edged with white or cream, turning pinkish in winter. Tolerates dry soil, once established.
The dark green leaves on this vigorous evergreen shrub are partially white-veined. Use as a hedge or espalier. Also good in tubs, since mature plants tolerate dry spells.
Use as an upright shrub or train as a trailing or climbing plant. Very cold-hardy. Its thick textured leaves are medium to dark green.
This cold-hardy, upright, dense shrub has large dark green, golden-margined leaves. Small greenish-white flowers usually followed by round pink fruits. Tolerates high temperatures, wind and salt spray.
Compact, upright, densely branched shrub with large, leathery, oval, glossy dark green leaves blotched with yellow. In summer, small greenish white flowers sometimes followed by round pink fruits. 5 to 10 ft. (1.5 to 3 m) tall, 3 to 6 ft. (90 cm to 2 m) wide. If grown in full sun, soil should not be allowed to get very dry.
This upright shrub has large, leathery green leaves with silvery white margins. Greenish white flowers are sometimes followed by pink fruits. Reaches 3 to 6 ft. (90 cm to 1.75 m) tall and wide. When planted in full sun, keep soil moist.
Usually trimmed into a low hedge, it reaches 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm) tall. Its large, oval leaves are dark green. Greenish white flowers are sometimes followed by rounded pink fruits with orange seeds.
This hardy evergreen or semi-evergreen is used as a hedge or espalier. It sometimes roots where its branches touch the ground. Its greenish white flowers are followed by rounded pinkish fruits. Tolerates cold to nearly 0░F, poor soil conditions, high temperatures, and wind and salt spray.
Easy care and long-lasting bright yellow bloom for most of the year make it useful as edging, filler, background plant or low screen. Cut back side branches to control size. Good for rock gardens.
The leaves start out a light bluish gray on young slender stems. They turn dark green in summer and golden bronze in fall, lasting into winter on young trees or on the lower limbs of mature trees.
This ground cover has slender, silvery blue leaves and grows in clumps. Prefers cool climates, and no foot traffic.
An exotic, drought-tolerant ground cover, this cultivar is lower growing than the straight species. If centers die or cover is sparse, divide large clumps and replant.
This variety grows 6 to 8 feet tall and has dark yellow, 2 in. (5 cm) blossoms.
A vigorously-flowering Forsythia, 'Lynwood' has an upright habit that makes it well-suited to planting along fences and walls.
This dwarf rarely grows taller than 1 ft. (30 cm), but spreads to more than 2 ft. (60 cm), bearing many, small, pale yellow flowers. Leaves turn purple-red in fall. Hard to establish.
This deciduous shrub bears tiny flowers in 1 in. (2.5 cm) clusters. After these fade, the leaves turn red.
A striking mounding shrub with bluish leaves, its fall color is less intense than that of a straight species.
This compact shrub has dainty, semi-double, white petals topped with rosy pink sepals above the flower. The bronze foliage is evergreen in warm winter climates.
Plant in a hanging basket to show off the trailing stems of deep carmine, single-petaled blooms with white flaring sepals.
Trailing red branches have gray-green foliage with creamy white edges tinted pink. Hanging purple flowers with red sepals bloom July until frost. Plant in sheltered site.
This variety's blossoms have long, spreading red sepals and darker red petals.
With its small mauve flowers, this upright-growing fuchsia can be shown off in containers, or trained as a small tree. It is also good for children's gardens.
With double crimson and purple flowers and semi-pendant growth, this fuchsia is available in upright shrub or trailing basket forms. The height displayed is estimated.
This popular white-flowered perennial makes an excellent naturalizing ground cover in shaded, moist woodlands. Used to make May wine, and as a culinary and medicinal herb.
This plant is heat- and drought-tolerant, but likes some water during dry periods.
Though gardenias are hardy to 20║ F, they won't flower or thrive without intense summer heat.
The large, double flowers reach 4 to 5 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) across on some varieties. Plant near entrances or windows where their fragrance can be enjoyed. Avoid wetting flowers when watering.
This compact variety grows 1 ft. (30 cm) high and 2 to 3 ft. (60cm to 90 cm) wide. Its many, sweetly fragrant flowers are 1 in. (2.5 cm) across. Plant as a ground cover or in containers and hanging baskets.
Its lemon-shaped, glossy leaves are used by florists as filler. Deep purple, edible berries follow pinkish-white, bell-shaped flowers. Combines well with Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
Bicolor 1- to 3-in. (2.5- to 7.5-cm)-wide flowers of orange, yellow, gold, cream, pink or bronze-red, with a brown-black spot near their bases, bloom on 16-in. (40-cm)-tall plants.
A popular rock garden plant, this 2-ft. (60-cm)-high and 3- to 4-ft. (90-cm to 1.25-m)-wide dwarf has masses of bright yellow, pea-like flowers. Cold-hardy. Semi-evergreen in colder areas.
Trailing 6- to 12-in. (15- to 30-cm)-high, tangled, twiggy mounds are covered with rich, golden-yellow pea-like blooms in late spring. Good for poor soil under trees or shrubs in sunny spots.
This vigorous plant bears long-blooming, salmon-pink flowers above a dense mound of glossy, lobed leaves.
Stunning blue, cup-shaped flowers show off above deeply cut leaves.
Popular, hardy and long-lived, it has many magenta-pink flowers. Spreading mounds of lobed leaves turn crimson-red in fall.
The best known variety, its lacy dark green leaves appear late in spring, turn golden yellow and drop early in fall. Mature trees are frost-hardy, but young trees may suffer damage. Very popular because it is thornless and fruitless, which makes it safer and less messy. Also the most resistant to mimosa redworms.
The leaves of this upright, thornless, non-fruiting variety appear late in spring, are dark green in summer, and turn yellow and drop early in autumn. Reaches 40 to 50 ft. (12 to 15 m) tall and has poor resistance to mimosa webworms.
The lacy leaves are golden yellow when young, and mix with the mature bright green leaves through mid-summer. Leaves turn yellow in fall. The twig tips are tinged yellow. This variety is most prone to pests.
This ground cover offers single, pink flowers for sunny areas. From the mountains of Europe.
This is one of the best yellow-flowering witch hazels, with large flowers and reddish-yellow fall foliage. æArnolds PromiseÆ blooms later than most witch hazels.
Popular forms are from the early-blooming H. nummularium. Fire-resistant, it flowers in yellow, pink, red, orange or white. Each flower lasts one day, but buds continue to open.
This leafy shrub grows vigorously, with glossy green foliage and many bright single or double flowers from spring to fall. Many varieties and flower colors are available.
This is a superb yellow cultivar of H. rosa-sinensis.
Excellent for containers because of its compact growth, this Hibiscus has large, deep red, double flowers.
This vigorous, compact-growing Hibiscus with glossy green foliage produces a profusion of full, double, lemon yellow flowers. The funnelshaped flowers resemble a full moon and bloom from spring to fall. May be used in containers.
With its double, light purple flowers that bloom summer into fall, this shrub has a upright, vase shape. Several colors are available. Resists oak root fungus. Prune in spring to keep compact.
This deciduous, upright, dense shrub is 8 ft. (2.5 m) high by 6 ft. (2 m) wide, spreading with age. Pure white, bell-shaped, double flowers bloom mid-summer to frost. Can be trained into a tree-like shape.
This deciduous, upright, dense shrub is 8 ft. (2.5 m) high by 6 ft. (2 m) wide, spreading with age. Purple, bell-shaped flowers bloom mid-summer to frost. Can be trained into a tree-like shape.
This deciduous, upright, dense shrub is 8 ft. (2.5 m) high by 6 ft. (2 m) wide, spreading with age. White, bell-shaped flowers bloom generously from mid-summer to frost. Can be trained into a tree-like shape.
The dark green leaves with wavy white margins and long tapering tips make this one of the showiest Hostas. Protect this flat-mounding ground cover from strong winds.
This vigorous Plantain Lily develops upright mounds of gray-green leaves from which rise deep violet flowers. Combines well with pink-flowering Filipendulas.
This Plantain Lily attracts attention with its large mound of deeply ribbed blue-gray leaves. The lavender flower spikes, which grow from the vase-shaped base, can reach 5 ft. (1.5 m) in late summer.
This robust perennial has broad, deeply veined, rich green heart-shaped leaves with wavy edges. The 'Royal Standard' has white flowers and is well-suited for borders.
A real show-stopper with its large blue-gray, deeply veined and crinkled white-margined leaves and lavender flowers. Unfortunately, it grows slowly.
The blue-green, puckered leaves of this popular, attention-getting Hosta are edged with a striking, uneven, yellow margins. Use for shady borders and along woodland pathways.
Prized for its outstanding form and color, the mounds of heavily-quilted, blue-green foliage can reach 1.5 ft. (45 cm) across with white flowers. The cupped, 9 in. (22.5 cm) leaves tend to catch debris. Even slower growing than Hosta sieboldiana.
Widely planted and fast-growing, its slightly wavy leaves are two-toned green with uneven white edges.
This Hosta is easily grown from self-fertile seed and is slug-resistant. Forms 3-ft. (90-cm)-wide lush mounds of broad, heart-shaped, glossy green leaves. Small, lavender, trumpet-like flowers branch off tall flower stalks.
Wild yellow leaf margins fade to creamy white, making this one of the showiest cream-edged Hostas. Blooms are lavender or blue.
æAnnabelleÆ produces extremely showy white globes of flowers up to 12 in. (30 cm) across. Prune hard each dormant season to promote sturdy new growth and flower development.
These large-leafed shrubs produce showy clusters of bright rosy-pink or red flowers. Fertilize with acid plant food and mulch to keep roots cool and moist.
These large-leafed shrubs produce showy clusters of deep blue flowers. Fertilize with aluminum sulfate to keep plants blue. Mulch to keep roots cool and moist; protect from frost.
Large, rounded clusters of pink flowers bloom all summer. Use fertilizer high in phosphorus or lime.
Dark green leaves edged with cream and light green, and clusters of double blue flowers accent this slower-growing shrub. Florists may sell the 'Variegata' as 'Tricolor.'
'Grandiflora' is an old favorite, with large creamy white flowers that turn bronze-pink in fall. Train as a 25 ft. (7.5 m) tree, but best as a 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.5 m) shrub. Use in a mixed border. Long-lasting dried flowers.
Its leaves are dark green above, yellowish green below, with black dots. Whitish flowers bloom in May or June, followed by blackish fruits. Transplants easily.
Lustrous, dense, deep blue-green foliage graces this hardy grower, which reaches 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall and 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) wide. This male plant makes a good pollinator.
A hardy grower with satiny, deep blue-green foliage, this broad, pyramid-like female plant produces brilliant yellow berries each fall.
The young branches of this female deciduous shrub are purplish-green. Its small, glossy green leaves turn yellow-green to purplish-bronze in fall. Early bloom is followed by orange-red berries which remain on the bare branches in winter.
The berries are smaller than those on some other varieties, but the shiny, dark green leaves turn deep purplish-red in autumn. Cut branches of berries are excellent for winter decorations.
This Holly is graceful, large and multi-stemmed. Its many translucent red fall berries remain through winter, and are colorful against the leathery, glossy green leaves.
Also called æStokes Dwarf,' this Holly forms compact mounds with small dark-green leaves and tiny red berries. No male pollinator is needed for fruit production. Watch for leaf miner and, in dry climates, spider mites.
Leathery, glossy leaves and white, waxy flowers look best with regular pruning. Train on an espalier or use as a ground cover.
Fast-growing to 20 ft. (6 m), this vine has deep green, finely textured leaves and fragrant white flowers, sometimes tinged pink. Blooms for several months. Prune after flowering to promote blooms on new growth the next year.
This upright dwarf shrub has bright green, lacy foliage, which holds its color in cold weather. The leaves smell sweet when crushed. Gray-brown bark peels off in thin strips.
Its vase shape is covered in dense, blue-green, heavily textured foliage that smells sweet if crushed. Prune or shear to shape. Reaches 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) tall and wide. Drought-tolerant when established.
This dense, vase-shaped shrub retains its steel blue color in summer and winter. Foliage smells sweet if crushed. Pea-sized fruits are blue. Reaches 4 to 5 ft. (1.25 to 1.5 m) tall and 3 to 4 ft. (90 to 1.25 m) wide.
This dense shrub has a columnar form and aromatic, bright green, needlelike leaves. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) wide. Its pea-sized fruits are whitish blue.
This compact, flat-topped shrub reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 cm to 90 cm) tall. Its dark green foliage has a sweet fragrance when crushed. Pea-sized fruits are blue. Drought-tolerant when established. Easily transplanted.
Golden tips on new growth brighten the gray-green foliage on this upright, flat-topped shrub. The spreading branches give it a graceful appearance. Reaches 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) tall and 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 m to 2.5 m) wide.
This wide-spreading, flat-topped shrub reaches 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) tall. Its feathery, bright green leaves release a sweet fragrance when crushed. Tolerates seashore and urban conditions.
Spreading 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) wide, this flat-topped, bushy, compact dwarf shrub has gray-green foliage. Reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall.
The dense bluish green foliage on this upright, flat-topped shrub becomes purplish blue in winter. Reaches 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) tall and 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) wide.
Informal, its rugged branches carry tufted, brilliant green foliage that smells sweet when crushed. Bark is gray-brown and pea-sized fruits are blue.
Sea green foliage on arching branches gives this compact shrub a fountainlike shape and its common name. Foliage darkens in cold weather. Reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90cm) tall and 3 to 6 ft. (90 cm to 1.75 m) wide.
Rapid, dense growth makes this pyramidal or columnar shrub popular. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall. Its rich green foliage smells sweet if crushed. Bark is gray-brown and pea-sized fruits are blue. Tolerates drought once established. Easily transplanted.
Irregular, twisted branches and rich green, scalelike foliage give this dense shrub a dramatic appearance. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) wide.
This 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm) tall shrub spreads 3 to 6 ft. (90 cm to 1.75 m) wide. Foliage color ranges from grayish to green to blue-green, depending on the cultivar. Foliage has a whitish band on top. Produces black berries.
Low-growing and spreading 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) wide, this shrub forms a dense cover of long, trailing, tightly matted stems with blue berries. Foliage is rich blue-gray in summer, turning blue-purple in winter.
Growing 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) wide, this shrub forms a low mat of long trailing branches. The fine-textured, aromatic foliage is silver-blue all year.
This low-growing and wide-spreading shrub forms large mats. Aromatic, soft-textured, blue-green foliage holds color in winter with a tinge of purple. Produces pale blue fruits. Prune or shear to shape.
This wide-growing shrub forms a 12- to 18-in. (30- to 45-cm)-tall mat. Feathery, gray-green scalelike foliage is tinged purplish in fall.
Feathery, gray-green foliage on this 8 to 12 in. (20 to 30 cm) tall shrub turns purple in fall. Reaches 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) wide.
This low-growing. 4- to 6-in. (10- to 15-cm)-tall shrub forms a mat of heavily textured green foliage, bronzy at the base and bluish at the tips. Reaches 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) wide.
At 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) tall, this is a very low-growing shrub. Its spreading branches form a 6- to 8-ft. (2- to 2.5-m)-wide, silver-blue carpet that retains its color all winter.
Its thick, spreading branches bear aromatic, bluish green needlelike foliage streaked with creamy white. Fruits range in color from brown to black. Reaches 8 to 24 in. (20 to 60 cm) tall and 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) wide. Prune or shear to shape.
The foliage on this 12- to 18-in. (30- to 45-cm)-tall spreading shrub is bright grass-green and lacy textured. Resists twig blight.
This dense mounding shrub reaches 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) tall and 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) wide. Its feathery, bright green foliage is dotted with blue-black berries. Resistant to Juniper blight.
This 1- to 3-ft. (30- to 60-cm)-tall mounding shrub has tiered branches. Its needlelike foliage is bluish-green. Reaches 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 m to 3 m) wide and is susceptible to leaf blight.
Bluer than tamariscifolia, this variety of the mounding shrub reaches 1 to 3 ft. (30 to 90 cm) tall. Its tiered branches spread 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) wide. It is also susceptible to leaf blight.
Prune or shear into spreading shrubs or rounded crowned trees from 2 to 30 ft. (60 cm to 9 m) tall. Foliage is blue-green to dark green and aromatic when bruised. Holds its color well in winter. Produces blue fruits. Susceptible to blight and cedar apple rust.
Its upright, pyramidal form reaches 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) tall. Bluish foliage, aromatic when bruised, holds its color in winter. The peeling reddish brown bark is furrowed into strips or squares. Produces blue berries and many cones..
Forming an upright conical shape, this dense shrub reaches 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall. The peeling reddish brown bark is furrowed into strips or squares. Blue-green foliage is aromatic if bruised and holds its color all winter. Produces blue berries.
This shrub creates an upright pyramid of brilliant blue foliage that holds its color well into winter. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) wide. Prune or shear to shape.
This ground-hugging shrub has blue-green, aromatic foliage. Reaches 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm) tall and 5 to 8 ft. (1.5 to 2.5 m) wide. Fruits are black. Prune or shear to shape.
This flat-topped, compact dwarf has soft, silvery gray foliage on dense spreading branches. Reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall. Foliage is aromatic when bruised. Produces silvery berries.
Both scalelike and needlelike foliage forms on the same shoots of this compact pyramidal shrub. Leaves are dark blue-green and aromatic when bruised. Produces rounded, fleshy, silvery berries.
Narrowly columnar, this dense shrub has silvery blue scalelike and needlelike foliage on the same shoots. The foliage is aromatic if bruised. Produces rounded, fleshy, silvery berries.
The most widely planted Kerria, its double flowers resemble tiny, yellow roses and are more colorful and longer lasting than single-flowered varieties.
This rounded, weak-wooded 30- to 40-ft. (9- to 12-m)-tall tree has leaves to 18 in. (45 cm) long. Yellow flowers bloom in summer and salmon pink to red pods form in fall. Prune young trees in spring. Mature trees rarely need pruning.
Yellow-throated pink flowers cover this round, deciduous shrub in spring. Plant in partial shade for upright growth; in full sun for lower, denser growth.
Masses of trumpet-shaped clear pink flowers bloom in spring. Gray-green leaves drop in fall. Brown, flaky bark peels from stems in winter.
Maintain this Crape Myrtle as a slow-growing shrub or train it into a tree, but cut back hard to keep it small and compact. Watch for mildew.
A fast-growing, tree-sized Crape Myrtle with deep red flowers and berries. One of the most hardy of the indica cultivars, it is highly resistant to mildew.
Clusters of long-lasting, snowy-white flowers mass in summer and early fall on this deciduous shrub. Light green foliage turns gold in fall. Brown bark flakes off to show rosy inner bark.
The dark green foliage of this deciduous, 7- to 9-ft. (2.25- to 2.75-m)-high shrub turns golden-yellow in fall. Large clusters of clear pink flowers bloom in summer and early fall. Prune to increase next year's bloom.
A dwarf-compact Crape Myrtle with good mildew resistance and reddish-yellow fall color. An excellent container plant.
The dark green foliage of this deciduous shrub turns golden-yellow in fall. Large clusters of bright red flowers bloom in summer and early fall. Prune to increase next year's bloom.
A popular white-flowering hybrid with spectacular cinnamon-brown peeling bark, Natchez is highly resistant to mildew. Its dark green leaves turn orange and red in the fall.
Dense clusters of flowers bloom on this perennial ground cover in late spring to early summer . Can become invasive.
A good container plant, this has silver and green leaves with pink flowers.
Clusters of clear yellow flowers bloom over a spreading mound of green foliage.
Clusters of red and lemon-yellow flowers cover this vigorous, compact shrub.
Clusters of intense orange-red flowers cover this large-growing Lantana hybrid. Good for erosion control.
English lavender is the best known parent of many aromatic hybrids. Its low-water use has made it popular in drought regions. Long prized for its soothing properties, it is also used in Mediterranean dishes.
Fragrant spikes of deep purple flowers bloom from mid to late summer. The narrow, aromatic leaves grow in bushes 24 in. (60 cm) tall and 30 in. (75 cm) wide.
This Dwarf English Lavender usually blooms at about 18 in. (45 cm) tall. It grows quickly from seed and blooms in the first year. Fragrant gray-green leaves and deep purple flowers make this a delightful indoor plant.
Its spikes are short and fat with two or three purple flaglike petals on top. Blooms year-round in mild coastal climates. æOtto QuastÆ Lavender has larger top petals. Plant in containers.
This sun-loving, fast-growing shrubby perennial has masses of summer-blooming, Hibiscus-like pink flowers. Prune back hard to keep compact.
This dense shrub is 3 to 4 ft. (90cm to 1.25 m) high and wide, and has violet flowers.
The most popular Fetterbush, this slow-growing, semi- to evergreen, vigorous shrub arches from 2 to 6 ft. (60 cm to 2 m) tall and 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide. White flowers open in early June. In winter, foliage turns red or purple-bronze.
Glossy, smooth-edged, dark green leaves make this dense hedge popular. Fragrant flowers are followed by blue-black berries. Reaches 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall and 5 to 7 ft. (1.5 to 2.25 m) wide.
The dark green leaves on this dense, compact shrub are glossy and edged with silver. Flowers form at the tips of the new shoots in late spring and early summer. Blue-black berries follow.
This evergreen quickly reaches 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) tall and 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.8 m) wide. It's dense with smooth-edged, heavily textured, glossy, dark green leaves. Fragrant flowers are followed by blue-black berries.
The pale green leaves edged in white give this hedge a light color. Its large panicles of fragrant pure white or creamy-yellowish, tubular flowers are followed by purplish black fruits. Foliage lasts late into fall. Reaches 10 to 12 ft. (3 to 3.75 m) tall.
This fast-growing, bushy, deciduous shrub has bright golden yellow leaves. Plant in full sun for best color and leave untrimmed for best appearance. Evergreen in warmer climates.
The most widely-grown Privet, this dark green, bushy, deciduous shrub grows 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall unpruned. Dwarf variety æLodenseÆ reaches 4 ft. (1.25 m) tall. Prone to blight, but naturalized in US. Road de-icing salt and smog can damage plant.
Pyramidal when young, these trees spread with age. Leaves turn brilliant wine-red to deep purple-red in fall and last into winter. Reaches 60 to 75 ft. (18 to 22.5 m) tall and 40 to 50 ft. (12 to 15 m) wide.
Its light green leaves turn brilliant yellow, peach, pink, orange and red in fall. It has a strong, columnar shape with a conical crown. Grows well in dry or poorly drained wet soils.
Its green leaves turn brilliant orange-red in fall, similar to maples. This tree has a pyramidal shape when young which spreads out with age.
A deciduous vine, this fast-growing, twining climber reaches 12 ft. (7 m) tall. Small, fragrant, scarlet flowers with orange throats bloom all summer.
Coral-pink flowers with a hint of yellow inside make this one of the most spectacular honeysuckles.
Widely grown, this vine with fragrant white and yellow blooms is often used for erosion control. Prune hard once a year. Seen as pest in the South due to its rampant growth.
This shrubby grower has vine-like stems 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) long. Underneath, its green leaves are tinted purple. Very fragrant, purplish-red flowers with white inside bloom in summer.
One of the most common Honeysuckles, this deciduous shrub has dark green foliage. White, pink or red flowers bloom in late spring, followed by dark red berries.
This rapidly spreading, creeping perennial has smoothly rounded, dark green leaves and summer-blooming, bright yellow, fragrant flowers.
A heavy bloomer, white, 6 in. (15 cm) flowers appear in spring and again in summer. Its narrow, evergreen form is 20 to 25 ft. (6 to 7.5 m) high by 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) wide. Green leaves are rusty bronze underneath.
A deciduous, shrubby magnolia, 10 ft. (3 m) tall and wide, its vase-shaped, pink flowers bloom mid-spring to mid-summer, before dark green leaves appear. Blooms later than Star Magnolia.
Blooming at an early age, this deciduous, shrub or tree is vigorous. Funnel-shaped, star-like, white flowers open in mid-spring before the dark green leaves appear.
Developed for Alice du Pont in her favorite color, its clusters of ice-pink flowers bloom among the glossy green leaves for more than half the year. Also grown indoors. Needs rich soil.
Its many deep rose-pink, fragrant flowers have yellow throats. Reaches 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) tall. Excellent in hanging baskets.
Its showy, 3- to 4-in. (7.5- to 10-cm)-wide, rose-pink flowers have yellow centers and bloom in late spring or early summer. Reaches 10 ft. (3 m) tall.
This slow-growing shrub forms a dense mound. Glossy, dark green leaves have a strong scent when crushed. Star-shaped, white flowers bloom in summer, followed by red fruits.
This dense shrub has soft green leaves that are tinged pink to bronze in spring, and turn purplish in winter. Star-shaped, white flowers bloom in summer, followed by red fruits.
A compact shrubby mound 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) tall by 2 ft. (60 cm) wide. Cupped, spring-green leaves turn reddish-purple in winter. Star-shaped, white flowers bloom in summer, followed by red fruits.
Group several plants together to create a haze of lavender-blue in the front of flower borders, edgings or containers. Blooms for many months if sheared back. DoesnÆt like humidity.
White, yellow, red or purple, 2- to 3-in. (5 to 7.5 cm)-wide flowers bloom April through summer on evergreen shrubs, which reach up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall.
Clusters of salmon-pink, single flowers bloom on this 8- to 15-ft. (2.5- to 4.5-m)-tall and -wide, sun-loving shrub.
Clusters of large, bright red, single flowers bloom on this 8- to 15-ft. (2.5- to 4.5-m)-tall and -wide, sun-loving shrub.
The shiny green, dense foliage and apricot scented flowers make this an excellent espalier or container plant to grow near windows or entryways.
Similar to the standard P. terminalis, this one's leaves are edged with white.
Some red varieties to look for are æIcarosÆ (single-flowering), æBlack PantherÆ (semi-double) and æHowkiÆ (double).
Some white varieties to look for are æSavage SplendorÆ (single-flowering, with pink edges), æGodaishuÆ (semi-double) and æTama SudareÆ (double).
Some yellow varieties to look for are æCanaryÆ (single-flowering), æHeliosÆ (semi-double), and æGolden MandarinÆ (double).
Some types of Passionflower have fleshy, edible fruits, called Passion Fruits, which become orange or yellow in fall.
White, double flowers cover this deep green shrub. An important addition to any fragrance garden.
This deciduous fountain-like shrub grows 6 ft. (2 m) tall and 6 ft. (2 m) wide. Fragrant double and semi-double white flowers bloom in spring on dark green foliage.
This shade-loving creeper (also called Sweet William Phlox) blooms in spring with lightly fragrant flowers. Use as a ground cover in borders or woodland gardens. Needs moisture.
A dwarf variety Japanese Pieris with smaller leaves and white flowers makes a dense border or informal hedge. Also known as Lily-of-the-Valley shrub.
Fiery red new foliage and drooping clusters of waxy white flowers distinguish this round, evergreen shrub. Leaves turn dark green as they mature. Some varieties have variegated leaves.
Favored for its rapid growth, its upright, straight trunk and spreading limbs reach 60 to 80 ft. (18 to 24 m) tall and 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) wide. Foliage is green and cones are 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) Plant in early spring or fall.
This tree rapidly grows to 50 to 60 ft. (15 to 18 m) tall. It is conical when young, and its crown becomes domed with maturity. The black bark contrasts well with the soft, bright green foliage.
This weeping evergreen has branchlets that touch the ground. Cylindrical brown cones dot the soft, gray-green leaves. Reaches 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) tall and wide.
Conical in youth, this tree's crown gets rounder and more open as the lower branches drop off with age. Grows rapidly. Foliage is light green in summer and turns yellow in winter.
Its open pyramid form becomes flat-topped with age. Branches grow irregularly, and become long, low, straggling and scrubby. Foliage is yellow-green to dark green, yellowish in winter. Good for poor, dry soils.
This dwarf form has compact, rich green foliage. White flowers, which have a citrus-like fragrance, fade to pale yellow.
Without support, it's a 6 ft. (2 m) tall, semi-evergreen bush; with support, it grows vine-like to 12 ft. (7 m) tall. The 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide, white or sky blue flowers bloom all summer, or continuously in warm climates.
One of the earliest and longest blooming Cinquefoil bushes, soft green foliage and bright yellow flowers flourish on this dense mounding plant. Flourishes in seaside climates.
This is one of the showiest white Bush Cinquefoils. Its large, 5-lobed white flowers bloom for several months on a background of bluish green leaves. Use as a ground cover in partial or full sun.
One of the showiest of all Bush Cinquefoils, 'Goldfinger' blooms from early summer to early autumn. Its abundant, golden-yellow flowers make this densely branched mounding shrub a favorite for woodland gardens.
This fast growing ground cover or bulb cover has dainty, bright green leaves that complement the golden-yellow spring flowers. Use as a lawn substitute where thereÆs no foot traffic.
This dense, compact, evergreen shrub or small tree has a pyramidal form. White flowers are followed by green fruit which ripens to dark black in October and lasts into winter. Broken stems smell like cherry.
This dense dwarf shrub is 1 to 3 ft. (30 to 90 cm) tall and wide. Its vivid, single, orange-red flowers start when plant is still young. TheyÆre followed in fall by ornamental, small, orange-red fruits. Plant in containers.
This dense, spreading shrub, 6 ft. (2 m) tall and wide, has 1-in. (2.5 cm), oval green leaves and thorns. Bright orange-red berries last late into winter.
One of the hardiest and most widely grown, this species is the best for cold winter climates. Masses of deep orange-red berries follow white flowers. Watch for scab in early spring, it can nearly defoliate shrubs.
This dense, bushy shrub with broad dark green leaves reaches 12 ft. (7 m) tall and wide. White flowers bloom in early summer, followed by round, bright orange fruits that last late into winter.
This variety is noted for its huge clusters of large red berries in mid-season, which last long into winter. A vigorous grower, this shrub reaches 10 to 12 ft. (3 to 3.75 m) high and 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) wide.
Red berries ripen in September or October and last well into winter. Prune to control wild growth. Widely used in warm climates. Drops foliage and dies back in cold climates.
Of all pyracanthas, its berries ripen last, but dark red color lasts well into winter. Reaching 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall and 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) wide, it has white flowers. Not as cold-hardy, it drops all foliage and dies back in colder climates.
Masses of early fruiting orange-red berries on densely branched, upright shrubs make this one of the most popular Pyracanthas. Highly resistant to fireblight and scab.
Clusters of white flowers are followed by brownish, hard, inedible fruits. Its dark green leaves turn red, orange, yellow or purple in fall. Won't tolerate very wet or very dry soils.
Young pyramidal trees mature into rounded ones with wide-spreading branches. Reaches 50 to 80 ft. (15 to 24 m) tall and wide. Medium-green leaves turn red or purple in fall.
A fast-growing shrub with dark pink flowers, it makes a colorful, informal hedge or screen. The leaves begin bronze and burgundy and mature to dark green.
This compact, low-spreading, evergreen Azalea has small, coral-colored flowers clustered into bouquets. Exquisite floral displays in spring.
The deep South is famous for this variety of Azalea. This vigorous, upright grower has 3 in. (7.5 cm) rose-purple to magenta flowers with a deep blotch.
Commonly grown, this cold-hardy variety has dark purple buds which open into purple flowers on a wide, compact shrub. Thrives in moist, acidic soil.
Although developed to be grown in greenhouses, evergreen Florist Azaleas are also grown in the open air of coastal California. Low-growing and heavy blooming with pink to violet-red flowers.
This white hybrid tea Rose has an unusual green center which fades as the shapely and fragrant bloom ages. Not a hardy plant, it blooms all season and forms a compact low growing shrub.
An excellent ground cover, this vigorous, hardy, trailing shrub produces many blooms in spring and fall with scattered flowers in between. The 2 in. (5 cm) flowers start out light pink, but open white. Widely available.
A good ground cover, its small 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers grow in large sprays. Blooms later than many roses, but doesnÆt stop until frost. The hardy, spreading, disease-resisting shrub has glossy leaves.
Shiny, glittering foliage and snowy masses of white fragrant flowers in the spring are its hallmarks. It produces only scattered flowers for the rest of the season. Widely available.
Dozens of sizes and types are available, including a dwarf variety. Not all are good for cooking, so taste a leaf first.
At home with other drought-tolerant plants, this shrubby sage has many, long-blooming 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) red, purple, white or yellow flowers (color depends on the cultivar). In zones 4 through 8, bring plants indoors in winter.
Mats of shiny, evergreen foliage support lavender, fan-like flowers on this ground cover. Drought-tolerant and low maintenance, itÆs especially popular in mild, dry climates.
Its trailing stems, clothed in tiny, fleshy, pale green leaves, create 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-tall mounds. Tiny, golden yellow flowers bloom in late spring and summer. May become invasive.
This sedum offers fall color when its pale green stems and fleshy green leaves turn bronze. Clusters of star-shaped yellow flowers bloom summer and fall.
Spreading pale green stems and fleshy green leaves with scalloped edges are covered in star-shaped, bright yellow or lemon-yellow flowers in summer and fall.
Its low, bronze foliage spreads slowly to form mats which creep over rocks or walls. In spring, starry red flowers bloom.
æAnthony WatererÆ is the most popular of the Spiraea bumalda hybrids because of its showy flat-topped clusters of pinkish flowers and reddish purple new leaves. Its mature summer leaves turn russet in the fall.
Deciduous, 4 ft. (1.25 m) tall and wide shrub is covered with double white flowers in early summer. The bluish green leaves hold their color until late in season and turn red in fall.
Slow-growing, it forms 3-ft. (90-cm)-tall by 6-ft. (2-m)-wide mounds, covered in clusters of rose pink blooms from mid- to late summer. Small, dark, mint-green leaves are bronze when young.
Slow spreading, its rich green, 18- to 24-in. (45- to 60-cm)-tall, 4-ft. (1.25-m)-wide mounds are covered with pink flower clusters in summer.
This 3- to 9-ft. (90-cm to 2.75-m)-tall x 6- to 8-ft. (2- to 2.5-m)-wide shrubÆs bright green leaves turn bronze-yellow in fall. Clusters of double, white flowers bloom in spring.
The soft, velvety leaves make it a favorite as an edging, in parking strips, rock gardens and herb gardens that are within reach. May rot in humid areas. The fuzzy spikes of purple flowers are not showy. The variety æSilver Carpet,Æ which rarely flowers, is more compact.
Many whorled 18- to 24-in. (45- to 60-cm)-tall flower spikes of rosy purple flowers bloom on sturdy stems in July and August. Particularly tolerant of poor, dry soils.
Purple buds develop into single, blue flowers with clove-scented fragrance on this compact variety. Once known as Syringa velutina.
The upright, arching branches are covered with small, dark green leaves and clusters of pale lavender to rosy lavender flowers. A white-flowering variety is available.
Compact and later blooming, the many flowers start as purple buds that turn into double magenta blossoms.
This wide-spreading Lilac has heavy branches of extremely fragrant, double, white flowers.
An upright, single, purple-blooming Lilac. Each flower petal is edged in white.
This slow-growing, globe-shaped shrub reaches 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall and -wide. Its tiny, fine, shiny, rich green leaves are arranged in flat sprays. The cones are yellowish green when young and turn brown when mature. Once established, it tolerates heat and drought.
Its pointed, globe shape is densely covered with prickly green foliage. The bright, golden tips on foliage turn bronzy in winter. Cones start green and ripen to brown. Tolerates heat and drought. If grown in the northwest, its leaves are susceptible to a controllable blight.
A vigorous sprawler, its textured, dark green leaves and rich purple flower clusters cascade over walls or hanging baskets. The sweet fragrance is stronger on humid days. Prune to maintain vigor.
One of the best Verbenas for rose-pink color. Prune to maintain vigor.
The large pink or white flowers in snowball-shaped clusters often cover the whole plant. Flowers are sterile and produce no fruit.
This vigorous, upright, rounded shrub keeps its long, dark green, narrow leaves until midwinter in the North. In the South it can be evergreen. Creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer are followed by red berries that mature to black.
The maplelike, deep green leaves of this deciduous shrub turn yellow to reddish purple in fall. Branches sometimes arch to the ground. Creamy white, lacy flowers are followed by bunches of bright red fruits, both of which are edible.
More upright-growing than Common Periwinkle, it is less vigorous, but can naturalize. Use in planter boxes to display white, variegated foliage. Shear often to encourage dense growth.
This tough spreader is easy to grow, but is not as invasive as the Large Periwinkle. It has intermittent white flowers and lush foliage.
This will not take over like Large Periwinkle, but it is easy to grow and spreads well. It has intermittent, maroon-purple flowers and lush foliage.
Deep violet-blue flowers bloom in spring on this 6- to 8-in. (15- to 20-cm)-tall, evergreen ground cover with leathery, glossy green leaves.
Not as invasive as the Large Periwinkle, this tough spreader is easy to grow, with intermittent flowers and brightly variegated, lush foliage. Good to plant under trees.
This ground cover has heart-shaped leaves and white flowers. Plant where it can be seen up close.
The Sweet Violet is the most popular of the perennial violets, and this type is especially fragrant and vigorous. Shear foliage just before bloom time to make the deep-purple flowers more visible. Other varieties are æWhite CzarÆ (vigorous, but not fragrant), and æRosinaÆ (very fragrant, but not as vigorous as æRoyal RobeÆ).
A compact, wide, mounding Weigela with deep green leaves tinted purplish-red. When in bloom, the carmine-red buds open to deep pink flowers.
A compact mounded Weigela with rich, ruby-red flowers and purple-tinged dark green leaves.
Many showy, bright pink flowers bloom in late spring and early summer, attracting bees and hummingbirds. Reaches 5 to 6 ft. (1.5 to 2 m) tall and wide.
In summer, flowers bloom a rich red color that attracts bees and hummingbirds and doesnÆt fade. Reaches 6 ft. (2 m) tall and wide.
A compact Weigela popular for its bright green leaves edged in pale yellow to creamy white. When in bloom, it sports pink flowers.
Before the leaves appear, violet-blue, lightly fragrant flowers open all at once on vines to 25 to 40 ft. (7.5 to 12 m) The 7 to 12 in. (17.5 to 30 cm) long clusters arenÆt as long or as fragrant as those of Japanese Wisteria, but they open earlier. Tolerates shade.
Its white blossoms open all at once in a spectacular display.
Its purple blossoms open all at once in a spectacular display.
Its massive trunk holds tiered, wide-spreading branches. The lowest branches sweep the ground. Stiff, dark or bright green leaves contrast with grayish pink cones. Reaches 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) in height.
This natural climber blooms repeatedly from late spring to mid-autumn. The large, red blossoms have a heavy fragrance. It is widely available and easy to grow. Excellent as a pillar rose.
Achillea was used for centuries in Europe as a medicinal herb. 'Paprika's orange-red flowers with gold centers rise above deeply cut, dark green foliage. Forms green mats.
White flowers with violet-blue tips bloom on its wide-branching, compact flower stalks.
This dwarf with narrow grassy leaves and 1- to 1.5-ft. (30- to 45-cm)-tall flower stalks blooms generously in late spring and midautumn. Use for edging flower borders and lawns or in containers.
Green Onions have mild-flavored stems and do not form bulbs. Harvest from spring to fall, and through winter in mild climates. Early harvesting yields mild flavor.
Many single, rich rose-pink flowers bloom on 3 ft. (90 cm) plants from late summer until frost.
A popular plant, it has bright reddish-pink flowers 6 to 10 in. (15 to 25 cm) high. If soil is too moist and fertile, foliage rots at its center.
A tall, American native wildflower tolerant of wet soils.
Strong stems support blossoms appearing in late spring and early summer.
The profuse pink flower plumes make a carpet of color in early summer.
This fern is invasive, so plant carefully in woodland or other shady areas. Many frond variations, with cresting and plume-like protrusions, are available.
Also known as Evans Begonia, it has glistening white flowers. If mulched heavily, it survives outdoors in winter. Susceptible to cyclamen mites, which distort the leaves.
This series of Wax begonias is one of the best green-leafed varieties. Extra early blooming, they have uniform growth and large, vivid flowers.
Plant this hardy and compact dwarf variety in rock gardens and along the front edges of a perennial border. Its 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm), cup-shaped white flowers bloom for months.
This Canna is similar to æBlack Knight,Æ but with green leaves and bright red flowers.
This plant bears a pungent chili pepper for salsas, dips and recipes calling for potent, eye-opening hotness. Jalape±os are intermediates, not as hot as Cayenne, Tabasco and Habanero, but hotter than Ancho, Pasilla and Paprika. Use green, immature fruit or those fully ripened to deep red.
The æKimonoÆ series offers plume-type flowers on low-growing, 8 to 10 in. (20 to 25 cm) plants. Grow in containers. All 10 colors in the series have green leaves, except for æKimono RedÆ which has bronze foliage. æKimono BlushÆ has bicolor pink and cream flowers.
This seed-propagated strain has large, single flowers in pink and crimson.
Use this easy-to-grow variety of a garden favorite in containers, edging, and perennial or wild gardens. Replace every 2 to 3 years. Tolerates partial shade. Watch for aphids.
Varieties include æCream of the Crop,Æ a white, All-America Selection winner; æRoyal Acorn,Æ a prolific orange variety; and æTable King,Æ a compact-growing plant.
Pink petals, edged with white, lie flat in Collarette-type Dahlias. All but dwarf forms require staking.
This apricot-pink, anemone-type Dahlia has daisylike flowers with a single outer ring of petals and clusters of inner petals. Medium height, and excellent for containers and borders.
A Pacific hybrid, it comes in a range of light sky-blue tones with white eyes. Flowers bloom up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) across. This plant requires staking.
This is the first Dianthus hybrid mix with bright blooms of scarlet, coral, pink and white, with some speckling. Compact-growing.
This dense, flat ground cover or rock garden plant has greenish-gray leaves and tiny, double pink flowers.
This 3-ft. (90-cm)-tall, long-blooming Foxglove flowers 5 months after being started from seed. Often used as an annual bedding plant.
This dwarf Coneflower grows 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall and has rose-pink flowers.
Green flowering plants are rare, but there are many varieties of green gladiolus with hints of cream and yellow or contrasting red throats.
The pink flowers have distinctly ruffled inner petals.
Hippeastrum is often confused with its relative, Amaryllis. Be aware that these are more frost tender.
One of the best deep pinks available, the fragrant flowers on their densely packed 1 ft. (30 cm) spikes are directly related in size to the bulb. This variety has been around a long time.
These bright white flowers stand out against other foliage.
This Oriental hybrid has 7 to 8 in. (17.5 to 20 cm) wide fragrant red flowers with silver edges and white margins. Sturdy plants are intermediate in height, and shouldnÆt need staking.
Similar to 'Fan Orchid Rose,' but with red flowers. Should be planted in a sheltered location and not in direct wind.
Similar to æMinaretteÆ with its fanciful color mixes, æGarden GnomeÆ grows to about 2 ft. (60 cm) tall. These long, dense flower spikes make striking borders.
One of the showiest types, clumps of deep green leaves with silver midribs reach up to 6 ft. (2 m) and are topped by early blooming, silvery-white plumes.
Tight clusters of long-tubed white flowers attract hummingbirds to this clumping perennial. It is native to the eastern United States and its leaves have a spicy, pleasant fragrance.
Similar to Oregano but much milder, this culinary herb has white blooms. After 2 or 3 years, replace rangy plants. Often grown as a summer annual where it is not hardy.
These poppies offer early spring blooms 4 in. (10 cm) across in white, orange, pink and yellow. The young plants need to be protected from birds.
Orangy-red blooms begin in mid-spring.
Unusual needlelike leaves are almost hidden by slender, bright orange flowers in spring or summer. Use in rock gardens or in the front of flower borders to attract hummingbirds.
Designed for containers and hanging baskets, these branching and trailing plants have 4.75 in. (12 cm) wide purple flowers. Series also in pink, red, blue, white, salmon, burgundy and bicolors.
The most popular white-flowering variety, its hardy, tall flower stalks end in dome-shaped, 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers. A high maintenance plant, it requires rich, moist soil, full sun but cool temperatures.
This rare white-flowering miniature forms a dense ground cover 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) tall. Flowers, which have a yellow eye and a lily-like fragrance, bloom from early to mid-spring.
Rich, amber-colored, intensely fragrant flowers bloom intermittently through the season on this widely available, low, bushy shrub.
Few Roses can rival its flowersÆ warm color and fruity fragrance. Many blooms in spring with scattered flowering until fall. The vigorous, upright, hardy and bushy shrub is medium to tall. Widely available and good for cut flowers.
Elegant, cream-colored buds open to clusters of slightly fragrant snow-white flowers. These plants bloom well all season on a vigorous, low-growing shrub. Widely available and used to provide mass color.
The reddest-red flowers grow in clusters on a vigorous, low shrub with bronze foliage. Cultivated for bold color display, it blooms well all season. Widely available.
Frilly, slightly fragrant, old-fashioned-looking flowers grace this New Zealand native. Blooms well all season on a low, bushy shrub. Widely available, profuse and disease resistant.
The sweet, spicy fragrance and soft pink blush of this white Rose lasts all season. The upright shrub grows awkwardly to a low to medium height. Widely available. Requires pruning.
This Rose has brought cheerful ôfiestaö colors to gardens since 1929. Blooms well all season on an upright shrub of low to medium height. If unavailable, special order from your nursery.
The most popular Pincushion Flower with gardeners and florists, it has lacy flowers up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) across. Prefers cool summers. Excellent for flower arrangements.
A round, red-skinned, mid-season potato with white flesh, itÆs especially good in the South and parts of the West. Ideal for boiling as it does not darken after cooking. DoesnÆt store well.
This is an extraordinarily beautiful and popular double-flowering pink tulip produced on long strong stems in late spring. Flowers are strongly scented of peonies. Susceptible to bulb mites, these plants need sun and good drainage during growth.
Peony-like blooms are the hallmark of double-type Tulips. These are often late blooming and can vary in color from single to bicolor. Heavy flowers need protection from the wind. Good in containers. Gophers, aphids and field mice consider them a delicacy.
The woolly leaves are known for their texture and color. The pink flowers appear sporadically. WonÆt tolerate wet and humid conditions.
One of the most beautiful bicolored pansies, itÆs a popular, heat-tolerant, All-America Selection winner. Its many flowers are deep, rich purple and vibrant, dark orange.
Heat-and cold-tolerant, these pansies have distinctive whiskered marking on purple, yellow and blue flowers.
The longest-blooming of any annual Vinca, its many large flowers are vibrant rose and pink, pale pink with a deep pink eye, and light rose with a deep pink eye.
This evergreen shrub has bushy, leathery, heavily veined leaves on arching branches. White spring flowers are followed by brilliant red fall berries in fall.
This wide-spreading shrub forms a mass of crooked, flexible branches with age. New leaves are rich purple, turning bluish green with maturity. Medium-sized at 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.8 m) tall and 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 to 3 m) wide.
This multistemmed shrub or small tree has dark green leaves with creamy, irregular margins. The leaves turn reddish purple in fall. Small, star-shaped, yellow flowers are followed by bright red, edible fruits.
Dense and fast-growing, this 10-ft. (3-m)-tall shrub makes a good screen. Bright flowers appear in summer. Evergreen in mild climates. In cold areas, revives in spring after freezing to ground in winter.
Slower growing and shorter than other Boxwoods, this forms a dense mass of oval, bright green leaves. Usually clipped to 20 to 30 in. (50 to 75 cm) tall and wide.
This evergreen conifer grows fast, its bold conical shape in youth becoming a stately pyramid with age. Densely covered with sharp bluish green foliage. Thick, fibrous, red brown bark.
This upright, many branched shrub forms dense leafy mounds and blooms in two-tone flowers -- red tubes with long red sepals, and purple petals. Flowers appear on new wood, so be sure to prune.
This weeping conifer has a rounded, drooping form. The branches hold long needles that turn golden in late fall. Reaches 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall and wide.
This dense shrub forms a rounded mound of spreading, arching branches full of green leaves. Creamy white flowers appear from late spring to early summer. They're followed by dark red berries.
Single, deep pink flowers emerge from red buds on this rounded tree. Its glossy, red fruits change to orange in late fall and last into winter. Reaches 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) tall and wide.
The dark red green leaves on this rounded tree turn purplish in fall. Its buds open to single, pink to rose-pink flowers, followed by small, bright red fall fruits that last into winter.
This 6- to 8-ft. (1.75- to 2.5-m)-tall shrub has tough, needlelike, bronzy green leaves on red stems. Double, dark red flowers crowd the branches from spring until summer.
Showy, 8- to 10- in. (20- to 25-cm), deep red flowers appear in late spring. This upright, broadly rounded shade tree reaches 30 to 40 ft. (9 to 12 m) tall and 20 to 30 ft. (6 to 9 m) wide.
This cold-hardy, multistemmed, bushy shrub or wide-spreading tree has dark green leaves that turn red and yellow in fall. Showy bright red summer fruits.
Broad, sharply lobed leaves create a dense, globe-shaped tree and turn yellow or orange in fall. Clusters of yellow flowers emerge before the leaves.
Its overlapping arching branches are colorful with young, bronze-red leaves, which turn bronze-green in summer and bright red in fall. Small, reddish purple flower clusters appear in mid spring.
This shrub's ferny leaves become deep purple-red and fade to bronze-green in summer. They turn bright red in fall before dropping. Clusters of small, reddish purple flowers appear in mid spring.
This deciduous, rounded, spreading plant blazes with a long-lasting fall display of red, orange and purple leaves. The flaking bark on mature trees shows layers of gray, brown and orange. Stake and prune.
Showy, violet-blue to purple cones dot this low-growing tree. The rich dark green needles have whitish bands and grow in thick masses.
This low, spreading shrub makes a good ground cover. Its dark green leaves are red-tinged when young, and turn purplish in fall. Fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers bloom from mid-summer to mid-fall.
The new bark on this fast-growing pyramidal to pyramidal-rounded tree is glistening brown. Yellow catkins appear in late winter and early spring, followed by heart-shaped leaves.
This upright, densely branched shrub has leathery green leaves with creamy white margins. Pink fruits sometimes follow greenish white flowers. Reaches 3 to 6 ft. (90 to 8 m) tall and wide. In full sun, keep soil moist.
Begin picking 7-to 10-in. (17.5 to 25 cm)-long leaves at about 50 to 60 days after sowing. Harvest 1 or 2 outer leaves at a time, which allows continued production of leaves.
æSavoyÆ varieties are large tasty plants with crinkly green leaves reaching 2 ft. (60 cm) in diameter. The heads of this early-maturing variety weigh from 3 to 5 lb. An All-America Selection winner, it resists heat and frost. Where cabbage are susceptible to fusarium yellows, use this or other resistant varieties.
An All-America Selection winner for its high productivity and compactness, its curved peppers, 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) long, turn from green to vibrant red. Each plant produces 3 to 4 dozen peppers. Use fresh or dry for use as a spice. Excellent for containers.
Sometimes sold as Cyathea cooperi, this graceful fern can grow best in a humid atmosphere. At a rate of 1 ft. (30 cm) to 6 ft. (2 m) each year, it eventually reaches 20 ft. (6 m) by 12 ft. (7 m) wide.
Dense clusters of white flowers bloom from mid summer to early fall on 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall stems.
Tight spirals of triangular leaves and clusters of greenish yellow flowers bloom on 1-year-old growth. Use in containers or trailing over rock walls.
Papery, white flowers on short stems sit on a woolly, crown-like pedestal. Needs lots of water, sun and excellent drainage but dislikes winter and summer wet. Buy in containers in spring.
Classic oblong, plum-shaped fruit. æRoma VFÆ and æLa RomaÆ resist verticillium and fusarium. æLa RomaÆ produces 7 times more fruit. æRomaÆ bears in 60 to 75 days.
This All-America Selection winner combines the best of æKentucky WonderÆ and æBlue Lake.Æ Vigorous vines produce 8 to 9 in. (20 to 22.5 cm) round, dark green pods. Matures earlier than æBlue LakeÆ, only 58 days from seed.
One of the most beautiful palms, it has a heavy crown of waxy, bluish green leaves that reach 15 ft. (4.5 m) long. The leaf stalks are armed with stout, hooked spines. The flower clusters hang almost to the ground.
The 15- to 20-ft. (4.5- to 6-m)-long leaves crowning the wide trunk don't hide the tiny yellowish brown flowers or yellow to red fruits. At 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) tall and 30 to 50 ft. (9 to 15 m) wide, these aren't trees for small spaces.
Its 10-ft. (3-m)-long, feather-shaped fronds grow upright at first, then arch and droop with age. Each frond is divided into narrowly, leathery, bright green leaflets. Crown reaches 50 to 70 ft. (15 to 21 m) tall.
Tasty sweet dates like those found in markets grow in huge clusters after the yellowish brown flowers have gone. Remove suckers from base to produce one trunk. Watch for mess when squirrels steal the fruit.
The leaf blades on this slender-trunked palm are divided into narrow, pointed segments. Leaf stalks are spiny. A good container plant when young. Reaches 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) tall and 10 to 20 ft. (3 to 6 m) wide.
Savor this All-America Selections winner in three ways: as young, edible pea pods; as more mature pods when Peas start to form; or fully ripened and shelled. Good for freezing but not canning. Support tall vines.
Eggplant is actually a short-lived semi-tropical perennial, though normally it's grown as an annual. Small bushes grow 24 in. (60 cm) tall and wide with lavender flowers.
In late spring and early summer of its second year, this biennial flowers in white, yellow, orange, red or purple. Downy leaves are gray-green. Plant reaches 3 to 4 ft. (90 cm to 1.25 m) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) wide.
Large, creamy white flowers rise above the foliage, which turns purplish-red in fall. Protect from intense sun in hot climates, and give extra water in dry summers. Watch for borers.
Medium-height, with dense spheres of deep purple-crimson flowers 2 in. (5 cm) across. This European native, unlike many onions, likes moisture during the summer after flowering.
An All-America Selection winner resistant to downy mildew, the compact heads are 8 to 9 in. (20 to 22.5 cm) across on medium-sized plants. The small, tight green buds last longer than most, but once main heads are cut it produces few offshoots. Harvest 58 days from planting.
The most commonly planted Agapanthus has up to 100 pale blue to deep blue flowers that bloom through summer. There are also double and giant flowering varieties. Reaches 3 to 5 ft. (90 to 150 cm) tall.
Evergreen in warmer climates, its dark green leaves form dense mats or mounds. Blue, rose or white flowers bloom on 2-in. (5-cm)-tall spikes from late spring to early summer. Has no runners.
Dense branches of dark green foliage on stiff, upright, brilliant yellow, polished stems make this an especially good screen. Needs ample water. Reaches 10 to 25 ft. (3 to 7.5 m) tall and wide.
The slender summer leaves on this upright, clump-forming, perennial grass turn bright golden yellow-orange in fall. Its dark reddish purple flowers mass 12 to 16 in. (30 to 40 cm) above the foliage and fade to beige from mid summer into fall.
Clusters of bright yellow flowers bloom from late spring to early summer on slender, erect stems. The heart-shaped to oval leaves have silvery markings and double-toothed margins.
The leaves of this coarse shrub or small tree are somewhat wrinkled and dull dark green. Their undersides are pale green with rusty red hairs.
Clusters of creamy white, cup-shaped flowers appear on older vines between late spring and early summer. Egg-sized edible fruits follow, whose tasty green flesh is hidden under fuzzy brown skin.
Long, trailing branches grace this bushy small tree or shrub. Rounded green leaves with 7 to 9 green lobes turn brilliant orange and red in fall. Clusters of small purple and white flowers appear in spring.
This rounded, dense, deciduous tree is often branched to the ground. Its small, deeply lobed leaves turn red or yellow in fall.
New leaves on this tree range from lavender to purple.
Clusters of small, fragrant flower heads rise from the branches of this graceful tree. Messy brown fruit follows, but the finely divided, feathery gray-green or blue-green leaves last throughout the year. Stake until well rooted. Prune after bloom.
The stiff green needles of this slow-growing fir radiate uniformly around the branches. Young, symmetrical plants are dense and look like Christmas trees. Older, more wide-spreading trees add a sense of architecture and drama to the yard.
Excellent for rock gardens, this slow-growing dwarf conifer has bluish green needles and a pleasing irregular habit.
Grown primarily for its weeping form and foliage, this tree has finely textured bluish gray leaves. Small yellow flowers appear sporadically in mid-spring. Espalier plants for a beautiful effect.
The young, upright, narrow and pyramidal tree matures into an irregular cylinder shape with a narrow crown. Its stout lower branches often droop. Purplish brown cones dot the grayish green foliage.
This Oak grows wild in swampy places and bottomlands. It has a broad, round-topped shape and a short, multi-limbed trunk. Scalloped leaves are glossy green, turning yellow or purple in fall, and the bark of the trunk and branches flakes off in scales.
This slow-growing, spreading tree develops a massive trunk and broad crown of stout branches. Its large, glossy, dark green leaves turn yellow or brown in fall. Fruits are single nuts.
This maple grows fast, its strong, spreading branches forming a rounded crown. Pendulous branchlets turn up at the ends. The deeply lobed, bright green leaves with silver undersides turn yellow in fall. Silver gray bark furrows deeply with age.
This Birch is broadly pyramidal when young, becoming rounded with age. Tan bark peels in curling sheets, exposing the reddish brown inner bark. Established tree tolerates some heat and dry soil.
The leaves are purple-red in spring, turning dark green in summer, and golden yellow in the fall. Yellow flowers. Slower growing than green-leaf types.
This 40- to 50-ft. (12- to 15-m)-tall deciduous, rounded tree has rich maroon red leaves all summer. In mid-spring, tiny red-tinged yellow flowers precede foliage. Slower growing than green-leaf types.
This vigorous, deciduous, upright oval to rounded tree has light green leaves edged with white that turn golden yellow in fall. Yellow flowers bloom in mid-spring before leaves appear.
Slower growing than green-leaf types, this rounded tree has a symmetrical crown. Large, dense, sharply lobed, rich maroon-red leaves adorn it through summer. Yellow flowers appear in mid-spring before leaves.
This deciduous, narrowly upright tree forms a fat column with dense foliage. Broad, sharply lobed, dark green leaves turn golden yellow in fall. Clusters of yellow flowers bloom in mid-spring before leaves emerge.
This spreading tree often grows multiple stems and presents a ragged appearance. Leaves have 3 to 5 oval leaflets that turn yellow in fall. Clusters of inconspicuous, greenish yellow flowers in late spring.
Young trees with erect branches grow rounded with age. Large, dark green, deeply lobed leaves turn yellow and orange in fall. Yellowish green flowers appear in spring followed by pale green fruits.
The glossy, 3-lobed, bright green leaves on this multistemmed tree or large shrub turn fiery red in fall. Tree stems arch from the ground. Pale yellow, fragrant flower clusters appear with emerging leaves in late spring, and are followed by winged, red summer fruits.
One of the best red-leafed Japanese maples, it keeps its deep reddish purple color even in summer. Excellent red fall color. Plant in partial shade for best results.
Its thick stem becomes crowded by spineless, pale green leaves. On older plants, a long-lasting spike appears, covered with greenish yellow flowers. The spike bends almost to the ground from spring to summer. After the bloom, the parent rosette dies, but small bulbs at the base continue to grow.
The thick, sword shaped, often spiny, gray-green leaves are edged in white. They reach 36 in. (90 cm) long and 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) wide.
This perennial succulent grows fleshy blue-green leaves 5- to 6-ft. (1.5- to 1.75-m)-long with stout spines at the tips. In 10 to 20 years, the branched flower stalks can grow to 30 ft. (9 m), with tapering spikes of bell-shaped, white to creamy yellow flowers emerging in spring and summer.
This perennial succulent looks like a giant, blue-gray artichoke, with its stiff, broad, gray-green leaves, each with a single dark spine at its pointed tip. Flower stems rise from the rosette and display creamy yellow flowers in summer.
Tubular yellow flowers in 3 ft. (90 cm) clusters hang high above rosettes of plump, gray-green leaves in spring and summer. Leaves are edged with soft spines. Reaches 18 to 24 in. (45 to 60 cm) tall and 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) wide.
This classic succulent has thick, fleshy leaves that resemble precious jade. Widely grown as a landscape shrub in mild winter areas with light frosts, otherwise grow indoors. This usually small shrub can grow large. Varieties include those with leaves tinged and variegated with white, pink and red.
Classic in shape and color, this is one of the most popular, widely grown cacti available. Protect from frost. Can be grown as a houseplant on a sunny window.
The most commonly grown Sempervivum in American gardens, this plant has 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) wide, gray-green rosettes and bristle-pointed, red-brown leaves. Spreads quickly by offshoots.
One of the prettiest ferns and one of the earliest, it leafs out with spring flowers. Easy to grow, this United States native has dainty, finger-like fronds with black stems which grow to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall.
One of the finest medium-sized hardy ferns for the rock garden, woodland or shady garden, its graceful fronds are flushed with silvery gray. Stems are wine red.
The shiny green fronds of this male fern provide a nice foil for other woodland plants, such as Trilliums and Cyclamen.
These male ferns produce elegant, frilly fronds up to 3 ft. (90 cm) long and spread if spores fall in the right conditions.
Use this in the Eastern United States in shady plantings for a woodsy look. This fern does not spread and makes a fine specimen.
From a distance, its flat, nearly round pads look like "bunny ears"--hence the plant's name. Medium-sized cactus, but smaller in dish gardens, containers, and as a house plant.
This domed, perennial succulent grows in a tight basal rosette of spineless, white-striped, white-edged, blue-green leaves. After 20 to 30 years, cream flowers bloom in spring and summer on a tall stem. Slow-growing.
This slow grower has the peculiar habit of growing faster on the shady side of the plant, but it eventually forms a tall cylindrical shape.
The flattened reddish-brown spines on this species curve at the tip like a fishhook. Blooms in late summer are yellow and sometimes orange.
The fertile fronds in the center of this fern look like cinnamon sticks.
Tall and elegant, its rusty new fronds unfurl slowly, revealing bright green leaflets. The young fronds are cooked and eaten in some parts of the world.
The grooved, greenish brown stems of this grassy shrub are flattened on one side and turn black in their second season. Grows to 15 to 25 ft. (4.5 to 7.5 m) tall and wide.
Named in warning for hayfever sufferers, this species also stands out from others because of its finely toothed narrow leaves. Use cut flowers like baby's breath. Several improved cultivars are available.
Its durable, lacy foliage is light green, often with a silvery, dusty look. The masses of large flowers -- in pastel or bright shades of blue, red, white, pink, violet and yellow -- bloom from mid to late spring.
Often considered a weed, these generous blooming perennials have fern-like green leaves and white flowers on upright stems. Readily available with pastel, red, and yellow flowers.
The Iris-like flowers are creamy yellow with maroon-brown blotches.
A traditional waterside plant for Japanese gardens.
One of the most popular of all perennials, they offer an almost limitless choice of flower colors with contrasting beards. Rhizomes multiply quickly, creating clumps of new plants.
Use varieties such as 'ParkÆs Candelabra Branching' and 'Lee' in small gardens. An All-America Selection, 'Burgundy,' has red pods which turn green when cooked.
Use this compact plant as a colorful tropical addition to containers and edging.
Its fuzzy flowers look like chenille or cat's tails. Leaves are rich, shiny green ovals, toothed along the edges. Best grown in greenhouses.
True to its name, it has deep red leaves. Other types have green leaves marked with white, orange, red and pink. Grow as a shrub in zones 10 and 11, and as an annual in colder areas.
Strong flower stems rise above gray-green leaves making the bright flowers ideal for cutting and drying. Combine with Red-hot Pokers, Delphiniums or Shasta Daisies.
A group of hybrids ranging in color from pink to salmon-pink, bright red, paprika and sulfur-yellow.
This hardy plant provides a low maintenance splash of color to the back of beds.
Large flower clusters are supported by deeply cut, silvery-gray foliage. Needs well-drained soils and may be short-lived in humid southern climates.
Its many white double blooms make excellent cut flowers. Spreads rapidly, and in good soils, sometimes too far. Dry leaves and roots have been used as a snuff, giving it its common name.
The most common Peacock Orchid, it grows taller than the ordinary species.
One and one-half foot (forty-five centimeter) tall flower clusters produce up to 30 trumpet-shaped blue flowers that open gradually. Depending on the climate, can be evergreen or deciduous.
These dwarfs all flower extra early with uniform growth. The 6-in. (15-cm)-tall æHawaii RoyalÆ blooms in rosy-purple; 8- to 12-in. (20- to 30-cm)-tall æHawaii BlueÆ in violet blue; and 6-in. (15-cm)-tall æHawaii WhiteÆ in pure white.
The abundant flower clusters of this upright-growing dwarf variety are 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) in size.
This old-time variety produces many double flowers.
This seed mix of 4-in. (10-cm)-wide ruffled powderpuff flowers of yellow, red, pink and white is one of the largest double-flowered varieties.
Similar to the giant flowering onion but smaller, the flower spheres of this medium-sized species are 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) across.
Milder than smaller garlics, bulbs get 6 times as large. Mild tasting leaves. Plant certified disease-free cloves in early spring, or fall in mild winter areas. Pick flower stalks. In summer, when leaves turn yellow, bend stalks to the ground. Harvest when leaves turn brown. Dig bulbs, donÆt pull. Remove soil, tops and roots, and dry outside for 2 to 3 weeks.
Of white, yellow and red onions, red are sweetest. Start from sets or transplants. Bulbs form according to day length. In warm winter areas, plant ôshort dayö onions in fall for early summer crop. In northern areas, plant ôlong dayö varieties in spring. When leaves begin to yellow, bend stems to ground. When fully yellow, dig up onions. When leaves turn brown, cut tops to 1 in. (2.5 cm), and keep onions in a dry, shady spot for a week. Spanish and Bermuda Onions donÆt store well.
Tops and bulbs have a mild flavor between garlic and onions. Bulbs have many small cloves. In mild winter areas, plant cloves in fall for greens in winter and spring. Harvest bulbs once leaves wither. Elsewhere, plant in early spring for greens in spring and early summer. Harvest bulbs in summer and fall. Store for up to 6 months.
Low-growing plants, good for rock gardens and naturalizing.
Rose-colored flowers bloom in late spring on low growing plants.
Used in many French recipes and commanding high market prices, leeks are cherished for their white leaf stems which have a mild onion flavor. Leeks are easy to grow starting with seed sown inside 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting to garden in early spring. In mild climates plant spring through fall where summers are cools and in autumn where summers are hot. For tender white leaf stalks, blanch by mounding up soil at the base as plants grow. Harvest mature leeks beginning in midsummer but plants can be eaten when younger.
Pretty enough for flower borders, its lavender pompon flowers attract bees and are used in salads. Snip stems to sprinkle on soups, potatoes or cottage cheese. Evergreen in warm climates and deciduous in cold areas. Plants seed themselves readily so may pop up uninvited. Sold in pots in the herb section of the nursery. Sow seeds, or divide old plants.
This North American wildflower grows in clumps. The willow-like leaves turn yellow in fall. Cut back stems if growth gets too loose and open.
Its 3 ft. (90 cm) stems end in sprays of royal blue flowers. Hard to remove once established. Watch for crown rot in poorly drained, wet soils.
Low-growing drifts of small nodding flowers in blue, white and pink often bloom for a month. Plant tubers 2 in. (5 cm) deep. Best in zones 6 to 9. Protect plants in colder areas.
Its semi-double, many-petaled flowers are long-blooming.
Use this popular mix to add color to a garden corner.
Popular for its many single, clear white flowers with showy yellow stamens, it blooms from late summer until frost.
Semi-double, deep-rose flowers bloom from late summer until frost on 3 ft. (90 cm) plants.
Semi-double flowers appear on 3 ft. (90 cm) plants from late summer until frost.
Some types are best for seed, others for leaf production. Seed varieties include æBouquetÆ and æLong Island Mammoth.Æ Leaf varieties include æAroma,Æ æDukat,Æ æDura,Æ æSari,Æ æTetraÆ and æVierling.Æ Some available only from herb or vegetable seed catalogs.
Rounded masses of early-blooming flowers, 6 to 9 in. (15 to 22.5 cm) tall. Colors include crimson, yellow, orange, pink, lavender, white, and bicolor. Excellent for formal bedding. Maintain shape during extreme heat.
A semi-dwarf or medium-tall variety in colors including rose, orange-scarlet and crimson. Early blooming, wind and heat-tolerant.
Plants are edible from seedlings stage until harvest.
This compact, low-growing, vigorous Columbine has large, long-spurred flowers in a wide range of intense colors. Good for windy locations because of its height and compactness.
An All-America Selection from 1955, they come in a wide range of solid and bicolor pastel colors on large, spurred flowers.
In most areas, it grows year after year from small roots left after harvest. Harvest roots every year or they become too tough to eat.
This herb's flat, narrow leaves have a satiny sheen. Use them sparingly, fresh or dried, to add an anise-like flavor to vinegar, mayonnaise and French dishes. Seeds sold as French Tarragon produce plants with little flavor. Harvest branch tips on 1-ft. (30-cm)-high plants, and finish before first frost.
One of the tallest of Artemisias, it has branched plumes of cream-white flowers and dark green leaves. Use in fall-blooming perennial borders as a background plant.
Glowing white leaves make this a great silver foliage plant. Use the late summer foliage and plumes of flowers in dried or fresh flower arrangements.
Finely-cut leaves form a dense, silvery mound. Remove the insignificant flowers to promote compact domes of foliage. Excellent foliage plant in borders and rock gardens.
Showy wildflowers with plumes of small, creamy-white flowers. Best in moist, partially shaded locations. Male plants have feathery flower spikes. Females develop ornamental seed heads.
A popular perennial with intense, waxy, orange blossoms, Butterfly Weed needs well-drained, sandy, dry soils. Spring growth starts late, so donÆt water or disturb the dormant plant.
Look for "all-male" varieties, like æJersey Giant.Æ These produce more and bigger spears since they donÆt spend energy making seeds.
Popular and widely available, this variety is resistant to rust.
The shiny, undivided, apple-green fronds make this one of the most elegant and distinctive ferns. Grow as a houseplant or outdoors in parts of zone 10.
Native to high mountains, it likes cool climates and cold winters to produce 2-in. (5 cm)-wide white flowers. Good in rock gardens; needs excellent drainage. Easy from seed.
Striking, clear lavender-blue flowers and a well-branched, elegant form make this one of the finest perennial Asters. Use with silver-leafed plants such as Artemisia æPowis Castle.Æ In areas with mild winters, produces some flowers throughout the year if dead blooms are removed.
Use this mid-size hybrid of New York Aster in the front or middle of flower borders.
This medium-sized hybrid New York Aster is a little shorter than æAlertÆ.
A reliable, freely-blooming Aster.
A low-growing Aster with deep lavender flowers.
From intense ruby-red to soft pink to white, A. arendsii's flower plumes are a treat in shady spots.
Deep green foliage and showy pink flowers grace this excellent ground cover for shady moist areas.
Masses of small, star-shaped flowers give a colorful, feathery effect to moist gardens. Broad, dark green, fernlike leaves.
A popular pink Astilbe with dense plumes of vivid, clear pink flowers.
Its clear white flower plumes and green foliage brighten and enhance perennial borders and woodland gardens.
8- to 12-in. (20- to 30-cm)-high stems with gray leaves support the compact flower clusters of this Basket-of-Gold.
This hardy, compact perennial will flower in its first year if sown early under glass. Masses of small, golden yellow flowers attract butterflies.
Long stalks of indigo-blue flowers rise above handsome blue-green foliage. Spreads by underground stems, which makes it a good erosion-control plant.
Bright, clear pink flowers rise above succulent stems with large leaves like angel wings. In partial shade and abundant moisture, plants multiply quickly.
This old favorite Wax variety has dark bronze foliage with rose-pink flowers. Especially sun resistant and excellent for containers.
Early-blooming and compact-growing, this Bedding mix has white, pink, scarlet and salmon-orange flowers.
Sun-resistant, it has deep bronze leaves with contrasting white flowers. Excellent for containers.
Upright-growing, double-flowered Tuberous Begonias resemble Camellias and come in many colors, including orange.
This tuberous BegoniaÆs flowers resemble carnations with their fringed and ruffled petals.
A compact, heavy-yielding begonia; colors available include white, red, pink and yellow.
These Tuberous Begonias are excellent in hanging baskets and planter boxes where their large, semi-double, downward-facing blossoms can be enjoyed.
Produces many short-lived flowers which open sequentially over a long period on 2 to 4 ft. (60 cm to 1.25 m) plants.
This variety has pure, unspotted, yellow flowers and greenish-blue leaves.
The classic English Daisy is single-flowered, but most of the varieties have double or semi-double flowers.
Harvest roots 1 to 3 in. (2.5 to 7.5 cm) across. Like most root crops, Beets need fertile, deep soil without large clumps or rocks.
Best eaten when young and tender. Sow in early spring or late summer for a cool-season harvest.
More resistant to heat and cold than other Cole crops, collards are popular in the South but grow everywhere. Harvest leaves when plants are 15 in. (37.5 cm) tall. Be careful not to damage bud. Pick sparingly until plants grow larger, then up to 2/3 of the leaves at once.
Give constant moisture, regular fertilization, and protect from sun for solid, mature heads. Varieties produce 45 to 100 days after planting.
Plant a selection of varieties to extend the harvest season. Varieties are Green, Red and Savoy (wrinkled leaves) and early, mid-season or late maturing. Plant early and mid-season cabbages in early spring. Plant mid-season and late-season cabbages in summer for fall harvest. Protect seedlings from cutworms with paper cup collar.
Each plant produces up to 100 sprouts. Fall frosts improve taste. Plant in late spring or midsummer for harvest in 80 to 120 days. Sprouts mature from bottom. Remove leaves beneath lower sprouts to encourage growth. In early winter areas, pinch growing tips when plants are 15 to 20 in. (37.5 to 50 cm) tall to encourage earlier, but smaller crops. In fall, harvest stalks with sprouts, hang in cool, dry spot for winter eating.
Impressive, this flowering Kale has 12-in. (30-cm)-wide heads with bright centers of red or white.
A colorful flowering cabbage, the tight, compact rosette of white, red and pink is surrounded by veined and ruffled green leaves.
Use its loose, upright heads of sweetly flavored and aromatic leaves fresh or cooked in salads, soups and stir-fried dishes. Goes to seed in hot weather. Grows best in hot summer areas, with constant moisture, if planted 3 months before fall frost. In mild winter areas plant in fall for spring harvest. Seed transplants poorly, so start in peat pots or sow where plants will grow.
Popular and widely available, it has crisp white leaves edged and veined in deep green.
Its sturdy leaves of bright red with deeper red veins and bordered with green can withstand some wind.
This tricolor Caladium has waxy green leaves with bright orange-red centers and red venation.
This pink Caladium's leaves are marked with green and white veins. White blade-like spathes appear in late summer.
Larger growing than many newer dwarfs, it makes better cut flowers. Double varieties are available.
An extremely early flowering dwarf, itÆs also somewhat heat tolerant. Flowers are 2.5 to 3 in. (6.25 to 7.5 cm) across in lemon, apricot, bright yellow and orange.
Hardy and compact, plant this dwarf variety in rock gardens and along the front edges of perennial borders. Their medium-blue, cup-shaped flowers bloom for several months.
In early summer, masses of Clustered Bellflower paint a stripe of deep violet-blue across the garden. Although invasive, their showy clusters of terminal flowers make them a favorite. Cut back old flower spikes to encourage a new wave of blossoms.
A favorite in old-fashioned cottage gardens for borders, this strong-stemmed Bellflower makes an excellent cut flower. Its leaves are shaped like a peach tree. Cultivars range from white to blue and single- to double-flowering.
A favorite in old-fashioned cottage gardens, this strong-stemmed white Bellflower makes an excellent cut flower.
Colorful, standard-sized, it has bronzy foliage and deep red flowers.
Surround with lower-growing, sun- and heat-loving plants such as Annual Vinca, Petunias and Dwarf Marigolds.
Striking orange flowers are set against green leaves. Combine with other orange and yellow summer-flowering plants such as Marigolds, Ornamental Peppers and Cosmos.
A dwarf with yellow flowers and green leaves, suited to containers. Other low-growing varieties are æChinese Coral,Æ æSalmon PinkÆ and æScarlet Beauty.Æ
Tall, often more than 6 ft. (2 m) high, it has bright yellow flowers. Also widely grown is æRed King HumbertÆ which has deep red flowers.
This vigorous upright variety has long set the standard for Bell Peppers. Large, sweet, glossy, dark green fruits ripen to bright crimson. Fruits are ready 75 days from planting.
The small, long-lasting fruits begin green, change to yellow, then orange and finally red when fully ripened. Flowers are small.
Rated highest for overall flavor by Organic Gardening Magazine, the lime-green, bell-shaped fruits mature to a rich gold in areas with a long growing season.
Thin-skinned and mild in flavor, the 6- to 7-in. (15- to 17.5-cm)-long fruit are excellent for a stir-fry. Fruit turn from green to dark red at maturity. Harvest 65 days from planting.
This sweet pepper has slender, pointed fruit from 4 to 7 in. (10 to 17.5 cm) long. There are also hot varieties which look similar.
The sweetest of all peppers; are used for stuffing, salads, roasting, pickling and topping pizza. Fruits are squash, heart or cherry shaped. Paprika is made from pimentos.
These 2 ft. (60 cm) plants also bloom in white, a blue-and-white bicolor, and æMajor,Æ an extra-tall blue variety. Drought-tolerant, and wet soil in winter can be fatal.
Bred for cooler climates, this eye-catching magenta periwinkle blooms 2.25 in. (5.5 cm) across. Look for other great cultivars like: æPeppermint Cooler', white with a red eye; æGrape CoolerÆ in rosy pink; æRose CoolerÆ and æIcy PinkÆ in pastel pinks; æBlushÆ in light pink; and æOrchidÆ in lavender.
The worldÆs first red periwinkle, it also produces 2 in. (5 cm) blooms.
This All-America Selection winner produces the largest flowers of any annual Vinca, up to 2.5 across. Blossoms are white with a large red eye.
Bred for cooler climates, its flowers are rose-colored.
An outstanding variety of the superior æTropicanaÆ series seed strain, this has a rose-colored periwinkle with a white eye.
Its large comb-like blossoms in crimson, white, salmon, pink, carmine, orange and bicolor grow on dwarf 5 to 6 in. (12.5 to 15 cm) plants.
The deep scarlet flowers are plume-shaped.
This All-America Selection winnerÆs rose-pink feathery plumes donÆt fade as the flower ages. The æCastleÆ series includes varieties in yellow and scarlet.
This All-America Selection seed mix produces 12 in. (30 cm) plumes on compact, medium-sized plants. Flowers come in rose, red, orange, yellow and cream.
One of many plants called Dusty Miller, itÆs grown for its silvery-white foliage, not its small yellow or purple flowers. Add textural contrast or breakup and soften hot-colored flowers such as Marigolds and Salvias. Use in fresh or dried arrangements.
The intensely blue, 3 in. (7.5 cm), thread-like flowers show off in borders and wild gardens, providing weeks of color. Also blooms in white, pink and mauve. Can be weedy in the North, and more manageable in the South. Cut back after bloom for second bloom.
This bushy plant is also sold as Valeriana ruba. Varieties include æAlbusÆ with white flowers; æAtrococcineusÆ with deep red flowers; and æRoseusÆ with rose blooms.
Its red, pink or white flowers above rich, fern-like foliage bloom in summer. Divide every 3 years or so. Double-flowered types available.
Fast and easy to grow, itÆs a mainstay in warmer climates. Continuous blooms are single or double, above silver or green leaves. Replace every 2 to 3 years.
A yellow daisy-shaped variety. If you live in a climate where spring is very warm you may get flowers in spring instead of fall.
Its coral flowers are decorative.
Mums and Daisies all should be sheared once or twice before flowering to encourage bushy growth.
A small, yellow, daisy-like annual, use in edging, rock gardens and containers. Mat-like, 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) plants are covered with 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) flowers. Best in cool summer climates.
An 8 to 10 in. (20 to 25 cm), compact-growing annual, the 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) white flowers with yellow centers smother deep green foliage all summer in cool climates.
Popular in Victorian gardens, it's now used in flower borders and as edging. Taller plants reseed well. Use shorter ones, called matricaria, as bedding plants.
Use this Shasta Daisy, with large, shaggy, double white flowers, as edging, or in perennial or wild gardens. Created by the famous plant breeder Luther Burbank. Cut back after bloom for second flush. Replace every 2 to 3 years. Available in 4 in. (10 cm) or 1 gal. pots.
Wonderful as a cut flower, easy to grow, the Shasta Daisy has been a garden favorite since it was created by the famous plant breeder Luther Burbank. Use this dwarf with large, single white flowers, in containers, as edging, and in perennial or wild gardens. Replace every 2 to 3 years.
This low-growing, bushy annual thrives in cool climates and has single, bright lemon-yellow flowers.
Tubular,1.5-in. (3.75-cm)-wide flowers dot the 4- to 10-in. (10- to 25-cm)-tall, deep green foliage from late spring to autumn.
Creamy white flowers cover 1 ft. (30 cm) of each 5- to 8-ft. (1.5- to 2.5-m)-tall, strong, reddish stem. æAtropurpureaÆ has purplish leaves and stems which contrast nicely with the white flowers.
Harvest 24-in. (60 cm)-long, 30- to 35-lb. (13.5- to 15.75-kg) fruits with crisp red fruit 85 days from planting. The vigorous vines resist sunburn, wilt and anthracnose.
Along with the types that bear clusters of 10 to 20 deep orange flowers with yellow centers, growers offer varieties with salmon, yellow, scarlet and white blooms.
A popular fall bloomer, its purple flowers are 4 in. (10 cm) across. Each corm produces as many as 6 flowers. Pink, white and double, rose-colored flowers also available.
The deeply lobed leaves on this dwarf, 10 in. (25 cm) plant are resistant to fading in sun. Slow to form flowers. Use in bedding or containers.
One of the best dwarfs for bedding, this series comes in 10 different color combinations including ivory, red, apricot orange and green.
Its lush, tropical "ears" can grow more than 3 ft. (90 cm) long by 2.5 ft. (75 cm) wide.
Along with the traditional white, varieties with large flowers, double flowers and pink flowers are available. They can spread indefinitely when provided with partial shade and moist, humas-rich soil.
This variety, not often seen in gardens, has pale purple-pink flowers.
This compact, All-America Selection winner boasts double, yellow flowers. Start from seed or buy at nurseries in cell packs.
The pale yellow flowers on lacy, 18 to 24 in. (45 to 60 cm), threadlike stems blend well with other perennials. Shear plant to ground after flowering for second bloom.
Through seed companies, buy special selections, such as æIndian,Æ which has very sweet seeds and aromatic leaves that are better than commercial coriander.
All summer, tiny Snapdragon-shaped, golden-yellow flowers rise above a mound of blue-green foliage. Best in moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soils.
This seed mix also produces bicolor flowers of pink blushed with white.
A classic variety, it grows up to 4 ft. (1.25 m) tall and has 3.5 in. (8.75 cm) flowers in white, pink, crimson and rose. Excellent when planted in masses.
This All-America Selection winner has bright orange-red, single flowers whose color softens with age. Vigorous, bushy to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall, blooms from spring to late fall.
This Montbretia hybrid is a superior one with its richly colored flowers. It is the result of a rare bigeneric hybrid, meaning its parents were from two different plant lineages.
The favorite masoniorum. The tubular, 1.5 in. (3.75 cm), orange flowers appear every summer. Likes sandy loam. Dig up and store corms, and replant after spring frosts.
Intricate flowers are deep, buttery yellow with bronze-purple markings at the base.
One of the earliest to bloom, flowers are a striking silvery-purple.
This classic, white Crocus is an early bloomer.
DoesnÆt flower long, but its lilac and white-striped blooms make the show worthwhile.
Grow cukes in greenhouses, clumps, low, flat-topped hills, or for straighter fruit, on fences, trellises or wire cages. Plant dwarf bush varieties in containers or where space is limited.
Also called æTasty Green,Æ this varietyÆs non-astringent, low-acid flesh digests easily. The fruits are 10 to 12 in. (25 to 30 cm) long. Plants have a long bearing season and resist mildew.
A smooth, buff-colored Squash, 8 to 12 in. (20 to 30 cm) long. It has sweet, bright orange flesh. Excellent for baking. Keeps well over winter.
The many varieties have straight, yellow fruit. Popular ones include æChefiniÆ and æSeneca.Æ
Popular and prolific producer, varieties include glossy green, golden, gray or dark green fruits. Grow winter-producing types in mild winter areas. Forms mounding bushes, 3 to 4 ft. (90cm to 1.25 m) wide. Pick when 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) long or when no new fruit appears.
This native American wildflower has small rose-purple flowers on mounding plants which contrast with bolder-textured plants. DonÆt let container plants dry out.
Dwarf, miniature or fragrant types are available and flower in red, salmon, white or purple.
Cut bud when growth stops and lower edible leaves begin to separate from the center. Eat steamed with mayonnaise or butter, or stuffed with bread crumbs. Use the hearts in salads.
Its long, pointed leaves look like umbrella spokes. Invasive in pools. Yellowish spring blooms. Smaller Nanus, or Gracilis, is better outdoors. Variegatus has white-striped leaves and stems.
Used by ancient Egyptians for making paper, this graceful, 5- to 8- ft. (1.5- to 2.5-m)-tall, water plant has stalks topped by tufts of 12- to 18-in (30- to 45-cm)-long, thread-like leaves. Killed by frost, so take indoors or discard.
Dahlia tubers are not cold hardy and must be dug and stored for the winter, except in frost-free climates.
Deep maroon, almost black, flowers are small, 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) across and fully double.
Miniature pink flowers are 1 in. (2.5 cm) across with a golden center. Blooms in early summer on 12- to 14-in. (30- to 35-cm)-tall plants.
This is a single-flowered medium-sized dahlia with bronzy-yellow flowers.
This cultivar is classified as a Formal Decorative Dahlia.
A large-flowered Dahlia. Petals are predominately orange with white tips.
This sports medium-sized, deep yellow, double pompons.
æDoris DayÆ is a cardinal red hybrid.
Dark red flowers, 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) wide, with white edges, bloom late summer to frost on sturdy stems. Plant reaches 3 to 4 ft. (90 cm to 1.25 m) tall.
Bicolored, deep, rich, maroon flowers with white tips are 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) across.
A dwarf plant covered with 2.5 to 3 in. (6.25 to 7.5 cm) of flowers from early summer through fall. Lives through mild winters, but best grown from seed yearly to keep blooming vigorous.
A delicate yellow- and cream-colored blossom in a Cactus-type.
This fast-growing dwarf displays its large-flowered orange blooms in summer and fall. Grows up to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall and 1.5 ft. (45 cm) wide.
'Good Earth,' a fine pink cactus-type.
Light yellow, 5-in. (12.5 cm)-wide flowers with gold centers bloom on 4- to 5-ft. (1.25 to 1.5 m)-tall plants.
Its large, lavender-pink flowers often are more than 7 in. (17.5 cm) across on tall-growing plants. Use as background plants in flower borders or in cutting gardens.
Fuchsia-purple flowers, 7 to 8 in. (17.5 to 20 cm) wide, edged with white, bloom on 4- to 5-ft. (1.25- to 1.5-m)-tall plants.
This striking dwarf variety has crimson-red, Cactus-like flowers.
Round ball-like flowers with curled petals signify the Pompom-type.
'Trunket' is a classic cactus Dahlia with characteristic narrow petals.
An excellent dwarf mix of yellows, oranges and reds.
One of the most striking Cactus Dahlias thanks to its intense red and yellow petals.
Flowers are 4 in. (10 cm) across, yellow with large curled petals.
Begin harvest before they get tough and woody, when roots are 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) thick. To check size, dig a little soil away at the base, but recover tops of Carrot with soil to keep them from turning green.
The most common ôfootö fern, itÆs hardy to 30║ F. Use as a lacy ground cover. For new plants, pull apart pieces of underground rhizomes that have roots, and pot.
Easy to grow, its shiny purple flowers bloom all summer. Survives temperatures of 0 deg. F (18 deg. C) if under mulch or snow. Tolerates drought, but needs water in summer until established.
Compact, branching flower stems rise 3 to 4 ft. (90 cm to 1.25 m) tall, with blue or white flowers.
This produces a succession of dark blue flowers spikes. Also available in white. DoesnÆt require staking.
Shades of darkest violet with a black bee (center). Flowers in June. Plant grows to 4 ft. (1.25 m) tall.
This Pacific hybrid has double flowers ranging from lavender to pinkish with contrasting white centers.
A purple-rose, double-flowered Pacific hybrid with white centers. However, individual flower colors can vary.
Glistening white bloom. Blooms approximately 10 days later than other Pacific Hybrids. Plant grows to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall.
Great for dried or cut flowers, these plants reach 24 in. (60 cm) high. Likes full sun, but not long hot summers. Remove spent flowers. Cut back to ground when leaves yellow for fall bloom.
A medium-sized plant which doesnÆt need staking. Its flowers come in a wide range of colors, including cream, violet, sky blue and rose with white or black centers.
A short-lived West Coast native perennial with showy orange-red tubular flowers which attract hummingbirds.
Allwood Pinks yield bright, mostly double, blooms all summer. Foliage is usually gray green. Heights range from 3 to 20 in. (7.5 to 50 cm).
This medium-sized hybrid has pure white, double flowers.
This hybrid has semi-double, salmon-pink flowers with deeper pink eyes, on strong-growing plants which form mounded tufts of blue-green leaves.
Though not as fragrant as other Dianthus, this dwarf bedding variety flowers 10 weeks after sowing seed. Its flowers come in shades of red, pink and white with contrasting markings.
Two types of carnations are grown. The classic greenhouse or Florist's Carnations tend to form floppy masses and thus make better cut flowers or perfume ingredients than garden plants. They bloom year-round in greenhouses. Though the Border Carnations bloom just once a year, their bushier forms make them suitable for growing in a mixed border, and they too provide lovely, fragrant cut flowers.
Continuous yellow flowers from mid-June to August on 1-ft. (30-cm)-tall plants.
Outdoor-growing forms of florists' carnations have double and semi-double fragrant blossoms. Treat as annual in cooler areas.
Dark red flowers from mid-June to August.
Rose-pink flowers from mid-June to August.
A deeper yellow than 'Golden Sun,' on 1-ft. (30-cm)-tall plants.
A heat-tolerant, All-America Selection, its crimson flowers are edged with white. Also available in rose, red, purple and carmine. Tolerates frost even in northern climates.
Its double, red flowers are nice for the front of flower borders. Best in well-drained, sandy soil.
A drought-, heat- and humidity-tolerant ground cover with many soft pink flowers. The evergreen, bluish-green plants do best in well-drained, sandy soil.
This bicolor Cheddar Pink has red and white flowers rising above a tight mound of blue-green, grass-like foliage. Best in well-drained, sandy soil.
The many, deeply fringed flowers are single to semi-double and bloom in pink, white, salmon and red flowers.
One of the most vigorous and showy perennials, its dense heads of bright pink flowers bloom above 2-ft. (60-cm)-wide clumps of foliage. Prune out old stems.
Many long-blooming, rosy pink flowers and deeply cut, gray-green, clumping foliage make this a popular garden plant. Self-sows.
This type has white, heart-shaped flowers and deeply cut, gray-green, clumping foliage.
A hybrid of D. eximia and D. peregrina, "Luxuriant" yields deep red flowers through to the first frost.
A long-time favorite grown for ValentineÆs Day. It has showy stalks of pendulous, heart-shaped flowers. Long-lived and vigorous, it goes dormant in summer. Self-sows.
Spectacular stalks of pendulous white flowers rise above fernlike foliage. Goes dormant in summer and isnÆt as vigorous-growing as the pink-flowering species.
Elegant plants with mounding fern-like leaves and arching sprays of deep-rose flowers from late spring to frost.
Yellowish, pendant flowers with brown-spotted throats and a large lower lip hang from slender, 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall flower stalks.
This popular, 3 ft. (90 cm) hybrid has large, deep strawberry-pink flowers and shiny, green leaves year-round. Seed sown in spring, flowers 1 year later. Divide every 2 years.
Stalks which reach more than 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall are covered with dangling flowers. Leaves used in heart disease medicines, but shouldnÆt be eaten. If started from seed in spring, flowers 1 year later. Likes shade.
Robust stalks are covered with large, open-faced, dangling, spotted flowers in shades of white, pink and red. If started from seed in spring, flowers 1 year later.
Unusual purple, pea-like flowers are followed by clusters of flat, peapod-like fruit.
Yellow flowers, 2 in. (5 cm) across, are larger than some other varieties, and grow on robust, 18 in. (45 cm) stalks. Like moist soil even when dormant.
Also called Thymophylla tenuiloba, this Daisy-like annual has yellow flowers and grows to 1 ft. (30 cm) tall. Likes sandy soil, and self-sows in good conditions.
Large daisy-like purple-pink flowers rise above the 3- to 4-ft. (90- to 1.25-m)-tall foliage.
White flowers with bronze, cone-shaped centers, bloom on short plants. White-flowering types include "Talent," "White Lustre," "White Star" and "White Swan."
Globe-shaped, steel-blue flowers and deeply cut, gray-green leaves offer texture and color. Also in blue- and white-flowering types. Heat-tolerant, plant will naturalize.
Its large flowers are deep rose-pink with white-tipped spurs.
This is one of the more robust growing epimediums. For contrast, plant this with the cultivar 'Neosulphureum' which has red leaves and similar growth habit.
Annual, biennial, and perennial herbs grown for their spring and summer, daisylike flower heads.
This 18-in. (45-cm)-tall, bushy native, with yellow centered, violet-purple flowers, looks like a Fall Aster. Many flower colors are available in varieties of this species.
One of the showiest Sea Hollies, its stout blue stems hold large, steel-blue flowers and bluish, leathery, toothed leaves.
One of the most popular wallflowers, it has masses of pinkish purple flowers that cover a wide-spreading, fast-growing, shrubby mound.
Widely grown, it has large, golden-yellow flowers and is extremely vigorous.
One of the best late-, blue-blooming perennials, it looks like a tall Annual Ageratum. White-flowered æAlbaÆ is also available. Can be invasive. Leaf miner is a problem. Plant with Asters and Chrysanthemums.
A generous spring bloomer that is drought-tolerant and good in rock gardens. Has yellow-green, flower-like leaves above dark green leaves that turn red in fall.
This dwarf, award-winning hybrid has large bowl-shaped, deep blue flowers and silvery green leaves. Heat- and drought-resistant.
Flowers in solid, soft tones of rose, pink, white and lilac, plus light and dark blue bloom from this seed mix.
Covered with small, blue flowers with white eyes throughout the summer, use it in hanging baskets or containers where stems can cascade downward.
A fast-growing and mat-forming annual whose daisy-like flowers open only in sunshine.
Tolerant of dry soil, this 1-ft. (30-cm)-tall, clumping, green grass needs a long growing season to mature.
Of the three main types, Common Fennel is biggest, reaching 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) tall.
The only Strawberry with bright, pink flowers, itÆs good as a semi-evergreen, small-scale ground cover. Flowers spring through fall. Fruit is edible.
For an abundance of both color and fragrance, mass in clumps or drifts. Double-flowered and bicolor varieties are available.
The largest and most spectacular Fritillaria, it has large clusters of red, yellow or orange flowers topped by a crown of leaves. In good conditions, plants rebloom for many years.
A great perennial for containers, its 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5 cm)-wide red and yellow flowers bloom from June to August. Divide every 2 years. From seed, flowers first year. Stake taller plants.
The bicolor flowers have maroon centers and yellow-tipped petals.
A compact dwarf about 1 ft. (30 cm) tall, its flowers have deep red petals with yellow tips.
3 in. (7.5 cm) blooms in sunny-yellow shades inspired this cultivar's name.
Flower stalks with white-fading-to-pink blossoms rise above a vase of green, airy foliage. Excellent in perennial borders and as cut flowers.
Its small mounds with light pink flowers are perfect for rock walls and gardens and along pathways. Deeply lobed leaves turn orange to red in fall.
In mild winter areas, these South African natives bloom several times each year, especially in early summer and late fall.
1 ft. (30 cm) stalks with intense orange-red, single flowers rise above the 6-in. (15-cm)-high mound of leaves. Use in rock gardens or in the front of borders.
2 ft. (60 cm) stalks with golden-yellow, double flowers rise from a 15-in. (37.5-cm)-high mound of leaves.
From a 15-in. (37.5-cm)-high mound of leaves rise 2-ft. (60-cm) stalks with bright scarlet, double flowers.
Its golden flower spikes make long-lasting cut flowers. Stake if needed. Cut when the first bud shows color. Use in rock gardens or containers, and water during growing season.
This large-flowered, white Gladiolus is edged and splashed with lavender.
This Gladiolus has sturdy spikes of large, golden-yellow, ruffled flowers.
Its rose-colored flower spikes make long lasting cut flowers. Stake if needed. Cut when the first bud shows color. Use in rock gardens or containers, and water during growing season.
Cut glads before most buds have opened for maximum vase life.
A shorter cultivar, this one sports intense red blooms.
Early-blooming, it has rose-colored flowers with deeper purple-red throats.
The Clover-like flowers bloom in masses from summer to early fall.
The many 3 ft. (90 cm) plus branches hold hundreds of sprays of tiny, single, white flowers.
More billowy than Gypsophila paniculata, its clusters of tiny, double, white flowers rise 2 to 4 ft. (60 cm to 1.25 m) Somewhat short-lived.
This ground cover from the mountains of Europe has single, white flowers for sunny areas.
Variegated foliage makes this grass an attractive ground cover in any woodland garden. Start by seed or division.
Best known for the 10-ft. (3-m)-tall type, with 8- to 14-in. (20- to 35-cm)-wide flowers full of seeds eaten roasted or raw. These annual plants also come 1.5 to 4 ft. (45 cm to 1.25 m) high, with 2- to 3-in-wide yellow blooms with brown or purplish centers or double, 5- to 7-in. (12.5 to 17.5 cm)-wide yellow flowers. Stake as needed. May be invasive.
This tall Sunflower has many bright yellow double flowers. Cut back stems and leaves after flowering. Hardier than Helianthus angustifolius, the Swamp Sunflower.
Its golden-yellow, double flowers with pompom centers bloom late summer to early fall.
Varieties of this Australian native come in seed mixes with flowers ranging from bright hot colors to soft pastels.
Its soft, chartreuse foliage contrasts well with darker colors, such as purple-flowered or bronze-leafed plants.
One of the best of all medium-sized clumping grasses with finely textured, foliage forming a dense mound. Tiny, straw-colored flowers rise 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm) in summer. Foliage lasts until early winter.
Varieties include the popular H. scabra, a durable plant with fewer orange-yellow blooms than yellow-blooming, shade-tolerant H. helianthoides.
This medium-sized upright perennial bears semi-double flowers.
Tough, yet easy to grow, its lustrous, leathery leaves form a low, dense mound. Lenten Roses have flowers at Easter, though bloom begins in early spring.
From 18-in. (45-cm)-high clumps rise soft yellow flowers with a dark-orange halo.
The fragrant, pale orchid-pink flowers have lime-green throats.
The deep plume-purple flowers have green throats.
Flowers rise from 12-in. (30-cm)-high clumps.
From 24-in. (60-cm)-high clumps rise bright rust and orange bicolor flowers.
This short daylily is perfect for containers.
These fragrant flowers bloom in mid- to late-summer.
The fragrant apricot flowers have golden-apricot throats.
Long-blooming, it flowers from late May until fall frost. Small, fragrant, slightly ruffled flowers have green throats. Excellent for containers.
Spectacular, fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers with green hearts. Flowers bloom in succession, each lasts for only one day.
Low, non-spreading mounds are often tinted bronze or purple. Topped by airy clusters of small, bell-like flowers. Evergreen perennials grown for their flowers and foliage.
Its burgundy-purple, ivy-shaped leaves color best in full or partial sun during cooler months. Insignificant flowers are sometimes removed before bloom. Evergreen in zones 7 to 9.
Its mounds of lobed foliage have a bronze to green color. The white flowers rise 12 to 24 in. (30 to 60 cm)
In mid-summer, this shrubby perennial bears 7 to 10 in. (17.5 to 25 cm) flowers. Prefers moist locations. Cut flowers wilt within an hour. Pinch ends to promote bloom.
A favorite, this variety offers white flowers flushed with pink.
A pink cultivar with white highlights.
Red petals sport symmetrical white striping.
Summer-blooming, violet flowers stand well above the heart-shaped, green leaves with irregular creamy-yellow margins. Plant reaches 1- to 2-ft. (30- to 60-cm)-tall by 24- to 36-in. (60- to 90-cm) wide.
Fast-growing, it has heart-shaped, forest-green, puckered leaves with narrow, bright white margins. Tall, lavender flower spikes bloom from mid- to late-summer.
Slow-growing 18-in. (45-cm)-tall by 30-in. (75-cm)-wide clumps of heart-shaped, pale green leaves turn gold with dark green margins in mid-summer as trumpet-shaped lavender blooms.
This 12-in. (30-cm)-tall plant has light green, lance-shaped leaves with a thin band of bright white. Its striking lilac flowers stand well above the foliage.
Tall, lavender flower spikes bloom in mid- to late-summer above small, heart-shaped, green leaves edged in gold-chartreuse. Plants reach 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm) tall.
Boasts large, pure white flowers.
A favorite variety, it has soft blue flowers blushed with mauve.
Flowers are orange-yellow blushed with apricot.
A classic variety, with deep carmine-red flowers with white centers.
The lightly striped, white flowers of Peruvian Daffodil are 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) across and last at least a week when cut.
This wide-spreading, 6- to 10-in. (15- to 25-cm)-tall variety has large flower heads.
An old-fashioned plant with single or double flowers somewhat hidden among the foliage. For bushier plants, pinch back at 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) tall. Use for bedding. Grows well in sun in cool summer areas. Otherwise plant in partial shade. Not a good cut flower.
Hybrids come in pink, lavender and red, with white to yellow leaf markings.
æSatelliteÆ has orange flowers and bright yellow variegated leaves.
Early- and long-blooming mix of strong plants. Flowers in pastel rose and pink, salmon, coral, apricot, red, purple and white. æAccent Bright Eye,Æ is blush with a deep rose eye.
Heat- and sun-tolerant, it has the largest flowers of all annual Impatiens. Available in red, plus 10 other colors including pink, carmine and violet.
Excellent for sunnier locations, it has compact growth and fade-resistant flowers. Along with pink, flowers come in 11 other luminous colors.
Double-flowered and compact, itÆs good in containers and hanging baskets. Available in 6 other colors. æExtra Dwarf Tom ThumbÆ is a more drought-tolerant double-flowering mix.
Grown for its large blossoms, its bicolor flowers of white are edged in rosy pink. Good for hanging baskets.
One of the most popular annual Impatiens comes in 16 colors, including appleblossom-colored æBlushÆ; pink æPearlÆ with a rose eye; and carmine red æLipstick.Æ
This cultivar has deeper red foliage than other varieties. Spreads by underground runners.
Easy-to-grow, with showy, large pink flowers. Use it in bedding or plant among a subtle, low-growing ground cover as a backdrop for its flowers.
Shorter than other Inulas, this vigorous yellow daisy still makes a good cut flower.
A fine selection of white flowers tinged with violet.
Sweet potatoes with soft, very sweet orange-red flesh are the most popular and grow particularly well in the South. Most varieties with white and yellow flesh are generally starchier and not quite as sweet but many grow especially well in more northern areas. When growing sweet potatoes determine which varieties do best in your area.
Varieties of blue Bearded Iris include æPixie Princess,Æ a dwarf; æSmall Sky,Æ a standard dwarf; and æBlue Fragrance,Æ of intermediate height.
Pink Bearded Iris varieties include æCherry Spot,Æ a dwarf, and æSweet Allegro,Æ of intermediate height.
Bearded Iris varieties available in white include æBaby Snowflake,Æ a standard dwarf, and æLittle Angel,Æ of intermediate height.
The dwarf æWatercolor,Æ standard dwarf æEarly Sunshine,Æ and intermediate-height æButterbitÆ are among the yellow Bearded Iris varieties.
A parent of the hybrid Bearded Iris, it has yellow- or white-variegated foliage and fragrant lavender flowers. The roots are ground for the violet-scented fixative used in perfumes and potpourri.
Use this early-blooming, 6- to 8-in. (15- to 20-cm)-high, dwarf in the front of flower borders and in rock gardens. Blooms in a wide range of colors, mostly yellow or lilac.
The first to bloom in spring, fragrant flowers smell like violets. Varieties include æCantab,Æ with pale blue flowers and orange marks, and æJ.S. DijitÆ with deep reddish-purple blooms.
Widely available, it has exceptionally dark velvety flowers. Shows off color by planting it against a light background.
The Dutch Iris come in bright shades of white, yellow, purple, orange and bicolors. Flowers 3- to 4-in. (7.5- to 10-cm)-wide blooms on stems that reach 2 ft. (60 cm) tall. Excellent cut flowers.
Each bulb produces 1 to 2 large flowers, 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) across. Many colors available. Plant in fall, and mulch in coldest climates. Withhold water after bulbs go dormant in summer. In areas of summer rain and in cold winter climates, dig up and store bulbs until fall.
In warmer climates, this hard-working perennial blooms anywhere in spikes that change from yellow to red. Purchase in bloom to be sure of the color.
These spiky flowers are a uniform primrose-yellow.
These spiky flowers start out coral red then change to yellow at the bottom.
Crisp and succulent, this popular head lettuce requires 3 months to mature. Varieties available with red or lacy leaves.
Bronze-red, ruffled leaves of this All-America Selection winner deepen in color with maturity. Harvest baby lettuce 45 days after sowing. It's heat resistant and slow to form flowers or go to seed.
Greener and more nutritious than æIceberg,Æ æRomaineÆ or Cos Lettuce makes a crispy salad. Varieties include æParris Island CosÆ, æDark Green CosÆ and æValmaine.Æ
Easy-to-grow and drought-tolerant, this spreading perennial can be invasive. Dense clusters of flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. Silvery markings on foliage.
One of the most vigorous varieties, it comes with leaves tinged silver. Another variety, æHermans Pride,Æ forms tidy mounds to 8 in. (20 cm) tall.
This 8- to 12-in. (20- to 30-cm)-tall by 24-in. (60-cm)-wide perennial has green leaves edged in silver that stay through winter. Small, hooded white flowers bloom in late spring to mid-summer. May be invasive.
This evergreen, summer-blooming shrub is grown for its aromatic foliage and white, blue, violet or dark purple flower spikes.
This variety has many large flowers on each stem of these vigorous plants.
One of the easiest to grow, their up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) across flowers range from pink to red to apricot, plus bicolors.
Spikes of white 15- to 18- in. (37.5- to 45-cm)-long flowers, open from the top down, summer to fall. Foliage reaches 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) tall. When cutting, leave 2/3 of stem to produce food for plant. Heat-tolerant.
The most commonly grown species, 'Alba,' shown here in an arrangement, flowers only in white.
The flowers of this most commonly-grown species are violet.
The 6 to 15 in. (15 to 37.5 cm) dark purple spikes on this dwarf variety open from the top down and make good cut or dried flowers. Blooms early to mid-summer. Plant reaches 18 to 25 in. (45 to 62.5 cm) tall.
The long-stalked, kidney-shaped leaves form green mounds above which Daisy-like flowers rise to 4 ft. (1.25 m) on purple stalks.
This cultivar has smaller, more delicate flowers than the species.
From a compact mound of bold, light-green, toothed leaves rise 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) narrow spikes of bright yellow flowers. Plant in perennial borders with abundant moisture.
A sampling of spring to early fall flowering lilies grown for their often fragrant, brightly colored flowers.
This lily, described in medieval romances, is native to the Middle East. Bulbs produce up to 20, 5-in. (12.5-cm)-wide, fragrant flowers. Plant in late summer or early fall when bulbs are dormant. Keep dry until new growth begins.
This hybrid of a native American lily has yellow, upward-facing blossoms with maroon spots and curved petals. Unlike most lilies, it doesnÆt like freezing, but tolerates damp soils.
A hybrid, each bulb produces 12 or more open-faced, crimson red flowers, 8 to 12 in. (20 to 30 cm) wide. Also available are æImperial PinkÆ and æImperial SilverÆ.
This is the traditional pure white Lily often forced into early bloom for Easter. Planted in the garden, it flowers in late summer, each bulb producing up to 9 extremely fragrant flowers.
A stunning hybrid, each bulb produces as many as 30 deep pink, trumpet-shaped blooms. In hot summer areas, plant in partial shade for best flower color. Stake if needed.
Bulbs produce up to 20, 5-in. (12.5-cm)-wide, fragrant flowers. Plant in late summer or early fall when bulbs are dormant. Keep dry until new growth begins.
This plant covers itself with 2.5-ft. (75-cm)-tall clouds of lavender-blue flowers tipped with white. Also look for white and pink varieties.
It grows well in mild coastal areas, with purple, dome-shaped flowers intermittently throughout the year. Hardy to 25║ F. Easy to grow from seed.
Winged flower stalks emerge from rosettes of lobed leaves. Use dwarf varieties in masses and containers. Taller varieties are good for cutting, but may need staking.
Grown commercially as a cut flower, its tidy habit recommends it for rock gardens, as edging or in the front of flower borders.
More decorative striped green and cream foliage makes this especially nice in containers. Protect from hot sun.
Stunning scarlet flowers harmonize nicely with rich reddish-purple foliage.
More heat-resistant and earlier blooming than others, this Lobelia blooms dark violet-blue above green foliage.
A much-planted variety, it has bronze-red foliage and ultramarine-dark blue flowers.
Grown for its cascading masses of blue, lavender, white and rose flowers.
This two-toned Lobelia has white flowers splashed with blue.
Robust, upright stalks bear large, fan-shaped flowers which blend well with pink, purple, white and pale yellow.
Creating a low-growing tapestry of brilliant color, this is a mixture of different plants which bloom white, pastel pink, lavender, violet and deep rosy pink.
Moderately heat tolerant, with some of the largest blossoms of any variety, æSnow CrystalÆ adds masses of brilliant white color.
The intensely deep purple flowering Alyssum is found in a seed mix with deep rosy reds and whites. All are early blooming and compact.
Pink- or white-flowered in spring, the coin-like appearance of the seed pods has inspired its many common names. Variety with variegated leaves available.
Another lupine in the popular Russell Hybrids series.
Small enough to never need staking, this dwarf series comes in many colors.
The most common Lupines available, flowers come in many solid colors and bicolors. Sometimes need staking.
A selection of red lupines from the Russell series.
The 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide, brilliant orange flowers cluster above bronze or reddish foliage.
Orange-red, star-shaped flowers make a striking impression. Plant doesnÆt like hot, dry summers. Good drainage essential in cold areas. Pinch new growth.
Few flowers reach this shade of deep scarlet. Each petal is in the shape of a heart. Look for white and double forms, too.
This All-America Selection winner offers large, beefsteak-type fruit which ripen early. Produces well in adverse conditions, with fruit maturing 73 days after transplant. Resists verticillium, fusarium, nematodes and some leaf spots.
This All-America Selection winner has 8 to 10 oz. fruit on a strong determinate variety. Fruit ripens without cracking 70 days from planting. Well-adapted for cages. Resists verticillium, fusarium, nematodes and tobacco mosaic virus.
This All-America Selection winner has golden-yellow fruit 70 days from transplant. Use compact plants in small spaces and containers. DonÆt pinch. Resists verticillium, fusarium and cracking.
Better than æSweet 100,Æ its extra-sweet, 1 in. (2.5 cm) fruits resist verticillium and fusarium. Each plant produces hundreds of tomatoes higher in vitamin C than most. Plants bear in 65 days.
One of the most commonly grown Lycoris, its bright yellow, Lily-like flowers bloom in late summer and early fall.
The delicate scarlet flowers make a fine display when planted in masses or large drifts beneath tall shrubs or trees.
Use its 3-ft. (90-cm)-high, curved, white flower spikes in floral arrangements. Likes sun or partial shade. Invasive, unless divided frequently.
This very invasive, clump-forming perennial has lance-shaped leaves and produces spikes of pink flowers.
With its tall, long-blooming, vibrant pink flowers, æMordenÆs PinkÆ is non-invasive.
Of the two species commonly grown, many people prefer this less-invasive one to the similar Macleaya microcarpa. Flowers are not showy, but its large size gives it a dramatic effect. DoesnÆt need staking.
A narrow grower, with a long bloom and lobed foliage that makes it look like a Hollyhock.
In perfect conditions, this extremely fragrant dwarf is in full flower 7 to 9 weeks after seed is planted.
One of the most generous and early bloomers, æMidgetÆ has long-blooming, fully double-flower spikes on dwarf plants 8 to 10 in. (20 to 25 cm) tall. Very heat tolerant.
A double, very early flowering variety which is very vigorous because it doesnÆt produce seed. True to its name, bloom is 7 weeks after seeding.
Along with the plain light green type, it comes yellow-splashed or -speckled.
Good for tea, crushed leaves have the familiar peppermint scent.
Leaves have a slightly orange flavor and are good for potpourris as well as flavorings.
Use the most commonly grown mint fresh or dried. Prune its small flowers because they weaken the stem. Evergreen in mild climates.
Fan-shaped, silky, flower clusters open red, become white with age, and remain attractive in winter. Use in hedges or windbreaks. Cut delicately variegated, finely-textured foliage to ground in late winter.
Early blooming, silvery plumes rise up to 2 ft. (60 cm) above the foliage on this smaller, more compact Miscanthus. Needs lots of moisture and a cool autumn for brilliant flame-orange fall color.
Its common name comes from distinctive, stiff, bright green leaves banded in yellow which look like porcupine quills. Plumes open copper-tinted, fading to silvery white.
White-striped, coarse, green leaves and plumes make a bold statement. They start out pinkish and fade to beige with maturity.
A heavily mint-scented perennial, its whorls of scarlet flowers are surrounded by red-tinted petal-like leaves. Blooms through summer on 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall plant with stiff leafy stalks.
Vigorous 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall perennial with whorls of flaming scarlet flowers which bloom through summer. Remove faded flowers to extend bloom.
Similar to the cultivar, 'Cambridge Scarlet.'
Mildew resistant, even in zones 8 and 9, it blooms bright pink.
Showy scarlet flowers make excellent cut flowers.
This Grape HyacinthÆs bright blue flowers top 4- to 8- in stems.
Longer blooming than the annuals, this perennial thrives in moist or boggy soil. Native to Europe, it has naturalized throughout eastern US and Canada.
An old-fashioned flower, this annual is one of the few plants with true blue flowers, unmixed with purple or red.
This very early and generous blooming plant has deep indigo-blue flowers with white and yellow centers.
Considered by some to be better than the classic æKing AlfredÆ daffodil, æDutch MasterÆ has long-lasting yellow flowers. Blossoms face upward and bloom early to mid spring.
This type of PoetÆs Daffodil has pure white petals and a brilliant, yellow cup with an orangy-red rim. An early blooming variety, perfect for naturalizing.
Blooms in rich, golden-yellow flowers with large, orange-red cups.
This classic yellow trumpet daffodil which is the most popular variety grown in America. Early season blooms.
Commonly grown, this is a fragrant, white, small-flowered Daffodil.
For exceptional color, the deep apricot-rose cups blushed with yellow delightfully contrast with the white petals. A mid- to late-season flowering hybrid.
Bulbs donÆt need cold to bloom in clusters of 4 to 8 small, yellow, fragrant flowers with orange cups.
The many varieties have white and yellow flowers with contrasting white, yellow or orange centers. Each flower stalk produces many small flowers. ~~Excellent for naturalizing and containers.
Early blooming clusters of buttercup yellow flowers with yellow-orange cups make this one of the most popular miniature daffodils.
A popular series that produces masses of colorful blooms for many months.
Not a showy plant, its foliage is plain and its white flowers are small. Lemon minty scent of crushed leaves delights cats.
Bred for compactness and non-stop blooming. Where hardy, replant each year to ensure maximum bloom.
Cherished for its tall panicles of sweetly fragrant, greenish-white flowers. Scent intensifies at night. Unlike many other Flowering Tobaccos, the long, tubular blooms stay open even on cloudy days.
This variety has yellow-eyed, bright purple flowers all summer.
Winner of the prestigious All-America Selection award and the Gold Medal from FleuroSelect, this variety smothers itself with yellow-eyed, bright white flowers all summer.
The most popular type for cooking, there are many types of Sweet Basil. æSpicy GlobeÆ grows to only 1 ft. ( 30 cm) tall and wide and has tiny leaves. æPurple RufflesÆ has frilly, dark purple leaves that make it pretty enough to grow as an ornamental.
This light pink compact selection of Mexican Evening Primrose forms a carpet of color as the plant spreads vigorously underground. Its slender stems donÆt shade other plants, and removal is easy. Shear plants to the ground after flowering for second bloom.
One of the most beautiful varieties, its elegant, lemon-yellow flowers, which grow up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) wide, are followed by winged seed pods. Good in rock gardens.
This ornamentalÆs many small rose or pink flowers held in airy sprays provide late color. Shear stalks for second bloom. Leaves and shoots with a purple tinge when young and in Winter.
A more pungent seasoning than Sweet Marjoram. Blooms in purplish-pink. After 2 or 3 years, replace rangy plants.
Clusters of fragrant, white or creamy white, 1- to 2-in. (2.5- to 5-cm)-wide flowers with shiny black centers bloom in early summer on 12- to 18-in. (30- to 45-cm)-tall plants. Likes dry summer soil. O. umbellatum, which can become invasive, has the same common name.
Large, fragrant, single flowers have satiny, crinkled petals and dark green, narrow leaves. Support tall plants. Late frost may damage new growth.
Some other double, white varieties to look for are æHoney GoldÆ (mid-season bloom) and æLullabyÆ (late-season bloom).
Some other double, red varieties to look for are æFelix SupremeÆ (mid-season bloom) and æBest ManÆ (late-season bloom).
Some other double, pink varieties to look for are æAlice HardingÆ (mid-season bloom) and æSarah BernhardtÆ (late-season bloom).
The Alpine Poppy thrives where winters are cold and summers are cool, and will reseed year after year. Silky, fragrant flowers in white, yellow, and pink bloom throughout the summer.
One of the most popular varieties, these robust intermediate-sized plants also have one of the most showy flowers.
Large flowers in clear vibrant hues and pastels bloom on tall plants with strong stems, which make them excellent for cutting.
This red variety is one of the most popular.
Its white flowers mix easily with other colors.
Its delectable orange flowers mix with white, yellow or peach.
Soft and subtle salmon-pink flowers blend into a pastel color scheme.
With its many flowers and clearly zoned leaves, plant is compact and branching. The æOrbitÆ series offers the widest color range of any series.
Unique among geraniums, its violet-purple to deep magenta-rose flowers complement distinctly marked leaves.
It is the earliest flowering of its color, and its brilliant flowers complement distinctly marked leaves.
Large, 4.5-in. (11.25-cm)-wide blooms flower early and frequently on 12- to 14-in. (30- to 35-cm)-tall plants.
This trailing plant has stiff, waxy, fleshy, ivy-shaped leaves. In summer, blooms white to deep red with darker markings.
With trailing stems and leaves like ivy, æSummer ShowersÆ mixes red, pink, lavender, white and wine-colored flowers. May be grown from seed.
Grown for its unusual, round, button-like leaves in dish gardens and terrariums. Use in shady rock gardens or where more vigorous plants wonÆt overrun it.
Fountains of fine, arching, bright green leaves rise 3 to 4 ft. (90cm to 1.25 m) In summer, slender stems bloom in small, purple spikes.
A popular dwarf of 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) in height and width, its white to buff-colored flowering spikes bloom slightly earlier than the species. Reportedly doesnÆt reseed itself. Golden leaves in fall.
A late blooming ornamental grass with wide, shiny, dark green leaves. When in bloom, deep purple to black, bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes rise above its leaves. Reseeds in moist areas. Use along pathways and borders.
Out of graceful, arching, 3-ft. (90-cm)-long, narrow green leaves rise small, rose-purple spikes in summer.
Stunning burgundy-red foliage and red-purple flower plumes show off throughout the warm growing season. Grow as an annual in colder climates, but needs summer warmth for showy leaf color. Start by division. Also called Pennisetum setaceum æAtropurpureum,Æ æAtrosanguineumÆ and æCupreum.Æ
Use in the front of flower borders where its red-bronze foliage and small white or pinkish flowers can be seen.
Some of the largest flowers among the Beard Tongues, their blooms have gaping mouths with a contrasting color or intricate markings. All colors except blue and yellow. A perennial treated as an annual in cold climates.
A showy, drought-tolerant standby, it bears many spikes of nodding, tubular rose-red flowers.
Mats of narrow foliage give rise to clouds of tiny single or double flowers. Shear after flowering for a second round of blooms.
The curly type is the most popular and the most ornamental. Grow the large flat-leaf Italian or French types for the best flavor. The large leaves resemble those of celery. Another type, Hamburg parsley, is grown for its parsnip-like roots, which are eaten like a vegetable, and flavorful leaves.
This All-America Selection winner has single, light-pink, white-centered flowers. Heat- and rain-tolerant, plants in the æCelebrityÆ series bloom in a wide range of colors.
This variety has double flowers of deep violet-blue.
An All-America Selection winner with large 4 in. (10 cm), single, ruffled flowers of light purple with delicate, darker purple veins. Other varieties in pink, blue, purple, and bicolor.
Solid red and magenta with white frilled edges make this variety great as an accent or for contrast.
An All-America Selection winner with large 4 in. (10 cm), single, ruffled flowers of deep blue with a bold white-striped pattern. Other varieties bloom in pink, blue, silvery purple, and a bicolor of purple flowers with red veins.
Early flowering, compact-spreading plants bear single red flowers up to 4 in. (10 cm) across. Weather tolerant and disease resistant. æUltraÆ series also comes in blue, purple, red, rose and salmon.
Lightly cooked, both bush and pole varieties have a smooth texture and nutty flavor. Excellent fresh, dried or frozen.
Golden-yellow beans are colorful in soups, salads and stews. Varieties such as æSunraeÆ produce extra early fruit and heavy yields.
This shade-loving creeper blooms in spring with lightly fragrant, bluish lavender flowers with a maroon eye. Use as a ground cover in borders or woodland gardens. Needs moisture.
Vigorous, upright perennials yield dense, pyramidal clusters of flowers, icy white with a sparkling red eye.
This classic Phlox flowers earlier than other varieties with dome-shaped, quarter-sized cherry- to deep red flowers. A high maintenance plant, it likes full sun but cool temperatures and requires rich, moist soil. To discourage mildew, deadhead and thin.
Shade tolerant, its dense, low carpets with lavender-blue flowers and glossy leaves are excellent in woodland gardens or narrow planting strips. Other varieties bloom in white, pink and purple.
The mat-forming, needle-like foliage is 6 in. (15 cm) tall and has a mossy look. April to May, itÆs covered with tiny, honey-scented, bright red flowers. Each stem bears 3 to 5 blooms.
In spring, the vigorous, moss-like foliage explodes into a large, solid mass of bluish-lavender flowers. Use on hillsides or cascading over retaining walls. Needs full sun.
A carpet of color in spring! Bright pink, honey-scented flowers cover this Alpine plant from April to May. Its moss-like, needle-shaped green foliage on 6-in. (15-cm)-tall creeping stems spreads to 3 ft. (90 cm) wide.
Plant in full sun on hillsides or cascading over retaining walls. The vigorous, moss-like foliage produces a large, solid mass of dark pink, almost red flowers in spring.
A large, solid mass of white flowers appears in spring. Needs full sun. Great for hillsides or cascading over retaining walls. Leaves pale green.
Popular in dried flower arrangements, its masses of bright orange-red fruits are surrounded by red, balloon-like wrappers. May become invasive.
Cultivated for hundreds of years in Mexico, they add zest to tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, chili rellenos, guacamole and salsa verde. Yellow or purple fruits sweeten as they ripen. Use much like tomatoes. Usually picked when green and tart for preparing salsa and Mexican dishes.
Many 12- to 18-in. (30 to 45 cm)-long spikes of hooded, white flowers bloom on 4 ft. (1.25 m) tall plants. Long narrow, tapering leaves, 5 in. (12.5 cm) long, are irregularly notched. Least invasive of this species.
Shorter than other varieties at 2 ft. (60 cm) tall, this has bright rose-pink flowers.
Garden or English Peas are one of the first vegetables ready for picking in spring. For a long harvest period grow early-, midseason- and late-ripening varieties.
The tall, easily cut stalks need staking.
This dwarf flowers generously in blue, white or pink.
The most commonly available species, itÆs grown for its blue flowers and lacy foliage. There is also a white variety.
Stems reach up to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall and bear up to 30 fragrant white, single or double waterlily-like blossoms. Flowers open sequentially, giving a very long flowering season.
This evergreen fern looks good even at Christmas time, which may be how it got its common name. Use in shady borders, woodland areas or containers.
Low-growing, trailing mats of stems with tiny, bright green leaves are covered with bowl-shaped flowers in yellow, red, orange, pink or white in summer through early fall.
This hybrid produces more double flowers than other varieties.
Early-season blooming on robust heavily branched plants. Performs well in cooler climates.
This is one of the herbaceous cinquefoils. Red is hard to find for perennial borders so 'Gibson's Scarlet' cinquefoil fills the void. Silvery foliage compliments the flower color.
Blooms in pink, red, and white in late spring. Self-sows to form sizable colonies.
One of the most popular types, it has large individual flowers in big flower heads in a wide range of colors.
A wide variety of intense colors in early spring make this a favorite with West Coast gardeners in cooler areas.
A most unusual perennial type. The ends of the pointy flower spikes have unopened brick-red flowers at the top, while the opened flowers below are lilac. It seldom lives longer than 1 or 2 years.
The æLovelinessÆ series is more refined than others and blooms in purple, pink and white.
Larger leaves show off the attractive silver spotting against deep pink flowers.
In spring, funnel-shaped flower buds give way to white flowers. The long leaves are blotched with creamy white spots.
The fern-like leaves, which mound 8 to 10 in. (20 to 25 cm) high, develop after 2 in. (5 cm), cup-shaped flowers in purple, red, pink or white, with bright yellow centers. Seed heads follow flowering.
The rust-red to wine-purple flowers have subtle and mysterious beauty that must be seen close up.
Star-shaped flowers range from light to deep blue with each petal center-striped in deep blue. White varieties are also available.
A single tuber produces dozens of flowers 3 to 5 in. (7.5 to 12.5 cm) across. Regular cutting promotes bloom. Plant in Daffodil beds as Ranunculus flowers later.
Hybrids such as æPicoteeÆ are edged in a second color. Plant with an eye toward color combinations with other plants. All have very large, double, ruffled flowers.
Flowers in the æSunsetÆ series come in warm apricot-orange tones. æSunset OrangeÆ is a fully double, deep-orange.
This vigorous spreader has bright yellow flowers through the summer on 18- to 24-in. (45- to 60-cm)-tall stems.
These deep rosy-pink flowers with hints of purple are perfect for flower borders. Long-blooming. Available in white and cream.
Preferred for its deep red stalks. The roots of rhubarb are so thick that, to divide them, you'll need to cut them with a spade. Once established, plants produce for years with little care. Only stalks are edible, so discard poisonous leaf blade.
This has the deepest red color of all seed-grown Rhubarb. Seed-grown plants have variations among seedlings and take longer to produce, but this is the least expensive way to grow many vigorous plants. Only stalks are edible, so discard poisonous leaf blade.
The striking leaves, deeply veined and tinted with bronzy purple, resemble those of the horse chestnut tree. In summer, tall flower stems of cream to pink flowers rise above the foliage. Excellent for bog gardens and near pools.
4-in. (10-cm)-wide, lemon-scented double flowers grace this low-growing, vigorous shrub. Mauve blooms appear in spring and again in fall, with scattered bloom throughout.
The simple beauty of wild roses comes alive with this plant's breezy clusters of single, 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-wide, pink flowers. Blooms profusely in spring with scattered flowers until fall. Moderately fragrant.
Classic, elegant, medium pink buds with a light, spicy fragrance bloom continuously throughout the growing season. Good cut flowers. This tall, upright easy-to-grow plant is widely available.
This vigorous, upright, medium-height plant is loved for its rich golden-apricot, double flowers and their fruity fragrance. Widely available.
Its frilly old-fashioned-looking flowers are pink on the inside and white outside. Blooms well all season on a vigorous, bushy shrub. Widely available.
Its changing colors and strong spicy fragrance keep it in demand. The red edging on the creamy white petals enlarges over time until the entire flower is red. Blooms all season. The upright shrub is low- to medium-height. Sells out quickly.
Grown for its intense tea fragrance, the 5 in. (12.5 cm), orange-red, double blooms can be difficult to color coordinate. They darken with age. This vigorous, medium to tall shrub blooms all season.
Pink, miniature hybrid tea-like blooms grow on this tall, vigorous, upright shrub. The double, 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-wide flowers open in spring, with a slight tea fragrance, and continue intermittently through fall.
Double, 4 in. (10 cm) flowers with deep, yellow petals of Gold Medal are burnished with red all season. The shrub is vigorous, upright and medium to tall. If unavailable, special order from your nursery.
One of the easy-to-grow Rugosas, with wild-looking flowers, deeply veined leathery leaves and fruits called hips, it blooms well in spring, with scattered flowers until fall. If unavailable, check rose catalogs.
A classic example of Hybrid Tea flowers. Shear after bloom to encourage flowering. Repeat shear-bloom cycle up to three times.
Its large, lightly fragrant flowers are coppery orange and bloom well all season. The vigorous, upright shrub is medium to tall. May have to be special ordered.
The richly fragrant blossoms have white petals edged with red. This upright grower is of low to medium height. If unavailable, special order from your nursery.
The slightly fragrant, pinkish-mauve flowers have a subtle beauty. Plant with other soft colors. Blooms throughout the growing season on a tall, vigorous, upright shrub
This elegant yellow rose is excellent for cutting.
Its velvety petals are white on the outside and red on the inside. Ideally buds should be displayed singly in a bud vase. Blooms all season on an upright shrub of low to medium height. Widely available.
The classic long-stemmed red rose, this deep carmine bestseller has a rich fragrance. Blooms well all season on a medium to tall, upright shrub. Widely available.
One of the best red Hybrid Teas available because its rich, velvety, brilliant crimson color doesnÆt fade. Blooms all season on a vigorous, medium to tall upright shrub. Widely available.
Its rich gold color and exquisitely shapely petal arrangement makes it stand out among yellow Hybrid Teas. Blooms abundantly in late spring with scattered flowers until fall on the low to medium tall upright shrub. Widely available.
Combine it carefully with other plants to show off the fragrant, unusual flowers of silvery lilac with ruby edges. This vigorous, medium to tall, upright shrub blooms well all season.
Around since 1869, its fragrant, mauve-pink flowers reach 6 to 7 in. (15 to 17.5 cm) across. Fewer blooms than some modern roses, but each flower offers outstanding color and scent. The vigorous, arching shrub has few thorns. If unavailable, consult specialty growers.
This famous Rose celebrates the end of World War II. The large, soft yellow flowers have a shade of pink. This tall, vigorous upright shrub blooms well all season. Available as a climber.
A classic hybrid tea, the petals are marked with distinct, deep pink veins.
This Rugosa has pink, 2-in. (5-cm)-wide, wild-looking double flowers with serrated petal edges, deeply veined leathery leaves, and fruits called hips. Easy to grow and good for cutting. No scent. Blooms in spring with scattered flowers until fall. If unavailable, check rose catalogs.
An elegant rose, the prolific flowers are ivory with subtle pink shading. Blooms well all season. This vigorous shrub is medium to tall and has contrasting dark stems.
The exquisite, ice-pink flowers are beautiful in bouquets and in the garden. The tea-scented blooms appear all season on an upright, vigorous, medium to tall shrub. Widely available. Resists powdery mildew.
With its five petaled flowers, it resembles wild roses. Its silky flowers show in spring and fall with scattered bloom in between. The low, bushy shrub is widely available.
This lemon yellow rose is one of the most reliable, generous, all-season bloomers and has a mild licorice scent. The shrub is vigorous and bushy. Widely available.
Slim shapely buds open as deep yellow flowers brushed with copper. The blooms appear all season with a fruity fragrance. The vigorous, upright shrub is medium to tall. Widely available.
The full, old-fashioned-looking silvery pink flowers are very fragrant and bloom all season on a low- to medium-sized upright shrub. Long, strong stems. Widely available.
This popular, exceptionally fragrant, pink rose has a hint of yellow at the base of the petals, giving the flower a warm glow. Blooms well all season on a vigorous, upright, medium to tall shrub.
Subtly pink bicolor petals are lighter inside. The prolific, antique-looking flower clusters bloom all season. Medium to tall growing, vigorous, upright plant. Widely available.
One of the most fragrant Hybrid Teas, its 5 to 6 in. (12.5 to 15 cm), deep coral orange flowers bloom abundantly on medium to tall, vigorous, upright shrubs. Plant with compatible colors. If unavailable, check rose catalogs.
Tall, long-lasting flowers, with yellow petals and dark, high center cones, bloom from mid-summer to fall. Leave the flower heads to ripen for birds, for winter interest and to reseed plants.
æGoldsturmÆ is German for "storm of gold," and this coneflower is stunning with its bright petals and black centers. As the best selection of fulgida available, it offers the biggest flowers, 3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm) across. Spreads underground to form colonies.
æBlue HillÆ is a compact variety that grows to 18 in. (45 cm) tall. Dense, compact æJackmanÆs BlueÆ has the bluest leaves. Another variety is variegated green and white. All have fragrant leaves.
A favorite annual for its intense spikes of violet-blue flowers, which bloom from early summer through fall. Varieties are available with silvery white flowers and in dwarf form.
For color with minimal care, grow these large, gray-green, shrubby mounds with many fuzzy, purple flowers. Use as a low hedge, in a mixed border, in parking strips or in a wild garden. In zones 4 through 8, bring plants indoors in winter. Available as blue and white bicolor selection.
Still one of the most important herbs in Western cooking, its lavender or purple flowers attract bees. Some types have variegated leaves with yellow, pink or white splashes. Others have larger, rounded leaves, or tiny miniature leaves.
Still one of the most important herbs in Western cooking. This variety has leaves tinged with purple. When in bloom, its lavender flowers attract bees.
Grown as an annual, this 6-in. to 3-ft (15- to 90-cm)-tall bushy shrub has fresh, glossy green leaves. The small, tubular, red flowers grow in thick, showy spikes from early summer until frost.
Early blooming and compact-growing with deep red flowers. Use as edging, in containers or with other low-growing annuals, such as French Marigolds, Petunias, or Sweet Alyssum.
Its bright bluish purple flower spikes mix beautifully with flower border plants, such as yellow Yarrow and white BabyÆs Breath. Blooms longest in areas with cool nights. The masses of flowers attract bees and hummingbirds.
Large, dense spikes of rich, violet flowers rise from green, pungent, leathery leaves. Low growing.
Trail over walls or rocks, or use as a ground cover for bulbs. DoesnÆt like heat. Shear after bloom.
Has a more delicate flavor than Winter Savory. Replace this annual each year.
Low cushions of mossy-looking foliage have dainty pink, white or red flowers in spring. Foliage turns red in fall in cold winter areas.
An all white variety, similar to the House Hybrids.
The most popular pincushion flower, especially with florists, it has large, lacy flowers up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) wide. Colors include white and blue. Prefer cool summers.
Lower-growing than the cut flower types, stems are still long enough for cutting. From mound of foliage bloom 1.5-in. (3.75-cm)-wide flowers. Shear back old flowers and more appear all summer.
Lower growing than the cut-flower types, unusual 1.5-in. (3.75-cm)-wide pink flowers arise on stems long enough for cutting. Shear old flower heads for blooms all summer.
The vigorous, long blooming plants are spectacular in hanging baskets, in the front of flower borders or cascading over walls. Profuse flower clusters are 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) wide.
Each bulb produces one or more 8 in. (20 cm) spikes of 5 to 6 deep, rich, blue flowers, each 1 in. (2.5 cm) across. Reseeds and naturalizes in slightly moist ground. Poisonous.
The unusual, semi-training foliage is shiny, dark and appears in the spring. Flower stalks form in summer and have pink blooms.
In late summer, clusters of star-shaped, densely clustered, iridescent, ruby-red flowers top Succulent-like, 1-ft. (30-cm)-tall stems with rich blue-green leaves.
Its many stout stems are topped by domelike flower heads which start out green and transform to pink then bronze. Cut old flower stalks to the ground.
Use in the back of the perennial border or in the cutting garden in cool, dry conditions. They go dormant without summer water, reappearing with fall rains.
One of the best medium-sized eggplants, it produces oval, purple fruits with glossy skin. Harvest fruits when 6 in. (15 cm) long, about 60 days from transplanting.
Harvest this oriental-type Eggplant 61 days after transplant. Its dark purple, cucumber-like fruit grow to 12 in. (30 cm) long and 2 in. (5 cm) in diameter. A perennial grown as an annual. All parts of plant are toxic, except the eggplant fruit.
A popular, early season potato with white flesh. Excellent for baking, boiling and french fries. High yielding, but potatoes donÆt store well. A perennial grown as an annual.
More cold-tolerant than other Sparaxis, itÆs also the most commonly grown. Flowers are multicolored in gaudy pinks, yellows, reds and purples, and splashed with contrasting colors. Usually have bright yellow throats and dark blotches at the base of each petal. The cultivar, æAlba,Æ has white flowers.
Varieties of spinach have either smooth or crinkled leaves. Savoy types with crinkled leaves are more difficult to clean. Harvest individual leaves or entire plants. A cool-season annual.
In summer, this 12- to 24-in. (30- to 60-cm)-tall and -wide plant has lavender or purple-blue blooms.
Its lavender-blue flowers bloom up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) across. Divide for new plants in spring.
Lower-growing with a showier flower than the Giant variety.
Semi-dwarf plants have large, carnation-like flowers.
The first American Marigold that doesnÆt need long days to set its flower buds. Blooms early in the season. Semi-dwarf plants have large carnation-like flowers.
Tolerant of poor weather conditions, use this fully double, semi-dwarf African Marigold in bedding. Yellow and gold blooming varieties also available.
These semi-dwarf African Marigolds are strong, bushy plants with 3.5 in. (8.75 cm) blooms. Plants arenÆt sensitive to daylight; they bloom early.
Fully double and early flowering, these compact-growing plants flower in light yellow, orange, red, and striking yellow/red, and orange/red bicolors.
One of the earliest and most generous bloomers, this French Marigold has double, crested, gold flowers.
One of the earliest and most free-flowering French Marigolds, it has double-crested red and gold bicolor flowers.
This medium-sized marigold with large, crested flowers blooms early. Also available in yellow, orange and tangerine. æSafari QueenÆ is a scarlet-gold bicolor. æSafari BoleroÆ is a yellow-red bicolor.
Wall germander leaves form neat mounds that make a refined, diminutive hedge. Shear purple flowers when faded. Attractive to bees; shrubby with creeping rootstock; upright to spreading stems; leaves aromatic when crushed.
One of the tallest varieties, the foliage is more finely textured than some others. It's an unusual cut flower.
A small shrubby plant which is both ornamental and edible, in may be used in rock and herb gardens and as a low edging. The tiny chartreuse leaves have a lime-like flavor.
Small, upright branches with minute, aromatic green leaves form mats 2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm) tall. Purple or white flower clusters bloom in summer.
Plant this small, shrubby, culinary Thyme near the herb garden edge for easy harvesting, or in containers with other herbs, such as chives. Popular in rock gardens and bordering walks.
This vigorous spreader quickly forms carpets of foliage. The leaves sometimes have bronze or purple variegation. Flowers are white or pink. Light green leaves show red or yellow in fall; flower stalks grow to 12 in. (30 cm) high.
For winter color, the 3.5-in. (8.75-cm)-wide, heart shaped leaves turn red. It has no stolons and is slower to spread.
Although individual blooms last only a day, each stalk produces many flowers over several weeks. Showy, 3- to 6-in. (7.5- to 15-cm)-wide flowers.
An early blooming All-America Selection winner, this compact, rounded plant bears a wide variety of flower colors.
Its rich purple blooms mix well with other flowers of white, pink or blue.
The magnificent, large flowers are orchid-pink or lavender.
One of the best, with large reddish-magenta flowers.
The magnificent flowers are pure white.
These long-lasting blooms with fuzzy leaves make novel cut flowers. Pure white, spotted, as well as a variegated form with gold-edged leaves are available.
The easiest to grow, largest and showiest of Wake-Robins, its flowers are usually white, but pink and double white varieties are also available. Blue-black berries.
Clump-forming perennial with deeply divided green leaves. Spring or summer flowering, the white, orange, or yellow blooms resemble large double buttercups.
Large, globe-like, lemon-yellow flowers from May to July. Long-lived, plants reach 15 to 18 in. (37.5 to 45 cm) tall and wide.
Stately stands of deep green foliage provide a background for 4 in. (10 cm), orange-yellow, cup-shaped flowers.
This seed mix produces fragrant, double and semi-double flowers in yellow, orange, apricot, bronze and red. Use flowers and leaves in salads. Naturalizes in warmer areas.
Common Society Garlic has solid green leaves, but there are also lower-growing, variegated versions. Some use the strong-smelling leaves as a seasoning.
Its white-striped leaves are interesting even when plants arenÆt in bloom. More widely grown, though less vigorous than the species. (Pink variety shown). Flower stems to 2 ft. (60 cm) high. Can be used for seasoning.
A classic Darwin Tulip with distinct yellow and red markings.
These salmon-rose flowers with a hint of red bloom mid-season. Mendel tulips are generally daintier than Darwin tulips. You can force bulbs to bloom in winter by starting them indoors.
The most popular type grown in the US, this is the classic, large-flowered, tall-growing tulip. Blooms in mid- to late spring. The satin-like flowers shimmer in the sun. Resistant to rain and wind.
These white flowers edged with deep pink bloom mid- to late-spring. Strong stems and flower texture make them excellent cut flower. Tolerates adverse weather.
Cherished in ancient Persia for its lovely, graceful form and pointed petals, the flowers are tough and do well in beds and borders. Excellent cut flowers.
These feathery, twisted petals get very large. Coloring is due to a contagious virus, so plant far from solid-colored tulips or lilies. Protect from wind and rain
Said to be the darkest flowering hybrid ever produced, the single flowers are a deep, velvety maroon -- very nearly black. Blooms in late spring on sturdy stems, and lasts long.
This lily-flowered variety with red flowers is edged in golden yellow.
This is a popular, early blooming, dwarf Greigii tulip with scarlet cup-shaped flowers and mottled leaves.
Seen in paintings by the Old Masters such as Rembrandt, these multi-colored tulips are striped, streaked or blotched in contrasting colors. Weak stemmed, so plant in a protected area. Mixed coloring used to be due to a contagious virus. Tulips now sold as Rembrandts are multi-color due to genetic, not viral origin.
With full sun and excellent drainage, this tulip does well in warm winter climates. A dwarf species, its pale lilac flowers have a yellow blotch at the base. Each stem produces 1 to 4 scented flowers, 1.5 to 2.25 in. (3.75 to 5.5 cm) long, tapered at the base. Flowers open nearly flat.
In late spring and early summer of its 2nd year, narrow flower spikes appear on plants 3 to 4 ft. (90 cm to 1.25 m) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) wide.
This bushy, vigorous, 8- to 12-in. (20- to 30-cm)-tall creeper is grown as an annual. Clusters of small, bright, tubular flowers in white, red, pink, yellow or purple bloom through summer until frost.
One of the earliest blooming and most generous flowerers of the Annual Verbenas, these dwarf, compact spreading plants become covered with blooms. Colors include red, white, rose and purple and bicolor flowers with purple and red eyes. Perennial in warm climates
Grown for its many, long-blooming lavender flowers, it may become invasive. Use in wild gardens, parking strips or in containers. Other flower color include white and purple.
Blooms mainly in spring, flowering on and off until fall. Easy to grow, this creeper tolerates heat up to zone 8 and cold to zone 3.
This creeping, shiny leafed Speedwell has blue flowers that appear in the spring, then on and off again until fall. Easy to grow.
Tall enough for the middle of the flower border, the sharp, white blooms blend with any color scheme.
Its foliage creeps along the ground sending up 12 in. (30 cm), vibrant, gentian blue flower spikes. For the front of flower borders, in rock gardens or as edging.
Use this taller Speedwell in the middle of the flower border and as a cut flower. The foxtail-like dark pink flowers blend well with purple, white and light pink.
Known for the texture of its thick, blue, flower spikes and quilted glossy leaves, this won the Perennial Plant AssociationÆs Plant of the Year award. Cut back spent flower stalks to encourage more blooms.
Perennials often grown as annual. Small, flat-faced, fragrant flowers, pale to deep purplish-blue, and occasionally white flowers, in spring and much of summer.
Broad, dark green, oval or kidney-shaped leaves partially hide the sweetly fragrant, spring flowers in violet, rose or white. Rapid-spreading, self-seeding, and semi-evergreen. Good for wild gardens.
Short-lived perennial, so treat as an annual. From spring to fall masses of tiny multi-colored blooms in combinations of white, yellow and shades of purple. Naturalizes in some areas. A favorite for planting over bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips.
Black flowers generate interest and curiosity. Many such pansies are available, including æKing of the Black,Æ æJet BlackÆ and æBlack Devil.Æ All have deep purple tints. Cut flowers to prolong bloom.
Small-leafed, compact and bred especially for heat resistance, this is an excellent pansy for warm climates. Medium-sized flowers are warm, solid colors without ôfaces.ö
This pansyÆs 2.5 to 3 in. (6.25 to 7.5 cm) blooms come in a mixture of soft yellow, orange, apricot, rose and white.
An All-America Selection winner, its white flowers have deep-to light-rose centers.
The first pansy to win an All-America Selection award, æMajestic GiantsÆ are among the most popular of all large-flowered pansies. Compact plants produce large [4 in. (10 cm)] flowers and are heat resistant. Flowers come in purple, white and bicolors with red, rose, blue, yellow, scarlet, and bronze.
Tolerant of heat and poor weather, this All-America Selection winner has 2-in. (5-cm)-wide flowers, with dark blue ôfacesö edged in white, surrounded by a soft light blue. Excellent for bedding and massing.
A prized modern hybrid, this pansy is an All-America Selection winner. Named after the rare orange sapphire from Sri Lanka, its flowers seem to glow and sparkle.
This viola's large reddish flowers are distinctive from other varieties.
One of North AmericaÆs most popular, generously flowering, bedding pansies, it offers 18 color combinations. DoesnÆt survive winter as well as other varieties.
Large white flowers grow from rhizomes planted in fall or spring. Leaves are glossy and evergreen in warm climates. In zones 7 and colder, can be grown as a houseplant. In hot areas, give afternoon shade.
The soft pink flowers have central yellow spikes. In fall, gradually withhold water to allow foliage to go dormant. In warm climates, replant in autumn. In other areas plant in spring.
An All-America Selection of Super Sweet has ears with 8 in. (20 cm) of creamy white kernels. Just 80 to 88 days from planting to maturity.
This narrow-leafed zinnia has single, long-lasting, 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers. Star-shaped flowers cover plants from summer to early fall.
Once rare, this is a white-flowering variety of the narrow-leafed Zinnia.
A semi-dwarf variety, each plant produces up to 12, double or semi-double, 3.5 in. (8.75 cm) flowers. Bloom begins when plants are 6 in. (15 cm) tall and continues until they reach full size.
An All-America Selection winner, this super-dwarf begins blooming when only 3 in. (7.5 cm) tall. The many single and semi-double flowers are 1.25 in. (3 cm) across.
This fast-growing mounding bush reaches 4 ft. (1.25 m) high and 6 ft. (2 m) wide. Bronze-red flowers bloom well even in cool summer areas.
The most popular of Bottlebrushes, it's cold-hardy, tough, and tolerant of many soils. New growth is coppery-red, and flowers are bright red.
This long-time favorite has bracts ranging from light pink to red. Not as hardy as the species.
Use this large weeping shrub to cover slopes and banks or cascade down walls and embankments where the long branches can trail. Not as many bright golden-yellow flowers as F. x intermedia.
The foliage on this easy-to-grow shrub is golden-yellow.
Chiefly used as bank or ground cover for poor, dry soils. The deep green leaves turn orange to reddish purple in fall and are fragrant when bruised or crushed.
It grows slowly from a low shrub to 20 to 30 ft. (6 to 9 m) high. The red berries are held tightly against the stem. More often planted are the male, 'Accent,' a narrow pyramidal form, and 'Elegance,' with red-fruits.
Give your yard an "Alice in Wonderland" feeling with this weeper, whose slender branches trail from a gnarled trunk. Difficult to garden near invasive surface roots.
Graceful stems with maple- to heart-shaped, sometimes speckled, leaves form a rounded shrub. The drooping, bell-shaped flowers bloom spring to fall.
This clump-forming, open shrub or small tree has glossy, dark green leaves, and red flowers in early summer.
This deciduous, round-headed, sometimes shrubby tree has low branches that bend toward the ground, arching back up at the ends. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Greenish yellow flowers appear with leaves in late spring and early summer.
This tough ground cover is less weedy than the green-leafed species and so is grown more often. Its white-margined leaves are irregularly variegated. Remove plants that change to solid green leaves.
The sometimes multiple trunks of this palm are heavily crowned with deeply cut, waxy, silver blue leaves up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) long. The leaf stalks are armed with stout, hooked spines.
Dense 6- to 12-in. (15- to 30-cm)-long clusters of fragrant, tubular, mauve-blue flowers bloom at the tip of every branch from mid summer to fall. The dark gray-green, lance-shaped leaves are whitish on the undersides.
This hardy timber tree reaches 30 to 100 ft. (10 to 30 m) tall. Its dark bluish green or grayish green foliage spreads 15 to 50 ft. (4.5 to 15 m) wide. Won't tolerate high temperatures or cold winds.
Wood from its straight trunk is highly prized by woodworkers. Its thick furrowed bark becomes nearly black with age. Harvest the sweet, oily nuts in fall.
Its dark green needlelike leaves are spirally arranged on graceful branches in horizontal tiers. Branches grow in regularly spaced whorls. Reaches 100 ft. (30 m) outdoors and just 6 ft. (2 m) indoors.
This spreading, multistemmed large shrub or small tree has a rounded crown and many small branches. Its leaves mature to dark green, turning yellow, orange or red in fall. Fruits change from green to red to purplish black in mid summer.
The large white flowers, tinged pink as buds, appear in spring on this fast-growing, spreading tree or large shrub. Its purplish, downy young leaves turn dark green in summer and brilliant red-orange in fall. Fleshy fruits are red.
The small, purplish bronze, young leaves on this narrow tree or shrub turn dark green in summer and brilliant red, yellow and orange in fall. Dangling clusters of white flowers are followed by fleshy, sweet, berrylike, dark purple fruits.
This tree has a narrow pyramidal shape when young that becomes rounded with age. Its dark green, shiny, sharp, stiff, needlelike leaves are spirally arranged around the drooping branches.
These elegant palms have slender, ringed stems and feather-shaped, arching leaves. Lavender to lilac purple sprays of small summer flowers are followed by large, egg-shaped red fruits.
This shrub forms a loose mat of shiny, bright green leaves and reddish brown stems. Small, urn-shaped, white or pink flowers appear in spring, but are partly hidden by the leaves.
Majestic and fast-growing, its straight, erect trunk is topped with a narrow crown of 10- to 15-ft. (3- to 4.5-m)-long, feathery, glossy green fronds.
Its spreading clumps of upright stems are covered with dark green oval leaves that turn bright red in fall. Berrylike fruits are also bright red.
Similar to A. arbutifolia, but with more vivid, brilliant red foliage and fruit. Blooms in greater masses of white flowers too.
Flower spikes are creamy white, lavender, or rose. Best in moist shade.
Green, red, bronze, purple, or variegated foliage creates a lacy effect on this shrub's twisted, arching branches. Leaves are deeply lobed and finely serrated. Red flower clusters bloom in mid spring. Attractive bark in winter.
This dense, multistemmed shrub has oval, finely toothed, grayish new leaves that mature to deep green and turn yellow and red in fall. Flowers are followed by purplish black, rounded, juicy, sweet fruits.
Its clusters of 4- to 8-in. (10- to 20-cm)-long, sharply toothed, leathery leaves are brightened by small purplish flowers in spring.
This deciduous, multistemmed shrub is loaded with thorns. Its leathery, dark green, oblong leaves turning fiery red-orange in fall.
The bright white bark appears painted on this single-trunked tree. Oval, coarsely toothed leaves form a narrow oval crown. Leaves are dark green in summer, golden yellow in fall.
Its many varieties range from upright to spreading forms with solid green to variegated fine-textured leaves. The well-known dwarf form is called 'Suffruticosa.'
This rapid-spreading perennial reaches 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm) tall and wide. In late spring and early summer bears clusters of trumpet-shaped blue, purple or white flowers.
Spring flowers, carmine in bud, turn to pink, 5-petaled, single blossoms. Red-tinged new leaves mature to light green, followed by fleshy, rounded, 0.75 in. (2 cm) thick, red fall fruits.
This multi-trunked large shrub or small tree flowers best where winters are cold. Blooms are bright magenta-pink. Good for hot dry locations since it needs little summer water.
A formidable barrier, it's one of the thorniest and hardiest Barberries. Semi-evergreen in cold winter climates, its leaves may get bronzy or red tints in fall and winter.
Bright pink, daisylike flowers bloom all summer on this fast-growing plant. It reaches 2 to 4 in. (5 to 10 cm) tall and 4 to 24 in. (10 to 60 cm) wide.
Its aromatic leaves are bronze-purple when young and medium to dark green when mature. The edible thin-shelled nuts are widely available in stores and don't have the wild nutty taste.
This picturesque native of California blooms in striking, fragrant, creamy white flowers. In hot, dry climates, leaves turn brown by mid-summer. Silvery gray, smooth bark is ornamental in winter.
This eastern United States native is the cold-hardiest of all Ceanothus. Its fluffy white flowers aren't fragrant. Won't transplant.
The new purple-bronze foliage on this tree matures to a dark green.
Multiple stems with many upright, slender branches make this a bushy, wide-spreading shrub. Its white flowers arrive in midsummer. Reaches 8 to 12 ft. (2.5 to 3.5 m) tall and 8 to 15 ft. (2.5 to 4.5 m) wide.
Dense clusters of tubular to bell-shaped, red-orange flowers bloom on tall stems in late winter and spring. The plump, dull blue-green leaves have toothed edges and form 6- to 8-ft. (2- to 2.5-m)-wide rosettes.
This oval to rounded, spreading tree has large, dark green leaves and yellow, pink, white, or multi-colored flowers flushed with pink. Reaches 50 to 75 ft. (15 to 22.5 m) tall and 40 to 70 ft. (12 to 21 m) wide.
Pale yellow to creamy white summer flowers are followed by prickly fruits with edible nuts inside. In fall, this low-branched tree turns shades of yellow and bronze.
This broadly rounded tree has short, crooked branches. They're filled with large white flowers with yellow and purple spots in late spring to early summer. Reaches 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) tall.
Soft pink sweet pea-like flower clusters grow on the trunk and branches of this multi-stemmed shrub. The rounded heart-shaped leaves are leathery and blue-green. There is also a white variety - 'Alba'.
Similar to C. nootkatensis, but its drooping branchlets drape down from spreading, upcurving branches.
Its slender feathery sprays of dark green foliage have whitish lines underneath. Branches are arranged on horizontal planes. Reaches 40 to 50 ft. (12 to 15 m) tall.
The flowers, which resemble daisies or yellow buttons, are dried for Chamomile tea . The finely divided, gray-green leaves have an apple scent when crushed.
Grown only in warm areas, flowers are followed by juicy yellow fruits. Reaches 20 to 25 ft. (6 to 7.5 m) tall and wide. Water deeply all year, especially when fruit is ripening. After tree is established, thin out branches and remove dead wood. Soggy soil inhibits growth.
Star-shaped, creamy white flowers appear on this shrub in late spring and early summer, followed by white fruits. Leaves turn red or orange in fall. Young shoots are bright red in winter.
The creamy white bracts on this large shrub or small tree last for weeks; plump red fruits follow. Its leaves turn orange to red in fall. Older flaking bark is gray, tan and brown.
Late spring and early summer pink flowers are followed by bright red berries that last into winter. The deciduous dark green leaves turn red in fall.
This rounded, evergreen shrub has many twiggy branches covered with tiny, glossy, bright green leaves. Flowers are rose-purple to lilac to white. Reaches 6 to 24 in. (15 to 60 cm) tall and wide.
The flaking bark on this conical to pyramidal conifer's strong central trunk is reddish purple. The sprays of fine-textured foliage are gray- to blue-green. Reaches 30 to 50 ft. (9 to 15 m) tall.
The only Forsythia with autumn color, the bright green, serrated leaves on this flat-topped shrub turn bronze in fall . Bright yellow flowers with a slight greenish tinge bloom in early spring.
This spreading tree is pyramidal in youth, maturing to have an open, rounded crown. Its lance-shaped, dark green leaves turn yellow and purple in fall.
Its deep violet to white flowers bloom in dense flat clusters from late spring to fall. Reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90cm) tall and 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.8 m) wide.
The whiplike, broad-spreading branches have light green foliage that retains its color all year. Reaches 18 to 24 in. (45 to 60 cm) tall and 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) wide.
The stiff, thick branches bear needle-like, light green, yellow-green, bluish-green or gray-green foliage dotted with brown to black berries. Reaches 8 to 24 in. (20 to 60 cm) tall and 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) wide.
This type forms an 8- to 12-in. (20- to 30-cm)-tall mound of dense, 4- to 8-ft. (1.25- to 2.5-m)-wide, feathery branches. Its very short foliage stays bright green in winter and smells unpleasant when crushed.
Fresh green to grayish green to bright, steely blue-green, needlelike foliage covers this prostrate, sprawling shrub, dotted with fleshy black berries. Flaking bark is red-brown.
Funnel-shaped, many-petaled, fragrant pink or white flowers appear in mid spring before leaves emerge. Blooms are usually late enough to avoid frost damage.
Red buds open to fragrant pink flowers in spring as the leaves unfold. Small, fleshy, plump, red-tinged yellow crab apples follow in fall.
Heavy-textured foliage on arching branches is tinged with red. Red buds open to pink flowers, followed by small, fleshy, bright cherry-red fruits that last into winter.
This flowering tree has dark green leaves and dark red to purplish red buds that open rose-pink. Bright red, fleshy crabapples appear in late summer.
This round-crowned tree's maturing young leaves reddish to green. Its deep red buds open to deep pink blooms. Plump, bright red fruits may be yellow on shaded side.
Its leaves offer excellent color, opening glossy purple in spring, maturing to purple-green in summer and brilliant purple in fall. Dark red flowers are almost purple; fruit is dark purple-red.
This graceful evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub has slender, light green, smooth, leathery leaves. The small, grayish, waxy fall berries are used for candle wax.
Slow-growing, its compact branches hold dense bright green needles that mature to gray-green. Reaches 4 to 10 ft. (1.25 to 3 m) tall and 3 to 4 ft. (90 to 1.25 m) wide.
Its narrow to broad pyramidal form is created by stiff horizontal branches that reach to the ground. Mature needlelike leaves are gray-green to blue-green, while young growth is silvery blue-gray.
It narrow, symmetrical, conical shape is covered with bright silvery blue needles in summer and winter. Branches droop slightly. Reaches 20 to 30 ft. (6 to 9 m) tall and 10 to 12 ft. (3 to 3.75 m) wide.
Usually short-lived, its columnar to rounded form has broadly oval leaves. Foliage is bronze when young, maturing to dark green. Red catkins in spring.
This round-headed tree's leaves are red when young and purple when mature. Early spring flowers of white or light pink arrive just before leaves unfold. Edible yellow or reddish fruit isn't tasty.
Small, pinkish, fragrant flowers are followed by blackish purple summer fruits on this slow-growing, multibranched shrub. Foliage is reddish purple. Reaches 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) tall and 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) wide.
This multistemmed shrub produces racemes of white to pinkish flowers in late spring, which are often followed by pink-red fruits. Reaches 4 to 5 ft. (1.25 to 1.5 m) tall and 3 to 4 ft. (90 cm to 1.25 m) wide
This variety is like the P. glandulosa, but blooms in double, bright rose-pink flowers.
Large, double, deep pink flowers cover this flat-topped, vase-shaped tree from mid to late spring. Its new bronzy leaves mature to rich dark green Reaches 20 to 30 ft. (6 to 9 m) tall and 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) wide.
The crooked branches and slender twigs on this rounded-crowned, oval tree or shrub are covered with dense spikes of small, star-shaped flowers in late spring. Red fruits that ripen dark purple follow.
In fall, its rounded leaves turn fiery red, orange, yellow or purple. Clusters of white flowers cover the limbs from mid to late spring. Brownish fruits are inedible. Won't tolerate waterlogged or dry soils.
This pyramidal, round-headed tree has narrow, glossy, dark green leaves that are tinged bronze when young. Foliage hangs on late into winter.
This is a narrow columnar tree densely covered with dark green, round lobed leaves that are broader at the end. Its narrow acorns are 1 in. (2.5 cm) long.
For an oak, this is a fast grower. Conical when young, it rounds and spreads with age. Its dark bark has vertical stripes and ridges. The long, dark green, pointed leaves turn rich bright red in fall.
This dense shrub offers bright yellow fall color. Creamy green flowers are followed by berrylike red fruits that turn black in fall. Seeds spread by birds can cause unwanted sprouts.
Its clusters of fragrant, star-shaped, vivid pink flowers are 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) wide. Small blue berries ripen in late summer. Reaches 4 to 5 ft. (1.25 to 1.5 m) tall and wide.
Vigorous-growing, hardy and tough, its olive green leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Its rounded top reaches 70 ft. (21 m) tall.
The gnarled and contorted, gray-brown twigs and stems twist and spiral like a corkscrew. Use branches in dried arrangements. Slender bright green leaves turn yellow in fall.
This medium-sized tree to large shrub has not typical form. It is normally pyramidal, but its shape varies. Flat, needle-lick, dark green leaves appear on olive-green shoots. Prune 2- to 20-ft. (60 cm to 6 m) tall and wide.
Foliage keeps its bright green color, except in the coldest winters when it turns bronze. Slow growing, its densely branched pyramidal form reaches 10 to 12 ft. (3 to 3.75 m) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) wide.
Tiny, scalelike, bright green leaves create a shiny, soft-textured, narrow pyramid of foliage. Reddish to grayish brown bark. Reaches 20 to 30 ft. (6 to 9 m) tall and 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) wide.
Slow-growing, its tight, flat sprays of dark green foliage fill out in a globe that keeps its shape without pruning. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and 6 to 10ft. (1.75 to 3 m) wide.
Its blue-green foliage and pyramidal form make this a popular shrub. Reaches 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) tall and 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) wide.
This round-headed native elm has small, lustrous, oval, dark green leaves that are rough to the touch. Reaches 50 to 70 ft. (15 to 21 m) tall and 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) wide.
This evergreen shrub blooms in clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers in late spring. Egg-shaped red fruits mature to black. Reaches 10 to 20 ft. (3 to 6 m) tall and 15 ft. (4.5 m) wide.
Tall and suitable for the middle of flower borders. Its lavender blue flowers blend with any color scheme.
This generous producer has juicy, thick salmon-colored flesh. Vines resist powdery and downy mildew and grow fruit about 6 in. (15 cm) wide, weighing 4.5 to 5 lb. each.
Also called æVariegata,Æ its foliage has splashes of pink, yellow, cream and red. Reaches 1 ft. ( 30 cm) tall.
Upright perennials with sword shaped, dark green foliage. Summer and fall, bright red, tubular flower clusters appear, several per plant. The bold flower spikes stand straight as a poker on plants 18 to 36 in. (45 to 90 cm) tall. Good cut flowers.
This vigorous perennial flax is the most popular variety. Its sky-blue flowers open on sunny days, but close at night and on overcast days.
Cardinal-red flowers bloom on 24 in. (60 cm) spikes from mid- to late-summer. Foliage, 2- to 4-ft. (60-cm to 1.25-m)-tall, is dark green or red bronze. Likes moist soil, so mulch in summer and winter. Remove faded flower stalks.
This classic Phlox features quarter-sized flowers. Deadhead and thin to discourage mildew. Requires rich, moist soil and likes full sun, but cool temperatures.
Its curled, crisp, dark green leaves have a metallic bronze luster, and they form a mat or mound. Blue flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. Dark blue berries follow.
Deep blue, pink or white, funnel-shaped flowers on 18- to 24-in. (45- to 60-cm)-tall stems rise above the lush mounds of dark green leaves. The intermediate-sized variety reaches 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) tall and 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) wide.
The mat or mound of its egg-shaped, shiny, metallic bronze leaves reaches just 4 to 8 in. (10 to 20 cm) tall. Blue flower spikes rise above the leaves in late spring to early summer.
Egg-shaped, shiny, bronze-purple leaves form a mat 8 to 24 in. (20 to 60 cm) wide. Lilac flowers open on 6- to 12-in. (15- to 30-cm)-tall spikes in spring.
Individual blossoms are single, ruffled, frilled or double blooms in nearly every shade of white, pink, yellow and lavender. Blooms in summer and early fall.
Its pink blossoms are 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) across and may be ruffled.
The bulb of this pungent, strong-smelling onion reaches 4 in. (10 cm) wide. Choose from numerous shapes and colors, such as white, yellow, brown or purple-red. Star-shaped, greenish white flowers appear in summer.
Large dark red flowers grow on sturdy stems from late summer to early fall. Plant forms a mound 15 to 18 in. (37.5 to 45 cm) tall and wide.
Fluffy dense plumes of small, star-shaped, pure white flowers create a feathery effect. Dark green, broad, finely cut, fernlike leaves add to the delicate look.
Summer flowers bloom creamy white on 2 ft. (60 cm) sturdy stems.
Similar to A. x arendsii, but with deep red flowers and bronzy leaves.
This vigorous, much-branched plant has lance-shaped, rough leaves. It's covered in late summer and early fall with small, long-lasting, fluffy, deep purple flowers.
Fluffy panicles of tiny, star-shaped, deep raspberry-red flowers rise above dense green clumps of finely divided, coarse, toothed, hairy leaves.
Loose mounds of long-lasting, fragrant, soft lavender flower heads with yellow centers bloom from mid summer to late fall. Rough leaves are dark green.
Similar to A. x arendsii, but with deep pink flowers.
Low growing, spreading, mat forming perennial. Forms loose mat with succulent, soft, whitish green leaves and prolific, fragrant white flowers with yellow stamens in late spring and early summer. 6 to 9 in. (15 to 22.5 cm) tall, 8 to 12 in. (20 to 30 cm) wide. Cut plants back after flowering. Cover with leaves when ground freezes.
The mat of large rosettes of small, oval, green leaves is topped by a mass of single, fragrant, deep pink flowers on long stems in late spring and early summer.
With proper care, this plant produces more than 300 flowers from late summer to early fall. Blooms are large and sometimes semidouble. Oval leaves are smooth.
Its blue-green foliage is topped by stiff stems that carry masses of pink, lilac or white summer flowers.
Its long, narrow, dark blue-green leaves are used for seasoning meats, soups and stews. Harvest branch tips when the plants are 1 ft. (30 cm) tall. Just before the first heavy frost, harvest the entire plant. Use leaves fresh, or freeze them.
One of the showiest Artemisias, it blooms in creamy yellow flowers from late summer to fall. Its silvery gray, narrow leaves on whitish stems are covered with fine white hair. Reaches 2 to 4 ft. (60 cm to 1.25 m) tall and wide.
Forms a mound of intense, silver-gray, satiny, fernlike, finely and deeply cut leaves. In summer, small, rounded, pale yellow flowers appear. 15 to 24 in. (37.5 to 60 cm) tall and wide.
Blooming throughout summer and early fall, this perennial is usually grown as an annual; though plants may overwinter in frost-free areas, replace each year for best blooms.
Developed for maximum flowering even in mild, cool summer areas, it produces formal-looking masses of white flowers with red centers. Blooms are 2.25 in. (5.5 cm) wide.
Cabbage varieties range from the classic large green heads to red- and curly-leafed varieties. Plant seed or seedlings in fall through winter, so that heads mature before or after heat of summer and before freezing winter weather. Keep soil moist, or plants send up flowering stalks.
White, yellow, red or purple, 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-wide flowers bloom April through summer on evergreen shrubs, which reach up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall.
The abundant large red berries on the female plant remain into winter after leaves have fallen. Excellent for birds. The male needed for pollination.
This short-lived perennial, often grown as annual, is the state flower of Maryland. Different strains exist with different flower colors and of different mature heights. Hardy to 0░F.
Durable, bushy annual with aromatic, deep green leaves. Plentiful small flowers 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) across, in shades of yellow, orange and red in summer to early fall. 12 in. (30 cm) tall and wide.
These beans have earned a spot in many flower gardens for their scarlet blossoms. Harvested young, the beans are a nutritious addition to any meal, and a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Dark green leaves covered with soft, bristly hairs and blotched with creamy white spots flesh out this clump-forming perennial. Plants often blend into large patches.
Much wider than tall, this dense, spreading evergreen reaches 2 to 4 ft. (60 to 1.25 m) tall and 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) wide. Its nest-shape and central depression give it its common name.
In spring, clusters of tiny, red flowers cover its bare branches. Turns color earlier in fall than other A. rubrum. The lobed 3-in. (7.5-cm) leaves turn bright red, or sometimes yellow.
Its bright crimson leaves last all summer and turn scarlet in fall. Too much or too little direct sun keeps them from having the best color.
The soft leaves on this broadly rounded, multistemmed tree retain their rich wine-red color in fall. Purplish red flowers bloom in spring before leaves emerge.
The weeping branches have long, thin, leathery leaves that turn from bronze red to green when mature and produce a peppermint scent when crushed. Abundant white flowers start in late spring. Water moderately, but less in winter.
This ornamental spruce makes an excellent lawn tree, especially in the Rocky Mountains. Most are densely branched all the way to the ground.
Spectacular and dramatic in form and flower, this large shrub or small tree bears large, pale yellow-orange trumpet-shaped flowers. Blooms are poisonous if eaten.
These hybrids are evergreen in mild climates and have a long blooming season if old flowering stems are cut. Water though summer for continuous bloom.
Its grayish green leaves are edged and mottled with creamy white or yellow. Tolerates deep shade.
One of the most vigorous of the dissected Red leaf maples, it holds its deep purple-red leaf color through summer.
Foliage on this graceful shrub with long arching branches lies flat on one plane rather than radiating around the stem. A perfect background for the lavender fruits borne in late summer.
The largest Sumac, its branches are covered with short, brown hairs, like 'velvet' on deer's antlers. The fuzzy, crimson fruit lasts all winter. Tolerates extreme heat and cold. Won't tolerate alkaline soils.
Pure white bloom and purple-red fall color make up for the inedible fruit on this narrow, but not columnar tree. Resists fireblight. Reaches 40 ft. (12 m) tall.
The most popular variety of the Higan Cherry, its small, black fruits ripen in summer. Its graceful, pendulous branches hang down to the ground. Usually sold grafted at 5 to 6 ft. (1.5 to 2 m) high.
Growing in bogs and swamps, it spreads by creeping stems. Erect branches have flowers with dark red calyx that extend beyond the flower petals.
Considered by some the most beautiful hardy plant in cultivation, it offers dwarf, semi-double and double forms. Use in rockeries. Requires no special care and lasts in the same spot for more than 20 years.
Its neat form and blue-green color make it a good tree to feature in a big lawn or garden. Slender, 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) long, pendulous, needlelike leaves give a soft effect. Cold tolerant, it does poorly in hot, dry areas.
Multiple trunks growing from the base of this picturesque tree make its spread greater than its height. The reddish color of older branches adds to its exotic effect. Use in containers and rock and in oriental gardens.
Broad, open and round-topped with age, its slow growth and dense, regular foliage make it good for small gardens. A Northwest and Rocky Mountain favorite, it resists white pine blister and rust.
Good where a clean look is essential and in oriental and woodland gardens, this dense, leafy shrub's greenish-white flower buds appear in winter. Tolerates hotter, drier air than other Pieris.
This dwarf can be spreading or conical. Leaves are gray-blue.
This dwarf has longer leaves and smaller cones than species. It grows slowly to 7 ft. (2.25 m) in 35 years so it makes an excellent container plant, long-lived Christmas tree or small formal pyramid tree.
This highly desirable grass is planted for its strong vertical lines. Feathery brownish-yellow flowers turn gray in fall. Non-invasive. A naturally occurring sterile hybrid.
This old Peach variety originated in Georgia. Its mid-season fruit is yellow-blushed red. Adapts to most conditions, but needs cold winter and hot summer for the best fruit.
One of the showiest hybrid grevilleas, this shrub produces red flower clusters throughout the year in mild winter areas. Deeply dissected leaves.
This plant, with large, deep, rosy-pink flowers, often reblooms in late summer. Likes cool, moist, and acidic conditions.
The leaves of this shrub are covered with soft, dense down. Purplish pink flowers grow 2 to 2.5 in. (5 to 6.25 cm) wide.
This popular, easy-to-grow, vigorous vine makes a good privacy screen. Lustrous leaves, many fragrant, fluffy, white flowers, and feathery, ornamental seed heads. Resists many diseases.
In its native tropics, this red pepper grows to a shrub, otherwise it grows as an annual. For best fruiting, plant in a hot location and use nitrogen sparingly. Small, insignificant, white flowers.
Unusual because of its fragrance and drooping, pendant, white flowers. Its smooth-flaking, polished, gray to rich brown bark stands out in winter.
Use outdoors in southern California and Florida for its glossy, dark green, rubbery leaves. Foolproof indoor houseplants.
One of the largest-leafed ivies with deep yellow variegation brightens any dark garden corner.
Its shiny leaves are larger and more vigorous than those of English Ivy, but require more water. Popular in mild winter areas. Protect to zone 8.
Plant this, one of the most fragrant witch hazels, next to walks or entrances where its scent and bright flowers can be enjoyed. Branches form strong, horizontal patterns.
This low-mounding perennial, with light green leaves and salmon pink flowers, spreads by underground rhizomes.
Although these plants may be short-lived, their large, double flowers bloom profusely, for up to three months. Shear to remove old blooms and encourage new ones.
This elegant weeping tree has pendulous branches that extend to the ground. It takes on a large, irregular, mounding shape with age. Smooth, gray bark attractive in winter. Stake for stability.
New growth starts blackish red and turns purplish green, while the tree itself matures into a stately form. Many purple-leafed selections exist, some of which retain leaf color throughout summer.
This lovely trailer produces a profusion of small, white, daisy-like flowers that age to pink. Excellent cascading down banks or rock walls, in containers, or as edging.
This tough, large grower has fragrant flowers and small, silvery berries that turn red. Branches often bear long spines.
New fronds on this striking evergreen fern emerge rosy brown and mature to a rich, shiny green. Excellent for woodland areas and shady rock gardens.
Dramatic in mass plantings because its showy, green and white variegated leaves last till fall. In winter, red stems stand out. Slower spreading than C. sericea, therefore better for the small home garden. Prune hard in late winter.
Use this early bloomer in woodland gardens, or plant in masses. Good companion for late-blooming spring bulbs, violas and pansies. Available in large and double-flowered selections.
Grown since colonial times, this favorite has bluish gray foliage and single or double flowers in red, pink or white. Used to create modern hybrids such as 'Agatha,' 'White Lady,' and seed strains 'Sonata' and 'Spring Beauty.
Its dark purple leaves, which stay through summer when other varieties turn green, show off purplish blooms. Spectacular fall color.
This popular, old-fashioned, low-grower has small, dense clusters of carnation-like flowers. Use double-flowered varieties and dwarf forms for edging and bedding. Best flowers in cool summer climates.
This tough ground cover has finely dissected leaves and magenta pink flowers that withstand sun and heat. Attractive in foliage where hardy, even at summer's end. Shear lightly after bloom. Cut back hard in early spring.
This large grower is available in many improved selections with pure white or pink, single or double flowers. Prune after flowering to enhance future blooms or for more compact growth.
In shallow soil, use half-long types like 'Nantes.' For containers, try miniature varieties such as 'Amstel' or 'Short and Sweet.' Watch out for old carrots--they are tough!
Its extremely fragrant flowers often bloom on leafless stems. Red fruit matures in June.
Its very small, grayish leaves are woolly underneath. Use this horizontal spreader, whose secondary branches grow up, in rock gardens or cascading down banks. Rose red ornamental fruit.
This vigorous climber has smaller maplelike leaves than others. The leaves overlap on masonry walls like shingles to form a dense cover. They are bright green in summer and a spectacular shade of red in fall.
The stout needles on this dense, broad and bushy evergreen shrub are in groups of twos. Reaches 10 to 15 ft. (3 to 4.75 m) tall and 15 to 25 ft. (4.5 to 7.5 m) wide. Needlelike foliage is bright to dark green.
Fragrant, clear yellow, cream or orange to almost pure red flowers bloom on this deciduous shrub from early to late spring. Foliage is lush green. Reaches 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) tall and 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 to 2.5 m) wide.
This dwarf evergreen blooms in masses of purplish blue flowers from early to late spring. Reaches 18 to 24 in. (45 to 60 cm) tall and 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90cm) wide.
Its large, shiny leaves lend a bold element to the landscape year-round. Clusters of small rose or lavender flowers appear in spring.
Slow-growing, this bushy evergreen conifer has dark green foliage. Its green bark flakes to reveal creamy yellow patches darkening to brownish. Reaches 30 to 50 ft. (9 to 15 m) tall and 20 to 35 ft. (6 to 10.5 m) wide.
This evergreen has a loose, pyramidal outline with branches feathered to the ground. Its foliage is dark green. The thin gray or graying brown bark peels in irregular flakes exposing reddish brown beneath.
A conical, then spreading tree. Its oval, toothed, leaves that are glossy green in summer and bright orange-red in fall. In late spring, clusters of small white flowers are later followed by egg-shaped, red-orange berries that last into winter.
Deciduous or semi evergreen,this dense shrub has a spreading shape and is twiggy. The clusters of white flowers appear from early to mid spring. Reaches 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) tall and wide.
Rich green, 3 ft. (90 cm) long leaves form a compact crown atop a trunk that thickens at the top. Fragrant, creamy yellow flowers appear in early summer. Heat tolerant, it won't endure prolonged freezing.
This multistemmed, large shrub or small tree grows quickly to 15 to 25 ft. (4.5 to 7.5 m) tall and 40 ft. (12 m) wide. Leaves turn brilliant red in fall.
The new leaves on this rounded, shrubby plant are red-tinged. They mature to dark, glossy green, turning rich, orange-red in fall.
This mat-forming perennial has egg-shaped, shiny, gray-green leaves edged with white. Its blue flower spikes rise 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) above the leaves in late spring.
Like the other A. rosea, but with red, hibiscus-like blossoms.
Blooms in white in summer and early fall.
Stout shoots and leathery leaves grow 4 to 8 in. (10 to 20 cm) long on this dense, rounded evergreen shrub. Small, purplish spring flowers precede bright red, rounded berries that last for months.
This variety is similar to the species, but its leaves have a central golden spot.
Masses of single, rich purple flowers with red anthers and silver undersides appear in early summer and bloom for a long time. Dark green leaves are leathery. Attractive seed heads.
Creamy white sprays of small summer flowers grace this 50- to 80-ft. (15- to 24-m)-tall by 15- to 20-ft. (4.5- to 6-m)-wide palm.
In late spring, masses of single, rosy red, sweetly scented flowers bloom. New leaves have a purplish tint, that matures to bronzy green. Reaches 20 to 40 ft. (6 to 12 m) tall and 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 to 3 m) wide.
This fast-growing evergreen has mid to dark green leaves and grows in a 40 to 60 ft. (12 to 18 m) tall column. Fifteen to 20 ft. (6 m) wide. Plant several close together for a Japanese-style look.
Large, saucer-shaped, bright yellow flowers bloom late spring to fall and all at once on this shrub. The evergreen or semi-evergreen, lobed, dark green leaves have feltlike undersides.
This vase-shaped shrub's green leaves turn marbled red, orange and yellow in fall. Its masses of spidery, fragrant, coppery orange flowers bloom on bare branches for 3 to 4 weeks from early to mid winter.
Tough and reliable, its fragrant, 3- to 5-in. (7.5- to 12.5-cm), lavender blue flowers have yellow beards. Bloom is late spring and early summer. Its rhizomes were used in perfumes. Reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall and wide.
This dwarf evergreen has dense clusters of deep blue flowers on 12- to 18-in. (30- to 45-cm)-tall stems. Blooms from midsummer to early fall.
This spreading shrub or small tree makes a bushy screen that tolerates most growing conditions. Round clusters of golden yellow flowers open above the long green leaves.
One of the few Hollies that suckers and forms clumps. It should never be pruned into a hedge. Leave as a tough, hardy, 3- to 4-ft. (90-cm to 1.25-m)-tall shrub. Dark blue black berries appear on female plants.
Large and abundant white double flowers.
It has shiny rounded leaves and bright yellow flowers with many stamens and pistils.
Clusters of red tubular flowers bloom from spring through summer and into the fall, followed by red berries. Fruit and sap are poisonous.
This native tree blooms earlier than the Chinese species, C. retusus, and has larger flower clusters.
This showy tree blooms in rich pink or reddish purple flowers. Growth is fast for the first few years, then slows. Several cultivars are available with burgundy-red and deep pink flowers.
This vigorous vine is prized for its trumpet-shaped flowers, which last over a long season, and its glossy, dark, evergreen leaves. Climbs trellises and arbors by tendrils, though needs support for walls.
Early settlers used the fernlike leaves of this native shrub to make a tea. Spreads to form colonies.
As its name suggests, this has fine, threadlike foliage for a graceful appearance. Its flowers are the deepest yellow of any cultivar, and appear on upright plants. Shear after bloom to encourage rebloom.
The leaves of this Palm are 8 to 12 in. (20 to 30 cm) long, made up of 3 to 10 narrow, glossy, somewhat puckered lobes in fan formation. In maturity, it forms clumps of thin, reedy stems.
From spreading clumps, its succulent stems bloom in clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers. Flowers start pink, deepen to dark salmon and end rosy red. Plump gray-green leaves turn rich blue-green in late summer.
Leaves on slender trailing stems form a carpet of bright green. May choke out other plants if not cut back.
Small, dark blue-green leaves are excellent background for many clusters of small, white, early summer flowers. Easy care. To renew leggy plants, cut plant to ground in spring. Easy to transplant.
Similar to the species, A. grandiflora, but with brilliant red fall color. Reaches 25 ft. (7.5 m) tall and 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) wide.
This small palm grows slowly to 6 to 8 ft. (2 to 2.5 m), so it's often grown in large pots. Its yellow flowers give way to hanging clusters of black fruits. Plant in full shade.
A fall blooming hybrid that is reportedly hardier than other camellias with fully double white flowers 2 in. (5 cm) across. Hardy to warm areas of zone 6.
This is the classic, large, handsome palm that lines tropical beaches throughout the world. Excellent for tropical beachfront property.
Like its name suggests, the fruit on this dense grower resembles clusters of large cranberries. Turns red in fall. More disease resistant that other varieties. Tolerates some shade.
Its low, neat, dense mounds of evergreen grayish green leaves are topped with double, deep pink flowers on 4 in. (10 cm) stems. Great for rock gardens, the front of flower borders and containers.
An old favorite, this variety has reddish brown flowers with prominent centers with tints of orange as they fade.
This white flowering Hosta has won awards. The large golden green leaves have slightly wavy edges which contrast nicely with dark foliage plants, such as Liriope planiscapus 'Nigrescens.'
A cluster of tiny, white fertile flowers encircled by showy sterile ones gives this the lacy appearance of a bride's bouquet. 'Blue Wave' is similar, with blue flowers.
Variety usually available is 'Grandiflora.' It produces long clusters of long-lasting sterile flowers, which fade from white to pinkish. Excellent dried flowers.
This strongly weeping tree has pendulous, sinuous branches and large, rough, dull green leaves.
This compact plant has wine-colored new leaves that turn dark green, and delicate, medium-pink flowers with white edges.
Its yellow poppy-like flowers bloom throughout the year. Use on hot dry banks.
Its rhizomes are the source of the condiment ginger. They grow in a cone-like cluster with overlapping bracts. Flowers are yellow-green with purple lips marked in cream.
Valued for its grayish leaves and slender, 6 in. (15 cm) flower spikes with porcelain-blue blooms, its a fine edging plant. Stems are white and wooly.
Excellent for color in shady areas, its red fruit turns purple-black. Leaves turn orange, red and purple in fall.
Glossy deep green leaves contrast with white flower clusters on this low-growing foundation shrub. Need male plants for females to produce metallic blue fruits. Prefers partial shade and acid soil.
Its blue-black fruits have been used in preserves since colonial times. Excellent barrier, screen or small tree. Popular in the North, used instead of Hawthorns. More resistant to pests. Red fall color.
Its long-lasting bright red fruits give this 6- to 10-ft. (2- to 3-m)-tall shrub outstanding fall character. White flower clusters bloom in May against bright green leaves.
This member of this popular species has yellow variegated leaves and 2- to 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-wide flower spikes. Does well in parts of the southern and Northern U.S.
Similar to 'Golden Sword,' but it has variegated leaves.
Stemless, its gray-green leaves are 12 to 21 in. (30 to 52.5 cm) long and needle-tipped. Branched spikes hold the drooping, bell-shaped flowers. Plant dies after bloom and seed production. Seeds produce new plants.
In summer, the needles on this weeper are a lighter green than other larches. In winter, needles turn bright yellow and orange and eventually drop.
There are a variety of Z. elegans, from giants to dwarfs, with daisy- or dahlia-like flowers from 1 to 7 in. (2.5 to 17.5 cm) across in a rainbow of colors and bicolors. 'Rose Pinwheel' is a hybrid resistant to mildew.
One of the hardiest Yuccas, it has a short, prostrate trunk. Its leaves are nearly 3 ft. (90 cm) long with whitish margins. The greenish white flowers are 2 in. (5 cm) wide.
Excellent for rock gardens, containers or Japanese gardens. It forms finely textured mats that become low, mounding plants with light, green foliage that does not turn brown.
Excellent for rock gardens, containers and bonsai, this dwarf form has beautiful silvery blue leaves, which form a low, broad-spreading conical shape.
This desert plant blooms almost continuously in mild winter climates. Easily started from seed. Plant outside in spring or fall.
Prized for its striking, deep green leaves variegated with creamy yellow. Its bell-shaped flowers bloom almost continually.
The finger-width red tassels, which can reach 1 ft. (30 cm) long, are produced intermittently during the year in warm climates. Where grown as an annual, it blooms in summer.
Not for the horticulturally timid, its ruffled leaves are edged in creamy yellow. Even more striking in masses. Thrives in full sun.
This is a hardier and thornier version of A. mollis. Its elegant white-purple flower spikes are narrower than other Acanthus.
The largest of firs, it grows best in the cool, moist conditions of its native Northwest and in parts of California. Remove bottom branches of tall trees to allow sunlight for gardening below.
This shrub's unusual, small, bluish green leaves are irregularly edged with creamy white. New spring growth is tinged with pink. In autumn, the white accents on its deep red leaves turn magenta.
One of finest small maples, its large, deeply dissected and toothed leaves turn brilliant crimson in fall. In spring, reddish purple flowers appear before the leaves.
This excellent spiny barrier plant is evergreen with some summer water and planted against a south or west wall. Drooping reddish flowers are fuchsia-like. Red berries are gummy and bristly.
This pyramidal tree looks good year round. In spring, its deep green leaves turn purple, yellow or red, depending on type and weather. Tolerates smog, dust, sun and wind. Needs little pruning.
A type of Star Magnolia, but with larger, highly fragrant flowers and more abundant petals. Buds are pink, while blooms are white.
Its multiple trunks have curving stems and spiny leaves that form picturesque clumps. Grows quickly with enough fertilization.
A small, finely textured Palm with graceful arching fronds. An excellent container plant and houseplant. Won't tolerate dark locations.
This popular Western hedge can be trained as a single-trunked small tree or multi-trunked shrub. Often used next to walkways and patios, it has no berries to stain concrete or create cleanup problems.
Although the photo shows a young tree, this nearly columnar fir can reach towering heights. its bark is silvery gray. An excellent lawn tree for cool climates and moist conditions.
Used in native medicine and smoked by Hottentots, this striking perennial or shrub border is evergreen in mild climates. In colder areas, cut back in fall. Velvety-textured flowers.
The fragrant blooms of the "Queen of the California Wildflowers" can be 9 in. (22.5 cm) wide. Its crepe-like white petals and yellow center give it the look of a large fried egg. Competitive with less vigorous plants.
Available as a bush and or climbing form, its cupped, fully double, white flowers reach 3 in. (7.5 cm) across.
Foliage looks like coarse leathery fronds made up of many pairs of leaflets. Prefers strong light with overhead shade.
This small-to-medium early-flowering tree has rosette-shaped, semi-double flowers in deep burgundy.
Used as a barrier hedge, its spiny batwing-like leaves and compact form make it impenetrable. This tough male clone produces no fruit.
Its tall purple flower spikes make it suitable for stately perennial borders or wild gardens and meadows. Excellent fresh or dried flowers.
Compact types have fully double and semi-double flowers in orange and yellow. Flowers heavily in hot, dry climates and poor soil. Grown infrequently. The cultivars are a better buy.
Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, this exceptional hybrid is a triploid with large, pure white flowers that don't close at night. Few seed pods so plant puts more energy into flowering.
Good for edging flower beds and lawn borders with masses of lavender flowers. Fast growing and sun tolerant. Resists pests.
One of the most fragrant Hostas, it has been grown in Chinese gardens for centuries. Its large, waxy white flowers appear in late summer and early fall. Plant near walkways and entrances. The heart-shaped leaves have prominent impressed veins.
Plant hyacinths near pathways and entrances to enjoy fragrance, effective when massed in beds or containers. If left in the ground, next year's flowers will be smaller but still colorful and fragrant.
The small size of this dwarf version of the Burford Holly is an asset in compact gardens. Produces less dark red fruit than the Burford. Leaves usually have only one spine at tip.
Blooms in early summer when not much else is flowering. Red autumn color.
More compact that the common Pfitzer juniper, this plant has golden-bronze foliage that keeps its color year-round.
Silvery green leaves splashed with white and soft pink flowers.
One of the few native U.S. larches, this slender tree dislikes heat, shade or pollution, but tolerates wet soils. Fussy about sun and temperature. Waxy leaves.
This popular dwarf variety makes an excellent herb garden choice. Dies if over-watered. Produces deep blue-lavender flowers.
The toothed gray-green leaves of French lavender set it apart. Plus, it blooms continuously in mild-winter areas. A tuft-like crown of petals top flowers.
Fern-like leaves make this lavender attractive when not in bloom. Won't tolerate hard frost, but may be grown in a greenhouse or sun room, where it produces dense spikes of flowers all winter.
Prune this prolific summer bloomer hard for compact plants and to promote bloom. New growth is covered with soft, white down.
Well suited to the small home garden. The smaller flowers are still showy.
It's popular for its exotic Christmas tree and bluish green foliage. Bark is fibrous and rich reddish-brown. 'Glauca' variety has more bluish green leaves than the species.
Its small, white flowers bloom showy pendant clusters in summer when few shrubs are in bloom.
Although it's considered a weedy, yellow-flowered pest in some areas, less aggressive, compact types are available. Bicolored selections bloom red and yellow, scarlet and cream or orange and apricot.
This award-winning variegated Hosta has deep forest green leaves with white margins. Grows vigorously. Tolerates partial sun.
The tallest Hemlock, this conical conifer has drooping branchlets and fine-textured foliage. Pale green cones ripen to brown. Won't grow well in the eastern U.S. without the moist atmosphere of Western mountain slopes.
Small, white, summer flowers are followed by rounded and showy bright red fruits in fall on this tree.
Pairs of fragrant, tubular to bell-shaped greenish-white flowers with green tips cluster below white-edged leaves.
This perennial is often grown as an annual, though it's hardy to 10░F. Its spikes of small blue flowers poke above grayish green leaves. Dwarf, white and bluer flowering forms available.
Very early blooming, it quickly reseeds if the spring ground is moist. Typically flowers are blue, though several colored varieties available, including 'Spring Beauty,' with darker blue stripes.
This shrub leafs out in spring and has fernlike leaves made up of many sharp-toothed leaflets. Forms thickets by suckers. Flower clusters grow to a foot long. Gives a lush, tropical effect when watered. Blooms on new wood.
Its several low-growing cultivars are more often grown than the species. Reaching 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall, shrubs produce rosy to pink flowers. Leaves emerge red or bronze, maturing to shades of green.
Its stout red shoots hold the small, rounded, dark green leaves until late fall. Varieties with compact forms and more profuse flowers are available.
Easily trained as a tree, it reaches 30 ft. (9 m) high and wide. Unlike other Lilacs, the flowers aren't sweetly fragrant and bloom in midsummer. Good lawn or street tree, especially where winters are cold.
Upright and pyramidal in form, this dense spreading shrub or tree can have one or several trunks. Slow growing to 10 to 25 ft. (3 to 7.5 m) tall. Tolerates dry and shady conditions. Produces a lot of fruit.
Tall and dense, with dark green foliage that lasts through the winter.
A popular screen or hedge, this broadly conical, dense tree usually has two or more trunks. 'Pendula' variety is a broad plant, 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-high and twice as wide. Many dwarf or pendulous varieties available.
One of the Hemlocks tolerant of city conditions, the soft look of its foliage is created by the whorled arrangement of its dark green needles on the twigs. Smaller than other Hemlocks.
Good for the eastern U.S., this dense rounded Hemlock has an almost clipped look. Its orange shoots hold deep green leaves, banded with white below.
Slow-growing and self-cleaning old leaves fall off and eliminate the need for pruning. Trunk swollen at the base. Bright green leaves form a dense crown.
This evergreen shrub has leathery gray-green leaves outlined in silver-white with white beneath. Its masses of yellow flower clusters contrast nicely with the foliage. Good cut flowers. Prune yearly.
Pure white, fragrant flowers develop on this slender pyramidal magnolia. Its oval leaves are anise scented.
One of the best needled evergreen ground covers, it's a finely textured shrubby conifer. Its flat sprays of aromatic, green, scalelike foliage turns brownish-purple in winter.
One of the best ornamental grasses for fall color, its silvery plumes rise above reddish tinted foliage in mid summer. In early fall, foliage turns a vibrant red-orange, fading to burnt reddish-brown as winter arrives. Water in summer for fall color.
Its masses of small, somewhat trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in every color except green, with most flowers boasting multicolor petals.
This tough plant, tolerant of poor soils and high salinity, is often planted along highways as a screen in the median strip. A wide selection of cultivars offer single to double flowers ranging from white to pink to red. Needs heat to bloom and thrive.
Masses of pink flowers cover this plant throughout the summer. Plants spread readily by seed and underground rhizomes. Prune back hard or use a lawnmower to cut it back to ground level.
One of the most widely planted of all Flax, its bold upright leaves are deep purple and red tinted.
Train this ground-hugging Norway Spruce up a sturdy stake to form an upright weeping mound. Or use in rock gardens, containers or trailing over walls or rocks.
This wide spreading, prostrate Spruce has downward-arching, light blue-green foliage that creeps over the landscape. Use in rock gardens, as an evergreen ground cover or oddity container plant.
An excellent cut flower, it was held sacred to the Goddess of Love in ancient times. Aromatic, finely textured, deep green glossy leaves contrast with the fragrant white flowers. Berries are purplish-black.
Spikes of white, rosy pink or lavender flowers rise above long, toothed, pointed leaves. Stake tall stems. Control by digging up spreading clumps and cutting to the ground after flowering.
Slow-growing to 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90cm) tall and wide, its golden-yellow leaves turn yellow-green by late summer. Best leaf color when planted in full sun. Yellow flowers are tinged with red.
This weeping form of C. nootkatensis has graceful, hanging branches.
This fern's lance-shaped, glossy fronds with toothed edges resemble Holly leaves. Young fronds are often covered with whitish or brown scales. Reaches 12 to 24 in. (30 to 60 cm) tall.
Its dark gray bark forms scaly ridges that curl outward. Pinkish leaves mature to dark green and turn yellow in fall. Fragrant star-shaped white flowers appear in early summer. Females develop seed pods.
Prune or shear to an erect, narrow conical tree or spreading shrub. Foliage is green to blue-green to grayish green and has a sweet fragrance if crushed. Fruits are blue. Drought tolerant when established.
The glossy bluish-green leaves on these upright trees or spreading shrubs are banded with white. The round, greenish berries turn blue, and ripen to black in the third year. Prune or shear from 1 to 20 ft. (30 cm to 6 m) tall.
Prune or shear these into 2 to 10 ft. (60 cm to 3 m) tall upright forms or spreading ground covers. The dark green foliage is soft to the touch. Varieties grow well in limestone soil.
This is a similar, but lower and more spreading, form of 'Arcadia.' It has soft, grass green, lacy foliage.
Gray-green foliage covers these conical to broadly columnar trees. Leaves are aromatic when bruised. Produces silver berries. Prune or shear to shape. Susceptible to cedar apple rust and bagworms.
This densely-branched, twiggy plant has coarse, crinkled leaves on prickly stems. Small, papery flowers open yellow and change to orange or red. Blooms followed by black berries.
Clusters of white flowers, sometimes tinged pink, cover this dense, decidious, spreading, arching, shrub from spring to early summer. Leaves are broadly oval, toothed and lobed.
This cone-shaped tree spreads with age. Its soft needlelike foliage is yellow-green in spring, dark green in summer and rusty red. The small cones and fibrous reddish brown bark add winter interest.
This slow grower has a narrow, compact pyramidal form. Flat, spreading, erect sprays of shiny green foliage are fragrant when crushed. Keeps its color in winter. Tolerates heat. Easy to transplant in spring or fall.
It forms a dense columnar pyramid of branches down to the ground. Shiny bright green foliage is coarser than other types. Keeps its color during winter months. Bark is reddish to grayish brown.
The lower parts of the deep green, 1 ft. (30 cm) long, straplike leaves wrap around the stems for a coarse grass look. Grows in a tangled sprawl. Flowers usually purple, but may be white, blue, pink or red.
This fast-growing palm has long-stalked, gray-green, 6- to 9-ft. (2- to 2.75-m)-long fronds in clusters around the crown. Reaches 30 to 50 ft. (9 to 15 m) tall. If potted, water freely in summer.
Fast-growing, often taller than the California Fan Palm, it has large, gray-green, fan-shaped leaves atop an erect trunk. Reaches 50 to 90 ft. (15 to 27 m) tall and 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) wide. In containers, water freely in summer.
The stems on this slow-growing shrub or small tree top 6 ft. (2 m) tall. Its deep green, slender leaves reach 20 to 30 in. (50 to 75 cm) long. Purple-tinted white flowers appear summer to fall.
This 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall shrub spreads slowly, making rosettes of leaves with sharp tips and curly white fibers on the edges. Summer clusters of tulip-shaped white flowers are followed by large woody fruits.
The attractive leaves on this variegated shrub grow in a 5-leaf fan.
This shrub's leaves, which turn orange-yellow in fall, are wavy-edged and more deeply lobed than the species. Makes a good low hedge requiring almost no clipping. Originated in a Denmark nursery around 1930.
This vigorous growing and spreading ornamental grass has white striped leaves which turn buff in fall.
One of the most fragrant annual bedding plants with spikes of full flowers rising above gray-green foliage. Remove spent flower spikes to promote new blossoms. Single and double flowering forms available in a wide range of colors.
This lovely evergreen vine has glossy leaves and graceful, waxy, bell-shaped flowers.
This hardy selection is named for Koichiro Wada, who was instrumental in introducing many plants from Japan to the West.
This upright magnolia produces its saucer shaped flowers in early spring, late enough to escape most frosts.
A hybrid between an American and Asian species introduced by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, this is a much celebrated magnolia with large, unusual flowers.
Leaf lobes on this tree are rounded rather than pointed.
Highly valued for its mid-spring bloom which usually escapes damage by late-spring frosts. Nigra has larger flowers than the species, dark purple outside and lighter inside.
A profusion of soft pink and white blossoms nearly hides the leaves.
This selection, with it's long flower clusters and dense branching, can be dramatic when espaliered or trained on an arbor. Smooth green bark is attractive in winter.
This selection blooms a full five weeks later than regular species, usually in September. Not as hardy as the species. Good as a specimen tree for small gardens.
The brilliant red fruit of this award winning deciduous holly often last through winter into spring. Excellent for holiday decorations.
Several distinct forms, shades of foliage, growth habits and leaf lengths in cultivation.
Culms are often purple with several branches at each node. Branch stalks are deep purple and leaves are small, pointed, and green.
Use this vine, which resembles the Climbing Hydrangea, in shaded areas to climb masonry walls or trees.
Add a touch of moonlight to the garden with this entrancing Japanese variety. The blue-green, deeply veined leaves have a silvery sheen, turn golden to amber in fall.
When other species roses have finished blooming, it offers generous clusters of pure white, 2 in. (5 cm) flowers. Trailing stems grow 10 to 12 ft. (3 to 3.75 m) long in a season, rooting in contact with moist soil. Thrives even in relatively poor soil.
This is the finest white-flowering hardy magnolia; it has been cultivated in Chinese gardens for centuries. Flowers earlier than M. soulangeana and is subject to damage by late spring frosts.
Silvery-white leaves appear with the flowers in early spring on the graceful, drooping branches of this tree.
This fine native North American shrub has beautiful oak-like leaves and huge, showy flowers reminiscent of a giant pineapple.
This bushy-headed tree produces masses of carmine-pink flowers in early spring. Its oval, dark green leaves turn orange-red in fall.
This vigorous growing vine's green leaves boast white strips along the midveins and purple undersides. Best grown in partial to full shade locations where rich foliage colors develop. Unbelievable rich red fall colors. Clings to walls.
One of the best of the intense blue poppies. Above rosettes of neatly toothed hairy leaves rise breathtaking, clear deep-blue poppy flowers. Easy to grow in cooler climates but tends to die out if exposed to warm temperatures or dry soils. Divide every three years to maintain vigor.
The largest and coarsest of the Mahonias makes a bold foliage statement in the garden landscape. Erect woody stems support large, crinkly, pinnate leaves. Fragrant yellow flowers develop into powdery blue berries that attract birds. Prune stems at varying heights to promote a full, multi-layered shrub. Keep away from pathways where people would brush against their coarse, fabric grabbing leaves.
A hybrid magnolia which blooms in mid spring to escape late frosts. Compact habit makes it excellent for small gardens, large containers. Often sporadic flowers produced in summer.
Sometimes this palm is leaning or crooked. Trunk thickened in middle, often swollen at base. Leathery, bright green laves are 10 ft. (3 m) long, upright at first, then pendant or curving downward.
This prized deciduous Holly has large clusters of bright crimson berries, which often persist through the winter. Use the male clone, 'Apollo,' for pollination. Winner of the prestigious Styer Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Mature shrubs have flowers of red, white and pink all on the same branch, which looks like a bouquet. Flowering quinces may not bloom well in warm winter climates.
Drooping branches with blue needles and a beautiful, curving trunk make this a popular accent or specimen in a landscape or container. Stake to desired height.
Clusters of small, fluffy, lavender-blue flowers bloom on these tall, mounding plants. Less cold hardy than the C. x clandonensis varieties, but showy flowers and broader, toothed leaves make up for it.
Its bright orange-red to orange-pink trumpet-like flowers are larger than C. radicans, but this shrub is not as vigorous. Grow as a large sprawling shrub or on an arbor or trellis.
This vigorous, compact hybrid is one of the most popular Camellias. Its large, semi-double, pink flowers bloom in masses when the plant is young. Resists sun and cold, but prefers some shade in hot summer areas.
This rose-shaped, shell pink flower blooms through fall and winter. Hardier than C. Sasanqua. Edges of petals will turn brown in too much sun and wind.
Train this evergreen on arbors and archways for an English or cottage garden effect. Its glossy green leaflets are tinged bronze when new. Flowers in large fragrant clusters. Grows slowly at first, then becomes rampant. Cut back hard after bloom to avoid a tangled mess. Needs part shade in hot summer climates.
This variety is popular for producing masses of violet berries in large, hanging clusters in early fall.
Even longer blooming than the species, its masses of dainty, purplish-blue, bell-shaped flowers look lovely climbing in shrubs and small trees. Cut back heavily in late winter or early spring
Its bright orange-red spring flowers have yellow to red throats. Seed capsules that follow change from green to brown. Deep green leaves turn purplish in winter. Excellent in lowland gardens where fertile soil gets plenty of moisture.
Similar to B. pendula, this fast-growing Asian species has white bark. Glossy leaves turn yellow in autumn. Resists bronze birch borers.
The 2- to 5-in. (5- to 12.5-cm)-long leaves on this dwarf bamboo are striped yellow, turning greener in summer. Best in partial shade in dry hot areas.
Difficult to find, this shrubby tree is popular for small landscape planting, containers and bonsai. The dense, crinkled, bright green leaves and thick, short twigs on the branches give it a stubby look.
This fine hybrid blooms slightly later than most witch hazels. Its profusion of flowers are sweetly fragrant.
Its erect habit, narrow oval leaves, and showy pendant clusters of flowers make it unique among other grevilleas.
Bears masses of bright yellow, fragrant flowers on a spreading plant. Slower growing and more compact than the species. This variety is also called 'Canary Bird.'
This fast-growing tree is known for its bright bluish-green foliage that turns bronzy in winter. It maintains a neat form without extensive pruning..
Pink flowers are followed by red August berries on this shrub. Leaves are dark green above and woolly and lighter green underneath.
This most delicate Witch Hazel is the right size for small gardens. Its horizontal branches hold sharply toothed leaves and Primrose-yellow flowers.
At 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall, its larger growing and hardier than most Winter Hazels. Plant against an evergreen background to highlight the soft yellow flowers.
This deciduous ground cover thrives in cool, moist, woodland gardens, though it can be difficult to start. Flowers followed by bright red berries. Whorled green leaves turn yellow or red in fall..
Popular for its silky, finely cut, fernlike, silver-green leaves, this shrub reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall and 3 to 4 ft. (90 cm to 1.25 m) wide. Tiny, round, yellow flowers appear in summer.
Its purple-black, berrylike fruit ripen in fall and last into winter. Autumn leaves are wine red.
Native from Minnesota to New England and south to Tennessee, the fruit of this rapid-spreading shrub ripens in fall and drops quickly. In autumn, its shiny, dark green leaves turn wine red. Adapts to drier soils.
One of the most adaptable of A. densifloras, this intricately branched and finely textured mounding shrub reaches 5 to 6 ft. (1.5 to 2 m) tall and wide. Small, round, glossy, bright green leaves cluster on smooth, reddish black branches. Flowers are pale pink.
A puzzle for even a monkey to climb, its horizontal branches are filled with sharp, stiff, glossy, dark green leaves. The hardiest Araucaria, its gray bark looks like elephant hide. Cones are 6 in. (15 cm) long.
Its solitary blooms rise on stiff stems above finely cut, parsley-like leaves. The 2- to- 3-in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-wide, single, semi-double and double flowers are white, purple, red and blue. Soak tubers before planting to speed growth.
This shade-loving shrub has clusters of flowers whose color depends on the soil's pH. Neutral or slightly alkaline soil produces pink flowers, while acidic soil results in blue.
This rapid grower will cover almost anything with foliage and small clusters of trumpet-shaped, bright yellow flowers. Its toothed, glossy, dark green leaflets have downy undersides. Dry woody pods that last all winter follow flowers.
This early-flowering plant forms a mound of dark green, deeply lobed leaves. The back sides of the rounded petals are blushed with pink or crimson, giving a pink glow.
Cup-shaped, white flowers that turn to edible yellow fruits on the female vines are sprinkled throughout dense masses of 3- to 6-in. (7.5- to 15-cm)-long leaves.
This low, widespreading evergreen is very heat tolerant. It is slower growing than junipers, but in time a more desirable shrub that will not get out of hand.
This dwarf bushy Cosmos flowers orange. Reaches 1.5 to 2 ft. (45 to 60 cm) tall.
New growth on this easy-to-grow shrub or ground cover is golden, later becoming green. Flowers are deep pink.
Use this conifer, which may grow 3 ft. (90 cm) in a season, for a fast hedge or windbreak. Cut back when it reaches the height you want. Tolerates coastal and exposed sites. Resists root rot. Prone to canker.
This is a short-lived Cuphea that's planted infrequently. 'Variegata' has leaves flecked with cream and lime green.
Colorful goblet-shaped flowers bloom early. 1 to 4 flowers appear on each plant. Plants will naturalize in grassy areas. Divide clumps in early autumn.
Soft, scarlet fruits with thick, sweet pulp brighten this small, hardy Hawthorn. Flower stamens are white or pink.
Seen often in the English countryside as a boundary or hedge, this upright tree or shrub forms a dense column. Bright red fruit matures in early fall. Plant 5 ft. (1.5 m) apart for solid hedges. Prone to fireblight.
This plant is especially good in its native central U.S. Its leaves start red, then turn green.
Since its branches don't root, it's sometimes grafted to another Cotoneaster to form a weeping tree. The leaves are glossy green above and bluish below. Fruit is light red. Plant in late summer or early in fall.
Also called Warminster Broom, this densely branched shrub has gray-green leaves. Tolerates wind and coastal climates.
Good in rock gardens and on banks, this dwarf shrub forms a tangled mound of small, narrow, shiny leaves. Fall fruit is deep pink.
Lower growing than the species, this spreading shrub has larger flowers. Great in rock gardens. Tolerates wind.
This dwarf cosmos was the 1991 Fleurselect Winner.
Like all Sonata hybrids, its strong stems make it fine for vase arrangements.
A blush of deeper pink rings the golden central eye.
Choose from dwarfs to taller hybrids with colorful 1- to 2-in. (2.5- to 5-cm)-wide, single and double flowers.
White or white-tinged-pink bracts appear on its gray-barked branches before leaves. In the fall, it often flowers again against the yellow, pink and red leaves. More difficult to grow than C. florida. Avoid regular watering. Injury to its bark can bring pests and disease.
Its leaves, variegated with creamy white, have margins tinged pink. Fruit is scarlet.
This shrub rapidly grows to a large tree covered with oval leaves that are dark green above and silvery green below. Leaves are red throughout fall. White flowers give way to blue-black fruit that birds love.
The bright coral-red stems on this suckering shrub are colorful fall and winter. New wood has the brightest color, so cut back in spring for new stems. Use in borders or masses along drives or ponds.
In spring, it flowers in shades of purple-mauve. Leaf margins are spiny or serrate. Good in rock gardens.
Along with a heavy bloom, this Dogwood boasts colorful foliage. Leaves are variegated light and dark green with bright yellow markings. In fall, leaves turn lavender, red and scarlet.
This spreading plant has the showiest flower clusters of any Cotoneaster. Large leaves and pinkish-red fruit also grace its arching or pendulous branches. Plant where it has plenty of room to grow.
The pastel flowers of this variety offer soft colors to a mixed border. Naturalizes in wet, shaded locations.
This evergreen ground cover forms a 3 ft. (90 cm) mat of blooms ranging from white to lavender.
Its spiny-edged leaves have white or red hairs, but become smooth with age. Flowers in yellow.
Silvery two-toned leaves turn dark green on top with age. Tiny, silvery flowers become edible red fruit used in making jelly.
This low-key plant has inconspicuous flowers and young leaves that are silvery-green above and silvery with brown scales below. The edible, but tart, fragrant fruit is orange-red to dark-red to brown. Attracts birds.
The bold leaves on this vigorous clumping plant are a handsome background to its powder blue to steel blue flowers. Tolerates shade and coastal conditions.
An excellent form of this plant with round, purple-blue flowers.
Honey-scented, 3- to 4-in. (7.5- to 10-cm)-wide flowers are pure white with bronze centers.
The purple flowers have a dark orange center.
Grow this narrowly conical Cypress in full sun for the best leaf color. Its outside leaves are golden and the inside leaves yellow-tinted. Leaves are yellow-green in partial shade. Tolerates coastal climates. Prone to canker.
With age, this many-branched tree forms a broad, domed crown above a thick trunk. Short-lived white flowers have a green tinge. Also grown as a houseplant and in terrariums.
Blooms in masses of white. Fruit is scarlet.
Unusual flowers grace this Foxglove. Their tubes are red-brown, veined with violet. The upper parts of the flowers are white, and lower parts are purple-brown.
Forms a loose mound of upright and sprawling stems with fleshy, green leaves and long-blooming flowers at the tips. Used in borders mixed with bulbs, shrubs and other perennials.
Its very fragrant blooms rise in twos above a grassy mat. Cultivars come in many colors.
This mound-forming Dianthus has linear, nearly flat, grayish leaves.
Often treated as an annual, this dwarf produces many brilliantly colored flowers. Tubular flowers are single or double and reach more than 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide. Does well in exposed or windy sites.
Large dense flowers on this trailing Dianthus have an excellent salmon-pink color. Best treated as a biennial. Plant in hanging baskets or window boxes. Tolerates exposed or windy sites.
This miniature has semidouble pink flowers and darker pink centers. Blooms continuously if flowers are deadheaded. Won't tolerate hot and humid conditions.
This is one of a hybrid plant series that flowers in shades of pink.
The masses of pink flowers with light pink to white lobes are very fragrant. Blooms in late spring and sometimes again in late summer or fall. Spreading growth will spill into nearby plants.
Similar to, but less well known than 'Somerset,' its leaves have a narrow edging of pale gold.
Its white flowers have rays of long drooping petals.
One of the most popular types since it adapts just about anywhere. Dense, soft, bluish green foliage covers its column or cone shape. Grows slowly. Use as accent.
Exceptional color for a summer annual, it blooms in delicate yellow with a deep golden eye. Leaves can irritate skin, so use gloves if your hands are sensitive.
Its single and double flowers bloom in shades of golden to light yellow.
Similar to but less yellow than 'Filifera Aurea,' it's hardier in cold climates.
Usually a small, globe-shaped dwarf, it can reach 6 ft. (2 m) tall after many years.
Its bright golden threadlike foliage grows slowly into a broad, conical, mop-like mound.
Widely grown for its dense, silvery blue foliage, which turns grayish blue in cold winters, the young plants are good for containers. Grows in a symmetrical cone.
The bright sulfur-yellow foliage on this dwarf looks great as an accent among green foliage plants. Otherwise, similar to C. 'Kosteri'. Give partial shade in hot dry climates.
This well-known wild flower is often grown for cutting in Europe and Asia. Height, flower color and number of petals differ with each type.
The golden-green fernlike foliage on its outer branches changes to green on inner branches. Broadly pyramidal shape. Protect from frost damage in colder climates.
This Shasta Daisy look-alike has dense, nearly succulent, bright green leaves.
This Southwest native has white flowers above blue-green leaves.
Not as cold hardy as the Eastern Redbud, this many-branched shrub blooms abundantly in deep cerise flowers.
The bottom lobes of leaves on this weeping form sometimes overlap. Leaves are more rounded than the species.
The deep green leaves turn yellow or red on this 5 ft. (1.5 m) shrub, then drop fast after a frost. Stems usually die back with hard frost. Grows well in poor soil.
This white-flowering type naturalizes easily, especially in poor, alkaline or chalky soils and along walls and paving.
California's most popular Dusty Miller attracts bees. Above finely divided felty, white leaves, it sometimes produces purple flowers. Deadhead after bloom. Drought-tolerant. Don't overwater.
Its finely-cut, narrow, light-green leaves are grayish below and can reach lengths up to 2 ft. (60 cm) Unstaked stems may flop over with the weight of the 2- to 3- in. (5- to 7.5-cm)-wide flowers.
The 4- to 5-in. (10- to 12.5-cm)-tall flower spikes on this plant are two-toned in rose and deep pink.
This cedar's needles are yellow when new, and turn golden-green in summer.
Flowers are darker blue than the species.
Even after many years, this slow-growing dwarf reaches only 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Many layers of branches form a broadly conical shape.
Masses of 2-in. (5 cm), nodding, bell-shaped blooms with blue petals appear in spring. Lighter summer bloom, when fluffy, silvery, seed pods also appear. Prune after flowering.
This dwarf has 2-in. (5-cm)-wide, bright orange-yellow flowers over a long season if you deadhead. Spreads up to 2 ft. (60 cm) a year.
Pink buds turn to white or pinkish flowers with yellow throats above its shiny, silky, silver-gray foliage. Healthy plants are fire retardant. Needs good soil drainage.
The large, trumpet-shaped flowers of this climbing plant offer bright spots of color where once was a bare wall, a naked trellis or an unsightly fence. This annual is also very effective when trained up and over old tree stumps. Grows as a perennial in Zones 8 to 11. An 'Improved' variety exists in different shades of blue.
Valued most for their foliage, these plants have flower buds that are often simply pinched off to maintain the plant's shape.
Unmarked chartreuse leaves form a dense bush.
Pink flowers appear between yellow-green to yellow leaves. Shear tips to promote bushiness.
This vigorous vine has some of the largest white flowers of any Clematis. Blooms reach 8 in. (20 cm) across. Prune lightly in early spring, then cut back after flowering for second bloom.
An annual only in colder climates, it blooms in Margarita-type flowers. Prone to leaf miner and crown rot.
An old-fashioned favorite, it's vigorous, easy to grow and dependable. Fragrant white flowers appear in late summer and early fall. Use on arbors, fences and screens. Cut back after bloom or in early spring.
Shorter than the species, its flowers are larger and warmer yellow.
This hybrid is prized for its 4- to 8-in. (10- to 20-cm)-wide, bright blue flowers tinged with purple with creamy white anthers. Good in containers.
Many large, single, blue-violet flowers with creamy white anthers and a faint red stripe appear in early summer and again later in the season. Prune before new growth starts in spring.
Each petal on its 3- to 4-in. (7.5- to 10-cm)-wide, deep pink flowers has a darker stripe down the middle. Flower centers are red anthers.
Hardy to 20░ F, there are many varieties of Tangerine. Their ripe, sweet, aromatic fruit is yellow-orange to flame-orange. All need high summer heat for the best fruit flavor.
This smallest of the Lemon varieties produces standard, yellow, sour market lemons throughout the year. Of all the citruses, Lemons need the least amount of heat to produce fruit. Found on dwarfing rootstock and as a 20 ft. (6 m) tree. Dwarf types are preferred in California's cooler coastal areas since more fruit ripens in late spring and early summer.
Not a lime at all, the small, sour, Mandarin-type oranges on this tree are used in fruit punches or drinks. Some fruit throughout the year. If pruned, its thick foliage makes an excellent hedge or screen. Tolerates temperatures to 20░F. Grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock tree, reaches 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 to 2.5 m) tall.
Plant this compact and spreading shrub in infertile soil for a long life. Produces short-lived cerise or purplish-pink flowers.
Used as a cut flower, it's also one of the most popular flowering container plants. Prone to stem rot and black mold.
These much-loved pot and border plants have more that a dozen flower types. These Mums have shapes from Anemone to Spoon, Semidouble to Single, Quill to Spider. All are different sizes and colors.
This short-lived perennial is a bitter herb with a pungent aroma when crushed.
Button-like, petal-less, golden-yellow flowers top this hardy dwarf perennial.
Not a vine, but a 3-ft. (90-cm)-tall, shrubby bushy perennial, its porcelain blue to lavender-purple, nodding, bell-shaped flowers have slightly twisted petals. Stake to prevent sprawl.
Rich scarlet to crimson, 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) flower heads bloom on 2 ft. (60 cm) stems. Wonderful cut flowers, holding their color even when dried.
This showy species boasts brilliant, black-veined magenta flowers. Its broad, deeply cut leaves form an attractive mound, turning reddish in autumn. Rangy growth may need staking for support.
Small dark green leaves have bright yellow centers. Stems are pinkish-red, becoming brown. Not an ideal ground cover, it shines as an ornamental. Train in patterns on walls, create topiary shapes, or use in hanging baskets or containers.
A super-hardy variety, its medium-sized leaves are several shades of gray green with creamy margins, pinkish highlights and ruby stems in winter.
Though some think this plant is best grown only in the South, any sunny, sheltered location will suffice. Difficult to transplant.
Huge, dark green, leathery leaves grow from 4 to 10 in. (10 to 25 cm) wide. Needs no watering. Best-known variety, dentata, has faintly toothed leaves. Dentata variegata's leaves are marbled with deep green, gray green and creamy white.
Glossy silver variegated leaves have reddish-purple stems.
A classic ground cover, its broad leaves spread a dense blanket of fresh green.
Flowers are a clear golden yellow.
Blooms from fall through spring with rose-red flowers. Dense growth of delicate gray leaves spreads wider than 8 ft. (2.5 m) if not pruned.
Tumbling over rocks or nestled in the niches of a dry wall, this wide-spreading shrub is a good seashore plant. Pretty pink blossoms each last only a day, but bloom continually over a long period.
This bushy, 2 ft. (60 cm) plant is covered all summer with 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) flowers, despite heat and drought. A delight in vases, holding its color even when dried.
A more dainty species, with slender 1.5 ft. (45 cm) stems. Each spike bears from 1 to 20 flowers, creamy to yellowish white, veined with purple and fragrant at night.
Called Prairie Smoke and Old Man's Whiskers, the whole plant is often furry, and the seeds have long, feathery gray tails. Blossoms range from maroon to pink to yellow.
Reaching 16 in. (40 cm) tall, its double flowers are apricot blushed with orange.
Truly magnificent, this reliable hybrid produces an abundance of large violet-blue flowers. Mounds of deeply lobed leaves often turn red or yellow in autumn.
Low-growing, it's ideal for a rock garden or the front of a mixed bed. Light pink flowers are heavily veined with red. Many cultivars are available.
A vigorous, densely growing selection, it's named for the Scottish town where it was discovered.
Deep magenta pink, 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers are long-blooming. Both leaves and flowers are larger than in the species.
A white-flowering selection of the common pink-flowering G. sanguineum, it's a little taller and less robust, with a loose mounding habit. Good for the front of a border.
Young, heart-shaped leaflets are bright red or brownish-red and cover the plant densely. Flowers make up masses of 10 to 23 blossoms per stem.
Leaves are airy and delicate, flowers are violet-blue. Shelter under an overhang where temperatures drop much below freezing.
Rounded, 6 in. (15 cm), slightly ruffled flowers are lavender-pink with orchid-pink tones.
After showy 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers bloom, foot-long edible pods dangle from the vines, filled with black or buff-to-red mottled beans. Perennial, but grown as an annual. Albus variety, called White Dutch Runner, bears white flowers and beans.
This superb variety has large, glistening coppery-red flowers and silver-gray leaves.
Rose-pink flowers with greenish-yellow throats are 6 in. (15 cm) across. Introduced in 1968.
The big fern-like leaves are as attractive as the purplish pink flowers, which bloom abundantly on sturdy, branching stems.
Like black velvet in a jeweler's showcase, use its black-green leaves at the back of a mixed bed to enhance silver-leaved plants grown in front. Pale green flowers are rimmed with red.
Grow this elegant beauty by bright colors for a cool contrast. Tall stems bear clusters of 20 to 30 pale green, cup-shaped blossoms. Needs full sun, rich soil with good drainage. May need staking in the open, and most die at 5 or 6 yrs., so replace with easily-grown seedlings.
Deep purple flowers are sweet-smelling. A dwarf form is 8 in. (20 cm) tall and wide. All parts are poisonous. Watch out for leaf miner.
Deep yellow single flowers top 3.5 ft.(105 cm) stems. Best in informal and wild gardens.
Who could resist dwarf strains with names like Bright Bikinis Mixture, Dwarf Hot Bikini and Dwarf Spangle Mix? Taller choices include Tall Splendid Mix and Swiss Giants. Good in fresh arrangements.
Sold as sunchokes or Jerusalem artichokes, its edible underground tubers have a potato-like texture and distinctive taste, used raw in salads or cooked. Tall stems produce 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) sunflowers. Spreads readily and can become a pest, but if controlled makes a good screen or hedge.
A good choice for dry places, it bears narrow spires of many flowers, each up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) wide.
Though it reaches 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m), this giant is gentle, bearing 2 in. (5 cm) flowers with pale yellow rays around yellow discs from summer into autumn. Native of the Appalachian mountains.
The pride of Kansas, this state flower is a stout and often giant annual.
Quick to bloom, its many short stems bear 15 to 20 flowers with limited pollen. Excellent cut flowers.
Children love this dwarf bush sunflower-it's just their size. Flowers are 4 to 5 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) across, come in many colors, from yellows and deep golds to bicolors of mahogany or bronze over gold.
This miniature daylily keeps producing 3-in. (7.5 cm), canary yellow blossoms. Very heat-tolerant.
Pale blue flowers are an inch across. Fleshy, grayish-blue leaves have spiny teeth.
This bushy shrub can become a small tree in warm, frost-free spots. Popular 'Atropurpureum' cultivar has wine-red leaves and loose flower clusters with small white petal-like bracts.
Its compact form is perfect for rock gardens or the front of mixed beds. Pale pink flowers are heavily veined with red.
This shrub has both closely-packed rosettes of round leaves, and a nearly constant display of showy, 3- to 5-in. (7.5- to 12.5-cm)-wide, red flowers. The branches spread out, good for covering a garden slope or training on an espalier.
Thriving in desert conditions, this multi-trunked, spreading shrub or straggly tree has glistening green leaves.
It bears up to 10 bright yellow flowers veined with green. Glossy leaves are a solid pale green. Don't let the corms dry out.
The petals of its lavender flowers, deep maroon at the base, curl back dramatically at the tips. Leaves are dark green and mottled.
Each stem bears 1 to 3 bright yellow flowers. Album or Candidum cultivar has white flowers with yellow centers. Robustum has larger, golden-yellow flowers.
A striking choice for edging and borders, its slender stems bear clusters of bright yellow flowers, tinted orange or red.
This vigorous curly ivy makes a great ground cover for shady areas.
Bristly, spiny plant with yucca-like leaves grows 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall. Round, green-tinged white flowers are good for dried arrangements.
The most common cultivar, it has fiery red flower clusters. Dull red shoots look like asparagus, turn dark green with red bases. Spreads slowly by creeping roots.
These clump-forming plants die after producing thistle-like flowers of blue. 'Silver Ghost' cultivar has small white flowers with blue stems.
The striking flowers of this thistle-like plant last for long periods of time cut, fresh or dried, making them ideal for arrangements.
Some experts call this the best Erigeron species for gardens. Flowers are delicate lilac-pink.
'Arthur Menzies' forms a low mat with lavender-pink flowers. Other cultivars bloom in white or dark pink.
The toughest of heathers, this dwarf shrub grows fast but stays compact. Big, pure white flowers have brown anthers. Tolerates some shade, and lime in soil.
Its bushy, spreading, dark green foliage makes an attractive ground cover, with large magenta flowers blooming through summer into fall.
Abundant bright pinkish-red flowers bloom all summer on these hardy spreading shrubs.
A thick scattering of rose-and-white blossoms ornaments the bright green foliage.
Blooming through winter in California, cut sprays of the white blossoms can last for weeks in or out of water.
Blossoms appear from late winter into spring, or year-round in mild climates. Upright and bushy, it may reach 6 ft. (2 m)
This fluffy shrub's one or many trunks often have a burl at the base from which pipes are made. It's hardier than the species, and flowers a little later. Prefers sandy soil.
Bearing brilliant orange, fragrant flowers in spring, this perennial is usually grown as an annual. Can take some frost.
A bit hardier than the species, its stems and leaves are first purple, then become bronzy-green.
Its open sprawling habit is well suited to natural, wild gardens and meadows. Small clusters of light pink flowers, deeply lobed leaves. Sow seed in fall or spring.
Hardy and easy-care, it looks like an evergreen with its blue-green, flattened branches. Plant where it can trail over a wall or rocks.
Clumping rather than trailing, this variety is often a top choice for small-scale plantings. Multicolored flowers bloom intermittently year-round in mild climates.
Vivid yellow flowers are red at the base. Other varieties bloom in yellow, bronze, orange, brown and maroon-red. All plant parts are sticky. May need support.
Flowers are nearly 2 in. (5 cm) long, from pure white, to white or pink checkered with deep colors that range from blood red to purple. some cultivars bloom in other colors.
The largest and most imposing fritillary, it's available with variegated, yellow, orange or red flowers.
This variety has golden-yellow flowers.
Vanilla-scented when brushed against or crushed, its flower heads are yellowish-white to pale pink or purple, on tall, upright purplish stems. One form has white flowers. 'Atropurpureum' cultivar has rosy lilac flowers and purplish foliage.
Like Beatrix Ferrand, the abundant flowers are a rich yellow accented with orange at the throat Neat, graceful and dense growing, its leaves turn red or purple in fall.
Folklore says the poisonous, caustic sap drives away gophers and moles. As with other euphorbias, flowers are easily overlooked.
The aromatic roots and leaves smell of wintergreen when crushed. Other forms include the golden yellow-leaved 'Aurea'.
This spreading plant is offered as an annual in colder regions. Remove dead flowers to keep it blooming.
This natural hybrid of E. amygdaloides and E. characias may look like either parent. Dense clusters of chartreuse flowers with brown centers.
The biennial stems produce broader, yellower flower clusters the second year. Avoid contact with the irritating milky sap.
This delicate, fine-textured variety has chartreuse flower clusters and narrow, blue-gray leaves.
The flowers, chartreuse yellow fading to pink, are borne on stems that curve outward, then up.
The showy, petal-like bracts are various shades and blends of white, yellow, pink, and red. Flowers are yellow and inconspicuous.
Taller than the species, it blooms off and on year-round. Tiny flowers are enclosed in bright red bracts. Spiny, somewhat succulent branches are weak, may need support.
Many varieties and hybrids offer a wide choice of sizes, shapes, and flowers in oranges, yellows and pinks. Train the shrubby, climbing stems on a trellis or wall, but be careful of the long sharp thorns.
With several varieties of different sizes and colors, it's prized for flower arrangements. All have petal-like, papery bracts beneath tiny flowers. Some need staking for support. Named for the white margins on the uppermost leaves. The sap is a skin irritant.
Lowest-growing of the fothergillas, this tall plant has deeper blue-green leaves, larger, 1-in. (2.5-cm)-long flower clusters, and better fall color.
An Agave look-alike with spiny, blue-green leaves in big rosettes.
When grown in full sun, this aloe's blue-green leaves turn reddish-pink on the edges. In the desert, protect from hot sun. Brilliant coral-pink to orange flowers in spring. Can be grown in containers or as a houseplant.
This sometimes invasive plant is good for wild gardens or flower borders, and excellent in dried arrangements. Cut stems before they mature and hang upside down to dry.
Useful in hot, sunny rock gardens or as an edging in flower beds, this slow-spreading plant is hardy except in severe winters. Once established, it tolerates drought but may rot in wet soil.
A tall grower with 1-ft. (30-cm)-long leaves that needs heat and sun to bloom well.
Train for an elegant 5 to 8 ft. (1.5 to 2.5 m) display of dark green, deeply cut leaves and purple, hibiscus-like flowers throughout the year. Cultivars offer white or yellow flowers; 'Santa Cruz' and 'Monterey' bloom in deep blues.
As its name suggests, this plant looks like a miniature Christmas Tree, with tiny greenish-gray leaves that form a dense cone.
One of the hardiest and most vigorous of its species, try this in colder climates with heavy mulch. Good in containers.
After Fred Meyer's long blooming season, remove flowers. To encourage new growth, gently pull or twist -- don't cut -- stems a few inches above the soil. Leaves may cause irritation in some people.
This is one of the tallest-growing types and needs staking. Not for small areas.
Its heart-shaped leaves are speckled and blotched with golden yellow. Like Gold Heart, better for ornamental accent than ground cover.
Plant the tuberous roots of this lovely wild flower in spring in a partly shady, open woodland and do not disturb once planted.
Use this vigorous grower as ground cover in frost-free regions. May flower all year.
Grow this Pacific Northwest native alongside streams and in other wet, marshy places. Smooth gray bark stands out in winter. Can reach 90 ft. (30 m) but usually grows to half that. Susceptible to tent caterpillars.
Use the edible leaves for a mild garlic flavor in salads and in cooking. Abundant, violet-scented white flowers on tall stems attract bees and are showy in dried arrangements.
Grow this if you like onion flowers but not the onion smell. Less hardy than other onions, this Northern Italy native needs heavy mulch in cold climates. Starry blooms appear on 12- to 14-in. (30- to 35-cm)-high stems.
Huge flower heads up to 1 ft. (30 cm) wide look good even in winter, and are lovely in dried arrangements. Leaves may die before flowers appear.
Grown for its looks, not its bulbs, use these nodding pink flowers with bluish-green leaves in masses.
This very hardy ornamental onion has deep cornflower blue flower heads, 2 in. (5 cm) across, June through summer. Good for fresh or dried arrangements. Gather and plant mini bulbs at flower stalk ends in autumn to propagate.
This vigorous climber has lots of showy flowers that grow to 5 in. (12.5 cm) across. Leaves are thick and leathery.
This compact, prolific bloomer is ideal for smaller gardens. One of the lowest-growing columbine hybrids.
One of the tallest Ajugas, it reaches 1 ft. (30 cm) in height. Its large, purple leaves and erect spikes of blue flowers make it an especially colorful choice.
Beautiful grayish-green leaves form fans instead of rosettes, as in most other aloes. Scarlet flowers attract hummingbirds.
More susceptible to fungal rots than other types, this medium-sized Kangaroo Paw produces large, wooly flowers on unbranched stems.
Song sparrows, juncos and other small birds like the seeds of this woodland native of western North America. Good for naturalizing and wild gardens with ferns and other moisture-loving plants.
Hummingbirds pollinate the nodding blooms of this wildflower native to much of eastern and central North America. Best in shade with moist soil.
Compact plants that are good for small gardens and windy areas where tall plants may get damaged. Long, spurred flowers in bright colors.
This cactus is best in hanging baskets or window boxes. Hardy only in zones 9-10, but grow as a houseplant elsewhere.
2-in. (5-cm)-wide flowers bloom on plants up to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Cut back after bloom to keep vigorous and promote new shoots from the base.
Two-toned flowers punctuate the fern-like foliage of these aromatic perennials.
Non-stop bloom through summer and fall make this one of the most popular species. Shrubby, short-lived plants with fern-like foliage are available with two inch golden yellow, lemon yellow and soft yellow flowers. Propagate from base cuttings or by division in spring.
This species from the Himalayas has larger leaves and can endure more shade and moisture, but won't tolerate drought or heat as well as other varieties. Chalky white flower clusters grow up to 2 in. (5 cm) in diameter.
In mild-winter areas, this is an almost non-stop, profusely blooming shrub that can be trained into a single stem with a crown of leaves and flowers at the top. Cut back heavily after flowering to keep it compact. Drought tolerant once established.
This variety has the showiest 3 in. (7.5 cm) blossoms, deep purplish pink with purple streaks and a white eye.
Use this low-growing type for smaller gardens, courtyards, patios and containers.
The largest and hardiest of the Kangaroo Paws with stunning flowers.
A new introduction from Korea, where it is grown for medicinal purposes. This large-growing species produces huge flower clusters on stalks 4 to 6 ft. (1.25 to 1.75 m) tall that bees and wasps find irresistible.
The hollow stems of this plant can be used in candy, can flavor wines, or the celery-like leaves can be eaten. Dill-like greenish white flowers carried on tall, strong stems attract wasps and other beneficial insects. Cut off flower heads before seeds set or plants may die.
Use this with ferns, plantain lilies, hellebores and other shade-lovers. Unusual shaped flowers provide an elegant touch in summer and early fall.
For a grand accent in the garden, plant this robust, long-lasting anemone that can grow to 6 ft. (2 m) tall. Leaves are larger than Japanese anemones and look like grape leaves.
Looks like the Japanese Anemone, but may bloom earlier in mid-summer.
Bright yellow flowers make this fast-spreader distinct from other anemones. Tolerates full sun in cool climates but best in light shade. A. r. superba has larger flowers and bronze foliage
Silky, silvery leaves and brilliant flowers make this plant shimmer in sunlight. Feathery gray seed clusters look good even when plant is not in bloom. Best in cool, moist climates. Propagate from seed.
This slow spreader makes a good woodland ground cover, with white flowers often flushed with pink. Cultivars available with lavender, violet, blue or white flowers, single and double.
Tubers planted in fall produce ruffled poppy-like flowers in spring. Perennial in warm regions such as Florida and southern California. In colder areas, lift tubers in fall and store in a dry place.
This low-growing, wide-spreading plant looks like a cushion. Evergreen in mild climates, its finely dissected gray leaves set off white daisy-like flowers.
This vigorous grower with small, tender leaves is good for edging stone walks, patios and flower borders. Lovely chartreuse flowers and, as with all Lady's Mantles, fuzzy leaves that create a sparkling display in dew or rain.
Long, drooping racemes of dense white flowers up to 2 ft. (60 cm) long bloom best in full sun. May produce oblong, velvety pods in late summer and autumn. Hardiest of the Wisterias.
This spreading, densely branched evergreen shrub has glossy green leaves which may get a maroon tinge in Winter. Dark red buds open to creamy white flowers with a slight fragrance. Fruits turn from red to black in fall and last up to 2 months.
Green until Thanksgiving, this dense shrub's big glossy leaves put on a show of scarlet and maroon long after other trees are bare. White spring flowers lead to lasting red berries if you plant near its pollinator, V. lobophyllum x japonicum Huron.
The toothed, oval leaves are bronze when young, becoming dark green with age.
This conical or bushy conifer has a mass of foliage in heavy flat sprays of scalelike leaves. Leaves are glossy green above, silvery white below. Small, rounded, blue-gray cones.
This suckering shrub has deeply lobed, long-stalked, circular leaves a foot wide. Produces sprays of creamy white flowers in summer followed by black berries in the fall and winter. Tan trunks often curve or lean.
Its scarlet fruits are at their best around Christmas. Narrow, glossy green leaves are reddish when young, turn bronze or purple in fall. Needs plenty of space in which to grow.
One of the best Ceanothus ground covers, it reaches 6 ft. (2 m) wide. The bright, medium blue flowers grow in abundant clusters. Its leaves are glossy, dark green.
With its long, green and yellow-striped leaves, this plant can brighten up a marshy area, or add color and texture to pondside landscaping.
Aromatic foliage adds appeal to the purple flowers. Plant with other drought-tolerant perennials and shrubs such as santolina, kniphofia and euryops. Like 'firebird,' its bushy base stems become woody over time.
Where other Agastaches bloom in cool shades-- purple, rose, blue and green-- firebird stands out with coppery red-orange flowers. The base stems become woody over time.
This upright, larger-growing stonecress is good in flower borders. Pink flower clusters grow up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) long. Leaves are grayish green.
A native of Lebanon, similar to A. grandiflorum but half the size, this plant has smaller, cross-shaped pink flowers in 1 in. (2.5 cm) clusters on neat, rounded mounds of bluish green evergreen foliage.
This hybrid forms medium-sized rosettes up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) across, streaked with dark green.
This large-grower bears rosettes of red-edged green leaves on strong, unbranched stems. In spring, compact heads of small flowers reach 1- to 2-ft. (30- to 60-cm) long. New stems sprout from the plant's base.
Small purple flowers tinged with white bloom atop slender stems in spring. From summer into autumn, stems are hung with clusters of shiny, poisonous red berries.
The narrow, green leaves of this ball-like rosette are edged with fine, white threads that glow when backlit. Rarely flowers but when it does bloom, it produces a 6-ft. (180-cm)-tall spike with greenish flowers that turn maroon with age.
The 3-ft. (90-cm)-high leaf blades, tallest of the species, make a striking accent with low-growing plants like march marigold, along the bank of a pond or brook. Sweetflag is also useful in boggy places. It gets its name from its fragrant (when crushed) leaves, which were once strewn on floors in Europe.
Its mat of woolly greenish gray leaves and pale yellow flowers fills the nooks and crannies of a rock garden, or neatly edges a perennial border.
The lilac flowers contrast the yellows and oranges of most yarrows.
Given extra care while first taking root, this plant will thrive in the toughest hot and dry spots. Its dark crimson flowers are richer than Cerise Queen's.
The deep pink flower heads (unusual for a yarrow) are bigger and stronger-stemmed than A. millefolium. Blooms all summer.
This popular Japanese Maple with purple-tinged, deeply cut leaves is an excellent accent or specimen tree. In autumn, this lacy, low, mounding shrub turns fiery red. Plant by a stream or pond.
Named after a famous plant hunter, David Douglas, this shrubby maple with striking, tooth-edged leaves and dark scarlet shoots, deserves wider use. Mature branches are gray and dense.
Where winters are cold, this dainty fern thrives in a greenhouse or as a houseplant. To propagate, divide new fronds from creeping rhizomes, though plants grown from spores have better shape.
Masses of pink flowers bloom on these 4-ft. (1.25 m)-tall plants. Use in the back of perennial borders or naturalize in meadow or wild gardens.
Grow this long and profuse bloomer as an annual in cold climates or a perennial in frost-free or nearly frost-free areas. Cut back hard when plants become leggy and avoid overhead watering to prevent leaf spot. Blooms indoors all winter in a warm, sunny window.
This top award winner is an extra-early maturing, green Broccoli, ready in just 55 days. Full of vitamins A and C.
This perennial generally flowers in blue, but also in purple, blue, pink, and white. Treat as an annual in cold areas.
This annual has feathery foliage and fragrant, short-blooming flowers of blue, rose, white, or violet, with centers of green, yellow, or deep brown. Long-lasting cut flowers. Sow seeds in the ground or in window boxes and hanging baskets where stems trail over the edges. Prefers sandy soil and cool weather.
Long-blooming, vigorous and hardy, this excellent vine has brilliant deep-red flowers. Doesn't lose its deep green leaves even during cold spells.
This wide-spreading, shrubby Bougainvillea grows 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm) high. The masses of flowers have bright, golden-yellow bracts that turn pink when mature. Prune to maintain shrub shape.
Big, showy, reddish purple flowers bloom on this large, vigorous vine.
Mature plants have tube-shaped, dull pink flowers with purple anthers. Branches appear near the plant's base. Woolly hairs appear around heavy golden and wispy white spines.
The most commonly grown Browallia, its flowers' white eyes contrast with the intense purple or blue petals. There are many other cultivars, including some shorter-growing types.
More compact growing, does not need staking. Plants are smothered with white flowers with bright yellow centers in late summer or early fall.
This rare plant has bright green leaves that measure up to 8 in. (20 cm) long and non-fragrant, 10-in. (25-cm)-long flowers. Orange-red blooms have yellow veins. Other varieties have golden, orange, yellow-green, or red flowers.
Although not as hardy as B. papyrifera, this tall, white-barked, pyramidal Birch grows well in the Midwest. Resists borers and leaf miners.
Use this graceful smaller birch with weeping branches in entryways or small gardens. White bark is cleft with black. Stake trunk to desired height. Won't tolerate dry, hot weather. Prone to leaf miner and birch borer.
Graceful, weeping tree with maple-like leaves. In hot, dry areas, grow in part shade and protect from hot wind.
Early-producing, deep red beet that is tender and sweet. Vigorous plants produce dependably uniform crops.
Striking variety with bronze-tinted leaves and deep carmine flowers.
Vivid, magenta flowers held high above big leaves that turn bronzy purple in fall give this a different look than other Bergenia. Leaves have a reddish tint when grown in full sun, but plants need partial shade in hot summer areas.
True to its name, this is smaller than other Japanese Barberries and ideal as a low-maintenance hedge.
With shiny, dark green leaves that turn bronze in winter, this dense, mounding plant makes an attractive low hedge that grows faster than the Wintergreen Barberry. Partly deciduous in colder climates.
A seed mix of dwarf plants with 1 in. (2.5 cm) double flowers combine well with spring bulbs.
More tolerant of sun and wind than other large begonias, this has dramatic, arching stems and shiny leaves blushed red underneath.
Intensely blue, saucer-shaped flowers nod atop this most commonly grown Borage. 'Alba' has white flowers.
Shorter than C. grandiflora, this bushy type is also known as the 'Forncett Form.' Its leaves are strongly flecked with off-white. Often grown in herb gardens.
This large shrub with dark-green, leathery leaves is an early bloomer.
The hot spicy fruit, which point up, start white and later turn red. Leaves are deep green.
Long clusters of blue-bell shaped flowers are borne on 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm) stems. May naturalize under deciduous trees and in favorable situations. Many varieties available.
Vigorous but not invasive, this plant spreads in a low, leafy mound. Blooms in blue-violet early in season then again later. Use as edging or small-scale ground cover. Hand pick, don't cut, stems for rebloom.
This rock garden or border plant with deep violet-purple flowers atop 1 ft. (30 cm) stems spreads aggressively by underground roots. Divide yearly. Cut stalks after flowering.
Long bearded, blue or violet flowers nod on 6- to 12-in. (15- to 30-cm)-tall stems with pale-green, hairy leaves at their bases. A short-lived plant, it sets seed freely. 'Alba' has white flowers.
Masses of bright rose-pink camellia with double, rose-like to peony-like flowers bloom on this shrub mid to late season. An excellent landscape plant, it's hardy, vigorous and compact.
Its 8-in. (20-cm)-wide heads mature early, followed by a heavy secondary harvest from side shoots. Easy to harvest. Retains flavor even in high temperatures. Excellent variety for freezing.
Use this many-branched, evergreen creeper in rock gardens. Flowers red and purple in summer.
This clump-forming grass spreads slowly by runners. Needs even moisture, especially in hot areas. Use pink flowers in fresh or dry arrangements.
Takes limited root space and is good in masses, as an edging, or in containers. Wide, thick leaves with small, horned teeth grow in rosettes to 1 ft. (30 cm) across and about as tall.
This low, mat-forming plant flowers in spring and thrives where summers are cool. Stays in bloom longer than the common Wall Rockcress (A. Caucasia) but is harder to find.
Out of tight, vertical clumps, feathery clusters of yellow flowers appear in spring and turn gold by fall. In cold areas, the green foliage turns tan in the fall. Use this non-invasive grass in meadows, where roots stay moist. Best in cool weather.
Brighten a dark corner of your garden with this variegated leafed Boxwood with creamy white margins. Use in containers as an accent. Leaves keep their markings rather than reverting to solidly green.
Even in colder climates, the deep green leaves on this upright pyramidal hybrid last through winter.
One the hardiest, blue-green, broad-leaved Boxwoods, it grows 2 to 3 ft. (60cm to 90cm) high. Wide-spreading and flat-topped with age.
This hybrid of B. davidii and B. fallowiana has a misty coloring from its violet-blue flowers and grayish woolly leaves. Use with pastel-colored plants and flowers.
Also called 'Aluminum Spot' because its large, rough leaves are spotted with silver at the edges. Plant in masses. Won't tolerate humidity and heat.
The leaves on this upright shrub are dark green above and light green below. Loses its foliage temporarily in all but the warmest areas. Dwarf, spreading types, plus plants with more abundant or larger flowers, are also available. Protect from full sun.
This fast-growing evergreen or semi-evergreen can stretch 6 ft. (2 m) in one season. Blooms in summer through late fall. Its white, and occasionally pink or yellow, flowers are 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) long. 'Double White' and 'Knightii' have many double flowers.
The leaves of this popular herb smell strongly of peppermint. Blooms in white and purple in summer and autumn. It forms a low bush. Grows wild in grassy areas near rivers.
Smaller and less vigorous than others of the species, it grows fountain-like in borders or rock gardens. Flowers are purplish or pale green. Divide often to keep robust.
Excellent for meadow or prairie gardens, this native American wildflower has large, woolly, greenish gray leaves. Plant in irregular masses or drifts for a natural effect.
Good for southern gardens where summer is hotter and more humid. Similar to A. canadense but less cold-hardy and even more heat-tolerant.
In rich soil and with plenty of water, this spreads quickly into a lush sea of kidney-shaped leaves. Produces reddish-brown flowers, but they are usually hidden beneath leaves. Start from division or from container-grown plants.
Smaller and less hardy than the Giant Reed, this has white and green striped leaves. Good accent in back of flower borders or in large containers. Rejuvenate by cutting to the ground in spring.
Reddish-bronze flowers appear in late spring above its tight clumps. Later in the season, flowers turn buff and, in cold areas, the green foliage turns tan.
Use this West Coast native for beach planting. It becomes unkempt with age, and is usually treated as a short-lived perennial. Low-growing 'David's Choice' is good for rock gardens and edging perennial borders.
Unlike other Artemesia, this has wide, showy leaves. Combine with Asters.
Adaptable wildflower that grows in moist or dry sites, good for naturalizing or flower borders. Flowers have white or violet petals and prominent purplish or reddish brown centers.
Use the aromatic, thread-like leaves as a moth repellent or burn them on the stove to kill cooking odors. Cut back severely to keep it from getting weedy.
Use the roots of this plant as a ginger substitute. An eastern counterpart of A. caudatum and more heat-tolerant than A. european. Its paired leaves up to 7 in. (17.5 cm) long may irritate skin. Divide in spring.
Tight, small mounds of evergreen foliage make this good for rock gardens, containers, or as a small-scale ground cover. Especially fussy about drainage. Mulch with fine gravel to prevent basal stem rot, especially in summer.
This California native blooms before its large, heart-shaped leaves emerge and obscure its small flowers. Give it room to roam for a wild look in the garden. Best in part shade with abundant moisture.
For a whimsical touch in a woodland garden, plant these with hostas, ferns and epimediums. Flowers have a sheath that encloses a club-shaped spike bearing tiny flowers.
Good for trailing over walls, this vigorous European native is less weedy and invasive than some Sandworts. Plant in slightly acidic soil.
Good ground cover for slopes, in rock gardens or trailing over walls, the Bearberry is widespread from coast to coast. Its glossy green leaves turn red in winter. Mulch with peat moss or sawdust to keep weeds down.
Even more heat- and drought-tolerant than other Manzanitas, this is one of the easiest to grow. It has a purplish- brown trunk and grayish-green leaves.
Prized for its deep pink, almost red flowers, dense, shiny leaves and lustrous bark, 'Palisades' is more resistant to fungal diseases than other Manzanitas.
This tall shrub is one of the most adaptable of the manzanitas, with red bark and interesting, crooked branching that make it ornamental in winter.
With beautiful, reddish bark and shiny, evergreen leaves, this tree looks good year round. Winter flowers precede strawberry-like (but tasteless) fruit. Drought and mostly disease-resistant, substitute it for Madrone.
This type of Japanese Angelica has striking 3-ft. (90-cm)-long leaves.
Clusters of spiny leaves at the top of tall trunks make this look less like a palm and more like a yucca or Joshua Tree than others of its species.
The silky, evergreen foliage of this tender plant looks like billowy clouds of silver.
This Mollis hybrid blooms heavily in May.
The eye-catching yellow- and green-striped stems of this bamboo make it a fine accent in containers or against a backdrop of dark green shrubs. Stems, which are blushed with pink when new, are 0.5 to 1 in. (1.25 to 2.5 cm) across and may grow 12 to 30 ft. (3.75 to 10 m) in the ground or 8 to 10 ft. (2.5 to 3 m) in containers.
Good for native and dry gardens, the Oregon Sunflower bears flowers up to 4 in. (10 cm) across on tall stems. Triangle-shaped leaves at its base have thick, white down underneath when young.
Open-growing Pericat hybrid with ruffled flowers.
Although it may lose leaves in cold regions, this Gable hybrid is among the hardiest evergreen azaleas. Flowers in midseason on spreading plants.
Fast-growing, it can gain as much as 20 ft. (6 m) during one season. Use in open areas along ponds and streams. The stiff stems have long, thin leaves. Several varieties are available.
Gardens of the deep South are famous for this Southern Indica or Sun Azalea. More cold-tolerant than other Southern Indicas.
For up to six weeks beginning early or mid-season, this colorful plant produces blooms on sturdy 3 ft. (90 cm) stems that usually do not need staking. Tolerates wet areas. Long-lasting cut flowers.
Cultivated since the 1800s, this variety has wide, sulphur-yellow-edged leaves. For bright, red berries, plant this female next to a male in fall.
Slower-growing variety with gold and white speckled leaves. A male clone that does not bear showy fruits.
The only commonly grown type of Aubrieta, with long, branching stems and spoon-shaped leaves. Often seen in the Northwest, it grows in the wild from the eastern Mediterranean region to Iran.
This South African native thrives in mild, Mediterranean-like climates.
'Pronto' is a fast-growing type of Peanut.
Large, white, sharply pointed outer bracts edged with green make this a showy plant.
Produces clusters of delicate blooms which resemble large clover flowers.
Blooms appear midseason on open-branched stalks. Other pink types include early-blooming Cattleya and Rhineland and Ostrich Plume which blooms midseason.
Blooms later than most Astilbe hybrids thereby extending the season of interest, flowers are denser, plants are reportedly more heat and drought tolerant than most astilbes.
This plant blooms 6 to 8 months a year in mild winter climates. Remove dead leaves, which often turn black and stick to stems.
This mid-season bloomer may need staking. Semi-double flowers.
Its large, semi-double, pink flowers bloom for weeks. Good as background in flower borders. Tall plants need staking.
Lots of flowers on stiff stems at midseason.
More ornamental than the species, with eight sharp ribs fringed with deadly, four-pronged spines. Flowers up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) across may not appear until plant is older.
This conical shaped, slow-growing conifer has dense rich emerald green foliage. Good in large planter boxes near entryways.
These perennials spread quickly by underground runners. Grasslike leaves with white stripes form a dark green mat, above which rise short spikes of bell shaped flowers in late summer. Cut straggly foliage in late winter.
This bushy azalea produces open funnel-shaped flowers and broadly lance-shaped leaves. Mulch around plants for moisture retention. Shallow roots can be damaged by cultivation. Poor drainage causes yellow leaves. Prune after flowering.
The twisted trunk and zigzag branches are eye-catching. Small yellow flowers are followed by glossy, 3-in. (7.5-cm)-long seedpods.
This evergreen, tropical shrub has green leaves margined with creamy white. In colder regions it is grown as an annual.
Bright red leaves marked with crimson and bronze offer year-round color. Pendulous male flowers bloom in tassel-like catkins.
With rich white flowers, this yarrow is good in naturalized sites.
Many branching stems bear gorgeous rosettes in a rainbow of greens, saffron, and salmon pink.
The leaves are glossy on top, with distinct stripes. Branches are covered with bristly hairs.
The thick, fleshy leaves, light to dark green, are armed with hooked, 1 in. (2.5 cm), red to dark brown teeth along the edges, and a 2 in. (5 cm) spine at the tip. Its flower stalk reaches 12 ft. (360 cm).
Named for its burgundy-red flowers, this cultivar stays compact. Needs regular water.
This fast-climbing vine can be trained over a fence or arbor, or as a small tree.
Stems of many different heights bear star-shaped flowers in white, pink or violet with purple midribs, followed by brown seed capsules. Leaf blades are wide and wavy.
Dark green leaves are highlighted with yellow, light green and red.
Eye-catching two-toned flowers--pink, red, blue or violet with white--are more like dahlias than traditional columbines, and lovely in floral arrangements. Named for Charles Darwin's granddaughter, who edited and restored his writings.
Columbines in evening dress, these nearly black-and-white flowers add dramatic contrast to a bed of reds, pinks or yellows.
Masses of rosy pink flowers attract butterflies.
One of the loveliest flowering plants for the rock garden, its profusion of intense white flowers is irresistible to butterflies.
This shrub's bright red berries appear in late summer.
Its silky-haired, silvery leaves are essential to the outlawed liqueur, absinthe. Long used as a medicinal herb, it's not recommended for home remedies. Likes a moist location and tolerates some shade. Seeds prolifically.
It forms a dense purple mound of semi-double flowers. May require staking.
Like other kurume azaleas, it's a dense, spreading dwarf, good around a house or for background borders. Give partial shade for best flower color.
Mass in groups for a glorious display of bright flowers and dense fern-like foliage. Hardy and adaptable, it flowers whether summers are hot or cool and wet. Keeps blooming well into autumn.
Growing in single columns or shrubby clusters, it has bright red flowers with purple stamens.
As the name implies, it's the tallest of its group. Seedheads are tinged red-brown, purple or light gray, becoming pale yellow or metallic as they dry.
The bushy mound of rich green leaves becomes covered with bright blue, white-centered flowers. Grow outdoors in mild summers, or in containers, windowboxes and greenhouses.
This tiny wonder blooms in a range of colors. Vigorous, but keeps its neat, compact pyramidal shape.
One of the easiest and most colorful annuals to grow, the California Poppy succeeds in all soils and garden positions. The compact plants have bronze tinted foliage and produce single and semi-double flowers in rich colors--reminiscent of glorious oriental silks. Starts from seeds and naturalizes.
The attractive pink flowers, borne on semi-dwarf, compact, bushy plants, are perfect for borders, containers, and pots. An erect grower, it is supported by a multi-branched stem. Keep moist.
Self-naturalizing in mild climates, it needs moist soil to produce summer blooms. In colder regions, dig up rhizomes in fall and store through winter. Variegated leaves distinguish it.
Valued for their edible, colored fruits which form in mid-summer and last until the first frost, peppers provide color in the garden as well as tasty accents in many recipes. Beyond the ordinary green-red peppers are a selection of vibrant colors: yellow, orange, lilac-purple, white and even brown. The plants can be grown in pots in a greenhouse or frame, or outdoors in a warm, sunny, sheltered position. They prefer moist soil.
It bears fruits in a range of colors.
It forms a rounded shape, bearing 2-in. (5 cm)-long red fruits.
This highly praised new annual produces uniform bushy plants. Fully double flowers bloom in shades of blue, red, pink, lavender and white.
Grow it as an annual in colder climates.
A reliable bloomer favored for its abundant, pale button pompons; cut back to ensure bushy growth.
The flowers are small, in two tones of bronze.
These long-blooming, reddish-orange Chrysanthemums make a cheery addition to a border.
Use these white and yellow daisy-like flowers as an accent or in a border.
Introduced in 1992, this taller decorative variety blooms early in the season with double or semi-double flowers.
A taller mum introduced in 1994, its double or semi-double purple flowers bloom early in the season.
A taller mum introduced in 1991, its double or semi-double bronze flowers bloom early in the season.
Very soft-pink flowers bloom early on this taller decorative variety, introduced in 1994.
Over 50 cultivars of this plant exist. Most produce white blooms that are excellent for borders and as cut flowers. Available in single, fringed, semi-double and double flowers.
Leaves are darker green and less glossy than the species', and it stays more compact. Vigorous, bushy growth.
This uniquely branching annual produces masses of large, scented flowers in a mound of fragrant, feathery foliage. A superb, scented, bedding plant for the annual border.
Each on its own branching stem, pure white flowers form an airy cloud. Mass them with other white bloomers, or mix with bright and deep colors for lively contrast.
This stunning variety shines on a sunny wall, producing an abundance of intense carmine-red flowers, each with a contrasting white throat and yellow eye.
Enhance annual beds and borders with this graceful, free-flowering plant. Its fine, long stems carry eye-catching golden-yellow and red flowers. Easy to grow. Prefers warm weather.
Masses of bright golden-yellow, button-like flowers dance on slender stems above neat leafy mounds.
Striking gray-blue needles turn red-bronze in cold winters. Deep furrows etch the red-brown bark.
A popular rockery variety, the plants develop a thick carpet of foliage that blooms in just a few short weeks from seeds. The flowering shoots are upright, with small flowers in shades of crimson, scarlet, pink, carmine and white, many having a contrasting central eye. Attractive to butterflies.
If planted in a sunny area, this is one of the easiest annuals to grow. The perfect daisy-like flowers are white with a contrasting black central eye.
A vigorous grower, the ends of its branches are crowded with white to reddish flowers.
Sharp-tipped green leaves look as though they are dusted white. A single flower stalk rises 1 ft. (30 cm) tall.
White to pink-purple flowers bloom among the dull blue-green leaves. The stems lie flat with tips arching upward. Native Americans made soup from the larger stalks' inner pulp.
An unusual and very effective herbaceous border plant with unique spiny foliage and cone-shaped flowers, it is much sought after by flower arrangers. The dense, rounded blue flowerheads contrast with deeply divided leaves beautifully marked with white veins.
This relative of Joe-Pye Weed is a native of Europe. Late in summer, the mauve flowers burst into life, forming dense clusters on tall, sturdy stems. Cultivars are available with white or double rose-colored blossoms. Butterflies find these plants particularly attractive.
It's named for the purple speckles that mottle the stems. A marshland native, it needs regular watering.
This compact bushy plant makes a delightful choice for the herbaceous border. A shorter cultivar, its large, crimson flowers with yellow margins are excellent for cutting. Attractive to butterflies. Good in dry soils and hot temperatures.
It propagates only by rooting stems--one 9-acre colony in New Jersey, from a single mother plant, may be over 10,000 years old! Edible but flavorless black fruits follow the red-striped white flowers. Leathery leaves may turn bronze in fall.
One huge flower grows up to 1 ft. (30 cm) across on this spreading annual. Golden yellow petals frame its large, dark brown center.
This very popular dwarf, early flowering and fragrant edging plant is also suitable for rockeries, window boxes, garden containers and hanging baskets. Their uniform habit can get rangy over time, so remove old plants and sprinkle the empty spot with their seeds to start new shoots. Flowers range in shades from white to pink to purple.
Arguably the most attractive ornamental grass, it is effective in borders and superb when dried for use in long-lasting flower arrangements. The full, graceful plants with 3 in. (7.5 cm) long feathery flower-spikes can be grown as an annual. Tolerates poor soil, heat, and wind.
This fine variety's flowers bloom late in the season. Ungainly growth can be pruned back, but most plants need replacing after 10 years.
A distinctive, yet short-lived perennial, the rich, dark bronze-green foliage carries a mass of vibrant flame-red flowers.
Vigorous and disease-resistant, it flowers well in alternate years. Pink buds open to white flowers up to 1.75 inch across. Use the dazzling red to purple fruit for jelly.
Single pink buds, opening to snowy 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) flowers, cover the gracefully drooping branches. Birds flock to the long-lasting, glossy red fruit. Susceptible to scab and fireblight.
Vigorous and very disease-resistant, it forms an upright, oval shape. Pale pink buds open to white, fragrant flowers. Abundant small red fruits last through summer.
Ideal for bedding, window boxes, hanging baskets and garden containers, the F1 new hybrids are best grown as half-hardy annuals. The plants prefer cool weather and moist soil.
The Panorama hybrids bear scarlet, purple or pink flowers.
It heralds winter's end with rich orange-red trumpets surrounded by yellow collars.
Colorful, easily grown annual often underestimated for their value in the garden, they tolerate dryness and poor soils. This old, but classic, variety is dwarf and non-trailing with dark, blue-green foliage which helps to highlight the intense crimson-scarlet flowers. Attractive to butterflies.
Beautiful partners for blue robe, it produces an abundance of pure white, cup-shaped flowers, each with a golden central eye.
Produces wonderful long-lasting, tall-stemmed white, yellow, pink, and purple flowers rising from compact rosettes of foliage. Excellent for borders, rockeries, and containers.
Popular for bedding and in containers, these are available in many fascinating forms. Their arresting mix of blended pastels ranging from yellow to apricot, lavender to wine, and coral pink to copper invigorate any garden.
A unique and delicate blend of flower colors, it has red, purple, violet, and pink blotches, contrasting delightfully with the creamy yellow upper petals and lower petal edges.
These brilliant scarlet-red flowers, usually with a black spot at the base of each petal, are frequently seen as vivid patches of color on freshly cultivated land and roadsides. Naturalizes. Native British seed.
A splendid tall perennial for the herbaceous border. The long, graceful flower spikes carry bell-shaped flowers of bright scarlet throughout the summer. It is also a wonderful cut flower.
A free-flowering, double multiflora mixture, this compact plant gives an amazing blend of fully double flowers. Tolerant to most weather conditions, and suitable for many garden situations.
This British-bred Petunia can withstand the extremes of summer weather. Yields a balanced, bright flower display in seven glowing colors - blue, purple, red, rose, pink, salmon and white.
A beautiful dwarf oriental Poppy with a bushy branching habit, the bright flowers punctuate a garden with an amazing mix of color and form.
Honored as 1994 Perennial Plant of the Year, this late bloomer has soft pink flowers and bronzy-green foliage. A little taller than the species.
The nuts, shown immature here, reach a diameter of 0.75 in. (2 cm) or more, with thick shells and good flavor. Tolerates poor soils and dry conditions.
It lives longer and tolerates cold better than most acacias, but needs wind protection. Good in large parks and on slopes. Drops a fair amount of litter, so plant away from driveways or lawns unless you're willing to rake.
The leaves may grow up and out, or curve inwards. Flower spikes grow up to 7.5 ft. (2.25 m). Smaller 'Dwarf' cultivar has denser growth. Water infrequently.
Curly fibers edge the narrow, 1.5 ft. (45 cm), leaf blades. A flower spike up to 10-ft. (3-m)-tall bears 2 in. (5 cm), yellow to green or red-purple blossoms.
Pale or bluish gray leaf blades curve outward or inward. The long terminal spike may tower to 35 ft. (10.5 m).
Give this giant room to spread - it may reach 12 ft. (3.5 m) across. The flower spike soars up to 24 ft. (7 m), topped with a branching column of fleshy, 4 in. (10 cm) , yellow or green-yellow blossoms.
The deeply furrowed leaves may grow erect or curve inward. Dense flower spike grows up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall.
Over time, the lower branches fall off this tree and new tufts grow from the dormant buds. Older trees have a more spreading crown.
Very fast-growing, it forms a thin, spreading crown of slender branches with nodding tips. Both cones and catkins dangle among the leaves in fall. Needs regular water or streamside location. Stands up to heat and wind. Watch for tent caterpillars in native West Coast and Pacific Northwest areas.
Enormous lavender-blue flowers, up to 10 in. (25 cm) across, with purple anthers bloom in spring on last year's woody vines. Vines grow 8 to 12 ft. (2.5 to 3.75 m)
It grows in moist high mountain meadows and canyons of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. The Navajo made a red dye from the powdered bark. Extremely cold-hardy.
Delicate lilac tints the salmon pink double flowers. Leaves are reddish.
Red and orange often color the new leaves. Does best in light shade in most areas.
Needles droop gracefully from the widely-spaced tiers of branches. One of the fastest-growing pines. Resistant to oak root fungus.
A stunning early bloomer, its dark, bronzy leaves showcase the crimson flower plumes.
These woody, climbing hybrids of C. lanuginosa and C. viticella grow 10 ft. (3 m) or more in a season. Alba's flowers are palest gray, Rubra's red to plum; both are double blossoms at first, but single later.
Introduced in 1856, it grows vigorously in fertile soil. Support or train as a pillar. Most flowers develop on the older wood, so let it grow for several years before heavy pruning.
It bears the heritage of the earliest garden roses, the Gallicas, brought to France in 1830. Very fragrant double blossoms open with stripes of pale pink to almost white, age to purple and lavender. Flower stems grow relatively short on upright, arching canes.
In spring, small formless flowers cover the leaves. Can take poor soil. Leaves tend to mildew. Other, newer varieties have better flower size and shape, healthier leaves.
Dense and spiny, in Europe it's used in hedgerows and poor soils. Round black fruits reach 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) across. Cultivars have double flowers, purple leaves and pink flowers, or variegated leaves and white flowers.
Graceful flower heads bloom on stems over 3 ft. (90 cm) tall.
In winter, this elegant palm bears spikes of small greenish-brown flowers in branching clusters
Greenish-cream colored and musky-scented at first, the flowers change to violet with a honey-like fragrance. There's a white cultivar, 'Alba'.
A compact shrub with spreading branches, its big velvety blossoms are cherry red.
This low, spreading dwarf has rich green foliage and red-orange blossoms.
It brightens the winter landscape with vivid red-orange stems. In fall, leaves turn a golden yellow that may be tinged with red. Best in dappled light.
Pale green leaves on gracefully drooping branches turn a crimson-brushed gold in fall. Stays shrub-sized, with green bark.
Lacy green leaves turn yellow, gold and crimson in fall. The only A. palmatum dissectum variety that grows upright rather than spreading. Wonderful for bonsai, as its leaves become proportionately dainty.
Flowers like small yellow buttons bloom a few inches above a low mat of fuzzy, silver-white leaves. A good ground cover or filler for a rock garden's nooks and crannies.
Give this showy, fountain-shaped evergreen center stage. Golden yellow flowers may be tinged reddish orange. Birds flock to the dark blue berries. Spreads by runners.
This uncommon San Franciscan Bay Area native grows on granite and sandstone outcroppings. Protruding twigs and upright stems bear light orange to reddish-brown, 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) fruits. Avoid planting in saline or alkaline soils.
Check rare plant nurseries for this native of central California's rugged coastal slopes. Oval to slightly triangular leaves have white waxy surfaces, smooth undersides. Bark is reddish or gray. Reddish fruits reach 0.25. in. (0.75 cm)
Clusters of purple berries highlight the green to pinkish-green foliage in winter. Plant in partial shade. Good near the ocean, as it's resistant to salt spray.
Glossy purple-black leaf rosettes stand out among the pale grays and greens of other succulents. Yellow flowers bloom in long clusters.
Nearly-horizontal branches form a slender crown. Young leaves are thin and sticky, then mature with yellow-green surfaces and greener, shiny undersides.
A relatively rare plant with fine foliage and steel blue flowers, it grows well in naturalized landscapes. Also suitable for the wild garden.
This rare northern California native thrives on otherwise barren outcroppings of blue-green serpentine rock. Look for it at specialty nurseries. Stems are covered with fine, dense bristles.
Southern Indica Azaleas were developed to grow faster and taller, and take more sun than other strains. This variety's frilled white flowers bear a light splash of pink.
The best-known and hardiest, it can tolerate light frost, but does better with shelter in a mild coastal climate. The 6 ft. (2 m) flower stalk, often tilted, bears bright green, yellow-tinged flowers on red branches. A gray waxy coating may cover the mature leaves.
Dense, woolly hairs cover spiny columns that reach 2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm) in diameter.
Flowers start out a purplish green and age to yellow, then tan. White-striped leaves are evergreen in milder climates, less so in colder regions.
Showy, cream to yellow-green stamens radiate from the pale yellow flowers. New growth is silvery to red and is covered with glistening downy hairs.
Tips of the hair-thin leaf blades curl into white 'pigtails'. A more compact variety of New Zealand Hair Sedge. Give it well-drained soil. May live only 3 to 4 years.
Good in coastal gardens with dry sandy soil, it doesn't like its feet wet, so plant well away from sprinklers and irrigation. Dense, dark green, 0.5-inch leaves curl under at the edges.
Slender branches spread or arch, with blossoms ranging from pale blue to white.
A fresh-cut flower makes the perfect boutonniere. Dry them for potpourris and long-lasting bouquets. Cultivars and strains come in a range of colors, and heights from 12 to 36 in. (30 to 90 cm) Biennial in warmer climates.
Protect this nearly spineless shrub or tree from frosts. Yellow fruits split open at the base when ripe.
Its spiny joints fall off easily, then root to create new plants. Water during growth and bloom. Prone to red spiders.
The leaves of this variety have finely serrated edges.
If you think your garden isn't moist enough for clematis, try this one. It prefers warmer areas and tolerates dry soil. Scarlet flowers grow up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) long.
Yellow stripes on the pale green leaves age to deep gold. More compact than species. Upright silvery-white plumes usually don't bloom until the second fall. Cut back in spring.
The young shoots' bright yellow adds a jolt of color to a drab winter landscape. Small white flowers in 2-in. (5-cm)-wide clusters are followed by white fruit. Spreads by suckers in moist ground.
Deep purple-red sprays bring life to the winter garden. More compact than the species. Clusters of small white flowers are followed by white fruit. Spreads by suckers in moist ground.
The stem slowly forms a stocky trunk that may reach 10 ft. (3 m) or higher, bearing the bushy crown of 6 ft. (2 m), 4-sided leaves. Greenish-white flowers top a 7- to 15-ft. (2.25- to 4.5-m)-tall spike.
The barbed leaf blades with spiny tips are forbidding, but in old age they become woody long-handled 'spoons' prized for arrangements. Tiny flowers bloom on a 9 to 15 ft. (2.75 to 4.5 m) spike. The thick stem eventually forms a trunk 3 to 5 ft. (90 cm to 1.5 m) tall.
The airy cloud of bronzy-yellow flower stalks, hung with pale brown spikelets, lasts well into winter. Water regularly to keep it evergreen.
This excellent bedding variety is regarded as one of the best strains among the new generation of hybrid bedding Dianthus. A biennial or short-lived perennial in warmer areas, this free-flowering variety produces bushy plants, which flower throughout the summer and well into autumn. Deadhead to prolong blooms.
Small clumps of tufted, spiky foliage bear a profusion of pink flowers in summer.
Soft brown fur covers the base of the lustrous, leathery fronds.
It boasts the group's tallest flower stalk--soaring up to 18 ft. (5.5 m) Leafy bracts surround red blossoms in a 1 ft. (30 cm) globe.
Sparse teeth with curved spines edge the stiff, smooth leaves, 1 to 3 ft. (30 to 90 cm) long. Many red or yellow flowers bloom on a branching stalk.
Swordlike leaves armed with long brown spines grow in a dense rosette. Bright yellow flowers bloom on a thick stem 3 to 5 ft. (90 to 1.5 m) tall.
Trunk reaches 12 to 21 ft. (30 cm) tall. Its 10 ft. (3 m) green leaves grow straight or curve inward.
Its unbranched trunk reaches 3 to 6 ft. (90 to 1.8 m) tall. Flowers are salmon pink or bright red. Cones can be solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3.
Its 2- to 4-ft. (60- to 1.25-m), reed-like, leafy stems form a scrambling growth, topped by a cluster of red to yellow flowers.
Enjoy the honey-scented, pale yellow flowers, but as with all euphorbias, avoid the irritating sap. A tiny spine tips each narrow leaf. Tree-sized in its native Canary Islands, but seldom grows over 3 to 6 ft. (90 cm to 1.75 m) in temperate gardens, and won't survive cold winters.
The crowded branches of this dwarf reach just 1 ft. (30 cm) tall.
This succulent shrub reaches 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Flowers bloom on the ridges between the pairs of thick gray-green spines.
A. bracteata bristles with stiff, sharp needles and long spiny bracts on its 4-in. (10-cm) cones. Smooth red-brown bark makes a pleasing contrast. Tolerates hot dry climates.
Known as the Silver Tip fir in the Christmas tree trade, its trunk can grow more than 6 ft. (180 cm) wide. Older trees have a cylindrical crown with a rounded top.
Tall, erect plants with 4 in. (10 cm) dissected leaves, which are densely hairy and spotted. Combines well with Kniphofia uvaria (red-hot poker), Delphiniums, and Shasta Daisies.
This strain has paler shades of white, cream, yellow and red flowers. Erect or spreading habit.
These poisonous perennials of the buttercup family are good in naturalized areas. Best in partial shade. Keep moist in full sun.
Rigid leaves are erect or ascending and up to 18 in. (45 cm) long. Slender 9 ft. (2.5 m) stalk supports numerous blooms.
The flower stalk of this spiky plant grows up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall with horizontal branches. Red buds open to yellow-green or white flowers, 2 in. (5 cm) across.
This plant often grows erect; then the stems may lie horizontally with ends growing upward. Its narrow leaves have silver-gray markings.
The 'Proliferum' group of hardy cultivars forms hot-tasting bulbuls in the star-shaped flowers at the top of succulent stems. Ready to harvest in 90 to 110 days. Fallen bulbuls grow into the next year's crop. Young shoots may be used as scallions. Needs well-drained soil.
This biennial or perennial with cylindrical bulbs sprouts foot-long hollow, edible leaves. Leaves and flower stems are the diameter of a pencil. Clusters of yellow-white flowers spring from 2 in. (5 cm) stems, like ribs on an umbrella. Produces bulbuls.
Hot-tasting, hollow leaves grow to 1 ft. (30 cm). Produces bell-shaped flowers in an upright, narrow cluster up to 2 in. (5 cm) wide. Dig up bulbs.
The pungently aromatic bulbs are composed of many bulblets. Its few flowers are white to pink tinged with green or purple. The stem grows coiled at first, the inspiration for its common name. Produces bulbuls.
A hardy perennial with a pungent bulb of 5 to 15 white-sheathed segments or 'cloves.' Its leaves can be used like scallions. Ready for harvest in 90 to 100 days. Prefers well-drained, evenly moist soil. Plant small bulbs a few weeks before the first fall frost. Pinch flowers to increase the bulb's growth.
Numerous cup-shaped flowers bloom in an umbel up to 2 in. (5 cm) across.
Reaching 16 in. (40 cm) tall, the lower third of its mostly leafless stalk has flat wide leaves.
A rosette of narrow, arrow shaped leaves with toothed margins grow from the leafy top of a pineapple rooted in water or damp sand and peat moss. After 2 years, it may form a flower head then fruit to less than 1 ft. (30 cm) tall. The fruit is orange-brown. Cultivars exist with variegations in pink, white, and olive green.
Its common name comes from the naked flower stalk that rises in summer after its clump of leaves dries up. Long-lived and trouble-free, it grows in almost any soil.
Abundant erect, pale yellow flowers about 2 in. (5 cm) wide have slender, long and drooping spurs. The outer petals of the flowers are sometimes tinged red. Attracts hummingbirds.
Its wide flowers resemble the head and body of a large bird at rest. Blooms are blotched with white, purple, red, yellow and green.
It may have as few as 3 or more than 5 rib sections.
Nectar-rich, pale orange flowers less than 2 in. (5 cm) wide are followed by woody seed cones. Olive-green leaves are edged with small teeth. Needs excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
Upright, orange-russet to red flower spikes reach 6 to 10 in. (15 to 25 cm) long. Tolerates coastal winds.
Forms an open to tighter shrub with leaves edged with rusty-brown teeth. Flowers are yellow and brown.
Its toothed leaves are bronzy-brown when young. 4-in. (10-cm)-long lemon-yellow flower spikes hang down from branches.
This tree has 2- to 4-in. (5- to 10-cm)-long lemon-green flowers. Spiny deep green leaves are snow white underneath. Perfect for coastal environments and heavy soils.
Its curiously shaped, 6-in. (15-cm)-long, serrated leaves match the 6-in. (15-cm)-long, yellow-green flower spikes on this tree. Prefers sandy soil. Won't tolerate lime.
This dense shrub has 3- to 5-in. (7.5- to 12.5-cm)-long leaves and 7-in. (17.5-cm)-long flower spikes.
Popular in borders for their bright color, these flowers have leaves which may be smooth or tacky with sharp, stiff, flattened hairs.
Boasting larger flowers than Z. californica, it forms a mat of tight 6-in. (15-cm)-tall stems. Dies to ground in winter. Also sold as Z. latifolia 'Etteri.'
In time, the woody stem may grow up to 9 ft. (2.75 m) high, raising the dense crown of grassy 3 ft. (90 cm) leaves. Sturdy flower spike reaches over 3 ft. (90 cm) tall and 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide.
Commonly called the Star-of-Texas, it has bright green foliage and a profusion of large, perfectly formed bright yellow and star-like flowers.
Found in canyons, valleys, and chaparral regions, the leaves are aromatic when crushed and used as a spicy seasoning. Small flowers are followed by olive-like fruit which turns purple. Needs regular watering.
Its large flowers may be mauve, indigo, or violet, with purple stamens. Don't plant in low, cold spots or on north side of buildings.
Often sold as Scabiosa grandiflora, this annual is useful in massed plantings and mixed with other plants. Varying plant heights and flower colors and sizes are available.
The tall, slender stems carry reddish-purple to lilac flowers on heads up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) across in profusion from June to October. Easy to grow, these plants with finely cut, gray-green foliage will flower for many years. Does best in warmer climates. Attractive to butterflies. Native British seed cultivar 'Butterfly Blue' is somewhat taller, with lavender-blue flowers.
Grow this beauty for classic long-stemmed bouquets. Once established, it produces vigorous canes and an abundance of huge, fragrant blooms. Most flower in spring and fall.
An attractive dwarf bush from the compact or patio rose group, it's smaller than regular floribundas but bigger than miniatures. Clusters of 2-inch blooms open continuously. Adaptable to many garden situations.
The coppery blossoms are soft yellow on the back. Up close, their smell may be unpleasant. Single branches may bear yellow flowers, a throwback to the species. Watch closely for black spot.
Large clusters of semi-double, pale pink flowers, up to 4 in. (10 cm) across, bloom once a year.
Nearly thornless, the arching, upright canes bear fragrant double flowers up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) across. At first a beet purple with lilac tones, they fade slightly to reddish-purple.
This climbing variety produces large, dark pink, fragrant, cupped flowers. Typically blooms at the beginning of the season.
Grace a sheltered site with the gentle pastels and sweet fragrance of these big double blooms. Developed in New Zealand in 1964.
Brighten a bouquet with these showy tri-colored blossoms. Slightly fragrant, they bloom continuously. A vigorous, dense shrub, good for hedges.
Prized for its vigorous and arching growth, it bears double, cupped yellow flowers with a sweet fragrance.
Introduced in 1958, this floribunda has an ARS rating of 8.9. Double flowers have a light and pleasant scent; blooms are long-lasting.
The salmon or shrimp pink blooms of this hybrid tea rose vary in color according to local weather and growing conditions. Double flowers up to 4 in. across have a delicate spicy fragrance.
Classified as a modern shrub rose, this is considered a low maintenance plant. Coral-pink, semi-double flowers bloom all season. Abundant reddish-orange hips in fall.
Exuberant clusters of circus-bright blossoms clamor over the bush, nearly hiding the leaves. With tightly packed petals changing from yellow to orange to red, they make splendid cut flowers. Selected by the AARS in 1976.
Large, double, fragrant blooms in bright red attract bees and hummingbirds.
Introduced in 1984, this slightly fragrant floribunda has brilliant 3 in. (7.5 cm) , double flowers that cluster on long stems. Excellent for cut flowers and hedges. Good reblooming rose.
First of the 'Explorer' series of hybrids, its parentage includes Rosa kordesii. This tall cultivar has arching branches with abundant semi-double flowers. Named after Cabot, a Genoese explorer.
Vigorous, arching stems bear a profusion of semi-double 4 in. (10 cm) flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance. Hardy and disease-resistant, it tolerates poor soils and light shade. Good as a shrub or climbing over a lattice or bower.
It forms a stunning hedge, with snowy pink-flushed flowers nearly covering the foliage.
This vigorous, upright, arching climber blooms most generously in midsummer. Handles poor soil and light shade. Developed in England in 1915 from Paul's Carmine Pillar.
Continuously blooming, 3 in. (7.5 cm) double flowers hold their fiery orange hue and offer a delicate, fruity fragrance. Introduced in 1971 and selected by the ARS in 1977.
This hybrid tea rose bears large, yellow blossoms with a fruity fragrance. Disease resistant foliage and a long blooming season. Excellent cut flowers.
An upright, vigorous modern shrub, it can be grown as a climber. Abundant single to semi-double, very fragrant flowers bloom singly or in clusters.
Sweet-smelling, snowy clusters of double pompon flowers cover this charming dwarf bush. Best in an open area with fertile soil. Tolerates light shade.
First introduced into the U.S. in 1954, this award-winning hybrid tea rose is a vigorous long-stemmed grower. Profuse double, rounded flowers are excellent for the back of a mixed border and for cutting. Lightly fragrant. Very disease resistant; a classic.
This hardy, thornless climber covers arbors and fences, or cascades from low tree branches. A wealth of lightly fragrant, 1.5 to 2 in. (3.75 to 5 cm), double flowers blooms once early in the rose season. Very resistant to pests and diseases, and handles frost to -5░F.
Introduced in England in 1918, it grows vigorously once established. Single flowers, 5 to 6 in. (12.5 to 15 cm) across, have a delicate, sweet fragrance. Best when sheltered. Resistant to black spot.
Iowa's state flower forms wild thickets on wet ground. Sends up many suckers in fertile planting beds. Leaves turn shades of dull red in fall. 'Alba' variety has white flowers.
First cultivated by the Romans, their petals are still prized for potpourri and rose oil. Double or semi-double flowers bloom once in midsummer. R. d. semperflorens often blooms again in fall.
Monks of the Middle Ages grew this spreading rose for herbal remedies. Blooms once in early summer, with deliciously fragrant single, semi-double,or double flowers. Tolerates poor soil.
Its dense growth is ideal for hedges, mass plantings, and borders. After the intensely fragrant flowers bloom, they produce large, round red hips. Tolerates most soils, light shade, and coastal conditions.
The spreading or climbing stems bear stout prickles. Clusters of yellow buds open to white 4- to 6-in. (10- to 15-cm)-wide single blooms with a fruity perfume. Orange hips reach 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) wide.
The red-tinged stems are sometimes thornless. Bright pink, 1.5 to 2 in. (3.75 to 5 cm) single blossoms develop glossy, bottle-shaped orange-red hips.
This rounded tree is native to low, wet areas. Its fruit is sweet and juicy.
This shrub's branches are somewhat pendulous, and carry red-orange to brown fruit which attracts birds. Strongly veined leaves are bright green above, paler below.
This pyramidal tree has a large trunk and ascending branches which droop at the tips, ending in flat sprays.
The stems of this succulent may be erect or lay on the ground with the ends growing upward.
A bushy and somewhat trailing summer annual, the typically blue flower with a yellow throat is 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) across. Cultivars of mixed colors are available.
This good, low maintenance shrub is tolerant of pruning and of drought, and takes care of itself once established. Clusters of red berries in the fall and winter attract birds.
'Purpurea' cultivar is very popular, with its bronzy green leaves that turn purple. The willow-like leaves up to 4 in. (10 cm) long grow on upright stems. Can be trained with a central leader into a tree. Withstands any soil, wind, ocean breezes or dry heat; also does well with water.
Characterized by its weeping, open growth form, the reddish brown bark grows in smooth, then curls off in flakes. Gray-green leaves contrast with the reddish stems and lavender-gray seed capsules. Grows best in protected areas.
Long strips of bark peel off its tan and white, mottled trunk. Plant where litter isn't an eyesore. Naturalizes easily.
Yellow flowers emerge from the bright red buds, a colorful contrast with the bright green leaves and white trunk. Prune or stake to establish tree form and prevent sprawl, but leave multiple trunks. Less drought-tolerant than others.
Heavy masses of fragrant blue-green foliage and 1 in. (2.5 cm), blue-gray flower capsules characterize this tall, stately tree. Needs room. The leaves and the white to tan, yellow or gray bark shed. Several subspecies exist, including a dense, compact cultivar called 'Compacta.' Does poorly in deserts.
This shrub sprawls erratically, though new growth is vertical. Its smooth bark is gray to greenish-white. Fluffy flowers grow directly on the branch. Stems die back from pruning.
Its smooth bark is bronze, whitish-green or gray. When young, its roundish, silver leaves spin around the stem. This foliage is used in dried flower arrangements. Cut back regularly to encourage new growth.
This narrow tree is dense when young, then thins out. Its shedding bark is pinkish to red.
The dark, furrowed bark of this aromatic tree does not shed. A variety of shapes are available with branches weeping or upright. Narrow blue-green leaves take on bronze tone in winter. Avoid wet, clay soils.
Useful in lighting up darker areas with its long-lasting golden foliage, the leaves change color early. Plentiful light orchid flowers in midsummer.
The leaves are green to blue-green above, pale green below, with deeply impressed veins. Stately flower stalks hold white to gray-mauve flowers.
A yellow-berried shrub is also available.
Sometimes sold as J. acutifolia, it blooms from late spring to late summer. A white-flowered variety blooms longer and has lusher foliage, but fewer flowers.
Its irregular or rounded crown is formed by branches ascending from a trunk usually divided near the base. It has waxy blue cones.
This native to the dry slopes and flat areas of California is a multi-trunked shrub with yellow-green leaves.
These dark blue cones have a pale waxy coating.
The gray-brown bark on its single trunk ages to ash-white. Sports yellow green leaves and dry reddish-brown cones.
Its bark is light gray-brown and its soft cones are bronze to rusty-brown. Branches form an irregular crown.
Light green leaves grow 16 to 18 in. (40 to 45 cm) long, like parchment, at the ends of branches giving the effect of umbrellas. The bark is gray or brown.
Leaves up to 3 ft. (90 cm) long sprout in dense whorls at the ends of branches. Fragrant flowers a foot or more in diameter provide a dazzling display. Seed cones are rose pink with red seeds.
The hard, yellow fruit of this tree is poisonous. The lilac-colored flowers are fragrant in the evening.
This sweet herb needs regular watering and pruning to keep it compact. A naturalizing plant that attracts bees, it prefers fertile soil.
A tuft-forming, rhizomatous perennial or biennial with delicate, fragrant white flowers open in the evening and close in bright sunshine. Blooms are 0.5 to 1 in. (1.25 to 2.5 cm) wide, aging to pink.
Native to sandy bluffs in a moist, coastal to slightly inland climate, this perennial does better in moist places. The yellow flowers open in the late afternoon and remain open until sunrise. Color fades to reddish-orange with age. Elliptical leaves are downy.
The stiff leaf blades, edged with red or orange, glow like stained glass when backlit. Flower stalk may reach 15 ft. (4.5 m) Look for many cultivars with different variegated colors and heights.
Stiff, arching leaf blades, dark green and apricot edged with bronze, reach 3 ft. (90 cm) long.
Its long, slender, horizontal branches end in drooping ropelike branches up to 7 ft. (2.25 m) or more. Cones reach 4 in. (10 cm) long. Grows best in cool temperatures with regular moisture.
Use this very slow-growing Pine as a shrub or in containers, rock gardens, and bonsai. Forms dense tufts of needles at branch tips. Spreads out with age and forms 5 in. (12.5 cm) long cones.
Its big egg-shaped cones are the heaviest of any Pine's. Nearly horizontal branches form an open crown. Grows on dry, rocky slopes and foothill or mountain ridges.
This desert-lover spreads with age to an open, irregular shape, covered with many long-lasting cones. Choose location carefully, as the trunk may lean.
Imposing in every way, this mountain monarch's branches begin high on the trunk, forming an open crown. Huge cones form at the branch tips. Prefers good drainage.
On forest slopes they tower, tall and narrow, but in parks and gardens they're often low and bushy. Bark is thin and scaly. The small, round cones open at maturity.
Their red-skinned, yellow-fleshed fruits attract birds. Juicy but sour, they're best sweetened in jellies and preserves. Spreads by root suckers and is used to control erosion. Look for many hybrids.
Crimson to orange-yellow fruits, over 1 in. (2.5 cm) across, follow the white blossoms.
This dense, hardy native of coastal mountains stands up to wind. Edible fruit is usually red or blue, occasionally yellow. Leathery leaves have coarsely toothed edges.
White flower spikes bloom in late spring. The 1 in. (2.5 cm) fruits are edible but tasteless.
A native of moist soils; it's also called 'Fire Cherry' because seedlings appear after forest fires. Birds and animals eat the tiny, sour red fruits. Try them in jellies.
The bounties of this largest native American cherry include a rich red hardwood prized by furniture-makers, aromatic leaves and bark used for cough syrup, and bitter, juicy fruits for jellies and wine. Plant where it's not too wet.
It grows wild in a wide range of settings, from rocky slopes to shady woods. Fruit is somewhat fleshy, dark red to black. Provide plant with good drainage and some irrigation.
This thicket-like shrub with a spreading habit is characterized by several trunks, crooked branches, and spines.
The pods, bark, and wood of this hardwood shrub are used as food, medicine, and fuel. Often narrow at the crown with ascending branches, it has dull, blue-green leaves that are twice divided. Spike-like flowers and tightly coiled seed pods are attractive to livestock and wildlife which help distribute the seeds.
A plant native to washes, slopes and mesas in desert areas, with flowers, paired spines and narrow pods smaller than those of P. grandulosa.
This erect shrub is dotted with 4-in. (10-cm)-wide, oblong to oval flowers.
Its colorful leaves are blue-green to green tinged with purple. Flowers reach 6 in. (15 cm) long.
Pink to salmon bracts surround flowers that reach 5 in. (12.5 cm) long by 3 in. (7.5 cm) wide. Tolerates alkaline soil. Hardy to 17░ F.
This oval to rounded shrub is covered by narrow, blue-green leaves. Its 5 in. (12.5 cm) flowers have pink, red or white bracts.
Its glossy, leathery leaves are diamond-shaped. Its yellow, sticky fruit grows in clusters.
Native to the peninsular ranges of California and common on streamsides and in canyons, it does better with some irrigation. Susceptible to sycamore anthracnose.
Its somewhat shiny round flowers reach 5 in. (12.5 cm) wide. Water every 2 to 4 weeks.
This slender shrub grows low with turned up branches, or as an erect shrub.
Its orange-rose flowers contrast with gray, fuzzy leaves.
A floral fantasy, this Lily produces up to 70 blooms on a single raceme. Grows better in lime-rich soil.
This long-lived variety eventually forms large clumps, bearing up to 50 pendulous flowers on a single raceme. Petals are dull, purplish-pink with maroon spots.
As many as 25 pendulous orange-red flowers with deep crimson spots may top this lily, although there are usually only 3 to 6.
If you're designing a garden by color, this Lily, is a good choice for the purple section. Its stem is tinted purple, and its broad, funnel-shaped flowers are white with purple spots, aging to purple. Blossoms number from 1 to 30 and occasionally up to 100 or more.
Dense clusters of pale to bright yellow flowers look best when massed. This naturalizing perennial has a long history of medicinal use.
A popular, late-flowering Lily, the 6-inch wide flowers have small bumps at the base of the petals. Similar to L. henryi. Produces 15 to 30 blooms per stem.
Its many branches and hairy stems are dotted with flowers up to 2 in. (5 cm) across.
Stemless, dense rosettes of 4 in. (10 cm) leaves with raised, soft white teeth make this dwarf species a favorite for edging, in rock gardens, in pots, and as ground cover. A flower stalk grows to almost 2 ft. (60 cm) and produces orange-red blooms in early summer.
This flat-topped tree's thick trunk frequently forks into branches. Rosettes of fringed blue-green leaves, with brownish-yellow margins grow over 1 ft. (30 cm) long.
The stems of this low-growing succulent root along the ground and turn upward at their ends. Rosettes of blue-green leaves with pale spots have spines on their edges. Blooms are dull scarlet or yellow with orange keels.
The leaves on this virtually stemless succulent are green and tapering when young, becoming brown-red with elongated spots as the plant matures. A flower stalk, usually unbranched, produces yellow or red flowers with green tips.
This stemless variety forms clumps of 4 in. (10 cm) blue-tinged leaves, with white teeth. A scarlet or orange bloom spike offers contrast.
The sword-shaped bluish white or reddish leaves grow to almost 3 ft. (90 cm) long. Leaves have dark pink to pale red margins and red teeth.
The glossy leaves are almost 1 ft. (30 cm) long and have tiny white teeth. A single flower stem bears clustered flowers almost 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Numerous, cup-shaped flowers form a cluster up to about 3 in. (7.5 cm) across.
Star-shaped flowers grow in a dense, spherical head up to 4 in. (10 cm) across atop a ridged stem.
Star-shaped flowers mass in a dense globe up to 6 in. (15 cm) across. Hollow, green leaves are 1 to 3 ft. (30 to 90 cm) long.
This white, late flowering perennial grows to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Tolerates shade. Keep moist.
This late-blooming, vigorous perennial grows over 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Flowers are lilac-pink.
Pure white flowers bloom up to 4 in. (10 cm) wide.
A broad, funnelform flower blooms atop a single stem, which can grow up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Bright pink or magenta flower clusters contrast with the yellow spines of this succulent. Blooms are about 4 in across.
Its 4- to 6-in. (10- to 15-cm)-wide flowers have a strong anise fragrance. Their deep rose-pink color pales with age. Leaves are reddish green.
Its flowers reach 6 to 10 in. (15 to 25 cm) across. When young, its bright green leaves are spotted with brown.
All parts of this succulent are flushed with reddish-purple to deep maroon color.
The velvety fuzz of this succulent gives it its common name. Free-standing, unbranched stems are graced by a profusion of yellow blooms and pale green leaves to 12 in. (30 cm) long.
This perennial grows from a thick, woody rootstock. The flowers are white and often tinged with green, similar to A. virginiana.
Red flowers top stems up to several feet tall. The dark green leaves grow on stalks up to 2 ft. (60 cm) long.
Its yellow-green flowers, some tinged with red, top stems up to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall. Silky green leaves with white veins reach 2 ft. (60 cm) long and a foot wide.
The leaves of this half-hardy annual are deep red to purple. Green-leaved varieties are used as spinach substitutes in areas with hot summers.
This downy shrub bears arching flower pendants to 3 or 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) long. Showy bracts vary from rose to red to yellow to brown.
Round fruits bristle with spines. Branches become somewhat woody.
Plant tuberlike roots under the cover of trees or a lath. Often develops in a clump.
It loses its 10-in. (25-cm)-wide, bright green leaves for a brief period. Its trunk is heavy and smooth.
Dead leaf stalks over 2 ft. (60 cm) long with single or double spines cover the trunk of this palm tree. It bears small, yellow fruit less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) long.
Bright, rosy bracts the size of tennis balls surround its pink to lavender flowers with bright yellow stamens. Ash-gray, scaly and shiny leaves with small spines reach 18 in. (45 cm) long.
Its 1.5-ft. (45-cm)-long leaves are broadly banded with dark green or purple.
The flowers appear on the trunk and branches of this tree. Leaves grow to more than 1 ft. (30 cm) long.
Its mature leaves are elliptic and glossy, with silvery coloring beneath.
Its branches turn to cherry red as the tree ages.
Brilliantly colored leaves distinguish Caladuim, either as a pot plant or as aborder. Its ornamental leaves add a welcome touch of the tropics to any garden.
This bright perennial grows trailing to upright. The flowers are crimson-purple to cherry red.
Prized for its yellow, 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide flowers, this plant has a long blooming season. Grows 8 in. (20 cm) tall by 2 ft. (60 cm) wide in almost any soil. Prefers bright light or afternoon shade. Its cold hardy, but stems should be cut back in winter.
Sparse, sharp bristles characterize this long-lived variety. It accepts dry-shade conditions. Several cultivars with different colored flowers and heights are available.
The red-tinged stem usually has some sharp bristles. Several cultivars exist with different flower colors and habits.
Its narrow columnar shape becomes somewhat irregular and pyramidal with age.
This tree is difficult to cultivate. Its long-pointed leathery leaves are dark green on top and yellow on the bottom. The trunk in covered in thick, rough, furrowed bark.
It has a twining growth habit and tough, smooth twigs. 'Indian Brave' and 'Indian Maiden' are selected male and female forms, respectively.
This shrub is covered in hairy, 10-in. (25-cm)-long leaves. Bright red bracts surround the yellow flowers. Fruit is blue.
The green, almost circular leaves on this deciduous shrub are white underneath. Excellent for dry sites and cold climates.
Native to dry mountain slopes, its branches are contorted. Its leaves are green on top and white below.
Tree-like in form, with ribs broken irregularly into knobs. Night blooming.
This forest annual has soft hairs on the stems and leaves. Grows as biennial too. The 3 in. (7.5 cm) pendant flowers turn to one side and vary in color from blue-purple or rose-lavender with lighter or darker lines. Naturalized in Florida.
Its compact single trunk is topped by the upper leaves. Grown outdoors in Florida. Sometimes sold as Neanthe bella.
Small and numerous flower clusters are followed by bright red fruit. The fleshy leaves are deeply toothed. Naturalized in the U.S.
Scarlet flowers with greenish-yellow centers all facing one way. Good with other early-flowering plants such as yellow Euryops pectinifera, and orange Iceland poppies.
Abundant, drooping flower spikelets in basket-weave patterns seem to dance with the slightest breeze.
Clumping bulb that bears huge clusters of up to 200 red flowers.
Flowers each look like a turtle's head and are attractive with Japanese Anemone, which also prefers partial shade.
Perhaps the showiest of its species, it has a long blooming season that lasts through autumn. More tolerant of heat and humity than other types, it does best in its native Southeast.
Up to 50 flowers on each stem.
Smaller but more eye-catching than the American Fringe Tree, with showy flowers at the tips of branches and, in older plants, handsome grayish brown bark. Multi-trunked spreading shrub or tree or single-trunked tree.
Sprawling plant with leaves up to 8 ft. (2.5 m) across in clump as wide as 12 ft. (7 m) Flowers in loose, irregular clusters followed by orange-brown seed pods.
Smaller than G. manicata with bowl-like leaves and redder fruit.
Big flowers 6 in. (15 cm) across in white to yellow, instead of pink like the more commonly planted Chorisia speciosa.
Thick, stiff leaves start out mauve, then turn blue-gray and form clumps. Flowers sometimes spotted red.
This exotic-looking evergreen grass has strong, thin stems that sway gracefully in the wind. Unique look makes it great for container display.
Low, leafy stems with 1 in. (2.5 cm) leaves form attractive mats, but solitary flowers often fail to bloom.
Rich violet variety that sets off pink or white flowers beautifully.
Yellow spines stand out against the blue-gray stem.
This West Coast native is beautiful when planted so stems trail down a vertical wall or sunny bank. Rosy purple, 2 in. (5 cm) flowers bloom throughout the summer.
Lilac-edged white petals fan out from a dramatic black center.
Shiny leaves that turn bronze in autumn are the showiest part of this plant and make it popular in arrangements. Plant in acidic soil.
Great winter blooms that smell faintly of honey. Cultivars available in various heights and with different colorings.
This tasty but seeded orange is used in commercial orange juice. Needs less heat than Naval orange to develop full flavor and matures later in summer. Fruit sweetens with age.
Also known as the vine cactus, this has branching stems that make it look like a candelabra. Flowers appear after rain and soon drop. Plant will grow from cuttings stuck in the ground.
Big, intricate flowers provide a dramatic touch to the garden. With plenty of water, can stand even the hottest spot.
Pure white flowers can provide a soothing complement to bold-colored annuals- marigolds, zinnias, or petunias.
Flowers purple as name indicates, but also produces big clusters of blooms in pink, violet, cherry, mauve, rose, and ruby selections.
Erect, slow-grower with orange-to-yellow flowers that look varnished.
This elegant variety looks golden-green. A closer look reveals a gold pin-stripe down the middle of each narrow green leaf blade. It's lovely in a large container.
Very compact and low-growing, it's smothered with purplish crimson flowers from late summer into fall.
Very low-growing, it has double, coral-pink flowers and deep green foliage.
An Old World variety, it is grown for its fleshy, white, pungent roots. The young leaves add zip to salads.
This tall, mounding variety has with double pink flowers, and is good for cutting.
The faded flowers of this fast-growing, showy shrub are tan-gold and attractive for quite a while.
It forms a low mat covered with lavender flowers. New growth is pink, then turns light green.
Single or double flowers that are wonderfully fragrant in the evening. Tolerates poor soil. Becomes woody at base.
Its buttercup-bright flowers are a spring wake-up call. Even after flowering, the shiny round leaves make a fine ground cover for a moist spot. This is the double form of the common Double Flowering Marsh Marigold.
Flower spikes as long as 9 ft. (2.75 m) on older plants. 'Rubra' is a bright red-flowered cultivator.
You'll either love this singular sedge for its bright bronzy red leaf blades and curly tips, or worry that it looks dead. Its rustic earth tones are a useful addition to the garden color palette.
Fragrant flowers in winter and spring on stems that grow close to the ground and curl up at the end. Good for hanging baskets.
This unusual broad-leaved deciduous sedge has leaf blades edged in creamy white, with pink tinged new growth. The dense, slowly spreading mounds are good in partial shade.
These richly fragrant Honey Balls stay fresh-looking for weeks. Loves wet feet, so it's good for swampy areas.
Self-sufficient but small plant best for wet soil. Tiny flowers about 0.25 in. (0.75 cm) across on slender stalks.
This very fast-growing billowy shrub produces upright clusters of deep yellow blossoms over a long period.
Wavy leaves to over 2 ft. (60 cm) long with purple spots underneath grow on thick spikes up to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall.
Clusters of starry flowers are blue-purple. Some cultivars like 'Orion' and 'San Juan Form' have even deeper blue flowers. Eaten raw, boiled or baked, the bulb's flavor has been compared to onions, potatoes, figs and gingerbread.
Showy pink powderpuffs are held high above wisteria-like leaves. Blooms into December in warm winter climates or in sun rooms and greenhouses. Good for containers, it's even used as an indoor bonsai.
Plant this spreading bamboo, a smaller cousin of Black Bamboo, in large containers or where it can roam freely. Thin stems are first creamy white and purplish brown, becoming black with age.
Leaf stalks can be distilled alone or with bilberries to make liquor. Foliage can poison cattle and give humans a skin rash. Pale, brown fruits follow 12 to 24 in. (30 to 60 cm) wide flower clusters.
Selected by Pennsylvania's famous Longwood Gardens for its plentiful sky-blue flowers.
Big, showy plant with massive flower clusters up to 4 ft. (1.25 m) across on purple-spotted stems,
Unique for its silvery foliage and deep blue flowers.
Powder-blue flowers look beautiful with Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam.'
This eye-catching shrub has blue flowers contrasting with bright yellow to chartreuse leaves.
This hybrid is hardier but less showy than its parent, the Common Bluebeard, Caryopteris incana. Many compact-growing varieties are available, blooming in shades of blue.
Many branching leafy stems. Cultivators available in different shades of yellow or red.
A fast-growing, upright perennial, grown as an annual, it has large yellow flowers and feathery green, blue-tinged leaves.
Spreading and bushy with oval, gray-green leaves and flowers that sometimes have a flash of red in the center.
Round leaves have a silvery matte surface.
Large, airy flower stalks are spectacular when backlit by late afternoon sun. Best for natural gardens or perennial borders.
Clustering type with yellow-brown spines to 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Tapered, pointed leaves, often with red or brown margins, in rosettes 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) across. Red, cup-shaped flowers in summer.
Rosettes of up to 1 ft. (30 cm) across look like big, chalk-colored flowers. Small clusters of star-shaped blooms may appear on mature plants.
Spreading plant good for banks, walls, rock gardens or ground cover. Flowers followed by feathery seeds. Many types and subspecies, including a dwarf.
Overlapping leaves of this Rocky Mountain native form a matted cushion that looks good in rock gardens. Do not let it dry out.
Spiny, pungent-smelling leaves start out woolly and blue-green and become hairless and dark green with age.
This rose-purple flowered variety is more robust than the species. When rubbed against, a lemony scent fills the air.
This spreading fern makes a good ground cover for a shaded slope. Large fronds up to 2.5 ft. (75 cm) long and about 1 ft. (30 cm) wide smell like hay when dry.
Large, white, fluttering bracts make this tree showy enough to plant singly. Leaves are glossy pale green or blue-green underneath. Brown, golf-ball, sized fruit hangs on tree well into winter.
The leaves of this plant can be up to two feet across. Its size gives it a tropical feeling, though it grows wild on rocky streambanks in California and Oregon. Requires moist soil and at least partial shade.
Flower spikes up to a foot long bear yellow to olive green blooms as large as 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) long. Blooms almost year-round in frost-free areas and recovers quickly from frost in other regions. Prune to control shape and legginess. All parts of plant are poisonous.
Usually have dark pink, fragrant flowers, but some cultivars have white or lighter shades of pink flowers. All plant parts are poisonous.
Pink buds open to white flowers with red sepals followed by metallic blue berries. Often dies back to ground in colder climates, but revives in spring. Cut out suckers at base.
Sparsely branched stem and finely dissected leaves. Every part of the plant is toxic, especially seeds.
Paler bands along each blade give it a frosty look.
Reddish leaves turn to glossy green on this free-flowering plant grown from flat, black corms. May be difficult to grow.
Short shrub with 1 in. (2.5 cm) spines in white, yellow or brown.
Similar to C. argentea (Jade Plant) but with variegated leaves. 'Sunset' has yellowish leaves tinged with red and 'Tricolor' has green, white and pinkish leaves.
Vibrant pastels dominate, with only a hint of green in the midribs and veins.
Plumes of upward-arching blue-gray leaves form a dense shrub.
Hawaiians once used the leaves of the Ti Plant to make hula skirts and prepared an intoxicating beverage from its roots. From "logs" imported from Hawaii. Tolerates low light but needs humidity.
Bronze leaves distinguish this variety.
Variegated leaves dazzle with deep green and raspberry pink.
Grows best in warm weather in well-drained, moist soil.
Compact, shrubby plant with green to gray-green leaves with red margins. Varieties offer different leaf types, growing patterns, and flower colors.
Hanging branches of feathery yellow foliage give this slow-growing conifer a light, airy look. Plant in partial shade.
Bright yellow and rich salmon pink veins and edges accent the dark green leaves.
Its leaves are dark green or gray on the top and fuzzy and whiter on the bottom.
Smaller than D. hafordii and less free flowering, this native chapparal shrub is ideal for dry hillside plantings. Prune plants after flowering.
Floating on air-filled leaf stalks, this prolific bloomer thrives in an open, sunny spot but can be invasive if water is too warm.
This aromatic shrub with silvery leaves needs occasional water in summer.
A fine curled type with dark green, deeply cut and curled leaves, it's slow to bolt. Handles some heat, fall rain and frost.
As its name suggests, the widely planted Spanish Bluebell bears bell-shaped flowers usually in blue, but cultivars are available in white, pink and violet.
A perennial grown as an annual for 4 to 10 in. (10 to 25 cm) glossy purple fruits.
Shimmering yellow flowers appear before leaves.
Short-lived but interesting plant that grows as a round mass of soft, silvery leaves in its first year, then sprouts spires of rose to red flowers up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. Plant dies after fruiting, leaving lots of seeds.
Flowers start bright yellow or cream-colored and turn copper on this matting perennial. Subspecies have different flower and leaf colors and are more compact.
Plant this bright little plant in a rock garden, along borders, or use it as a ground cover for small spaces. It works especially well between pavers and steps. The dense tufts of leaves are resilient. Grows best in sunny dry soil.
Prune after flowering to avoid too-long limbs that may break. In areas with little or no summer rainfall, water deeply but only occasionally.
The bright orange or yellow blooms of California's state flower dot hillsides, brighten gardens, and line paths and roads all over the state from late winter to spring. In fall, plants go to seed and then often return in spring. Garden forms of California Poppy come in pink, rose, purple and other colors.
This dwarf plant with abundant harvest is terrific in small gardens. Produces 8 or 9 in. (20 or 22.5 cm) cukes in 63 days. Disease resistant All-American winner.
Resembles a giant Baby's Breath with billowy masses of tiny, fragrant flowers. Stems up to 6 ft. (2 m) tall may need staking.
Plant this invasive type in containers or prune roots severely.
This clumping type produces edible red fruits about the size of a grape.
Compact hybrid with arched, hanging branches and lots of big white flowers.
Best in outdoor hanging baskets or as houseplants everywhere except zones 9 and 10, where it can be grown outdoors as a quickly spreading groundcover. Pink star-like flower clusters form plantlets that fall off or can be detached to start new plants.
Tidy, medium-sized succulent with fragrant flowers and gray leaves like airplane propellers. Use in large containers indoors and out or in beds outdoors in warm-winter areas.
Stemless type with numerous, thin, pointed leaves, gray-green with red tips. Flowers pink outside and orange inside.
Dense, colorful rosettes in purple-green with waxy, blue-gray covering. About 20 flowers in a cluster.
Many consider this the best broad-leaved type.
Good in containers or as an edging with bright flowers at the end of short stalks.
This slow-growing, globe-shaped type is prized for its tidy appearance. Like people, the tree and its lower regions thicken with age. Use in rock gardens, containers, in foundation planting where low maintenance is desired.
Columnar cactus with sparse branching and 12-23 ribs on stems. Short spines often variably colored.
Bright, big flowers in spring on round stems. Clumping cactus that may sprawl or grow erect.
This bold, tall-growing plant with dramatic flower spikes is good for slopes, against walls and at the back of beds. Cut off faded flowers and prune lightly to keep shapely.
This bristly-leaved plant is topped with a single spike of blue flowers. It is tolerant of poor, dry soils to the extent that it can become a pest. Contact with coarse hairs on the leaves causes dermatitis.
Loose, large rosette of red-, burgundy- or purple-tipped leaves with flat or wavy edges.
Small white flowers are followed by bright red fruits lasting into winter. Water often while growing, moderately the rest of the year. Cultivars with variegated foliage include Nishiki, with showy pink and gold leaves.
This fast-growing, 1- to 2-ft. (30- to 60-cm)-tall annual blooms with brownish or purplish red and yellow flowers from summer to fall. Hairy, grayish green, lance-shaped leaves. Sow seed after last frost.
Masses of red and white flowers hang gracefully on its long-branched stalks. Its durable, lacy, fine-textured foliage is light green, often with a silvery, dusty appearance. Blooms mid to late spring.
This tall evergreen tree thrives in hot central valleys, like those in California, and at the coast. Water young plants freely, less once established. Stake until well rooted.
The 8-in. (20-cm)-long green leaves put on a 'coat of many colors'--scarlet, orange, and yellow. Dainty red flowers bloom in summer. Water only during growing/blooming season.
Clouds of crisp blue flowers bloom profusely in June and most of July. Give it room to spread. Water during growing/blooming season and dry spells.
The young plant looks like an onion sprouting long, thin green ribbons.Mature trees have massively swollen bases and long, drooping leaves clustered at the ends of branches. Water when soil dries out during growing season. Potted plants like being rootbound, so repot only every 3 to 4 years.
Brighten a shady spot with yellow, orange or red masses of blossoms. There are many available strains, from low-growing varieties, 9 to 12 in. (22.5 to 30 cm) tall, to large 2 ft. (60 cm) plants.
This tree has spreading branches full of large, bright green leaves. Deciduous for only a short time. Masses of 6-in. (15-cm)-wide wine-red flowers appear from winter to spring.
This graceful semi-evergreen or evergreen has finely divided, lance-shaped fronds. The fronds produce small bulbs from which new plants develop. From 6 in. to 4 ft. (15 cm to 1.25 m) tall.
Pink flowers bloom on short stalks in spring and early summer. The narrow, leathery, dark green leaves have hairy undersides.
Pink flowers bloom into early summer. Plant in peaty soil and keep the roots damp.
Slow-growing, its stubby trunk is topped with feathery, arching gray or blue-green fronds. Creamy white flowers are followed by edible, pulpy yellow to red fruits. Remove brown, dry fronds.
This upright or spreading perennial, usually grown as an annual, has basal branching and dainty, lance-shaped leaves. Its fat, 2-lipped, velvety flowers bloom from early summer to fall. Pinch off faded flowers to prolong blooming season.
This colossus bears graceful bright green leaves up to 1 ft. (30 cm) long. Young stems are green, turning yellow as they reach 4 in. (10 cm) thickness. Water during growing season. Divide in spring, removing old, leafless stems.
Graceful, arching stems with bright yellow and green vertical stripes bear clouds of slender leaves. Water during growing season. Divide in spring, removing old, leafless stems.
Dense clusters of bright yellow flowers smother rubbery, curved stems and soft grayish green foliage from early spring to early summer. Cut back the fast-growing stems by 1/3 to increase life. Trim to shape after flowering.
Feathery fronds bear small, fragrant flowers, followed by red to purple berries. Easy to grow, but protect from hot sun or foliage turns yellow. Keep soil evenly moist during growing season. Sap may cause skin rash and itching.
The bushy, upright 'foxtails' are sprinkled with small, fragrant flowers in late spring and summer, followed by red to purple berries. Easy to grow, but protect from hot sun or foliage turns yellow. Keep soil evenly moist during growing season.
This attractive, feather-leaved palm has a prominently ringed trunk crowned by silvery blue, feathery, arching fronds. Water regularly during growing season, keeping soil moist, but not soggy. Shelter from direct sun.
This slow-growing, spreading shrub forms a dense mat of small, leathery, sticky, dark green or gray-green leaves. Reaches 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) tall and 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m) wide. Fall flowers are inconspicuous.
The species has yellow or orange flowers. 'Alba' has white flowers while 'Yellow Lustre' has pale lemon. A variety with 'prickleless' seedpods is also available.
Its name comes from the ribbed texture and wedge shape of the leaflets, which are unlike those of typical palms. One of the easiest palms to grow indoors, its brown trunk is crowned with many spreading fronds. Shorter fronds cluster at the base of the stem.
This vigorous, easy-care vine will quickly cover an arbor or screen, but prune it back heavily after spring flowering or it can get out of hand. The big pink flowers smell of vanilla. New leaves have a purple tint.
Rare yellow-blooming Clematis with flowers like big buttercups that are followed by striking, silvery seedheads. Tolerates some shade, but blooms best in full sun.
Though its purple flowers are small, they bloom in masses for up to 3 months. Vigorous and easy to grow, it also resists some diseases of the large-flowered hybrids. Cut back hard in early spring.
This Himalayan native has the largest flowers of any hardy geranium--up to 2 in. (5 cm) across--and deeply lobed leaves. Blooming longest where summers are cool, it tolerates some drought and shade, but dislikes humid heat.
This cultivar of the white-flowered species has tiny, soft pink blossoms. Will naturalize in a boggy site.
The fragrant, violet-purple flowers bloom in flattened 4-in. (10-cm)-wide clusters. New stems are covered with dense red hairs.
This heather shrub has the shape of a tree. 'Exeter' has sweet-scented white flowers with pink stigmas. The 'Gold Tips' on that cultivar's young shoots fade to pale green.
Yellowish flowers, 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) long, are marked with brown. The 'Glory of Roundway' cultivar has apricot-pink flowers.
Golden-yellow flowers are followed by egg-shaped 0.25-in. (.75-cm)-long red fruits.
The fragrant blue, lilac, or white flowers bloom on foot-long stems. New leaves are silky.
Grow this miniature Agave where space is tight. Its 3 ft. (90 cm) leaf blades are edged and tipped with dark spines. Can form 9 ft. (2.5 m) stalks with greenish flowers, but does so rarely.
The leaves are ice blue.
Compact and low-growing, with dense clusters of small yellow flowers, it's hardier than Dusty Miller (S. cineraria). Cut back hard in summer to rejuvenate.
Consider this native vine if you live in the hot and humid Southeastern US. Smaller and less hardy than A. durior, it has hairy, greenish yellow flower 'pipes' and leaves up to 8 in. (20 cm) long.
Bees are drawn to its profusion of small but showy flowers. Its fragrant minty foliage stays compact, so it's good alongside paths or in containers.
This native of Southwestern deserts has large yellow flowers and wooly gray foliage.
A Southern Indica with single flowers on tall plants.
These tend to look weedy at season end. Some cultivars have double flowers, and many are shorter than the species.
This bushy species produces lots of flower,s ranging from yellow to red, and is good for hot, dry, sunny spots. Do not water heavily in summer.
Use Colorado's state flower, a wildflower, for naturalizing in woodland gardens, especially where there's filtered shade and moist soil. Its 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) flowers with prominent spurs may be blue or lavender with white and pale yellow forms.
A wealth of snowy flower puffs blooms early. The branches grow in a striking pattern, forming a wide, dense mound.
Feathery spears of intense scarlet stand out above deep bronze leaves.
Use the dried seed clusters in flower arrangements.
It's said to be the finest lemon-scented herbs. Outdoor plants next to a warm wall should tolerate temperatures to 14░F. Loses its leaves in fall.
Kick off summer color with the flaming reds of this early bloomer. Other popular red astilbes include 'Fanal' and 'Red Sentinel' (early bloomers), and 'Federsee' (blooming mid-season).
Flat clusters of small, bright rose-purple, summer flowers are followed by 6-in. (15-cm)-long seed pods. The long leaves are lance-shaped. Perfect for wet areas.
The flowers appear on this shrub or small tree before, or as, leaves emerge. Its aromatic, 3- to 5-in. (7.5- to 12.5-cm)-long, brownish fruits turn black when they ripen in fall. Suckers freely. Easy to transplant.
Its 18-in. to 4-ft. (45-cm to 1.25-m)-tall, finely textured, bluish green leaves turn bronze or reddish in fall. Deciduous, yet it lasts all winter. Small white flowers are followed by seeds from July to Winter. Spreads 2 to 4 ft. (60 cm to 1.25 m) wide.
The fruits of this slow-growing palm are called monkey's coconuts because their fibrous flesh makes them look like miniature coconuts. 3- to 4-ft. (90-cm to 1.25-m)-long, silvery-green, feathery fronds crown its 3-ft. (90 cm)-wide columnar trunk.
This shrub or small tree has arching branchlets covered with tiny, glossy, dark green leaves. Grows slowly at first, but speeds up once established. Flowers appear in late winter and spring.
Faster growing than other species, it forms the same dense mat of leaves and flowers.
This most common species has yellow-green flowers tinged with red. Spring bloom may last until fall. Like the flowers, the branchlets are woolly. Many superior, heavily blooming hybrids are available.
The dark green leaves on this 2- to 3-ft. (60- to 90-cm)-tall, bushy shrub are deeply lobed. Its bowl-shaped, 5-petaled flowers bloom from spring to fall.
This dainty variety produces pink blooms all through the summer. Susceptible to fungus.
Clusters of red flowers crown the branch tips.
This shrub or small tree has fluffy, cranberry-and-white flower clusters.
Its small leaves stay bright green year-round, a welcome sight in cold winter areas such as the Midwest. Slow-growing, it forms a dense mound that is perfect for low hedges.
Like the Norway Maple, it's a good shade tree, but not as hardy. The leathery deep green leaves are boldly veined. Flaking bark is orangy brown. Best in cool climates.
Small bulbuls that often form on the stem after the flowers bloom can be used to propagate new plants.
One of the hardier Agastaches, this native American plant offers a delicious licorice-like fragrance. Spikes of showy, lavender blue fit in the perennial border and herb garden.
This perennial is cultivated as an annual. Tiny yellow flowers peek from the bracts.
Small white flowers of early spring are inconspicuous, but the clusters of 'doll's eyes'--white berries, each marked with a black dot--are showy well into autumn. They're also poisonous, so keep children and pets away.
This tree's yellow leaves have broad, golden margins.
Light yellow flowers, up to 2 in. (5 cm) across, bloom above feathery silver-green leaves.
Its tall, narrow shape is ideal for screens, hedgerow, and border plantings. In spring, it offers a showy display of small yellow flowers before leafing out.
Unlike the towering firs, this slow-growing dwarf tree forms a dense, dark green globe. A great choice for rock gardens, containers and bonsai.
Though native to the western U.S. from Colorado and Utah to Mexico, this penstemon grows well in eastern climates as well. It is a fairly long-lived plant. Several varieties of various heights and colors are available.
One of the best Moor Grasses with leaves variegated creamy-white and purple flowers. Use in lightly shaded borders as an accent. Several cultivars are available.
One of the few bicolor Ageratums, its powder-blue flowers have white centers. Use these mid-sized plants in the middle of the flower garden and in large containers.
The flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. For a low hedge, plant every 9 to 12 in. (22.5 to 30 cm) Albus has white blossoms; Purpurascens (Rubra), deep red; Roseus, rose pink. Grandiflora has large flowers; Sissinghurst is a compact dwarf .
This has narrow white-striped leaves and a fine, grassy texture. Good for bogs and waterside plantings, and dish gardens.
The trumpet-shaped flowers are available in a variety of warm colors. Bushy little plants are ideal for bedding.
This vigorous plant's fruit are mildly hot peppers up to 8 in. (20 cm) long and 2.5 in. (6.25 cm) wide. In the green stage, use them for chili rellenos or a mild green sauce. The dried red peppers are used in chili powder and paprika. Takes 74 days from seed to harvest.
With hot scarlet edges on bronzy maroon leaf blades, this tall dazzler demands center stage. Try spotlighting it after dark.
These fast-growing, multi-trunked shrubs have grayish green, palm-like leaves that reach 1 ft. (30 cm) long. Plant against walls for the shadow effect of branches and leaves. Small reddish brown flowers on long spikes are followed by papery decorative seedpods.
Saucer-shaped, 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide flowers bloom atop 18-in. (45-cm)-tall stems. Smooth leaves are green or blue-gray, though young foliage is tinted red.
An elegant herbaceous perennial with creamy yellow flowers that resemble a badminton shuttlecock. Best in deep, rich, moist soils.
This compact plant has a globe-like form. Its leaves reach 1 in. (2.5 cm) long. Flowers are white.
New from Asia, its ribbon-like flowers are raspberry pink. New growth is burgundy red, turning green with age. Heavy bloom in spring, with occasional flowers throughout the year.
Exotic and eye-catching, its bright orange and scarlet flowers look like the beak of a colorful tropical bird. This slender bush's silvery gray foliage is also noteworthy.
Lime green flowers nod atop this cold-tender perennial grown as a summer annual.
White flowers bloom on this variety.
An All American Selections winner, this purple basil has ruffled leaves that keep their color all season. Mild flavor. Combine with silver-leafed plants and orangy red flowers.
Its white-striped grasslike foliage brightens shady corners. Can be invasive. It forms denser clumps in containers.
Tougher and more robust than the species, it blooms in sky-blue flowers that close at night or on cloudy days. Buy from native plant and seed specialists.
Soft pink flowers with orange-suffused throats grace this plant. Combine with purple- or gray-leafed plants, such as purple basil or Artemesia.
Its long slender spikes of purplish blue flowers with white throats reach 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Narrow leaves are grayish green. Use in natural gardens or in English cottage gardens.
A marsh plant, its fragrant bright yellow flowers are edged with white. Also available in plain yellow, pink or white. Feathery leaves are light green.
Of religious significance for Buddhists, its fragrant flowers are 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) wide. Its round leaves reach more than 2 ft. (60 cm) wide. Tubers and seeds are used in Chinese cooking.
This plant is grown for its soft silvery gray foliage and airy flowers. The 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide blooms range from bright pink to brilliant magenta. Short-lived, it reseeds itself easily.
This is one color selection of the compact 'Nicki' flowering tobacco. It has numerous yellow-green, trumpet-shaped flowers.
This variety offers dark blue flowers on stems 12 to 15 in. (30 to 37.5 cm) tall.
Taller and tougher than the species, its lavender-blue flowers form large sprays.
Its white flowers have bright pink to cerise centers. Colors best in cooler climates or, in hot summer climates, with afternoon shade.
More compact and earlier flowering than the Nicki varieties, it also tolerates more sun and heat. Leaves are rough textured.
Good for borders, this white-flowered variety grows up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall in good soil.
This purple-leafed basil has a pungent flavor used to flavor oils and vinegars. Excellent for color contrast in salads and garnishes. Produces small, pink flowers.
This award-winning shrub has brilliant reddish purple autumn color and 6-in-long spikes of gently fragrant white flowers. Best in light shade in hot summer climates.
Short spikes of tubular, pale pink flowers with darker bracts poke between its trailing stems.
Crimson eyes contrast with pale pink petals.
Sturdy stems hold thick, fuzzy leaves beneath the tiered whorls of cream to yellow colored flowers. Seed heads are attractive both when young and green, and mature and brown. Best in low-fertility soil.
Valued for its gray-green foliage and yellow flowers, it blooms repeatedly through summer if given ample water. Grows vigorously and can spread widely.
Idaho's state flower, the fragrant, satiny blooms are nearly 2 in. (5 cm) across. 'Goose Creek' bears double flowers.
This sturdy upright shrub reaches 8 ft. (2.5 m) and blooms profusely. Pure white single flowers, 1.5 to 2 in. (3.75 to 5 cm) across, have a light fragrance.
Penstemon 'Garnet's' flowers are as wine red as the gem it is named after. It can be semi-evergreen and evergreen.
This sub-shrub is sometimes grown as an annual. Green, 6-in. (15-cm)-long fruits follow summer flowers.
This ground cover has 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide, solitary flowers of pink, lilac and occasionally white. It is especially appealing when planted in a woodland garden with ferns.
Rapid-spreading, fire-resistant perennial. Good flowery ground or bank cover. Branches take root to hold soil. Lilac flowers fade to white. Tolerates coastal conditions. An annual in colder zones.
Sometimes confused with English Holly, this popular variety's spiny leaf margins are creamy-white. Its flowers have the sweet smell of apricots. Flowers turn to blue fruit.
Its pale green stalks and dark green leaves form perfect vase-shaped heads that reach 6 in. (15 cm) tall. Matures early in 45 days. Resists bolting in warm weather.
Its long lasting, single flowers often bloom as early as February (though it can be early March). The lip of the long cup is wavy.
The 4-in. (10 cm) wide, pure white petals contrast with the small yellow cups edged with red on this popular Daffodil.
Its small flowers have creamy white petals that curve away from the bright lemon yellow cup.
Its conical center cups look like old-fashioned hoop petticoats. Flowers are small, so plant where you can enjoy them at close range.
Up to 3 light yellow, fragrant, rounded flowers bloom per bulb on this vigorous plant.
This hardy and vigorous Daffodil forms clusters of 4 or more fragrant, light yellow flowers. Naturalizes to form small plant colonies.
A popular European spice, its small yellow-green leaves and spikes of lavender flowers also dress up the herb garden.
Clusters of small, lemon yellow flowers nod from the many stems that grow out of one bulb.
Large bracts surround its purplish-pink flowers.
This clump-forming cactus has blue-gray stems that are often tinged purple. Flowers are deep purple-red.
This tree-like cactus takes its name from its fuzzy look created by dense, red to pink spines with golden sheaths. Flowers in pale-green to yellow or white, striped with lavender. Grows wild in the hottest, driest deserts.
Sheathed, pale yellow to silver spines cover this cactus. Even the fruit is spiny. Flowers are yellow-green.
Sprawling, or spreading cactus with blue-green stems, sometimes tinged purple. Spines are brown or reddish-brown. Flower at times tinged red, and yields pear-shaped, purple fruit.
This vigorous, bright red Honeysuckle is also one of the cold hardiest. Blooming throughout the summer, its flowers are red with orange throats.
White with a touch of primrose yellow, its frilled center cup opens yellow but fades to white.
Intense blue flowers have always been highly coveted and acclaimed by gardeners.
Its flowers are orange, deep yellow or reddish-purple. Prefers dry soil and some shade.
Its yellow flowers sport red or brown spots. Grows upright to 2 ft. (60 cm), or sometimes along the ground. Easy from seed.
This flower has been the delight and frustration of gardeners the world over. Best planted in the northwestern U.S., this short-lived perennial demands a cool, humid climate, rich acid soil, and dappled to bright shade.
These short-lived hybrids offer many different colors of flowers. Some choice types include Calypso, Malibu and Queen's Prize.
With age, this large shrub to small tree develops interesting twisted branches. A good accent plant, it blooms in large crimson-red flowers over a long period.
This small plant's beautifully shaped flowers are purple to purplish pink, their white lips spotted with red and yellow.
This dwarf variety grows vigorously. Prominent veins accent flaring trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, and blue.
Its violet flowers top 3-ft. (90-cm)-tall stems.
Introduced in the late 1800s, it's still one of the best Crabapples for its masses of flowers, disease resistance and dense, widespreading form. Its deep red flower buds open to a pale pink.Tiny pea-shaped fruits are yellow or red.
This erect, dense shrub fruits and flowers heavily. Glossy light green leaves have red mid-veins. Drought tolerant once established. Plant in afternoon shade in hot dry areas.
Valued for its leaves with white marbled edges, it does best with afternoon shade.
Hairy magenta or white flowers (variety 'Albus') have yellow ridges and maroon spots on the throat. They prefer part shade in warm areas and dry soil.
This Eastern U.S. wildflower blooms on tall stems. Flowers are purple with blue or white lower lips.
Colorful yellow-variegated spring foliage fades in summer. Cut plant back after fragrant pale yellow or whitish flowers die to encourage bright new foliage.
Creamy yellow markings look their best on fresh spring leaves.
Pale flowers brighten a shady garden. The petal tips are sometimes blush pink or blue.
This loosehead-type All-American Selections winner has deep green, crisp, tender leaves. Slow to bolt in hot weather, it's ready to pick in 45 days.
Though grown in the thatched roofs of Japanese farmhouses, its distinctive leaf fans and delicate frilled flowers are best seen close up, in borders or along a woodland path. Semi-deciduous in warmer climates.
The largest crested iris, its white flowers, touched with yellow, stand out in a shady woodland setting.
Its bright red buds open to deep pink flowers.
The most commonly planted Laburnum, it can be trained as a tree, a standard, on an arbor or trellis. Best where summers are cool.
This mildew-resistant hybrid forms a nicely rounded tree or large shrub with reddish brown, flaking bark. Developed by the U.S. National Arboretum.
Its intense orange-red flowers bloom throughout the year in frost-free climates.
The oil from its highly fragrant, light purple flowers is used in perfumes.
This popular variety blooms in masses of small, deep pink flowers. A dense bush when young, it matures into a large shrub or small tree.
Despite its tender, succulent leaves, Butterhead or Boston salad lettuce grows well even in warmer climates. Takes 65 days to harvest.
The tubers multiply quickly.
The deeply notched leaves of this looseleaf lettuce add texture and variety to salads. Tender and sweet, it tolerates heat without becoming bitter. Takes 50 days to harvest.
Flower stalks can reach 6 to 10 ft. (1.75 to 3 m), with striking, metallic-colored blossoms. Tolerates poor soil and brief frost.
The Palona hybrids bloom earlier than other varieties, with many flowers on compact, bushy, globe-shaped plants. They fit nicely in rock gardens and window boxes.
Wider frond segments have a broad white stripe down the center.
Shorter than others, it blooms early and keeps its leaves until fall. Many named cultivars have varying blue shades and different heights.
Named for Martha Washington, this trumpet lily produces up to 20 fragrant flowers per plant. Blooms open pure white and age to rosy pink and purple. Difficult to grow.
It grows wild in heavy clay soils. Flowers range from blue to violet. Early herbalists saw the spotted leaves as a sign that the plant could heal lung disease.
This Burpee Seed exclusive produces rosettes of dark green, lobed leaves. Grows even after weather turns hot. Takes 50 days from seed to harvest.
Each bulb produces up to 30 flowers per stem. Plant in woodland and native gardens where summers are cool and soil is rich and moist.
Different cultivars have red, bronze or green leaves. Leaf form and vigor, flower color may vary too. Good by a stream or pond, it needs well-drained, moist soil. If flower stalks are left to bloom, 3-winged fruits develop.
One of the tallest Ligularias, it has deeply cut, triangular-shaped leaves. Its spikes of yellow flowers rise on unbranched, blackish stems. Plant in moist soil near a pond or stream.
A disease-resistant variety, its abundant berries turn from orange to fiery red in fall. Small, shiny leaves have year-round appeal.
Masses of bright orange-red berries appear early, and their toughness repels birds. Resistant to scab and fireblight.
Its deeply divided burgundy leaves are ready-to-pick in 50 days from seed. Slow to bolt in hot weather.
Hybrids of a Southeastern U.S. native, they come in many heights and colors--brick red, lavenders, blues, and bicolored white and purple. Grows equally well in wet waterside soils or well-watered garden beds.
Silver spots dot the long, narrow leaves. Keep the soil moist.
Many branches radiate from the base, forming a shrub up to 3 ft. (90 cm) wide. White flowers are 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) long.
The 'Fleur de lis' motif of French royalty may have been inspired by this iris' bold yellow flowers. Coarse-textured, grassy leaf blades add appeal. It thrives in well-watered garden soil or adapts to growing in shallow water.
Look for many cultivars in different heights and flower colors. 'Torch' reaches 5 ft. (1.5 m), makes a fine bushy hedge.
In this variegated form, fine spots of cream to gold mottle the pale lime-green leaves.
Tough and undemanding, it blooms the first year if sown early, may self-sow in mild climates. The distinctive pink flowers of the Lake Avelon variety last up to 2 weeks in arrangements.
The narrow, grayish leaves have a soothing camphor-like scent. Pink flowers. Hardy to 25░F.
Leaves reach 6 ft. (2 m) or more. For small garden pools, seek out the variegated form that grows to just 4 ft. (1.25 m) and spreads only about 2 ft. (60 cm)
More delicate than those of other species, its trembling leaves have the look of a large maidenhair fern.
Fronds grow 1 to 3 ft. (30 to 90 cm) long, 8 to 15 in. (20 to 37.5 cm) wide. Grow new ferns from the many tiny plantlets that form on the fronds' upper surfaces.
Most hibiscus blossoms last just a day, but these lush yellow flowers with bright red throats stay open several days where summers are hot and winters mild. Compact growing. Needs good drainage.
Flower color varies from plant to plant--pink to rose to deep lavender-blue. Buy blooming plants to get the color you want. Long furry leaves provide year-round beauty. Fast-growing. Also sold as I. lanceolatum, I. Purpureum or I. tubulosum.
The big chartreuse, semi-double to double flowers may bloom on bare branches or as new, reddish leaves emerge.
Source of the many Pacific Coast hybrids, this western wild iris blooms mostly light lavender with veined markings. Needs light shade and prefers moist, humus-rich soils, though it tolerates some drought.
This white flowering selection has a yellow crest in place of a beard.
Plant this dainty woodland iris by a stream or pond, shaded from hot summer sun. Be warned--snails love to munch the spear-shaped leaves. The spreading rhizomes can be divided after blooming season.
These trees may lose their leaves in late spring, around flowering time. May bloom lightly at other times as well. Tolerates humidity; responds well to fertilizer.
The leaves have silver edges. Tight whorls of white, blue or purple flowers bloom on 1 ft. (30 cm) stems.
This vigorous, pungent herb spreads as far as you allow it. Hang a bunch in an open window to fend off houseflies. Cuttings boost the mineral content of compost.
Most attractive in spring, its intriguing curly leaves grow bigger than the species'. More compact, with a milder aroma, it rarely flowers.
This lush, bushy variety is perfect for pots, hanging baskets or bedding. Lavender flowers with dark centers bloom all summer.
Many cultivars have been developed, with bronzy leaves and white, pink or red flowers that are sometimes fragrant.
This Meserve hybrid may grow quickly, but it produces few berries. Very hardy. Plant 'Blue Boy' or 'Blue Prince' nearby to pollinate.
Bright orange single flowers bloom nearly all year in mild climates. Plant 3- to 4-ft. (90- to 1.25-m)-apart to cover fence; 6-ft. (2-m)-apart for ground cover. Stems have stiff bristly hairs.
Does not bloom as a young tree. Tolerates humidity; best with fertile soils.
Shaped and stunted by coastal winds in its natural setting, in the garden it's easily trained into a domed, columnar, or oval shape. Fissures etch patterns on the bark.Good in containers. Many cultivars and subspecies.
Though the fruits are inedible raw, try the cut peel for marmalade, or candied.
Low-growing, it adds a subtle touch of dark green lace to a shaded border or rock terrace. Many cultivars have been developed.
Dense and lacy as its name suggests, the deep green, lustrous fronds have scaly undersides.
Turn this tough, trailing vine loose to cover a neglected bare patch. Blooms most of the year. Undemanding, but won't live through a cold winter. Older leaves take on a pink tinge.
Flowers cluster beneath 4 in. (10 cm) leaves. A good choice for naturalized areas.
Among the easiest plants to grow, it sports dense green and gray-green leaves variegated with cream, and small white flowers. This variety is less trailing than others.
Boasting fragrant flowers, the yellow-orange fruit of this tree opens in fall to drop sticky orange seeds. Choose location carefully; the strong roots can become invasive with age.
Pyramidal in youth, irregular when older, this dwarf form is characterized by steel-blue needles. Excellent in flower arrangements.
'Nana' is used as a catch-all term for many trees in this dwarf species. Compact, mounded, or rounded in form, it is intolerant of air pollution, wind and salts. Needs regular watering.
This elegant dwarf's wide-spreading shape and fine-textured needles make it a favorite for bonsai. It produces many cones. Tolerates salty coastal conditions.
This pine hangs onto its cones for up to 20 years. Fountains of needles, 8 to 18 in. (20 to 45 cm) long, grace the sparse branches. Deeply ridged, red-brown bark peels off in thin plates.
This popular Asiatic hybrid often offers a spectacular show of more than 20, 5- to 7-in-wide, deep orange-red flowers spotted with maroon.
Showy, pale cream-yellow flowers have deeper yellow lobes. Spreading branches become dense and bushy.
A dense, flat-topped dwarf, it may spread out to more than three times its height.
A top choice for those who love blue evergreens, it grows in a dense, upright pyramidal shape.
New leaves change from red to pink, then cream, and finally green. Both leaves and nectar are poisonous.
A wealth of maroon flower buds open into long-lasting deep pink flowers. Dense, upright, with shiny green leaves, it grows very slowly. Both leaves and nectar are poisonous.
Abundant cascades of snowy flowers may last over 5 weeks. Yellow-brown young leaves mature to a glossy dark green. Provide good drainage. Both leaves and nectar are poisonous.
Vigorous, with a neat upright appearance, its flowers bloom in ball-shaped clusters. Some have variegated leaves. Not adapted to warm winters.
Flowers later than the species so often escapes damage by late spring frosts. Sometimes blooms sporadically into early summer.
Deep cream flowers with darker centers spangle the spreading branches. One of the best flowering hybrids.
It boasts foliage as beautiful as its red flowers. Bronzy when new, the leaves mature to a deep shiny green, with attractively contrasting veins.
Many gardeners consider this one of the best pink-flowering shrubs. Handsome and vigorous, it produces a wealth of large blossoms.
The chartreuse flowers that cover this very compact growing dwarf make it an unusual rock garden or border plant.
Pale pink buds open to large, slightly ruffled white flowers. Compact and spreading, it fills the space beneath taller trees.
Rosy red flowers with white inside bloom in midseason. Plant where spring frost comes late.
It starts blooming young and the flowers are spectacular: Huge, open blooms of apricot, cream and pink. New leaves turn from bronze to deep shiny green.
Its rich golden-yellow trumpet flowers are blushed on the outside with coppery red.
A white-blooming selection, it resists mildew.
Flowers may be single or double. Soft hairs cover the pale green leaves.
This tidy, clump-forming perennial is usually grown as an annual, but lives through mild winters in a shady bed.
A few massive stems bear spectacular flowers, up to 10 in. (25 cm) across. Fresh or dried, they're superb in large arrangements. Hardier than other proteas, though frost can still be fatal.
Showy expanses of big pearly blossoms adorn this vigorous shrub. Nice foliage for year-round appeal.
Upright and slow-growing, this shrub has reddish-brown to reddish-purple leaves. May produce purple-black fruit.
Mounds of strawberry-like leaves and pink flowers with cherry-red centers make a charming accent. Plants from seed produce the same hues. Named cultivars bloom in different colors.
Allow plenty of room for this fast-growing beauty. Handsome foliage provides a backdrop for lavish clusters of deep rose-pink flowers. Can take considerable sun.
Give this upright, compact shrub plenty of sun and good drainage. Profuse, intense blue flowers bloom among small leaves.
It grows well in sun or shade, producing rosy-crimson flowers.
Young plants are quick to bloom, with bright red flowers. A compact shrub with handsome, deep green foliage, it can take the sun.
A splash of cherry pink accents each bright pink flower. Grows vigorously with large leaves.
Grow this compact shrub where space is limited. Trumpet-shaped, semi-double flowers bloom in neat rounded clusters.
Love spring blossoms, but not the summer crop? Try this small tree or shrub--it bears little or no fruit. Fragrant, bright rose flowers grace the nodding branchlets. Young leaves unfurl a bronzy red, then mature to green.
An annual grass that flowers in the fall, its flower stalks are gracefully arching. Beadlike fruits are white to gray and tinged blue to brown.
This thick-trunked tree has large, pyramidal racemes of 2-in. (5-cm)-wide flowers from fruit up to 6 in. (15 cm) long. Leaves reach 3 ft. (90 cm) long.
This perennial has pinkish flower stems which carry spotted flowers. Difficult to cultivate.
Tiny fruits with feathery plumes soften the appearance of this many branched, straggly shrub. Flowers look like miniature roses.
The strong thorns of this shrub grow 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) long. Abundant flowers give way to red or purple fruit.
Shiny, dark green leaves hide the sparse 1 in. (2.5 cm) spines. Usually 10 to 12 flowers bloom on each flower stalk. The red, 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) elliptical fruit turns black and is used in jellies. May spread underground.
Several cultivars of this fruit tree exist. Their deep red fruit is about 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) in diameter.
This tree's greenish yellow flowers are notable for the long 'beard' which projects from their throats. Twigs have a grayish to purplish cast.
'Leucodermis' means 'white skin' and describes the chalky gray bark of this small tree and occasional shrub. Fairly densely branched, the young shoots are thin and smooth. Leaves have a velvety down on the underside. May be grafted onto any sugar maple.
This vigorous tree has densely downy young shoots. The leaves glow golden yellow in full sun, light green in shade.
This form of Norway maple with variegated leaves is not common in cultivation. For best color, plant in partial shade.
Plant for fall color when other trees are bare. Its leaves stay dark green through October, turning brilliant orange to crimson in November. Small red flowers bloom before leaves appear in spring. Fruits have reddish wings.
Its flowers are orange or deep yellow. Their throats have two fuzzy ridges.
It produces a generous display of unexpected lilac-purple flowers. Plant with traditional orange California Poppies for dazzling contrast, or add to a cool palette of blues and greens. Doesn't transplant well.
Plant alone for a field of crimson, or mix among familiar orange California Poppies. Subtle purple tinges the lacy blue-green foliage. Vigorous and drought-tolerant, it spreads by self-seeding.
Native to open forest and chapparal at altitudes below 5400 ft. (1620 m), the flowering stems rise up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) or more in spring and early summer, and fade to golden-tan. Other varieties have bluish foliage. Most do best with some irrigation and light shade.
White variegation marks its rich green leaves.
White leaves are .75 to 1.5 in. (2 to 3.75 cm) wide with green stripes. Pink blush of new growth bleaches out by summer. Early summer, tufts of soft white flowers extend 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) above foliage, maturing to light brown. Foliage fades to beige with frost, accenting the winter garden. Best in moist, fertile soil.
White variegated leaves are 0.75 to 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide. This grass is attractive year-round. Fades to beige with frost. New spring growth may be tinged pink, contrasting the white flower panicles which bloom in early summer and mature to light brown. Forms an aggressive ground cover where water is readily available.
This grass grows wild along streams and canals. Cultivated for hay, it grows slowly the first year, but can eventually crowd out other plants. Less invasive in shade, good as a ground cover. Contains the hallucinogenic alkaloid DMT.
This mat-forming cultivar makes a dense mound of gray-green needles. Useful in rock gardens. Species habitat is wet soils and bogs, and soils enriched with peat, clay, and loam. Spruce beer and spruce gum were made from this species and from Red Spruce.
Silver-blue needles make this tree an attractive light spot in the garden. Grows best in rich, moist soil and full sun. Growth habit is sometimes irregular.
This low-growing form requires staking to get much height. Useful in rock gardens and Japanese gardens. The gray-green foliage creates a special color effect.
Often multi-trunked, the shape may be open and irregular, or dense and symmetrical. It has yellowish-green or bluish-green needles and bears cones up to 6 in long. Good in poor soils.
Over time, the habit of this tree changes from open, to tiered, then round crown. Drooping branchlets support long, pendulous needles and cones to 8 in. (20 cm) long.
Short, stiff needles contrast with blue to brown cones, which are 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) long. Dense foliage is cold- and salt- tolerant, making it a good choice for coastal conditions. Many cultivars.
Long, soft, bluish-green needles and 4- to 6-in. (10- to 15-cm)-long cones distinguish this tree's broad conical form.
Elliptical green leaves with a cream-colored margin are 1.5 to 2 in. (3.75 to 5 cm) long. The margin tends to be flat, not wavy as it is on others of this species. Tolerant of coastal conditions.
This upright, slow-growing tree has dense, pendulous foliage on pendulous branches. It bears green, 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) fruit.
Holding its flowers well above water, it reaches 4 ft. (1.25 m) tall. Its large leaves are 10 in. (25 cm) long by 6 in. (15 cm) wide.
This compact shrub has leaves up to 4 in. (10 cm) long with horny margins.
Its goblet-shaped flowers are brownish-pink. The 6-in. (15-cm)-long leaves have horny margins and give a sulfurous odor when bruised.
Cascading branches heavy with snowy white single flowers make this one of the most admired varieties. Blooms at a young age.
The coppery-purple leaves of this fruit-bearing tree hold their color well through the summer. Bears some small, red fruit.
This cherry tree is the most popular of the double-flowered selections. When relatively young, the shape is an inverted cone composed of stiffly upright branches which eventually spread. New leaves have a bronze cast, become green, then turn yellow-bronze in the fall .
Clusters of white flowers in spring herald the imminent arrival of summer's tasty plums. The roundish fruit ranges in color from yellow to light red, and sometimes violet.
Several cultivars of differing heights and habits produce slightly fragrant flowers and black 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) fruits.
Flower stalks support brick red to pale rose blossoms. Occasionally the 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) long leaves of this flowering shrub have hairs.
The gray leaves of this young tree are densely covered with silky, silvery hairs. Grows upright, then spreads to irregular shapes with age. Tolerates coastal conditions.
The sprawling young growth on this shrub is tinged red, becoming deep green with age. Blooms most of the year, flowering best in mid-winter.
This fast-growing, fernlike tree flowers in orange. Its leaves have silky hairs underneath.
Opening white or pink and becoming red by evening, the 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) flowers bloom singly or in clusters. Acts like a perennial in colder climates.
Ruffled lavender-to-pink flowers with a purplish eye bloom in profusion during the summer months. Upright growth with multiple stems support flowers 4 to 5 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) in diameter.
Its leaves are velvety and its flowers top long stalks.
Eight to 12 musky scented flowers top its stem. The blooms are 3 in. (7.5 cm) long with wavy margins. Keep soil moist.
This species' exotic flower makes it a prize bulb.
Six to 8 flowers grow at the end of its long stem, above a ring of yellow-green leaves edged in white.
This evergreen species usually blooms in bright scarlet, sometimes deep pink. For white flowers, choose Alba variety.
Its yellow-orange flowers have scarlet, 3-in. (7.5-cm)-long, enlarged lower lobes.
This small, more or less stemless perennial herb bears flowers with greenish petals and red-flushed veins. Native to moist, shady redwood forests.
Its narrow crown reaches 50 ft. (15 m) tall.
The buds on this erect, rigid shrub are black and downy. Fruit is glossy orange to red.
Outdoors, this shrub or small tree has flowers up to 3 ft. (90 cm) long, which change from greenish-yellow to pink to red. Small, dark purple fruit follows. Flowers don't bloom indoors. Also used in bonsai.
The young shoots and leaves on this rare shrubby tree are downy.
This rare shrub to small tree bears 0.5 inch, coffee-flavored black fruit. Its bark is the source of the drug Cascara Sagrada, which is used as a laxative and to relieve arthritis.
This hardy deciduous tree has broad, jagged leaves and clusters of small white flowers.
Becomes rounded and irregular with age. Green twigs and branching limbs create a candelabra-like winter silhouette. In fall, leaves turn golden, red and purple. Fruit is deep blue with red stalks. Though disease resistant, it's prone to Japanese beetles.
Slow-growing, it has fragrant, violet flowers. Its woody, poisonous fruit holds red seeds used as beads. Train into a single- or multi-trunked tree. Untrained, use as a bank cover or large screen.
Green, jointed branchlets gives this tree the look of an evergreen. Doesn't flower as well as other types. Competitive roots push out other plants.
Native to the rainy areas of Brazil, its flowers form after leaves in spring. Often blooms twice more through fall.
ft. ( m)
The leaflets of this tree are thin and papery. The terminal leaflet extends to 3 in. (7.5 cm) long. Short flower clusters develop while leaves are young. Fruit grows to 1 ft. (30 cm) long.
This northeastern U.S. native has edible fruit with powder-blue coating. Popular on the Pacific Coast, but rare in nurseries. May grow 3 to 12 ft. (90 cm to 3.75 m) in 1 year.
Native to coastal areas, its dome-shaped flowers turn to red fruit.
The tasty purple-black fruit is used in pies, jellies, preserves, and wine, and as a fabric dye. Its ivory flowers reach 10 in. (25 cm) across. Often grown in cold-winter climates.
This tree is slow growing at first, then grows up to 2 ft. (60 cm) per year. Many cultivars with different growth habits, foliage colors, and sizes are available.
The horizontal, drooping branches are covered in spiny-tipped leaves that are yellow-green below. The pyramidal crown is more domelike as it ages. The wood is aromatic. Green, plumlike fruit has purple markings.
This graceful mountain tree grows best in cool slope conditions with high organic matter in the soil. It has attractive, silvery blue-green foliage on drooping branches and cones up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) long.
Famous for its windswept growth habit on the scenic Monterey peninsula in California, it is pyramidal when young, but spreads with age and in windswept areas. Lightly aromatic blue-green foliage lasts year-round. Best in cooler areas.
The smooth, reddish bark sheds in scales from this virtually pest-free tree. Its branchlets, covered in aromatic, bluish foliage, grow in a pyramidal or conical form when young, and spread with age. Cones are spherical and brown. Another cultivar, 'Glauca,' has deeper blue foliage.
A coastal plant, it makes a good hedge. The thick, male catkins grow up to 4 in. (10 cm) long and 2 in. (5 cm) wide and make this a favorite for dried flower arrangements. Woolly fuzz grows on the underside of the long leaves and on the stout twigs. Occasionally it grows close to the ground.
Having a dense crown, this low-branching and wide-spreading tree with dull blue-green leaves is native to dry slopes, interior foothills, and woodlands. Its light grayish trunk is checkered with thin scales.
The leaves, which grow up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) long, may be leathery and either spiny or smooth-edged. Usually they're smooth above, fuzzy below.
The leaves are thick and quite leathery, a dull green above with margins turned under. It is native to chapparal up to 1500 meters in elevation.
This Oak is named for its small, elliptical brown to black acorns. The gray-brown bark is somewhat fissured.
One of the rarest California Oaks, it is native to slopes, foothills and woodlands below 1300 meters elevation. The leaves are bluish-green, and grow up to 4 in. (10 cm) long and 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) wide. The slender acorns are 1.25 in. (3 cm) long. The grayish bark is scaly and narrowly furrowed.
Variable, deeply lobed leaves are paler underneath, about 7 in. (17.5 cm) long and 4 in. (10 cm) wide.
A dense fuzz covers the twigs of this shrub, while the leathery gray-green leaves are downy to the touch.
This tree is pyramidal or conical with branches that sweep upward.
This thicket-forming, usually evergreen, shrub may also form a rounded tree. Thrives in limestone soils.
Native to mountain slopes and canyons, this evergreen Oak's thin, scaly bark is gray and fissured. Prominent raised veins and yellow hairs are apparent on the undersides of the thick, dark green leaves.
Native to canyons, slopes, and woodlands, this shrub is characteristic of the chapparal in Arizona's mountains. Highly branching and thicket forming, the bark is gray, fissured, and scaly. Its name, 'turbinella,' means 'like a little top,' referring to the narrow oblong shape of the 1 in. (2.5 cm) acorn.
The bark is gray with narrow ridges and furrows. Native to valleys and slopes in foothill woodlands below 2,000 meters elevation.
Sensitive to drought or cold, its leaves drop at the slightest provocation. Armed with sharp, deciduous thorns, the bark is otherwise smooth and green.
This cultivar gets its name from the 9 to 12 erect petals that resemble a crown. Blooms open 10 to 12 in. (25 to 30 cm) across, with white insides and reddish-purple outsides.
The leaves of this multistemmed shrub are gray-, yellow-, or blue-green. The nutlike fruit is 0.75 in. (2 cm) long, and its oil is used in skin care products. Native to deserts of the southwestern U.S.
Native to the foothills of Arizona's Rincon Mountains, it remains evergreen in regions without frost.
Sweet, black fruits are the prize of this somewhat shrubby, low-growing vine. The leaves are 2 to 4 in. (5 to 10 cm) long.
Pyramidal in shape when young, it spreads and becomes more open with age. Leaflets are velvety beneath, while the upper surface is either dull and hairy or bright green and glossy. Good in dry, hot areas with alkaline soil.
This genus is considered an evolutionary link between flowering plants and conifers. It is native to arid grassland, chaparral, and creosote-bush scrub below 900 m. elevation. Twigs are yellow-green and age to brown. Best in dry conditions, with sun and good drainage.
Its swordlike leaves form a clump at the base of a single tall stem. Generates suckers. The flower stalk rises 6 ft. (2 m), bearing blooms that are cream-white or tinged green to rose.
Its rose-magenta flowers contrast with the 5-in. (12.5-cm)-long, gray, leathery leaves. Native to dry southwest deserts.
The spiny, upright stem is roundish to cylindrical and lined with 8 to 18 ribs. Solitary or clustering habit.
Densely packed flowers populate this bushy perennial during its short blooming season. If moisture is available, it will reseed. Good in desert heat.
As they unfurl, leaves' toothed edges emboss a delicate pattern on each other's surfaces. Bright lemon yellow flowers bloom on a stalk up to 12 ft. (3.5 m) tall.
This vigorous selection flowers late in the season. Large white blossoms have creamy anthers and mauve undersides.
The big two-tone pink flowers may bloom on old wood as well as new vines.
Yellow anthers accent the mauve-pink flowers, 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) across. Strong-growing and frost-hardy, it blooms late in the season.
This vigorous variety blooms lavishly. Twisted petals give the wine-red flowers a cheery pinwheel appearance.
First cultivated by the Romans in the 15th century, they're prized for their luxuriant clusters of velvety petals.
Introduced by Fontaine of France in 1873, it's a good choice for smaller gardens. Round double flowers keep blooming, in deep shades from magenta to nearly black.
Big pink double blossoms weigh down the arching branches and perfume the garden.
Rose-lovers treasure this graceful, arching, nearly thornless variety. Pink buds unfold to a unique blend of coppery pink-lilac, then mature to a rich velvety-purple. For dramatic effect, place it among silver-leaved plants.
Big, irresistibly fragrant flowers bloom among mint-green leaves. As rosehips ripen, new flowering stems may produce more blossoms alongside them.
Masses of double, fragrant, yellow-and-orange flowers usually bloom just once in early summer. Upright and vigorous, its heavy canes bristle with thorns and need good support. Excellent resistance to black spot and mildew.
Prickly, interlacing branches of small dark leaves form a sprawling shrub. Clusters of semi-double, pink flowers last a week.
Developed in Holland, this hardy hybrid needs little care. Masses of carnation-like, fringed red blossoms appear throughout spring.
Sweetly fragrant and long-lasting, the newly opened flowers' clear, soft pink fades to subtler tones. May bloom again in the season.
Gaily striped pink and white flowers spangle the dense mat of leaves. Nice in a sunny rock garden.
Coral pink central 'eyes' accent the pale pink blossoms.
Its cloud of glistening seedheads reaches 6 ft. (2 m) high and wide. Good for the hot southwest. Non-invasive, it has no known pests or problems.
Try this ornamental on a slope that catches early and late sunlight, or in an island bed on a lawn. Gophers can do a lot of damage quickly--sunken wire cages offer some protection.
Swaying 2 ft. (60 cm) above the grassy blades, purplish new flower spikes mature to a golden wheat color. Good for meadows, erosion control and coastal settings, as it tolerates wind and salt spray. Keep soil moist.
A grass of many charms, its fuzzy stalks of green leaves resemble bamboo. In mid-summer, clouds of tiny purple flowers shimmer on tall stalks. The first frost turns foliage purplish-brown.
Golden margins add a subtle accent to leaf blades. Handsome by pools and ponds, especially as leaves turn all-yellow in fall. May revert to non-variegated leaves, but stripes usually reappear in time.
This silvery-blue cultivar turns bronze to brilliant orange in fall. Purple flower spikes last from summer through winter, good for fresh or dried arrangements. Produces a thick turf over the years. Needs good drainage. Water in dry spells for a better appearance.
It starts blooming when just 2 or 3 ft. (60 or 90 cm) high.
Finely-toothed leaves up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) long and 5 in. (12.5 cm) wide fan out from a thick, fleshy stem. Seldom seen in garden plants, the flower stalk may reach a spectacular 36 ft. (11 m) tall, with spreading, drooping branches up to 12 ft. (7 m) long.
Source of many hybrids, this short-stemmed species forms low mounds. Leaves grow up to 9 in. (22.5 cm) long, with hairy white undersides. Grow as an annual in colder areas.
Ranging from Australia to India and China, their delicate greenery enhances a cool, sheltered garden nook.
Native to California cliffs and forest clearings, its branches of silvery-green leaves spread along the ground and arc upward.
The dense growth of leaves holds its autumn oranges and reds well into spring.
Spines up to 2 in. (5 cm) long protect the round pads of this familiar variety. Red-centered yellow flowers and spineless red-purple fruit add color.
Branches of blue-gray, paddle-shaped joints, up to 10 in. (25 cm) long, sprawl or arc upward. The formidable spines may reach 2.5 in. (6.25 cm)
Many branches form a dense mass, bristling with 2 in. (5 cm) spines.
Huge blossoms, single to fully double, may reach 1 ft. (30 cm) across. Long-lived, but watch for botrytis fungus in humid climates.
Flowers may produce rayed petals in two colors. Seed strains are available from dwarf sizes to taller, more open forms. Often grown as an annual, it will naturalize in mild coastal areas of California.
Also sold as P. colensoi, it's smaller than P. tenax, with more pliant, arching leaves tinged red at the base. After flowers bloom, long, twisted seed capsules dangle from the stems. Colorfully striped hybrids may revert to green, aren't as hardy in extreme temperatures.
It blooms lavishly in spring, with flowers up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) across, but fruits are tiny. Young shoots bear a soft felt and thorns.
White stamens and dark red spots accent the scarlet flowers. Handsome leathery leaves show off silvery-white undersides.
It stands out, with electric blue flowers and small leaves on an upright branching form.
Pink buds open to large, funnel-shaped white flowers with the bonus of a spicy fragrance. Its open, spreading growth can be trained on an espalier.
Handsome year-round, the undersides of its glossy green leaves bear a coppery fuzz. Crimson spots and rose-pink stripes adorn the pinkish-white flowers.
Semi-evergreen, its hairy, oval spring leaves give way to summer leaves wider at the tips. Vibrant flower hues range from rose-red to bright or dark red with darker spots.
Native to dry chaparral slopes and coastal scrublands, it's developed a silvery fuzz to protect itself from sun and wind. Lavender-flecked white flowers bloom on upright spikes.
Growing in the cool season, it stays evergreen in mild climates. Showy flower spikes mature from bronze to cream, then fade to gray.
This tall night-bloomer is well-armed, with central spines as long as 5 in. (12.5 cm) Greenish-white flowers, edged with brown, reach 6 in. (15 cm) long.
A short, thick rootstock and a stout stem up to 2.5 ft. (75 cm) tall bear fragrant flowers which may be maroon, greenish-yellow, or white.
Many flowers form loose spikes on 5 ft. (1.5 m) stems. Dark purple anthers accent the purplish-lilac, funnel-shaped blossoms.
Leaves reach 1.5 ft. (45 cm) long, covered with yellow or tawny stinging hairs. Tubular flowers range from white to purple.
Shrub- or tree-like with a trunk up to 6 in. (15 cm) thick. Segments vary in color from green to yellow or white, or mottled. Produces a pear-shaped, red fruit.
Its form is between a shrub and a tree with joints or segments up to 7 in. (17.5 cm) long. Spines up to 7 in. (17.5 cm) long grow on the upper margin and below.
The trunk of this large shrub or tree sometimes grows to 3 ft. (90 cm) in diameter. Instead of spines, it has clusters of bristles. The edible fruit is yellow, orange, red, or purple in different cultivars. The digit-like green 'joints' grow anywhere from 15 to 20 in. (37.5 to 50 cm) long.
The twisting, cylindrical stem segments form a tree-like, spiny shrub. It bears green, prolific fruit which is usually sterile.
Boldly branching to tree size, it bears delicate flowers, pale yellow with a green tint, and small, dark red fruits.
Purple-red tinges the dark-green skin, and colors both the nocturnal flowers and tasty fruit. Thick, spiny branches form thickets up to 30 ft. (9 m) wide.
The best-known species, its candelabra shape bears unpleasant-smelling flowers. Round 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) fruits ripen to red. The nearly spineless L. s. monstrosus variety's branches bulge with curious lumps and bumps.
This branched cactus grows farther north than all other species, tolerating cold down to 40░F. Woolly white flowers bloom among 1-in. (2.5 cm), blue-green spines.
Only Saguaros grow taller than these desert giants, aptly called Organ Pipes. Pale flowers bloom at night. The red fruits lose spines as they ripen. Native Americans ate them fresh, preserved, or in a fermented drink.
Flexible brown or yellow spines form a mesh around the single globes or short barrels. Soft orange tints the rose pink flowers' centers.
Round or cylindrical stems grow alone or in clusters, with 1-in. (2.5-cm)-long central spines. Several varieties, all with yellow/white flowers, have different shapes, sizes and spine colors.
Deep red flowers bloom on a round or barrel-shaped stem. Central spines reach 1 in. (2.5 cm) or more.
Furry white spines cover these clusters of pincushions, and their tiny brownish fruits. Fresh orange flowers sometimes bloom into autumn.
Tall stems 5 to 9 in. (12.5 to 22.5 cm) in diameter branch upward from the base. The central spines are over 3 in. (7.5 cm) long. Flowers are dull pink.
Single or clustering, flat-topped blue-green globes produce white- or cream-edged, violet flowers.
Simple stems up to 4 in. (10 cm) thick are marked by colored, horizontal bands formed by appressed spines. No central spines. The flowers are 3.5 in. (8.75 cm) across.
A simple, flattened stem with central spines to 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) long bears flowers less than 2 in. (5 cm) long.
The round cushion of deep-cut ribs ranges from light gray-green to reddish-brown. Spines grow 2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm) long. Long, yellow-green to red fruits follow the small blossoms.
Single or clustered, round stems reach 4 in. (10 cm) across, bearing 3 in. (7.5 cm) central spines and purplish flowers.
Erect, spiny stems 2.5 to 4.5 in. (6.25 to 11.25 cm) in diameter branch out from the base of this shrubby cactus. A fragrant, 9 in. (22.5 cm) flower with black hairs blooms at night. The stems are often covered with a whitish bloom at first.
Curly-petaled red flowers bloom at the ends of finger-like silvery gray branches. Short, rigid central spines curl into hooks.
White wool surrounds the base of 2-in. (5-cm)-long central spines, nearly hiding the small magenta flowers. May grow singly or in clusters.
Lovely pink flowers spangle the tightly packed cluster of egg-shaped balls.
Flattened 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) balls grow alone or in a cluster up to 6 in. (15 cm) wide. Pale flowers striped with pinkish brown bloom in spring. Fruits ripen to a rosy red.
Bright red fruits outshine the small creamy flowers.
A ring of candy pink flowers crowns the solitary barrel shape.
It is a single stem when young, and divides as it matures. The central whorl of woolly areoles resembles a sunflower head. Bright carmine to rose-red flowers have reddish-brown outer petals.
Solitary or clustered globes reach only 2 in. (5 cm) in diameter, with central spines over 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) long. Fresh, greenish-white flowers form a 'daisy chain'.
Bright rose-pink blossoms cluster on top of the 3 to 7 in. (7.5 to 17.5 cm) globes. White wool cocoons the spines, which grow up to 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) long around the base.
A stem bristling with 2 in. (5 cm) black spines supports glossy leaves, lush magenta and white blossoms, and pear-shaped fruits.
Branches grow up from the base of the short stems and are topped with dense rosettes of about 50 leaves, 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) long. The flowers are deep pink and yellow-tipped, on a stem to 10 in. (25 cm) This hybrid is widely grown in California.
A larger species than the imbricata, its stem is not branching and grows to 20 in. (50 cm) The flower spike reaches 6 ft. (2 m)
The flowers are pink on the outside, yellow inside on 8-in. (20-cm)-tall stems.
Cream-colored on new leaves, the contrasting edges deepen over time to a rich yellow. The dense rosette of leaves, armed with hard, brown 0.25 in. (0.75 cm) spines, grows at ground level or on a very short stem.
Chunky, triangular blue-green leaves edged with small reddish teeth form a nubbly mat. Pale lilac-rose flowers are sometimes fragrant.
This succulent grows in small, dense clumps. The ovoid rosettes have sparse, filament-like hairs. Flower stems are 3 to 5 in. (7.5 to 12.5 cm) tall.
Most Glottiphyllums offered by nurseries are hybrids of this best-known species. Glossy, fresh green leaves arc upward from creeping stems. Golden-yellow flowers grow to 3 in. (7.5 cm) across.
Fast-growing bluish-green stems, up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) thick and 7 ft. (2.25 m) long, creep along the ground to form a shrub. Funnel-shaped red flowers with white centers bloom at night. Unlike most Cereus, needs partial shade and temperatures above 50░F.
Bands of greenish-white spots mark the smooth dark green leaves, up to 2 ft. (60 cm) long and 4 in. (10 cm) across.
The branching flower stalk reaches over 3 ft. (90 cm), with 5 in. (12.5 cm) , greenish-white flowers.
Spiny leaves reach 2 in. (5 cm) wide and nearly 3 ft. (90 cm) long, with scaly undersides and smooth surfaces. Fuzzy white buds dangle from a 6 ft. (2 m) flower stalk. In bloom, dark veins on the transparent bracts give the blossoms a brownish hue.
The huge, conical trunk tapers into thick, bumpy branches. Long spines grow in clusters of three Pale, 1- to 2-in. (2.5- to 5-cm)-wide flowers bloom among leaves with rippled edges.
Long tubular leaves, spotted violet-brown and frilled with plantlets, ray out in a snowflake shape from an upright central stem. Salmon to scarlet, 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers dangle in clusters. Suckers form at the stem base only in high humidity.
More subtle than the familiar Christmas reds, it blooms in soft salmon orange.
Rich cranberry flowers form tight clusters.
It produces lavish clusters of soft rose-pink blossoms.
Rich russet flowers complement the shiny green leaves.
Yellow centers accent the apricot flowers.
These dazzling yellow flowers chase off the winter blues.
The swollen base of its flask-shaped, 24-ft. (7.25 m)-tall stem may measure 6 ft. (2 m) across.
All the many varieties have flat-topped flower clusters with showier flowers along the edge. Some popular varieties are 'Blue Wave,' 'Blaumiese, 'Lilacina' and 'Blue Bird.'
Plant these contrasting purple and white, bearded Iris in masses or drifts.
The British love this dessert apple. Its medium-sized fruit has yellow skin blushed with orange-red and striped with crimson brown. The fine-textured, creamy white flesh ripens mid-fall to early winter. Won't tolerate extreme cold, heat or low humidity.
Perfect for cold-winter areas, it flowers late and its delicious fruit ripens in late fall through winter. Pale yellow apples are blushed with pink and have crisp yellow flesh. Stores well. Tree slow to reach maturity. Plant a late-blooming pollinator nearby.
The most widely grown apple; here it's trained in an espalier. Ripens midseason. Bears more heavily near a pollinator such as 'Golden Delicious.' Prone to scab.
Its deep red cup-shaped flowers, streaked with cream and yellow, reach 8 in. (20 cm) wide. Strong stems hold blooms 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) above the water. Glossy green leaves are marked with maroon. Plant 2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) deep.
This tropical day-bloomer has cup-shaped flowers with yellow stamens. Large rounded leaves are blushed with red beneath. Plant 1.5 to 2.5 ft. (45 to 75 cm) deep.
Its 2-in. (5-cm)-wide flowers with yellow stamens have a spicy fragrance. Oval to arrow-shaped leaves are speckled with chocolate markings. Plant 6 in. (15 cm) deep in tubs and aquariums.
Many salmon-pink flowers with yellow anthers bloom above oval, pea-green, slightly speckled leaves. Plant 1.5 to 2.5 ft. (45 to 75 cm) deep.
This fragrant day-blooming lily has white blossoms with contrasting gold stamens. Its light green leaves with red undersides fade to green with age. Plant 1.5 to 2.5 ft. (45 to 75 cm) deep. Its bulbs and seeds produce new plants while still attached to the parent.
This hot pepper is popular for canning and pickling. Its 6- to 7-in. (15 to 17.5 cm)-long waxy yellow fruits turn red at maturity. Pick the many fruits at both stages.
Prune plums are particularly sweet European plums that can be eaten fresh or dried. The fruit of 'Early Italian' takes less days to mature than that of the common Italian variety. There are two strains: 'Richard's Early Italian,' the sweeter of the two, bears fruit about 3 weeks early when compared with the common Italian prune plum; the Goodman Strain produces about 1 week early.
This European classic originated in 1699 and still sets the standard for green plums. Its small- to medium fruit has sweet yellow flesh. The hardy trees are self-fertile.
Growing on vines up to 6 ft. (2 m) long, it needs less space than other pumpkins. Its round, medium-sized fruit reach 10 in. (25 cm) wide and weigh 10 to 12 lb. Great for Halloween.
One of the pears frequently found in fancy fruit gift packs, its large, greenish-yellow fruit is blushed with red. Flesh has a tender, buttery texture. Fruit ripens late and tastes best after a period of cold storage. Plant near a pollinator such as 'Bartlett.'
All the many varieties of these golden-yellow summer veggies have a curved or "crooked" neck where they attach to the plant. Grow to 9 in. (22.5 cm) long, but harvest when young and tender. Young leaves, shoot tips and flowers are also edible. Prefer low nitrogen soil. Won't tolerate frost.
All of its many varieties are ideal for baking. Harvest when fully grown shells are hard. If stored in a cool, dark, semi-dry spot at around 40░ F, fruit will keep until late spring.
Bake or boil fruit, and use its spaghetti-like flesh in place of the actual pasta. Harvest when reaches 8 to 10 in. (20 to 25 cm) long and 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) wide, or when skin turns from yellow to buff. Many hybrids available. 'Orangetti' is the highest in vitamins A and C. Use 'White Fall' in cool climates.
Many medium-sized, round fruits appear on this F1 hybrid tomato plant, even in cool summer areas. Under ideal conditions, produces fruit 65 days from sowing.
This famous grape originated in 1849 in Concord, MA. Its deep black fruit has a bluish blush. Sweet near the skin and tart near the center, the pulp slides out easily, so making juice is easy. Seedless variety available.
A group of these tall Asiatic hybrids makes a bold statement in any garden. With as many as 40 flowers per stem, each up to 7 in. (17.5 cm) across, plants may need staking. Plant away from wind.
Eye-catching from a distance, this shrub resembles a small-mounding golden leaved boxwood. Needs periodic pruning like boxwood to keep in shape, but it can be used for hedges, shrub borders, and foundation plantings. Plant in partial shade for richest leaf color.
This extremely hardy small tree is valued for its late summer clusters of small white flowers. Compound leaves resemble that of a walnut.
This scented, day-blooming tropical lily produces richly colored flowers, 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) across. The small, deep green leaves have brown spots and are flushed a deep purple underneath. Plant 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm) deep.
An abundant producer, this hardy lily is known for its deeply fragrant pink flowers up to 8 in. (20 cm) across with distinctive oval petals, which remain open several hours longer than those of most other hardy selections. The rounded leaves are deep green with red undersides.
One of the best yellow water lilies, it received the American Award from the Water Lily Society in 1990. A large-growing, hardy lily, it must have full sun to bloom well. The undersides of new leaves are speckled with purple. Plant from 1.5 to 4 ft. (45 cm to 1.25 m) deep. Possibly hardy to zone 5 with protection.
It is considered by many to be one of the best water lily hybrids ever for its prolific production of fragrant flowers, which open early in the day and stay open later than most, and for its long blooming season. Good for any size pool.
Day-blooming and hardy, this water lily holds its large double white flowers, blushed with palest pink, high above the water. The new leaves are bronzed with reddish undersides and a wide green midstrip on top. Good for medium or large sized pools.
The large, dramatic leaves of this tropical day-blooming lily, brown-flecked with purplish undersides and undulating margins, grow up to 2 ft. (60 cm) across. Fragrant, semi-double, deep blue flowers may reach 12 in. (30 cm) across. Plant 1.5 to 3 ft. (45 to 90 cm) deep.
Cup-shaped, partly double, lemon yellow flowers 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) across contrast nicely with the deep olive green leaves streaked with bronze and maroon. Good for pools or tubs, it also blooms well in partial shade. One of the oldest and most reliable bloomers, it was given an Award of Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society of England.
Distinctive, purple-striped green flower buds open to large, sweetly scented, deep pink flowers with yellow stamens. A tropical day-blooming lily, its flowers are held high above large leaves with red undersides. Plant 1.5 to 2.5 ft. (45 to 75 cm) deep.
An interesting tropical day-blooming lily, its blooms take on a two-toned effect with intensely purplish flowers, golden stamens, and purple anthers. The small, dark green leaves are spotted with brown on top, purple underneath. Plant 1.5 to 2.5 ft. (45 to 75 cm) deep.
This rare and unusual deciduous conifer is graceful and airy with its open branches and symmetrical pyramidal form. Branching habit and cones provide winter interest; striking color in fall. The large but slow growing tree often puts on only 6 in. (15 cm) a year. Protect from strong winds. Very pest resistant.
An almost nonstop flowering shrub rose, this 1996 AARS Winner from the famous House of Meilland produces continuous clusters of single, slightly fragrant blooms. Prominent thorns make it a good barrier hedge plant. Good for massed color in the landscape.
Each slightly fragrant flower is a marvelous mix of rich yellow tinged with copper and orange giving an overall impression of pink. It reblooms and is good for cut flowers. Tolerates poor soil.
Among the hardiest and most beautiful weeping willows, the most frequently planted weeping tree, this one has bright golden yellow twigs on steeply pendulous branches which make a striking display in winter. The long skinny leaves turn yellow in fall. Whitish pussy willow flowers in spring can be quite showy.
This small-growing, fine-textured grass forms noninvasive tufted mounds that are hardy as a ground cover under trees and shrubs and attractive enough for the garden or the perennial border. Subtle flower spikes emerge purplish, turn brown, and remain through winter. Very easy to grow.
Like other cultivated Sorbaria, this large, upright shrub is chiefly grown for its big, creamy-white flowering panicles and its compound leaves.
This disarming woodland flower has tubular red flowers that flare out, exposing a bright yellow throat. Thrives in moist woodland but takes full sun given moisture and deep rich soil. Poisonous.
A compact and colorful hybrid with golden flowers, it makes a finer garden plant than taller natives that may be out of scale in home gardens. Best in organic rich soil and full sun. Excellent for cutting.
This slow-growing noninvasive grass is heat- and drought-tolerant. Perfect large-scale, fine-textured ground cover for dry, native gardens. The 2 to 3 ft. (60cm - 90cm) flowering panicles produce seeds which attract birds.
This selection of the native Texas Sage is well adapted to the environments of southeastern and southern U.S. where the species naturally occurs.
This Sage provides an oil used in medicine, flavoring, and perfume. Its large, aromatic leaves, covered in gray down, have inspired centuries of growers. In the second year, it sends up tall, branched flower spikes with white to lilac flowers. 'Turkestanica' has pink flowers.
A tender, short-lived perennial commonly grown as an annual, this dwarf selection's deep blue flowers complement its hairy green-gray leaves. Cut flowers hung upside down are good in dry arrangements.
Native to the western U.S., it makes a showy display of purple-pink flowers on long stalks. Thrives in moist soil near streams or ponds, eventually forming thickets. Pruning controls size and encourages greater flowering.
This selection forms mounds of large oval- to heart-shaped, crinkled, hairy leaves, topped by magnificent display tall, upright spikes of whorled flowers. Needs partial shade in hot summer climes.
This European plant has naturalized through much of North America and is considered a weed by many. Carefully controlled, it has some merit in the garden as a short-lived perennial. In late summer, small, daisylike flowers cover the plant. 'Aureum' has golden leaves, and 'Golden Ball' is a compact-growing selection.
A tree of elegant proportions, its branches touch the ground. Experts consider it one of the most beautiful of all Lindens. Plant only where space allows full development of graceful habit. Flowers strongly fragrant.
Perfect for containers, window boxes, rock gardens, and edging flower borders, it has single yellow flowers completely covering its beautiful, mounding fernlike growth.
This dwarf French Marigold has fully double anemone flowers of bronzy russet edged with yellow on short, uniformly compact plants. Excellent for flower borders or containers.
A very slow-growing Yew with spreading branches forming a mounding shrub. Reportedly, somewhat resistant to winter burn in cold climes. Showy red seeds and fruit offer color contrast.
This small, loosely pyramidal tree has small, deep green needles and dense branches. Excellent as a specimen for large rock gardens, containers, or bonsai. Often as wide or wider than tall with age.
Originally discovered as a witch's broom in New York, this dwarf form is similar to 'Nana' but more conical, with strongly symmetrical branches oriented upward and sideways. Excellent for rock gardens and containers.
This dwarf starts as a compact globe, growing taller to a mounded to loosely pyramidal form with graceful, nodding branch tips, until it forms a perfect miniature Christmas tree shape. Ideal for large containers, rock gardens or foundation plantings.
This dwarf grows into a pleasing soft, round oval composed of many thin erect branches with lateral shoots. The shape gives a gentler effect than many compact, dwarf conifers.
Strongly pendulous, forming irregular or dome-shaped small trees, this classic Weeping Hemlock is found on old Victorian estates. Young plants are very procumbent but can be staked to form a leader for more height.
This is a rare and choice yellow-leaved variant. Like the American Elm it is susceptible to Dutch Elm disease. Closely related to the English Elm.
This has short blue spiked flowers in summers. Good edging the front of flower borders, in plantings, and in rock gardens. 'Heidekind' is a compact grower with rosy pink flowers.
A Dahlia-like Zinnia with yellow flowers up to 30 in. (75 cm) high. Height makes them good for the back of flower borders and for cutting.
Sturdy, uniformly rounded and a favorite for formal bedding or containers, it has double and semi-double flowers 3.5 in. (8.75 cm) across. The Peter Pan series is also available in pink, scarlet, gold, cream and flame colors, separately or all mixed together. Only 6 to 8 weeks from flower to seed.
Like the black Tulip and Pansy, the black Hollyhock is actually deep purplish black. This weak-growing perennial is usually treated as an annual or biennial. Plant with contrasting yellow or orange flowers. Don't overhead water.
This shrub is prized for its small leaves and graceful form. Often used for bonsai, it's also grown as a medium-sized accent for woodland or rock gardens. Nearly evergreen in warm winters or mild climates.
This rare tree has leaves variegated with creamy white. Often mistaken for A. platanoides 'Drummondii.' In windy areas or in hot or dry summers, plant in a sheltered or partially shaded site. Prune out branches that revert to solid green.
This narrow and very rare tree's deeply cut leaves curve like the claws of a bird of prey.
Green-yellow flowers appear before this round-headed tree's bronzy foliage. Bright yellow fall color in some areas. Tolerates air pollution and salt.
This tree grows quickly in the first 3 to 5 years, reaching only 16 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) after 30 years. Becomes flat-topped with age. Also grown in large containers. Glossy leaves are deep green. Similar to 'Globosum,' but with a more open shape.
Its broad, rounded look prompted its nickname, the Full Moon Maple. May be identical to A. japonicum 'Macrophyllum'. Photo shows a young plant.
Showy red flowers, followed by large leaves that turn yellow in fall make this Maple popular. Stout trunks may become widespreading with age. Smooth grayish-brown bark offers winter interest. The bristled seeds look like devil's horns. Slow to moderate growth. Buy from specialty nurseries.
This medium-sized Maple's dark green rounded leaves turn from bronzy red to orange in Fall. Similar to A. japonicum, but with inconspicuous yellow flowers in spring. Buy from specialty nurseries.
This rare tree or multi-trunked shrub is heat-tolerant and has good fall color even in warmer regions. Its young leaves are often tinged with purple. Its rough corky bark offers winter interest.
Most trees sold under this name have leaves with purplish undersides and bronzy new growth. Dark reddish-purple fruits are showy through summer. Use in exposed sites near the coast, as it's salt-tolerant.
This popular Japanese Maple offers a soft, mounded silhouette and year-round color. Spring leaves open dark purple to bronzy red. In summer, leaves turn greenish with red undertones. In fall, foliage turns fiery crimson. Vigorous and long lived.
Its green-leafed branches start out upright, then become long weeping boughs that almost touch the ground. Use in Japanese or rock gardens.
New spring leaves range from purple-blushed to bright brick-red, while autumn color varies from yellow to crimson. Grows rounder and wide-spreading with age.
No two leaves on this multi-trunked shrub are shaped quite the same. However, each two-lobed leaf has a distinctive red stem. The plant's Japanese cultivar name means "dancing doll."
You may see this hybrid Maple in small parks and on the streets in Europe. With age, it becomes wider than tall. Available from specialty nurseries.
This taller-growing Japanese Maple has leaves up to 4 in. (10 cm) across. Foliage is greenish purple in summer with good, but unreliable, fall color.
Purple foliage holds its color through the season. Grows quickly when young. Develops a sturdy trunk and broad, arching form with age.
This twiggy multi-branched shrub has bright green, almost star-shaped leaves, which unfold in spring tinged with red. Fall color is golden yellow.
Grown for its fall color for over three centuries in Japanese gardens, its crimson leaves are widely spaced along the branches, allowing the sun to illuminate them.
Distinctive yellow-green foliage lights up a shady corner and contrasts nicely with dark evergreens. Not as hardy or vigorous as other Maples.
Its German name means "Silver Light," which refers to its white flowers that become flushed with pink over time. Strong and vigorous growing.
Its 2-in. (5 cm)-wide pink flowers have deeper pink centers. Use to fill in flower borders or as edging near lawns and shrubbery. It takes about 60 days to bloom from seed.
This celosia has brilliant feathery yellow flowers and a compact habit that makes it suitable for containers or bedding. Combine with Canna for a tropical effect. Tolerates heat.
Its leaves have deep red centers that radiate outward to green margins and are liberally splashed with white translucent dots. Needs good drainage to prevent root rot.
Many clusters of 30 to 40 small, violet berries cover even young shrubs. Some leaves turn a light pinkish-purple in autumn. After leaves fall, berries on bare branches provide color.
Like C. punctata, this vigorous, almost rampant-growing species makes a showstopping floral display mid-summer through early fall. Stake tall plants.
Its dense swordlike leaves, stout trunks, and white flowers create a tropical or desert effect. Grow with multiple trunks for an interesting silhouette. Good in containers when young.
This French hybrid dates from the turn of the century. Its 5-in. (12.5-cm)-wide, saucer-shaped red flowers have creamy white stamens and resemble a large Dogwood flower.
Its masses of 3- to 4-in. (7.5- to 10-cm)-wide starlike flowers bloom over a long period. Once established, grows more than 10 ft. (3 m) in one season. For hanging boughs of bloom, train vine up a tree.
Its thick, layered, dark green foliage forms a loosely pyramidal or free-form bush. Plant as a shrub border, or in Japanese gardens, rock gardens, and entranceway containers.
Considered a top exhibition-type cactus in its class, it has 3.5-in. (8.75-cm)-wide, white blooms edged with fuchsia pink.
In its first year, it produces dramatic rosettes of divided leaves. In the second year, forms 4-ft. (1.25-m)-tall, erect, branched stems. Its teasel-like cones have small flowers surrounded by thorny leaflike bracts, all covered by a silvery gray bloom. Attracts bees. Plant dies after blooming, but self-sows.
Small, yellow, flowerlike bracts often tinged with red contrast with needlelike, bluish, foliage. Spreads rampantly by underground rhizomes. Naturalize in large areas of poor dry soil where it won't become a pest.
This hybrid of a native American wildflower has 3-in. (7.5-cm)-wide deep wine-red flowers. Cut back after bloom to encourage fall rebloom. Often short-lived, but start new plants from cuttings.
Popular for its vigorous growing mounds of nearly weedproof greenish gray foliage and many rose-pink flowers with dark pink veins. Long blooming period. Divide in spring.
One of the most graceful and elegant small-growing grasses, its foliage is streaked with gold and green.
One of the most widely planted and reliable broad-leaved evergreens for colder climates, it's chiefly found in the northeast U.S. Valued for its tough glossy leaves and red berries. Some types have spineless leaves and yellow berries. Not as showy as I. aquifolium.
This blood-red low growing grass is also sold as I. Cylindrica 'Red Baron.'
This rare tree's deeply furrowed, young bark and stems are armed with spines. Tolerates alkaline soil. Available only from specialty nurseries.
Best display of flower masses in mid-spring. Use in Victorian and historic gardens. Flowers used in perfumes and to flavor tea. Leaves give cucumber flavor to summer drinks.
This double-flowered form is a choice addition to any woodland or rock garden, or perennial border. Best in shady, deep, moist, organic soil. Propagate by breaking apart rhizomes.
A tall, Glenn Dale type of Azalea, its bright purplish-pink flowers may bloom again in the fall.
Pale yellow at first, the growing tips mature to green.
Grown in greenhouses for the florist trade, it bears delightful clusters of 1-in. (2.5-cm)-long flowers.
Magnificent in large flower arrangements, they reach heights of 20 ft. (6 m) in the jungle. Red Torch blooms a solid crimson. Pink Torch unfurls outer bracts shading from white centers to pink-red edges.
It's called Kahili Ginger for its resemblance to Hawaiian royal standards--cylinders of red and yellow feathers on tall poles. Native to 8,000 ft. (2400 m) in Nepal and hardy in cold climates, down to 10-20░F.
In ideal conditions it produces fragrant fruit a year after blooming. Ceriman blends flavors of banana and pineapple, and is good for fruit salad. Don't eat until fully ripe, when the rind knocks off easily. Before then, the sticky kernels can cause a burning sensation.
This twining perennial looks similar to pole bean. White or yellow flowers have purple wings and the keel coiled like a snail's shell. An oblong fruit grows to about 8 in. (20 cm) long.
Grow as a tree in mild-winter areas, a shrub in colder, frost-prone zones. Blooms best with heat and heavy feeding. Varieties have narrower or fuzzy leaves and branches.
One of the largest Heliconias, its solid red, yellow or green bracts may form in fall, winter and spring. Look for many named cultivars with different leaves, bract sizes and variegated colorings.
Dozens of rosy bracts spiral loosely downward on a 4- to 7-ft. (1.25- to 2.25-m)-long stalk.
Slender orange, yellow-and-red, or red bracts spread in an upward spiral. Red edges sometimes accent the leaves. Many named cultivars offer different bract colors and plant heights.
The stout stems of this cactus are flask-shaped at the base and branch upward to 18 ft. (5.5 m) or more. The rigid 3 ft. (90 cm) leaves are pale green with yellow-green margins.
The stiff leaves grow in a dense, rounded rosette. Hooked spines grow on their margins. Reaches 6 ft. (2 m) tall in flower.
Straight, smooth leaves extend 3 ft. (90 cm) and have leathery spines on their margins.
The flower spike is loosely pyramidal in shape extending to 12 ft. (7 m) The white-green to purple flowers grow on one side of the branches.
This clumping plant usually has a branched stem and leaves up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) long. Filaments grow on the leaf margins. Globular, waxy flowers almost 3 in. (7.5 cm) long bloom on a single flower spike.
The treelike stem is densely branched and is often toughened and rough. The rigid leaves have a swollen base and rough margins. The flower is a creamy to white panicle.
Smaller with white flowers, the leaves of this cultivar are rigid and the panicle is shorter.
2-in. (5-cm)-long dense flowers and persistent dead leaves are its trademarks. The stem may be simple or branched. Long, 1-in-wide, rigid leaves are gray-blue, with yellow-toothed margins.
This epiphyte's stemless flower, a white dome with dark blue tips, emerges from scarlet bracts. Small spines edge the pungent, dark-spotted pale green leaves.
Small, golden-eyed flowers bloom in sky blue, lilac or rich purple. Found on stream banks from E. Africa to India.
Flower spathes grow 7 in. (17.5 cm) long with a 4 in. (10 cm) yellow spike. Several named cultivars offer varying heights and leaf and flower traits. 'Petite' reaches just 6 in. (15 cm) tall. Flowers at any time in ideal conditions.
Metallic black accents the fleshy, corrugated leaves. Named cultivars offer different leaf and stem colors.
Multicolored fishbone patterning on the leaves' upper surfaces contrasts with the reddish-purple undersides.
Colorful veins mark the downy leaves. White flowers hidden in bracts bloom on 4 in. (10 cm) spikes.
Bright flowers with yellow filaments and edible fruit offer color and fragrance. The three-lobed, shiny leaves resemble grape leaves and grow to 6 in. (15 cm) across. Undersides and stems covered with rust-colored fuzz.
Stout stems with four wings support rectangular leaves. Twisted filaments accent fleshy flowers. Bears oblong fruit up to 1 ft. (30 cm) long. Variegated cultivar has yellow blotches on leaves.
This showy vine has glossy, three-lobed leaves and profuse pendulous flower tubes in rose to coral pink, with a purple tinge. It is sometimes sold as 'Coral Seas'.
Fine, cobwebby hairs often cloak the flower bracts. Many named cultivars come in different heights and colors.
The stems grow along the ground at plant's base and are branched above. Feathery flowers in white, pink or purple-pink bloom at branch tips.
Bright flowers nestle between the forbidding spines.
Small, paired spines march down the stem ridges. Brown-tinged green flowers make a modest display.
One of a few variegated strains, it has silver-gray mottling on leaves up to 18 in. (45 cm) long and 4 in. (10 cm) wide. White to rose-purple flowers tremble on an arched, branching stem.
Pyramidal or conical, 1 in. (2.5 cm) pseudobulbs support delicate orchid-pink blossoms on a 3 to 5 in. (7.5 to 12.5 cm) stem.
The divided lips on its rosy blossoms look like puffy Dutchman's breeches.
Moccasins for a woodland sprite, the flowers' inflated lips range from white to deep rose-pink. Downy hairs cover the 2 ribbed, pleated leaves.
With slender spurs nearly twice as long as the lips, white blossoms unfurl up the length of a 16-inch spire, atop a tall stalk. Requires moist, acidic soil; difficult to grow.
The Americana variety sports a dense tuft of yellow hairs on the lip. Duller overall, the Occidentalis variety has a sparse white tuft.
A 4 in. (10 cm) spire of deep purple flowers blooms in late spring. Purple blotches mark the shiny green leaves. Native of the Minnesota woods.
The blossom's bright yellow lip, sometimes spotted with red inside, reaches 1.5 in. (3.75 cm)
Dramatically dark, narrow, twisted petals contrast with the white, sometimes pink-flushed lip.
Leathery leaves formed by strips of tiny triangles make an eye-catching zigzag pattern. A great filler for floral arrangements.
The leaves of this tree often are crowded on short spurs, are oval in shape, and are blunt with toothed margins. The glossy yellow, orange, or red berries are up to 0.25 in. (0.75 cm) in diameter. Several cultivars available.
Weeping branches of feathery leaves offer a refreshing oasis in hot, dry climes. Trees with more female flowers develop pink berries. Picturesque burls and gnarls form on older tree trunks.
Spectacular flowers bloom in a 2-ft. (60-cm)-long cluster on long, willowy stalks. It is most floriferous in summer. Be careful of thorns when pruning.
The red-brown bark, once used to tan leather, becomes deeply fissured in older trees. Oregon's champion Tanbark Oak towers 145 ft. (43.5 m).
This uncommon species native to rocky slopes and flats has a spreading habit. The ovoid leaves are olive-green above and pale gray-green below, with wavy margins and small spines. Acorns mature after two years.
Native Americans once harvested the 2.5 in. (6.25 cm) seedpods.
Narrow leaf 'wings' web the stems between pairs of evergreen leaflets. 10-in-long flower clusters lead to glossy, 0.75 in. (2 cm) fruits. Rough, scaly gray bark adds textural interest.
Honey-scented flowers appear in elongated clusters after the rainy season. Spiny stem may or may not have branches. When branches are present, they often grow in an attractive spiral pattern. Has primary and secondary leaves, primaries drop soon after rains cease.
This shrubby, jointed plant has gray spines with pink tips. It can become treelike. Spineless, bright yellow fruit grows 1 to 1.5 in. (2.5 to 3.75 cm) long.
The dark brownish-black bark grows in oblong plates. Leathery leaves are often tinted red at first, quickly becoming dark green and shiny above and fuzzy white below.
This evergreen or semi-evergreen tree or shrub has a blue-green cast to the leaves. Unlike some of the other Oaks, the leaves are 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) long, without teeth on their undulating margins and are smooth and gray-green below.
The coarsely serrated leaves are smooth above, but downy on the underside, like the young branches of the tree. The rust-brown colored walnuts are round to oval and just over an inch in diameter.
Bright flower clusters appear on this tree or shrub in spring, with intermittent blooms the rest of the year in a warm climate. It bears dense leguminous fruit up to 6 in. (15 cm) long.
This is the infamous poison ivy that causes severe dermatitis in some people; even smoke from burning leaves can be harmful to the lungs. Leaflets are generally in clusters of 3, rarely 5 or 7. Many subspecies differ in leaf form and hardiness. Greenish-white flowers bloom in early summer and develop into waxy white fruits that persist into winter. Wear protective clothing or use a chemical brush killer to eliminate it from shady gardens where it can spread.
It forms a mat of bright green reeds with brownish flower spikes.
Licorice-scented and pale pink when newly opened, the flowers turn a rare lavender pink after the first day. One of the first lotus hybrids to receive a plant patent. Ideal for smaller pools.
Many consider this one of the best hybrids. Pale yellow accents the base of anise-scented, rich lavender pink flowers. Good for medium or large pools.
In royal splendor befitting its name, the Queen holds its creamy yellow flowers unusually high, 16 to 18 in. (40 to 45 cm) above the leaves. Pleasantly fragrant when just opened, they bear a delicate green tint on the outer petals. Very free flowering, good for pools of any size.
Though tropical, it tolerates cold better than most and is less likely to go dormant in early spring. Can produce new offsets on the leaves. Good for medium to large sized pools.
Hardy and freely flowering, its medium yellow, slightly fragrant flowers open in early afternoon and stay open later than most day bloomers. Deep purple mottles the leaves. Ideal for tubs or small pools.
A profuse day bloomer, its double flowers shade from pale pink outer petals to a rich pink center. Slightly bronzy new leaves add interest. Suits any size pool.
This hardy day bloomer produces abundant pink flowers that fade as they age. Leaves mature from purplish red to green. New plants emerge from the leaves, but less often from the flower bases. Good for medium to large pools.
Its small, tender leaves make a lovely miniature water garden in a barrel or tub.
Clustered flowers with dark red anthers form woody capsules. Young growth has silky red hairs. Bark is nearly black. New Zealanders use the wood in cabinetmaking.
Small-growing and non-invasive, it forms a low upright mound, good for vertical contrast in flower borders, wild and rock gardens. Dislikes dry heat. Give partial shade in warmer climates. Cut back rangy growth in early spring to rejuvenate.
Hailing from Germany's fabled Black Forest, the species towers too high for most private gardens. Look for slow-growing, semi-dwarf cultivars from specialty nurseries. Pyramidalis, compact and narrow, reaches about 30 ft. (9 m), Pendula's weeping form may grow to 40 ft. (12 m) or taller.
Extremely rare in cultivation, this densely needled fir's Turkish mountain heritage makes it more vigorous and heat-tolerant than species from lower elevations.
This beautiful species eventually forms a narrow conical or pyramidal tree with ashy gray bark and bright green needles, similar to the commonly planted Abies nordmanniana, but not as hardy. Available only from specialty nurseries.
South American cousin of the pineapple, its tightly-packed, silvery green rosettes fill the spaces in a rocky terrace, or mound neatly over a tub or barrel. Small bright green flowers invite a closer look.
Planted in the ground, it may reach tree size, the rosettes of greenish white leaves held high on smooth gray stems. Container plants stay shorter. A green flush sometimes tints the winter-blooming yellow flowers.
Tall spikes bear clusters of tubular flowers ranging from pinkish red to pale pink or salmon. It thrives in hot summers and rainy winters like those of its native S. African habitat.
Over time, this large-growing hybrid of A. arborescens and A. ferox forms impressive clumps of spiny rosettes. Drooping dead leaves cloak the stems.
Distinctive white teeth edge the arching, grayish green to green leaves, sometime spotted with white. Flower stalks rise to 3 ft. (90 cm), bearing clusters of green-tipped red blossoms. Won't take frost.
Drooping, yellow-and-red flowers and narrow tooth-edged leaves differ from those of most flowering maples. Semi-evergreen in cooler regions. Grow in a greenhouse where winters are harsh.
This is one of the best: big, rich red flowers put on a dazzling display, and semi-evergreen leaves hold on well in winter. Can train into standards with staking. Also sold as 'San Diego' and 'San Diego Red'.
In spring or summer, central leaves turn bright red around emerging flower stalks. White-trimmed pink or violet flowers open from a tightly packed cone.
Takes full sun or partial shade and prefers moist, fertile soil. Cut back old flower stalks and tattered leaves in late winter or early spring to rejuvenate.
A yellow-leafed form with young fernlike foliage, it was introduced from Japan before this century. Similar to 'Crippsii' but more stiffly sculptured and less graceful in habit. Young foliage may also be green.
One of the slowest growing of all dwarf conifers, with 30-year-old plants only 1.5 ft. (45 cm) tall. Its shape resembles a tiny broad Christmas tree with spirally twisted twigs. Similar to 'Nana' but slower growing and more conical in shape. Excellent for rock gardens, bonsai, containers.
This dwarf conifer is similar to 'Nana' but is lightly speckled with white variegation. Occasionally a pure white branchlet sprouts. Good for rock gardens and containers. Plants 40 years old only about 1.5 ft. (45 cm) tall.
A form of cyrptomeria first imported from Japan in 1859, its slender rope-like branches end in spider-like clusters of branchlets. Similar to 'Dacrydioides,' 'Lycopodioides,' and 'Selaginoides,' all unusual and choice for collectors.
This South African native makes an ideal ornamental for southern California and parts of Florida, especially along the coast.
This old-fashioned perennial has classic white daisy flowers with yellow centers. Perfect for arrangements. Long-blooming but short-lived, plants should be divided every 2 to 3 years. Cut off spent blossoms to prolong bloom. Dwarfs, yellow-flowered, and double-flowered varieties available.
Variegated green leaves irregularly edged with yellow provide color even when the plant is not in bloom with red flowers. Resistant to anthracnose which attacks native Eastern Dogwoods.
This fairly slow-growing Cycad has the lush look of a miniature date palm, with frond-like leaves no longer than 9 ft. (2.75 m) Needs a warm, frost-free climate.
A popular selection good for foundation plantings, shrub borders, and larger rock gardens, it forms small tight, round clumps of twisted branches with dense gray-blue-green foliage.
Choice and rare, it develops into a large shrub or small tree. The small, dark green, glossy leaves usually turn a dull yellow or reddish in fall. The twisted branches are beautiful in winter.
A rare and choice weeping selection of Atlas Cedar with erect, almost columnar branches that become pendant with time. It has green needles and is less hardy than the more commonly planted "Glauca Pendula' which has pendant grayish-blue needles. Stake to form a weeping umbrella shaped tree. Dramatic when trained on an arbor.
Showy, pale pink male flowers and modest white female flowers bloom in mid-spring. A striking hedge or shrub border, with glossy, aromatic leaves and richly red young stems. Specimen plants form a broad column. Protect from cold wind.
Jasmine-scented flowers bloom from winter to spring. In cool temperate gardens, reaches only half the height of wild specimens. Prune lower branches to train as a tree. Captain William Winter brewed the aromatic bark to combat scurvy among Sir Francis Drake's crew.
This multibranched succulent resembles a columnar cactus. Tolerates hot, dry gardens. When grown in a greenhouse, in winter keep completely dry. Milky white sap is poisonous.
A multibranched succulent which as its name suggests resembles a cactus. The stems often have distinctive yellow V-shaped markings. Plants eventually form large mounded clumps.
A dense, arching spreading shrub that requires pruning for shapely growth, it is remarkable for its profuse production of white, pink, rose, or red blooms through a long period from late spring to early fall. Glossy semi-evergreen leaves. 'Apple Blossom' and 'Pride of Donard' are two varieties.
This barrel cactus is noted for forming sizable colonies of medium sized "barrels" 8 in. (20 cm) across with yellowish and reddish brown spines.
This low, spreading, fine-textured grass is excellent for rock gardens and containers, and as a small scale groundcover. Leaves are bright green in contrast to many of the more commonly planted bluish-gray Fescues. Small flower spikes are not showy. An even smaller selection 'Pic Carlit' grows only 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) tall.
This little known tender Holly with large leathery leaves each 2 to 4 in. (5 to 10 cm) long is used in crosses with English Holly to produce the popular I. X altaclarensis or Highclere Hollies. It has small, inconspicuous white flowers with deep red fruit.
A small-leafed variety, this female selection English Holly has wavy leaves and small berries. Bushy when young, plants eventually develop into small trees.
The long-lasting 4-to 6-inch cones resemble those of Pines. Water regularly in dry summer regions.
Upright, burnt-orange leaf blades contrast pleasingly with green or gray ground covers. Spreads nicely along pathways, among rocks or to fill a tub.
This small-growing cactus eventually forms small colonies of plants. Younger growth is marked by white fibers. It has a bluishgreen body and prominent spines.
An easy-to-grow, vigorous cactus which eventually forms large cushions or clumps of green-bodied cacti covered with white wool. Flowers are deep purplish red with red fruit. Good for rock gardens and containers. Highly recommended for beginners.
A fast-growing subtropical relative of the Hibiscus with large, heart-shaped, downy leaves and unusually shaped bright red flowers with prominent stamens. Long blooming. To rejuvenate plants, cut back hard in early spring or shorten stems anytime during growing season.
The tall, feathery, upright fronds surround the short brown fertile fronds of this Fern. Does best with deep, moist soil rich in organic matter; plants remain shorter with less moisture. With age, plants will spread slowly to form sizable clumps. Divide in fall or early spring when crowded.
This tough evergreen revels in damp, salty coastal conditions - its Maori name, Pohutukawa, means 'drenched with spray'. Big clusters of scarlet bottlebrush flowers bloom in summer-Christmastime in New Zealand. Usually forms a large, multi-trunked shrub, but can be trained as a single-trunked tree. Aurea variety blooms in yellow.
An excellent barrier cactus with dramatic effects, it's tall and has large, round bluish-green stem segments up to 1 ft. (30 cm) long, each with deadly spines up to 2 in. (5 cm) long. Some varieties available with shorter and fewer spines.
A graceful bamboo with weeping branches and finely textured leaves. Perfect accent and, eventually, tall screen. Somewhat drought-tolerant once established, but thrives with good moisture and drainage.
An unusual evergreen shrub with clusters of tiny flowers.
Named for the clusters of stout, unbranched cylindrical stems which resemble those of a pipe organ. Flowers may be pale green, white or pink, but are usually produced only on large, older plants. Frost tender.
Creamy white edges the bright green succulent leaves. Stems have a red tinge. Small clusters of tiny, pale pink flowers rarely bloom in cultivation.
Pairs of bluish-green leaves clasp the strong unbranched stems. In summer, long sprays of blue flowers cluster at the tips. An excellent choice for gray-leaved borders. Keep propagating from cuttings, as plants over 3 yrs. old become less cold-hardy.
Produces profuse and exceptionally fragrant white flowers 2.25 in. (5.5 cm) in diameter, with yellow anthers and a light purple blotch at the base of each petal.
A weeping selection of the Norway spruce, it spreads along the ground forming a thick mat of branches, or can be trained upright with a central leader and cascading branches.
A smallish hybrid rhododendron it has a dense but spreading habit. Rosy pink flowers tinted orange in the throat are 3 in. (7.5 cm) wide and are held in small trusses covering the plant. Tolerates full sun with good soil and moisture. Grows to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall in 10 years.
This semi-tender perennial blooms from late fall through spring with a profusion of bright flowers. The fine-textured foliage has a strong lemony scent. Plants that die back at frost usually resprout.
One of the Harlequin Hybrids, it is named for the wine-colored flowers.
This coarse-textured, warm-season grass makes a low-quality but easy-care lawn. It grows well in dry areas and on slopes and needs low to moderate fertilizing. Available as sod or seeds.
This luxurious, carpet-like, cool-season grass is often used on golf putting greens. It needs frequent mowing, watering, and fertilizing. It is also susceptible to diseases. Available as seeds or sprigs.
This fine-textured, cool-season grass is best for damp, shady areas. It is less wear-resistant than Kentucky Bluegrass. It tends to invade other grasses. Available as seeds.
This warm-season grass is relatively free of insects and diseases, but not recommended for high-traffic areas. Grows in moderate shade and infertile soil. Requires little care compared to Zoysia or Bermudagrass. Plant sod, plugs or sprigs.
A variety of cool-season Red Fescue, shade-tolerant Chewings tends to grow in clumps. It works well on slopes too steep to mow and in northern regions with acid soils and cool summers. It crowds out weeds, but invades other grasses and doesn't wear well. Usually sold as part of a mix. Plant seeds.
Good for northern and mountainous areas, this low-maintenance cool-season grass resists diseases and tolerates shade and some drought. Also called Sheep Fescue. Plant seeds.
This cool-season grass is tough and ideally suited for sports and play areas. Its coarse texture makes it unsuitable for showplace lawns. Provides excellent deep rooted erosion control on slopes. Dwarf types need less watering and mowing. Plant seeds or sod.
Dark green, fine-textured cool-season grass used mostly in blends. Tolerates a wide range of water and soil conditions. One of the most shade-tolerant of good lawn grasses. Good for use on slopes too steep to mow. It doesn't like soggy sites. Plant seeds.
This is the best cool-season grass for high-traffic lawns, but it can't stand drought or temperature extremes. It's fine-textured and grows best in sun (but takes some shade). Plant seeds or sod.
The most shade-tolerant of all warm-season grasses and the easiest to maintain. Spreads fast by surface runners. Has moderate to high water needs. It's good in the salty soil of southern coasts. Plant plugs.
This warm-season grass establishes slowly but grows together densely and smothers weeds. Tolerates heat and drought; doesn't like cool summers. Wiry blades are painful to bare feet. Plant sprigs.
This plant sports big, creamy-white lilies with faint purplish-red streaks inside and large glossy leaves. It is a heavy feeder and takes several years to flower for the first time. Separate and replant offset bulbs, as main bulb dies after flowering.
A flush of purple tinges the base of the drooping, pale green and bronze leaf blades.
Besides its well-known seeds, the leaves also can be eaten in soups and salads. Harvest flower heads when the seeds darken, loosen seeds and dry. In bygone times, used as a digestive aid and in love potions.
All parts, particularly the immature seeds, contain highly toxic alkaloids. Post warning signs by garden specimens, and fence off from children and animals.
Native from California to Alaska, this subalpine shrub suits moist, peaty rock gardens. The subspecies C. m. gracilis tolerates more shade, handles warm dry weather with constantly moist soil.
Each pseudobulb bears 10-25 flowers, with pale, purple-spotted petals and a purple and white lip. Leaves reach 8 in. (20 cm)
Extravagant, fragrant blooms reach 5 to 7 in, with a deeply cleft, frilled lip. Yellow-orange and magenta bands mark the throat.
Especially tall and freely flowering, this white-blossomed type handles moist soils better than other varieties.
Descended from the Biblical cedars of Lebanon, this slow-growing dwarf variety develops a short thick trunk and dense, drooping branches.
These cockscombs will dazzle garden visitors with their brilliant red plumes. The 'Century Hybrids' series also comes in yellow, rose and cream.
This diminutive plumed variety fits a small garden or tub, comes in warm shades of red, orange, salmon and yellow.
Tall, creamy pink-tipped 'candles' highlight this elegant variety.
Like a lace tablecloth, its intricate, velvety white foliage makes an appealing backdrop for bright-colored flowering plants. Trim back flowering stems after they bloom. Can grow as an annual in colder zones.
Tall and spiky, with many thistle-like yellow flowers, it suits a native garden or naturalized meadow. Invasive in some areas, so deadhead before it goes to seed, pull up unwanted sprouts.
This cold-hardy species can be grown from seed or dormant tubers, planted in rich soil.
A single flower blooms in yellow or cream.
Spikes of yellow flowers spread the delicious scent of pineapple. Tolerates poor soil, and hasn't yet escaped to become a noxious weed like Spanish or Scotch Broom.
Prune out any dead branches, but take care to avoid the stout thorns.
Pink stripes accent the big pink or white blooms. Mulch bedding plants where frost occurs. In harsh winter areas, grow in pots.
Hybrid of C. moorei and another South African species, its bulbs can go for many years without division. Water generously during growing season. Look for pink and rose-colored cultivars.
Tall spikes of flaming orange flowers make the best show if planted in groups. Prefers a rich soil.
The most familiar species, it forms a dense mat of fresh green, with 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) clusters of soft pink flowers.
Green and pink stripe the leaf blades; undersides are brown. Look for other cultivars with different colored stripes. It bears small white flowers.
This variety of a yellow-orange and green species features pink leaves with central olive bands.
Creamy white flowers bear small spurs. Growing from thick tubers, it needs constantly moist soil.
Purple leaves form a pleasing backdrop for sprays of purple flowers that turn smoky pink. Water regularly until roots are well established. Resistant to oat root fungus.
Dark purple leaves set off the feathery purple-pink flowers. Resistant to oat root fungus.
A faint blush of pink tinges the small white flowers. Forms an upright shrub. Can be deciduous in zone 6.
Orange berries follow the pink flowers. White felt cloaks the dark green leaves' undersides.
Native of coastal beaches and cliffs, its huge, fleshy blue leaves add interest to a mixed bed. Blanch the young shoots in clay pots to prevent bitterness. Eat when 7 to 8 in. (17.5 to 20 cm) long, raw or steamed.
Small reddish-tinged green leaves crowd the spreading branches. White or rosy flowers have a faint, unpleasant odor. Grow indoors in zones with harsh winters.
In autumn, leaves turn as rosy as the fruits. Slender curved thorns stud the branches.
Delicate, lavender-pink blossoms bloom among kidney-shaped leaves. This native of beach and dune will stabilize a sandy slope. Add sand to ordinary garden soil for the perfect drainage it demands.
Purplish stripes on all petals distinguish this from the other Coralroots. Very difficult to grow. The name comes from the Greek for coral root.
Purple stripes the leaves' undersides. Cut back to form multiple trunks, or group several together. Best in deep soil to establish long taproot. Sometimes sold as Dracaena.
Bright ruffly flowers of this dwarf species attract both birds and butterflies. Deadhead regularly to keep tidy and encourage more flowering.
This native of America's original tallgrass prairie fits a naturalized meadow or informal mixed bed. A threatened species in Michigan, but available from many wild seed sources.
Unlike other Dogwood species, its cream-edged leaves grow alternately rather than opposite. Blue-black berries ripen in fall. Not subject to the leaf blight that affects the Pagoda Dogwood (C. alternifolia).
Red twigs brighten a bare winter garden. Pure white flowers and berries harmonize with cream-bordered green leaves.
Leaves are darkest green along the edges, gold along the center vein. Young trees can grow in large tubs.
Easy to grow, this cousin of culinary Savory bears whorls of purple-pink flowers. Fine hairs cloak the minty green leaves.
Olive green blotches along the veins accent the long, thin leaves.
Place the Peacock Plant at eye level to show off the purple undersides of its beautifully patterned leaves.
Velvety green leaves with paler yellow-green markings sport purplish undersides. Leaves can grow to 2 ft. (60 cm) long.
Inner petals may match the yellow or orange outer petals, or contrast in brown or purple. Grows wild in the Mideast.
Native of volcanic regions, it needs a well-drained gravelly soil, moist in winter and spring, dry in summer.
Green-centered yellow blossoms and lush, glossy leaves brighten the banks of a pond or stream.
Many star-shaped white flowers bloom on tall stalks. Try planting alongside blue or violet cultivars.
Produces a wealth of big rose-colored blossoms. Can thrive in large containers. Older specimens may reach tree-size at 20 ft. (6 m) or taller.
Grows vigorously and bears lots of 4-in-wide, semi-double red flowers with yellow centers. Some plants produce white-dappled flowers.
Long-lived and easy to grow, it prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates drought. Divide clumps in fall every 4 years.
Flowers range from blue-violet to white. Larger plants may need staking. Divide every 4 years.
Large flame-red flowers stand out above green leaves.
For intriguing contrast, plant burgundy-leaved 'Freedom Coral' and 'Freedom Pink'. 'Freedom Red' and 'Freedom Yellow' have green leaves.
Many clusters of fresh white berries appear in fall. Usually deciduous in zones 5 and 6. Tolerates poor soil.
This elegant species features pale green leaves, white flowers and slender thorns. Dark purple-red fruits ripen in autumn.
Narrow leaf blades, borne on a red stem, mature from green to a brilliant red. White flowers nestle in the center. Plants will spread to form a mat.
The variegated cream and bronze leathery leaves have sharply pointed teeth. New growth is pinkish. Small clusters of fragrant white flowers turn to small blue fruit in autumn.
An Osmanthus hybrid, it bears clusters of fragrant white flowers. Serrated teeth edge the leathery, glossy green leaves.
The young foliage of this fern is wooly and pink; only mature fronds are green. Provide moist soil and remove fading fronds.
A straggling, somewhat shrubby perennial, if started inside in early spring, it can be grown as an annual in the North. In warmer areas, it blooms from fall to spring and often into summer. A shorter cultivar, 'Compactum', is slightly hardier.
This trailing ground cover with rooting branches blooms on and off through much of the year. It does well in seaside areas and can be grown as an annual in cooler areas.
Pink, daisy-like flowers are pinwheels of color with petals folded at midpoint to expose light blue undersides, then unfolded back into pink at the tips. The flowering season of this evergreen subshrub is dependent on location and planting time.
White flower heads blush pink towards the centers, green on the undersides. Grows as an upright or straggling subshrub. Bloom time varies by location.
A creeping perennial with heart-shaped leaflets in threes, it sends up early-blooming white, cup-shaped flowers with purple veins.
This low, mound-forming gray-green perennial grows from tiny bulbs. Pink-to-purple flowers with white throats have darker veins and eyes than Oxalis acetosella. Excellent in a rock garden, it prefers good drainage.
A low perennial with heart-shaped leaflets in threes, 'Alba' bears numerous white flowers. This species typically has bright pink flowers.
This low-growing perennial is sometimes used as a houseplant. Attractive, bright pink, 2 in. (5 cm) flowers with yellow-green throats offer long-lasting color. Large leaflets are dark green on top, hairy and sometimes purple below. Grown from tiny bulbs.
Small umbrella-like clusters of white flowers hold 3 to 7 on each stalk. Green cloverlike leaves hide purple undersides.
Spreading easily along the ground, this perennial herb or subshrub is deciduous in the North. Greenish or purple flowers are visible before the leaves, which are gray-green with brown-green mottling.
Vivid flames of golden bracts last for many weeks. A true tropical, it's most often grown as a houseplant.
This perennial grass grows in a tall, rather stiff clump. Its long leaf blades are an unusual pale, metallic blue; they turn yellow in fall.
An erect, branched annual, its stems and lobed, basal leaves are hairy. The cup-shaped flowers may be either single or double blossoms and come in a range of colors. Blossom size is about 2 in. (5 cm) across.
Deep-purple, double "peony-flowered" blossoms can exceed 4 in. (10 cm) in width. Jagged gray-green leaves provide nice contrast to the feathery blooms. The large seed pods are used in dried arrangements.
Tall spikes of blue-violet flowers on slender stems grow from a woody base. The leaves grow around the stems like saucers.
Tiny 0.25 in. (0.75 cm) leaves form a mat up to 6 in. (15 cm) thick. Translucent silvery bracts steal the show from inconspicuous flowers.
Its spreading limbs at first form a low dome, then a taller column. Fall color varies year to year, from pleasing to spectacular.
A tropical vine with a woody stem, it climbs by means of its spiraling tendrils. It is often trained on walls to showcase the showy flowers and provide space for its vigorous growth habit. Prune back excess growth.
This popular, hardy perennial blooms with broad, flat heads of small yellow flowers. Wide, lobed leaves form clumps.
It's called Devil's Backbone or Jacob's Ladder, for the way the succulent, waxy stems zig and zag. Purple to red flower-like bracts each last about a week, keep appearing for several months. Indoor plants need lots of indirect light.
Trailing and vinelike, this geranium is frequently grown in hanging baskets and window boxes. The flowers are white, pink or rose-colored with dark markings on the upper petals. Easy to grow; however, irregular watering can cause corky growth on the leaves.
Delicate flowers with marked upper petals grow in clusters of 3 to 10 above small, lobed green leaves mottled with yellow. The strangely familiar scent of the aromatic leaves has been variously likened to coconut, grape, and turpentine.
This subshrub with short, hairy, lobed and toothed leaves has a fragrance reminiscent of roses. The flowers are pink to rose-colored, with reddish veins and blotches on the upper petals.
A subshrub, its dark green, deeply lobed and toothed leaves are redolent of balsam. The flowers are purple-pink, with darker blotches on the upper petals.
Grown for its height and deep color, this tall, upright ornamental grass has bronze leaf blades that are tinted burgundy. In summer it produces fuzzy, purplish flower spikes. May be grown as an annual in colder climates.
A clumping ornamental grass, its green leaf blades mix with slender stems of loose purplish flower spikes in late summer. Wind brings out its graceful nature. Grow as an annual in colder climates.
Its pretty purple foliage and foot-long plumes of nodding crimson-purple flower spikes may tempt you, but be warned that this grass can easily become invasive. It has established itself in waste places and along roadsides in many parts of California.
Popular for its reddish-brown to purplish leaves and long, nodding copper-colored flower spikes that last into winter, the cultivar 'Cupreum' is easier to control than some other varieties of Fountain Grass, because it is grown from cuttings, and doesn't set seed.
It has reddish leaves and burgundy plumes similar to those of P. setaceum 'Cupreum', only not as large. The 'Cupreum' cultivars are grown from divisions and do not set seed, making them easier to control than other varieties of Fountain Grass. A good choice for smaller gardens, or containers.
These upright plants have 5-lobed, tubular flowers that are purple on the outside and white inside.
A creeping mat-forming plant of subalpine slopes, it has leathery leaves and tubular lavender flowers on short stems. Use in rock or alpine gardens; difficult to grow.
Bell-shaped, blue-violet or blue-lavender flowers grace this subshrub whose branches grow close to the ground.
A low, clumping perennial plant, it has tubular pink-purple flowers. As its name suggests, it is native to mountainous areas, and a suitable plant for an alpine or rock garden.
Bright pink-purple flowers in the shapes of bells are striped within. Lance-shaped leaves turn bronzy-red in winter. It is short-lived, but often re-seeds. Taller than many other Penstemons.
Round domes of starry white blossoms bloom through most of the year. Easy to grow in mild areas.
Butterflies can't resist the brilliant, cardinal-colored flowers.
White flower buttons form closely packed parasols. Difficult to grow, it prefers dry soil through the summer.
Often wrinkled, the green, red or purple leaves smell of mint and cinnamon. Japanese chefs grind the seeds for a seven-spice seasoning.
Deep crinkles add interest to this cultivar's green or red-bronze leaves.
More formal in shape than the species, it produces lavender-blue flowers on stiff, towering stems.
Drifts of bright magenta-purple, thimble-like flowers bloom all through summer, attract birds and butterflies. Score the seeds before planting. Very drought-tolerant.
Ideal for a hanging basket, its long tendrils bear a bounty of lilac-blue flowers. After petals drop, the blue sepals remain. Needs only moderate water.
Triple-curled, emerald-green leaves make this a particularly attractive Parsley cultivar. Common Parsley has a milder flavor than the flat-leafed type.
This pungent, flavorful Parsley with flat, deep green leaves has endless uses in the kitchen. This variety of Parsley also retains its flavor well when dried.
Long flowerheads of delicate blue-violet blossoms uncoil above profuse ferny leaves. Self-sowing, it makes a fine groundcover in shady corners of a native garden.
Stout stems, upright or sprawling, bear coils of small, bell-shaped flowers in blue, lavender or white. Crinkled silvery-gray leaves contrast nicely with garden greens.
This talus slope native does well in a sunny woodland or rock garden. Stems may sprawl, then angle upward, bearing sturdy columns of white to lavender, bell-shaped flowers. Prominent veins etch the silvery, lance-shaped leaves.
Poker-shaped heads of small flower bells bristle with fuzzy stamens. Long, silky-haired gray-green leaves have deep-cut lobes. Good for an alpine or rock garden.
Tinged pink, this ornamental grass with long, broad leaves spreads easily and can become a pest if not confined. Birds enjoy the seeds.
An ornamental grass with tall, broad leaves striped green and white, it bears narrow clusters of flower spikelets in summer. Use as a ground cover or in a border, but cut back regularly or confine the spreading rootstock. Highly invasive.
Drooping branches and peeling, chestnut-brown bark characterize this shrub. It has 2-in. (5-cm)-wide, white flowers, larger than those of other mock oranges, but lacking their scent. Provide regular water and remove dead or surplus branches. Easy to grow.
The erect trunk-like stem may slump over with age, appreciates a supporting wall. Arrow-shaped, deeply cut leaves may reach 3 ft. (90 cm) long. In the right conditions, produces a narrow 1-ft. (30-cm)-long flower spathe, green to dark purple outside, cream inside with a crimson rim.
Thick, supple arrow-shaped leaves grow to nearly 3 ft. (90 cm) long on a free-standing trunk. Outdoor plants in warm climates do best with much direct sunlight, but shade at midday.
This perennial has mauve-to-white flowers in whorled tiers that open upwards in succession.
Dense whorls of 30 to 40 small, purple or pink, hooded blooms encircle the square stems at intervals. The leaves are coarse and woolly. Tuberous roots contribute to naturalizing.
Low but not cushion-like, this plant's pink flowers are supported by short, erect stems. This variety is good for an open, wooded area.
Its thin, tubular flowers spread out abruptly into five lobes. Pale flowers range from lavender or pink to white. The leaves are linear. It is native to dry, open areas. This species is suitable for a rock garden, but is considered difficult to grow.
Loose clusters of white flowers and oval, semi-evergreen leaves characterize this hardy perennial. It does best in a slightly moist but well-drained, peaty soil. Also available in lavender-blue.
A low-growing variety, this subshrub has linear leaves and flowers that may be lavender-pink to white in color. Suitable for a rock garden: It is native to mountainous areas that are dry in summer, cold and snowy in winter.
Each small flower has the form of a narrow tube that flares out abruptly into 5 lobes. This perennial produces clusters of pink, purple or white blooms. Plants do best with fertile soil and occasional watering.
The fronds of this graceful palm can be up to 10 ft. (3 m) long.
Scarlet autumn foliage draws attention to this small tree with prominently veined, lance-shaped leaves. It bears 4 in. (10 cm) clusters of white flowers, and round purplish fruits in fall. Considered easy to grow.
A florist favorite, it produces soft flower clusters in light brown, feathery bracts. Container plants can be moved outside during warm weather.
Long stamens give the tiny rose-purple flower bells a fuzzy look. Hardy at timberline, it may sulk in cultivation.
Urn-shaped flowers hang in clusters at the branch tips. A sub-alpine native, difficult to grow.
A dramatic spike of white, pink, mauve or red tiny orchids spotted purple, with more purple marking the bottom lobe is the reward for this difficult to grow Orchid. The straplike green leaves, are sometimes spotted purple. Needs moist soil.
This species of Oregano is best suited to areas with mild winters. Although it is quite ornamental--each small cluster of lavender-pink flowers sits above deep pink bracts at the end of a nodding stem--it can also be used in cooking.
This variety of Oregano is a low, woody shrub, with hairy oval leaves and white flowers. Fresh or dried, its leaves are a good choice for culinary use. It grows wild in the mountains of Greece, and is quite hearty.
This compact cultivar of Oregano is often grown for ornamental use: it makes a lovely potted herb, or its yellow to yellow-green foliage can add color to an herb or rock garden.
Named for its "nodding" clusters of translucent white flowers, this plant has naturalized in parts of the eastern United States.
Rich purple flowers form a close-packed 8 in. (20 cm) spike. Large, lance-shaped leaves, rarely spotted purple, spiral around the stem.
Considered the loveliest of its group by some, it grows vigorously and needs little care. Some sold under this name are actually D. elata. Small, rose-purple blossoms, arranged densely in 8" spikes, each flower is a small, hooded and spurred orchid with a tri-lobed lip. Green, lance-shaped leaves. Grown from tubers.
Beginners do well with this common, adaptable and hardy variety. Deep rose marks the pale lavender-pink blossoms. Leaves may develop purple spots.
This informal, decorative Dahlia produces striking fuschia and white blooms, 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) across. Because tuberous roots are commonly lifted and stored during the winter, you can grow this striking beauty in a wide range of climates.
Nosegays of small, white flowers grace this robust shrub. Lance-shaped, light-green leaves have blue-green undersides. Fleshy red or black, poisonous berries ripen in autumn.
Compact shrub with lustrous, dark-green leaves fits nicely in a rock garden niche. Clusters of rosy flowers at branch tips fade to buff as they age.
Flower clusters at branch tips range from white to pale lilac-pink. Downy hairs cloak young shoots and mature leaves' undersides.
A densely branched, rounded shrub, its glossy, leathery leaves have rolled-under edges. Rose-purple buds open to reveal white inner petals flushed with pink.
This insectivorous plant is as beautiful as it is interesting. Insects are attracted to the pitcher plant's carrion odor which cause them to fly inot the pitcher and slide down into a rainwater pond. The plant then digests them by bacterial action.
Annual or short-lived perennial. Big trumpet-shaped flowers, with ten-lobed corollas, are white or a pinkish. Leaves are hairy, oval and large. Flowers can be removed as they fade, to prevent the plant's energy from going into the production of spiny fruits. Alkaloids in the leaves are toxic.
Where D. inoxia's flowers have 10 points, these white-to-lavender blossoms have just 5. This subspecies also shows a more spreading habit and endures as a true perennial.
A classic fern, its glossy fronds arc gracefully over the sides of a hanging basket or patio tub. Easy to grow. Best with humidity, dappled sunlight.
Dense and bushy, its clumps of 5-petaled flowers range from pink to carmine.
Serrated teeth edge the dark green leaves. Few pests bother this hybrid of D. longifolia and D. discolor.
Robust stems bear big, flat-topped crimson flower heads with a mild, sweet scent.
Like a palm tree, in time it boasts a massive trunk and spreading fronds up to 7 ft. (2.25 m) long. Best with shade and shelter from the wind, and plenty of water in summer.
Perennial plant usually grown as a houseplant. Thick, erect, and frequently clustered stems. Paddle-shaped leaves with large midribs are green, blotched and spotted with cream. An inflorescence similar to that of a cala lily is sometimes produced.
Popular for greenhouse and home, this cultivar produces leaves with much more cream color than those of the species.
Delicate spires of tubular, pale yellow flowers tower above the basal rosette of oval leaves. Give ample water.
Ray petals of white, soft gold and cantaloupe may shade to deep purple at their bases. Give a warm sunny location for blooming up to the first frost.
Textile makers once used the spiny heads to "full" or raise the nap on wool cloth. The stem leaves form small cups that collect rainwater.
Tip up the drooping yellow bells to glimpse inner markings of maroon. Green leaves, sometimes blotched with darker green, clasp the stems.
Bearing loose clusters of magenta flowers, it grows wild in wet meadows. Difficult in gardens, it needs well-drained soil and plenty of water while growing.
With ideal conditions will bear clusters of yellowish flowers, fragrant at night, and orange-red berries. Popular as a houseplant, it summers on a deck or patio.
The leaves appear artfully paint-spattered. Sometimes bears small, yellowish flowers and soft, orange berries.
Flowerheads have brown, cone-shaped centers encircled by droopy, yellow rays which are sometimes marked at the base with with purple-brown or orange.
Some call it Candy Cane Bamboo for the decorative streaking of pink, yellow and green on its shiny canes. They form dense clumps up to 30 ft. (9 m) tall, with small, narrow leaves.
Lance- or diamond-shaped fronds are narrow at both ends. The pinnate, green fronds top a short, bronzy stalk. Prefers moist soil.
You can't miss the showy orange-red tubular flowers of this climbing vine. The seedpods, 1.5 by 0.5 in. (1.25 cm), hold many winged seeds. Other cultivars available are: 'Aureus', which blooms golden yellow; 'Roseus', blooming bright pink to red; and 'Carmineus', whose flowers are deep red.
Coiled heads of red buds turn bluish purple. They also attract butterflies and bees. Rough seedpods cling to fur and clothing. Plant away from paths and control spread, as it can sicken livestock who feed on it and trigger hay fever in some people. Also sold as E. plantagineum.
A short-lived perennial, its funnel-shaped blue-violet flowers form small round clusters. Albus variety blooms in white.
Spires of yellow-spotted, lavender-to-blue flowers bloom above the tender, heart-shaped leaves. In temperate climates, lift the fleshy rhizomes and pot in moist loamy sand through winter.
Pink-tinged, cup-shaped flowers form dense sprays. Dark green leaves turn red in late autumn.
This vigorous ornamental grass's broad, grey-green blades have rolled margins. Tufts of grey-green flowers appear in late summer. Good for preventing erosion in coastal dunes.
Paintbrush-like flowers in sizzling red beckon butterflies. Look for the orange variety and mix them up for a double punch of color. Reseeds readily.
Many slender branches from the base form a rounded shrub. Dazzling yellow rays surround purplish-brown discs. Good to stabilize loose soil.
Leaflets sometimes have hook-tipped lobes. Needs humidity. All species of Encephalartos are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Buy only specimens grown from seed in a nursery.
Tall wands of 4-petaled flowers bloom in white, pink or magenta. First to colonize after a wildfire, these vigorous self-sowers spread quickly in moist soil.
Tall, wand-shaped plants, with many white, 4-petaled flowers, and narrow, lance-shaped leaves. They prefer moist soil, where they will self-sow and spread rapidly.
Its dainty slipper-like yellow flowers have red sepals and short spurs. Finely toothed heart-shaped leaves are tinged bronze when young, turning bright green as the season progresses.
A hint of purple sometimes tinges the graceful white flower cups. They rise on wiry stems above the heart-shaped leaves.
Growing wild in open woods and roadsides, the Field Horsetail tolerates a drier setting. Short-lived, brown stems bear spores. Sterile green stems carry whorls of needle-like branches, earning them both their common and botanical names (from the Latin for "horse" and "bristle"). Interesting by decorative ponds, but very invasive; take care to confine them to prevent rhizomes from spreading into nearby areas.
One look at the whorls of these many stemmed marsh plants blowing in the wind and you can see where the name 'horsetail' came from. Unlike E. arvense, the marsh horsetail produces just one kind of stem.
Feathery green bracts hold 3 in. (7.5 cm) spikes of deep blue, tubular flowers.
Like a palm with attitude, this cactus has tough leaves brandishing spine-tipped fronds. Occasionally bears brown, conelike flowerheads. Like other cycads, wild specimens are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Buy only plants grown from seed in a nursery.
Flowers in a glowing, harmonious blend of orange, red, yellow and pink bloom repeatedly throughout the growing season. A shrubby climber, its also grown as a free-standing bush.
Furniture makers prize the Stone Bamboo's hard, straight culms. The largest reach nearly 3 in. (7.5 cm) in diameter. Young stems have pale, striped sheaths. Spreads by running rhizomes.
Japan's top timber bamboo, its culms make fine fishing rods, were once used for ski poles. Many died after worldwide flowering in the 1970s, but survivors have bounced back. Several cultivars offer a choice of heights, coloring and striping.
Hardy and large-leaved, it's one of the first to put out shoots in spring. Powdery at first, the culms develop a somewhat rough texture, turn darker green than golden bamboo. A light striping enhances the sheaths.
Slender culms mature from yellow-green to almost black. Some show a distinct zigzag pattern. Smooth sheaths bear some dark markings. Leaves reach 6 in. (15 cm) long, 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide. One form is hardy to -8░F.
Its tasty young shoots star in Chinese cuisine. Slightly ribbed when mature, the smooth arching culms reach 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) across, with feathery plumes of small leaves. Good in containers.
Young green culms acquire black speckles, turn shiny black in first year. Black Bamboos grow bigger in California than in the Southern US. This hardy cultivar may be smaller than the species.
Smooth, shiny culms often curve at the base, have dark splotched, rough sheaths. Spreading branches bear canopies of 8 in. (20 cm) shiny green leaves with a brilliant turquoise sheen on the undersides. Rare in the US, though common in Europe.
Long clusters of rosy flowers nestle among big fleshy leaves. Red to black berries are harmful if eaten, and sap may irritate skin.
Spreading to erect, pink-tinted branches bear silver-accented green leaves. While leaf variegations in most plants result from patches lacking chlorophyll, in this species they form where air pockets blister the leaf's top layer. Dwarf varieties fit nicely on a narrow windowsill or in a terrarium.
This alpine species may take 2 centuries to mature. Dwarf forms such as 'Flinck' and 'Noble's Dwarf' recreate the shrubby, windswept habit of timberline natives, good for rock gardens and bonsai. Small cones produce edible seeds, fall apart when ripe.
A close sniff of the bark delights, with scents of vanilla, pineapple and honey. Bent and twisted only at high altitudes, it grows tall and massive elsewhere. Female cones may reach 12 in. (30 cm) long.
Silver-dusted undersides highlight the fronds, arcing on dark purple stems. Takes full sun in Florida, grows along steam cracks of Hawaii's Kilauea crater.
Purple upper leaves and green undersides show a bronzy tinge. Tiny green flowers form dense, pencil-thin spikes. Other cultivars differ in size and coloring. A sacred herb of the medieval Saxons, it's been found to cause an aversion to tobacco that helps smokers cut back or quit.
Fertile fronds may stretch to 3 ft. (90 cm) Sterile base fronds turn brown and papery.
Silver-haired branches with downy-white leaves form an erect to spreading shrub. Pale blue-white flowers bloom on spikes to 1 ft. (30 cm) long. 'Green Silver' is a popular cultivar.
Its stems creep along the surface, then arc upward. Small white flowers bloom among cream-edged, aromatic leaves.
Sow in fall for late spring blooming, in spring for summer flowers. Will bloom through summer except where hot and humid.
It forms a natural bouquet, with abundant lavender blossoms on a mound of ferny leaves.
Sprays of deep rosy flowers bloom on upright branches. Speciosa variety blooms in purple-violet. Can reach the size of a small tree, to 15 ft. (4.5 m) Nearly deciduous.
Spreading and compact, it sends up long spikes of salmon pink flowers that mature to dark pink.
This dwarf form produces short spikes of dark crimson flowers, in vibrant contrast to the fresh green leaves.
Some call it Lady's Thumb, for the creamy flower balls swaying on wiry stems. Long, broad basal leaves arise from bright pink roots. Found in wet places in the wild, it thrives by a stream or pond.
A formal-looking fern, its arching, leathery fronds reach 30 in. (75 cm) long, 8 in. (20 cm)wide.
A simple fern with undivided leaflets, its frond tips often root and produce new plants.
Many dark branches form a dense growth. The white to pale yellow, 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers have bright golden centers.
Popular and widely available, it forms a candelabra of many stems bearing whorls of gold to apricot blossoms. Plants disappear in late fall.
Clusters of green-yellow buds open to a fresh buttercup yellow. Several varieties exist.
With shelter from rain and sprinklers, leaves of varying forms retain an attractive white frosty coating. Flowers bloom in white, pink or lavender, sometimes with faint fragrance. This species and its cultivars take more sun than most Primroses, as long as soil stays moist in summer.
Nearly stemless, purple flowers dazzle with vivid yellow centers. Other varieties bloom in pinks.
Flowers of palest pink with golden throats cluster above bronzy leaves.
This variety's bracts glow a rich yellow above pale-centered 12 in. (30 cm) leaves.
Magenta flower bracts arise amid red-tipped inner leaves. Outer leaves are striped with pale green.
Look for selections of different size and flower color. 'Miss Jekyll' produces semi-double, cornflower-blue blossoms; 'Persian Jewels' offer a fine mixed bouquet.
Ancient Persians and Egyptians once feasted on its seeds to stay fashionably plump. Called four-spice in France, their lemon-carrot essence flavors breads, cakes and curries.
Deep purple foliage brings unexpected contrast to the greens of a kitchen window box. The cinnamon fragrance of this plant spices pastas, salads and soups.
After the scented evening blooms fade, downy gray seedpods attract finches and other seed-loving birds. Grows well in poor soil.
Burrowing its taproots into sand, it forms rosettes of gray-green and rosy-red leaves. From these, rosy stems fan out in a network pattern. The buttercup-gold flowers open at dawn.
Big cups of gold nestle among dense branches. Dark green leaves turn dull red after frost. Many cultivars offer differing heights and yellow flower shades.
Hardy, it quickly forms a bushy plant 12- to 18-in. (30- to 45-cm)-high, with abundant late summer blossoms. Large, strong-scented flowers stay open throughout the day, age from white to pale pink.
It spreads by runners, forming rosettes of 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) leaves. Day-blooming white flowers may mature to a pale orchid pink. Several cultivars reach differing heights, most with pink flowers.
Though finicky, this lovely woodland plant from Turkey is worth coddling for its throngs of soft blue-violet flowers. Hardier cultivars bear larger flowers. White rims or stripes highlight those of 'Starry Eyes'. Compact 'Cherry Ingram' blooms in deep blue.
The essential garden species, it produces a breathtaking display of tiny snow-white flowers in late spring. They offer a faint fragrance, last well in vases. O. l. caerulescens' flowers blush pink. Self-seeds readily for years of blooming.
Though probably not native to their country, the Scots have adopted its striking blooms as a national emblem. Its propensity to self-sow has given it an unwelcome, weedy reputation in parts of the U.S. The central stalk branches at around 4 ft. (1.25 m), forming a floral candelabra. Most attractive with fresh young leaves--these shrivel up as the flowers bloom and go to seed.
Smaller than the Macrozamia moorei, it has a subterranean stem and shorter, blue-gray leaves.
Bright daisy-like flowers may have maroon or yellow eyes. Grass-like leaves grow to 6 in. (15 cm) long by 0.75 in. (2 cm) wide. Petals sometimes have a reddish-brown spot near the base.
Named after Dr. Archibald Campbell (1805-1874), who was the British Political Resident in Darjeeling, India, this exceptional tree may take many years to bloom. Grafted varieties bloom earlier. Several named cultivars have varying attributes.
Chosen for use in hybridizing, this Magnolia is rarely grown as a small tree. It spreads slowly by suckering. Its slender, purplish flowers appear with the leaves from mid-spring to early summer. 'Nigra' clone has darker purple flowers.
Horizontal, topaz-yellow flower clusters first open in the fall, bringing bright color to a fading garden. Fruits are deep blue.
Ancestor of virtually all the Rosybloom and Purple-Leaf Crabapples, this purplish-leafed clone is named after J. Niedziecki. Young growth is red; mature foliage has a bronze-yellow cast. Bears few large dark fruit.
Reddish-black bark and dark leaves aging to green characterize this fruit-bearing shrub. Short-lived scanty blooms and susceptibility to disease led to many named cultivars. Originally from France's Barbier nursery.
A charming upright shrub, its lower leaves are heart-shaped while the upper ones are deeply divided. Double blooms are slightly musk-scented. Popular cultivars include the silky white Alba and rosy purple Rosea.
Striped petals give this flowering shrub its name. Flowers may be pink or white with purple stripes. Lobed leaves reach 4 in. (10 cm) across.
An invasive vine with smooth, somewhat rounded, lobed leaves, its large flower spikes and striped fruit are eyecatching.
Pale lilac to almost white flowers make this spreading shrub a good choice for subtle color in a your garden palette. Velvety leaves and stems add texture.
Wooly below and fuzzy above, the leaves of this shrub reach upward. Flowers are pink to lilac.
Its sweet-scented leaves win it a spot in any fragrance garden. Dried, the small daisy-like flower heads of this chamomile relative are used in medicinal teas.
Under best conditions, this perennial produces blooms to 2.5 in. (6.25 cm) across on stalks up to 10 in. (25 cm) long. Leaf shape, texture, and color may vary.
Its lemon-scented, serrated leaves are slightly tacky to the touch. Often found in fragrance gardens as well as kitchen herb gardens. Half-inch flowers are white to pale lilac.
The stems and undersides of the fragrant leaves may have a reddish purple tint. Leaf margins may be smooth to ruffled. Flowers are lilac in color. Hardy and invasive.
Parent of many hybrids, this creeping Mint is extremely variable. Usually a white down covers the underside of the stalkless, serrated peppermint leaves, which can grow to over 3.5 in. (8.75 cm) long.
The leaves of this sweet-scented Mint smell like apples when rubbed. The creeping stems sprout tiny white hairs.
Silvery feather-like tufts crown this compact grower, a cultivar of Miscanthus sinensis.
A study in pink, the flowers of this compact grass emerge from pink buds, fading to white with age. Silver-gray leaves provide a distinctive counterpoint.
A shorter version of the subspecies arundinacea, flower stalks stand just 4 to 5 ft. (1.25 to 1.5 m) tall. In fall, foliage turns yellow, then mellows to a dull golden.
Favored by farmers for its culinary and medicinal uses, this aromatic perennial's showy pink flowers attract a host of winged admirers as well. Spreading habit, not overly invasive.
Introduced by the National Arboretum, this upright shrub grows fast and spreads by suckers. Bright red to reddish-purple fall foliage lasts into winter.
With rippled, ivory-rimmed leaves and richly fragrant flowers, this hardy climber covers a slope, wall or arbor on its own.
Dark green leaves have greenish-brown undersides. Vivid rose-red to vermilion flowers may appear year-round.
Cup-shaped snowy flowers with yellow stamens top leafless stems. Once established, do not disturb the roots.
With protection from severe winter winds, its branches can spread into a striking canopy. Peeling, yellow-brown to brown bark and tiny dark cones add appeal.
Its elegant pink flower spikes rise above 10 in. (25 cm) velvety leaves with prominent veins. A favorite for conservatories and protected areas.
Tubular, yellow-orange flowers bloom for long periods. Tolerates infrequent, deep watering. May do best when cut to ground in winter.
Nodding clusters of yellow-tipped scarlet blossoms on slender stems grace this small, bushy shrub.
Blue Button blossoms dance on stems up to 4.5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. Highly variable, especially in leaf shape.
Plant closely for a low hedge, or shear separate plants for a row of 'flames' along a lawn or path. Handles high heat, and does well in short-summer regions.
Dense hairs cover stems, leaf undersides and edges. Yellow-spotted russet flowers bloom singly or in clusters of 3 or 4.
Tight clusters of red-and-yellow bottlebrush flowers ornament this spreading shrub, to 8 ft. (2.5 m) tall and 10 to 20 ft. (3 to 6 m) wide.
Varieties include a weeping form, one with yellow to yellow-green leaves, one with a second flush of leaves in fall, and one with deeply divided leaves. Golden flower clusters droop 6 to 10 in. (15 to 25 cm)
Purple or green splotches the leaves, usually 2 on each plant. The drooping blossoms come in lemon yellow, apricot or white, often tinged with turquoise or vermilion. Look for a favorite color combination at Christmastime, when florists feature blooming plants.
Lavish displays of flower spikes range from pink and magenta to purple and blue. Warty spots cover the dark green to maroon leaves.
Sticky when young, leaves grow to 8 in. (20 cm) long. Single flowers develop into smooth, greenish-yellow fruit. Choose a named cultivar for the shape you want: Sugar Trough, Hercules' Club, Bottle, Dipper or Trumpet.
Long green leaves form a dense mound, spangled with orchid-pink flower clusters.
Discovered in 1860 by David Lyall, a Scottish surgeon and naturalist, this timberline native needs bracing alpine conditions. Its branches grow crooked and drooping with age. Soft bluish-green needles turn golden in the fall.
Lewis and Clark claimed discovery of this towering, short-branched larch. Though still rare in gardens, it appears to adapt well. Thrives in moist soil, but tolerates drier conditions. Thick red-brown bark forms long scaly plates
Water deeply at first, and it will soon grow truly care-free. Small yellow flowers bloom profusely in spring, attracting bees.
Candy pink to pale purple, the blossoms of this spring or summer annual offer a clean, sweet fragrance.
Nearly upright vines bear pairs of soft fern-like leaflets, and clusters of 3 to 15 reddish-violet flowers that turn greenish blue. Several named cultivars bloom in different colors.
Single, satiny flowers, white, rose-pink, or red, reach 4 in. (10 cm) across. 'Splendens' cultivar produces even larger, rose-red or white flowers, while other types grow more compact, with smaller flowers.
This weather-resistant, bushy dwarf boasts blossoms of a more dramatic, glowing, dark-veined rose pink than the wild species'. Appearing from mid-July into September, they make superb cut flowers.
Naturalizes well, especially where soil is poor, spreading a carpet of dazzling yellow and white.
Dense, flat-topped clumps of creamy flowers bloom at the branch tips. Leathery leaves with rolled-under edges may be aromatic.
Silky gray hairs soften fresh growth, the leaves' undersides, and new flower buds. The Silver Sheen cultivar, with silver-grey leaves on red-tinted stems, blooms in summer.
A red flush accents the leaves' toothed edges. Pale orange, 6 in. (15 cm) flowers deepen to reddish-gold.
Pale rose to brick red flowers reach 2 in. (5 cm) across.
This native of rocky ledges may languish if soil is too moist. Magenta-veined, off-white or pink flowers top slender, branching stems.
Pale or dark stripes accent the white, cream, pink or pink-purple petals. The species grows wild at 3000 to 6000 feet.
Striking, pale salmon or yellow flowers reach 3 in. (7.5 cm) across above the rosette of spoon-shaped green leaves.
Flower spikes may reach a foot tall and wide. At first bluish-grey, they turn wheat-colored in fall.
Clusters of 2 to 10 fresh white flowers nestle among the leaf blades. It bears some of the largest seeds, up to 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) across.
Up to 15 fragrant 'turk's cap' flowers nod on each 4-ft stem.
Just as fragrant as the species, this cultivar's petals curve back more dramatically, from a narrower base.
This plant's purple-green stem is sometimes hairy. Many varieties of differing flower colors and heights exist.
Single, white, yellow-throated flowers with a flush of pink bloom atop hairy, branching stems. They reach 20 in. (50 cm)--a grand height for this group. Prefers sandy soil.
Buds like raspberries look good enough to eat. This cultivar blooms long and lavishly, resists mildew.
Each waxy-white, 4- to 8-in. (10- to 20-cm)-tall stem produces one stiffly nodding, .05-in. (1.25-cm) white to pink flower, which blackens with age.
Plant this cultivar with the blue-flowered species for a fresh white contrast.
Needle-like leaves droop from horizontal branches on this open growing shrub or small tree. Avoid the fruit and leaves; they may be toxic.
Pretty, spotted flowers are good cover for bulb beds, in rock gardens, and for edging. Stems grow along the ground and turn up at ends. Naturalizes under proper conditions.
The spreading habit of this fragrant herb can be curbed by planting in containers or in a buried, 5-gal. container with drainage holes. Leaves grow to 4 in. (10 cm) long.
The original Boston Fern, a 19th century mutant of the species with arcing fronds, gave birth to a dynasty of cultivars.
The name says it all. Dense, finely cut fronds form a fluffy cloud.
Finely divided fronds create a froth of green lace.
All parts of this smaller-sized plant are poisonous, including the salmon-pink flowers. Not as cold-hardy as other oleanders. Prefers sun to shade.
It grows upright, but sends out trailing stems that root and produce new plants.
It may grow as a biennial in warmer zones. Tends to form long, bare branches.
Like a fresh snowfall, abundant white flowers blanket the foliage.
Grow as an annual in colder zones. Plant away from damp soil or shade. Flowers range from white to pale purple, some bicolored. Fairy Series comes in pinks, reds, purples and white.
Discovered in the early 1960s in an English nursery, this sport from the 'Balearica' cultivar is gawky when young, but grows vigorously. A column of purplish-green stems bears glossy green leaves and abundant large berries.
Many stems, up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall, bear 1- to 2-in. (2.5- to 5-cm)-wide white or pink flowers.
Dainty blossoms on hair-thin stems spangle mounds of rich green leaves 1 to 5 in. (2.5 to 12.5 cm) long.
A favorite with gardeners, it forms a woody base with feathery leaves up to 8 in. (20 cm) long. Drooping, rose-red flowers bloom in clusters of 5 to 20.
This rare variety boasts blue-white trumpets with golden throats. Palm-like leaves arch around the central flower stem.
Hardy to -4░F, it produces a wealth of pale lilac to purple or pink flowers. Bright green leaves have downy gray-green undersides.
A perennial climber and rooting trailer, this ancient root crop has many named cultivars with sweet, orange tubers. May take work to get started. Harvest before first frost.
Though generally red-flowered, this widely naturalized, twining vine sometimes blooms in white.
Soft, ferny leaves form a handsome backdrop for white-eyed, crimson flowers.
Its upright green, red or purple branches sport waxy leaves to 5 in. (12.5 cm) long. Veining ranges from yellows and oranges to pink and purple. Cultivars offer different color combos.
Prominent veins in a contrasting red accent the slender, glossy leaves. In ideal conditions, forms a dense shrub up to 3 ft. (90 cm) high and wide.
This beardless native of Louisiana marsh and swampland thrives in a moist, wild garden. Blooms may be rust to bright red, orange, salmon pink, or rarely yellow.
From the Iris Series 'Longipetalae', its stems each bear 2 to 3 flowers. For white flowers, choose the 'Alba' cultivar.
Round, branched stems, to 2 ft. (60 cm) and taller, bear 1 to 5 beardless, lilac to blue-violet flowers. Several subspecies and named cultivars offer different colors and sizes. Prefers moist soil.
Slender stems, just over a foot tall, produce 1 or 2 white-and-yellow flowers. Pink tinges the base of the narrow green leaves.
Deep purple flowers, accented with gold and white, bloom 1 or 2 per stem. Leaves reach over 6 in. (15 cm) after flowers fade.
Cut stalks of both the 4-petaled flowers and dangling purplish-brown seed pods add a rough charm to fresh or dried arrangements.
Easily rooted from softwood cuttings, it may behave as an evergreen or semi-evergreen, turns reddish-purple in fall. The rounded, arching shape grows fuller in a sunny spot.
This compact shrub bears small clusters of sunny 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) flowers above crowded rosettes of thick leaves.
Hard to find in the U.S., this Old World species bears clusters of bright yellow flowers.
A staple of wildflower mixes. It quickly produces an abundance of bright scarlet, dark-centered flowers and self-seeds for years of carefree blooming.
Wiry stems bear narrow blue-green leaves and small flower clusters. 'Six Hills' blooms in a rich sky shade; 'Heavenly Blue' a vivid blue. After blooming, cut down to 8 in. (20 cm). Mulch in cold winters.
Plant with an eye toward its spreading habit. Dark green grasslike leaves fill in a bare area within a few seasons. Bright white stalk flowers add visual accent and contrast.
Dark violet flowers and a low-maintenance constitution gain devotees for this ornamental grass.
Honey-scented white blossoms grow in profusion on this low-spreading ground cover. It is grown as a perennial in warm winter climates, but requires trimming to keep its shape.
Abundant red fruits and colorful flower clusters attract birds to this vigorous shrub.
A vigorous, woody climber or low-growing shrub bearing green, oval leaves with white undersides, its showy flower heads grace the ends of new shoots.
Variegated green leaves edged in cream take second place to the rounded, silvery seed pods that last into winter. The upright, branching form has a spreading habit.
Several named cultivars of this shrubby California coastal native offer different flower colors. Small seeds form in seedpods to 3 in. (7.5 cm) long.
Blue and white flower petals contribute to the name of this small-leafed annual. Native to open places below 5000 ft. ( 1500 m) elevation, it is good for stabilizing and restoring overused areas.
The main stem on this prolific annual may be simple or branched . Flower clusters up to 8 in. (20 cm) long offer showy rose-tinted to violet-veined white blossoms. Shaggy fruit pods form after blooms fade.
Pale yellow flowers, sometimes with reddish-purple margins, bloom in clusters.
Bright tricolor flowers in spring give way to smooth fruit pods up to 1 inch long.
Candy-apple red flowers contrast brilliantly with the soft silvery foliage.
A sophisticated twist on an old favorite, it blooms in deepest burgundy.
Several cultivars of this perennial are available, varying in flower color and dwarf size. Good in cut and dried flower arrangements; however, the fuzzy stems tend to mold quickly in water.
Numerous spore-bearing leaves hang from this creeping evergreen club moss. Upright stems to 2 feet tall.
The impressive bright yellow spathe may reach 16 in. (40 cm) tall.
This free spreading plant does well on the edge of woodland gardens and in borders, but keep it under control as it can be invasive. Whorls of yellow flowers fill the tops of erect stems, giving it a softening effect.
Profuse pink blossoms from purple buds flower in pairs or clusters in leafy, open racemes. Tends to be invasive and may displace native vegetation.
Almost trunkless, this palm gets its height from the semi-erect 9 ft. (2.75 m) leaves. Each pungent leaf may hold up to 50 pairs of leaflets.
Somewhat cylindrical in shape, the 3 ft. stem supports a cluster of spiny rounded pincushions. Long central spines protect the pink blossoms.
Creamy white edges the gray-blue leaves, which produce new plantlets. Spreading shoots creep along the ground and take root.
Bright yellow flowers contrast handsomely with waxy, violet-blue foliage.
Sprawling branches bear mealy-white leaves and rose to violet flowers with yellow anthers.
The popular Panda Plant or Pussy Ears earns its names with soft fuzzy leaves, silver edged with chocolate brown.
Creeping, rooting branches and reddish-purple flowers drape nicely over the rim of a hanging basket.
Orange-and-yellow flowers dazzle, but the white-frosted, spotted gray leaves draw attention, too. 'Glaucus' variety has bright yellow flowers; Sunman's are golden yellow.
Its branches grow erect, with smooth green leaves and lemony 2 in. (5 cm) flowers.
Red-tipped, grey-green leaves angle upward along trailing branches.
Plant this formidable creeper well away from garden paths.
A tree-form of cactus with a short trunk and numerous, blue-green branches up to 4 in. (10 cm) in diameter. Creamy-white flowers about 1 inch long have a slight fragrance.
Single or clustering stems grow from 2 to 7 in. (5 to 17.5 cm) tall, round or cylindrical. Flower petals deepen in color from base to tip.
The species attracts both butterflies and syrphid flies, which feed on aphids.
Considered a weed by some, it fills a pot nicely. A. a. caerulea blooms in rich dark blue; A. a. phoenicia in deep red.
Deep gentian blue on top, the petals have reddish undersides. May be sold as A. monelli or A. linifolia.
The pineapple itself is composed of more than 100 small, ripened fruits that have fused, as well as a fleshy portion of the stem. The rosette of sword-shaped, yellow-margined leaves highlights reddish-violet flowers.
Yellow stripes, and sometimes added bands of red, accent the prickly edges of its dark gray-green leaves.
These plants are grown for their woolly gray foliage, and their clusters of round flowering heads, mostly used in dried arrangements. These flower-heads are made up of small yellow and brown disc flowers surrounded by numerous dry, whitish bracts.
Tall with robust stems and flat leaf blades, this clumping grass is attractive but can be invasive. Purple-tinged flower spikelets are hairy and appear in summer. In autumn, the foliage turns pale bronze-purple.
Star-shaped 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers in pink, rose or purple have orange or yellow throats. Plant this alpine native in a gravelly scree, where it will form a low, loose cushion.
A favorite decorative flower with long-lasting cup-shaped blossoms, it is at home in a wild garden or rock garden.
Cup-shaped white flowers, sometimes flushed with purple, sway on hairy stems. Later, long-tailed seeds form a feathery mop-head. Growing wild on high rocky slopes, it may droop in lowland gardens.
Long stalked basal leaves divide into three leaflets, then again into three lobes. Cultivars such as Schoaff's Double Pink offer double flowers. Provide water during dry periods, and divide every few years.
Mexicans call it Yerba Mansa. Traditionally used to relieve colds and indegestion and the purify the blood.
Heart-shaped, silver-mottled leaves on long stalks hide small, purple-brown flowers underneath. Works well as an underplanting, or as a ground cover in shady areas.
A bushy subshrub, sometimes grown as an annual, its clusters of small, star-shaped red flowers have centers of yellow-orange "hoods" and "horns." Large, pointed, green fruits contain silky, wind-dispersed seeds. May become weedy in tropical areas.
In cooler climates this erect subshrub can be started indoors and grown as an annual. Pretty cream-colored flowers bloom in summer. Rounded, inflated greenseed-pods with soft bristles outside, silky seeds inside are outstanding in dried flower arrangements.
Soft, feathery fronds grow to about 2-ft. (60 cm) long and 8 in. (20 cm) wide on this fern. Bulbous baby plants develop on the surfaces of mature leaves. Needs moist soil.
A prolific bloomer, this bushy perennial is good in borders. Flower heads have narrow lavender-pink rays and yellow central discs.
This aster's cool hue and late bloom are welcome in fall's fading landscape. The flower heads, with their blue-violet rays and yellow disks, are attractive to butterflies seeking nectar, and to songbirds, which feed on the seeds.
This aster has branching, spreading stems and multitudes of tiny white or pink-tinged flower heads. The pink centers darken as they age.
This is a popular dwarf cultivar of the New York Aster, with a compact habit and profuse garnet-red blossoms. Fall-flowering asters provide nectar for butterflies after other plants have ceased to bloom.
A perennial shrub with silky gray-green foliage and yellow, daisy-like flowerheads, it is popular in rock gardens, beds, and containers. Divide every two to three years.
Erect plumes made up of small white flowers sit above narrow, compound leaves. They look elegant planted in a woodland border, or clumped beside a pool. Give them rich soil, plenty of water, and divide every few years.
A clump-forming perennial, its upright plumes of white flowers turn pink. The leaves are compound and toothed. Keep soil moist.
Bright pink-purple flowers bloom on erect stems from June to July, offering wonderful color and foliage for arrangements. Cut back after bloom and divide every few years.
Multi-branched perennial with nodding, cup-shaped purple-brown flowers. This short-lived plant produces glossy black berries, which are poisionous. Please do not cultivate this plant in an area that is accessible to children.
Be sure to plant both male and female, for eye-catching bright red berries in early winter. Smog-resistant.
An evergreen Kurume hybrid, this dense, small-leaved shrub bears a profusion of coral flowers with the "hose-in-hose" form. Petals fused into a funnel shape emerge from joined sepals.
Short spikes of funnel-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors, sometimes yellow, more often purple, blue or magenta. Dramatic varieties include B. s. regia, with deep red inner rings on dark blue-violet petals, and B. s. grandiflora with big mauve blossoms.
It forms a shrubby mound, bearing whorls of white or pinkish flowers with purple markings. Small, thickly felted heart-shaped leaves have scalloped edges. They dry well for everlasting arrangements.
Widely naturalized in the north-eastern United States, its stout-branched stems bear wrinkled, scalloped leaves and whorls of tubular white, pinkish or lavender flowers. Variegated cultivars, such as Zanzibar, sport leaves splashed with white or pale green.
Stems up to 1.75 ft. (0.5 m) tall bear tiers of small, white-to-pinkish flowers, sometimes marked with purple. May be less hardy than B. nigra. The Compacta variety fits in small spaces.
Tall, purple-black stems bear ranks of small white flowers, sometimes marked with purple. Naturalizes in a wild garden with plenty of sunshine, makes a good border plant. The name Pendula refers to its dangling seedpods.
Grow this for slightly bitter, pepppery-flavored greens. Will bolt and go to seed in hot weather, giving the leaves an inedibly bitter bite. The B. v. Flore-Pleno variety produces double flowers, while B. v. Variegata has yellow-patterned leaves.
This fibrous-rooted begonia has shiny lobed and toothed leaves that are green with white spots above and red spots on the undersides. Pendulous, white to pale pink flowers bloom on this easy-to-grow houseplant.
This bronze-hued evergreen produces pink blooms from summer through fall, or year-round in the mildest climates. It belongs to the semperflorens-cultorum hybrid group of Begonias. It has fibrous roots, branching, succulent stems and fleshy, rounded leaves.
One of the early bloomers, this free-flowering begonia with white blossoms and green fleshy leaves belongs to the semperflorens-cultorum group of hybrids. In temperate climates, it can flower year-round. Roots are fibrous.
The most common garden species, this small perennial spreads slowly by stolons. Pink tints the white daisy-type flower's undersides, and the leaves are spoon-shaped. This plant does well in rock gardens.
Yellow-green sepals fuse into a bell shape, with narrow white petals and salmon-pink anthers. Growing in wet meadows and bogs, it may form a mat with stems running just under the surface. Classified as Rare, and legally protected in California. Buy only nursery-grown specimens.
This easy-to-grow shrub has shiny, spiny-toothed leaves that resemble holly, and clusters of yellow-orange flowers. Its stems are yellow; the fruit is bluish. Some plants sold as Berberis ilicifolia are x Mahoberberis instead; these have neither spines nor flowers.
In fall, clusters of showy red flowers cover the shrub. The yellow clusters of spring flowers only enhance this thorny shrub's appeal. It is easy to grow and its glossy yellow-green leaves turn red in autumn.
A deciduous and thorny shrub that is attractive year-round. Foliage emerges a beautiful, variegated pink and turns reddish-purple with maturity. Bright red fruit stays on the plant through winter. It is adaptable and easy to grow.
A deciduous shrub that is semi-evergreen in mild climates, it has dense, spiny stems: oblong, gray-green leaves that turn red in autumn: and coral-red fruit. Easy to grow.
A chocoholic's dream, its sunny flowers perfume the garden with the irresistible aroma of melted chocolate! They open in the morning but may droop in afternoon heat. They require little water.
Grown for its thick, peeling, bright white bark and autumn foliage, this open-branched tree prefers moist soil. It produces flowers in drooping catkins in springtime.
Slender, branching stems bear bunches of small yellow flowers above oblong, wavy-margined green leaves.
This tree fern type forms a black scaly trunk up to 3 ft. (90 cm) high, with evergreen fronds up to 3 ft. (90 cm) long. Needs high humidity of a greenhouse or tropical setting.
Hairy and aromatic, it produces tiered whorls of white to pale lavender, purple-spotted flowers. Many native plant dealers offer it.
Unlike most ferns' curled fiddleheads, its new fronds emerge from the ground almost fully formed and quickly expand. Fertile fronds grow from short stalks partway up the main stalks of the sterile fronds.
A woody-stemmed climbing vine, it needs adequate moisture during active growth, but should be watered sparingly when dormant. Train against a south wall for the best display of its pink-orange bracts.
This annual herb's high-protein leafy greens and seeds are edible, and oil is made from the seeds. Its flavor is more delicate than the black variety. Sow inside in early spring. Plant closely to harvest tender young greens. Plant further apart for plants that will mature, flower, and produce long, narrow seed pods containing round, pale yellow seeds.
This vigorous Foothill subspecies spreads its creamy-yellow petals flat, each accented with a dark pin-stripe.
Dark-green, lance-shaped leaves contrast with the rounded clusters of orange-yellow flowers, often tinged purple, that hang from the arching branches.
This small palm with erect, 6 ft. (2 m) leaves bears yellow to red flowers. Its yellow fruit is sometimes used to make jelly. Grows best where ample water alternates with a pronounced dry season.
A popular houseplant, this cultivar's large bicolor leaves have whitishcenters and veins and dark green margins.
The showy, arrowhead-shaped leaves of this foliage plant have scarlet centersand veins, green margins and interstices, and white splotches.
It forms a more rounded shape than M. didyma, with blossoms of vivid orchid-pink.
A highly variable annual, biennial or perennial, it produces purple-spotted yellow or pink flowers with pink to lavender bracts. Soft hairs cloak the leaves and stems.
Rich magenta, dark-centerd flowers spangle this spreading annual or short-lived small shrub.
This nursery standard forms clumps of silver-spotted leaves. Pink buds mature to reddish lavender flowers, then turn blue as they age.
A miniature 'collarette' Dahlia, its flowers feature 8 bright red petals around a red and white 'collar'.
This improved cultivar offers tight, round clusters of fragrant white flowers. Homeopaths have long used the species to treat such chronic conditions as rheumatism, asthma and bronchitis.
Reaching heights up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall, this cultivar has lovely yellow flowers with lavender to blue edging both the standards and the falls.
This tall cultivar can grow as tall as 5 ft. (1.5 m) Red-to-maroon standards are surrounded by yellow falls edged with the same red color.
This cross between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia is one of the top commercial sources for lavender oil. Highly disease-resistant, it also boasts large flowers in a stunning dark violet.
Swaying in the slightest breeze, its arching stems of dark green foliage bear 6 in. (15 cm) (15 cm) sprays of white blossoms from early summer into fall.
Most of the Easter lilies sold are Nellie Whites. Shorter than other cultivars, they are also more resistant to 'tip burn' .
Pink buds open to white flowers. Bountiful yellow-green fruits follow, blushing red as they ripen. Resistant to apple scab.
Flowers with white tubes and deep violet lips bloom in dense spikes, attract bees and other beneficial insects. Cultivars come in white, pink, carmine, and pale lilac.
Covered with dense hairs, it usually blooms in a pale yellow, occasionally in rose-pink or purple.
Clusters of fragrant white blossoms grace this low branching tree, followed by bitter black fruits. This species withstands tent caterpillars better than most Cherries.
Sold under this name at Oregon and California nurseries, its double white flowers appear late in the season. May be the same variety sold elsewhere as early-blooming 'Iceberg'.
Pale pink flowers turn white. The gracefully drooping branches usually arc at the level at which the tree was grafted. May be sold as 'Pendula Rosea'.
Many of the beloved Washington, DC cherries are this cultivar, planted in 1912. Pale pink to white blossoms are followed by tiny, glossy purple-black fruits.
Handsome crested varieties, less invasive than the majority of the species, includes 'Grandiceps'.
Silvery markings accent its simply divided fronds. Protect from frost.
One of the strongest-smelling species, its leaves can be used as common mint in recipes. Try rubbing a fuzzy leaf on skin to repel mosquitoes.
A bushy form with very narrow leaves, its scent seems more herbal than pepperminty.
A Japanese favorite, this common, cold-hardy variety offers almond-scented pale pink blooms fading to white, and autumn golds and oranges even in temperate zones. Best with full sun, but tolerates light shade. The 'Afterglow' cultivar blooms in a deeper pink that doesn't fade.
This dependable late-bloomer produces clusters of 10 or more, 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) yellow trumpets. Sweetly fragrant, they last a long time in spring bouquets. Plant bulbs 3 in. (7.5 cm) deep.
Huge single flowers, up to 4 in. (10 cm) across, appear at midseason. Plant bulbs about 6 in. (15 cm) deep.
Aptly named, it sports big, ruffled, crispy-looking leaves.
The golden yellow blades with contrasting narrow bands of green seem to light up the garden with a phosphorescent glow. Foliage turns greener as it matures. Slow to establish and spread. Can grow in water, but needs tops in the air.
Pompoms of double flowers bloom on the old wood, while the new wood brings forth silvery-blue semidouble flowers. Blooms turn grey with age.
Firm, sweet and juicy, this early variety matures to medium size in 50 days. Disease resistant.
Its 5 to 7 in. (12.5 to 17.5 cm) vase-shaped heads grow rapidly. The thick, succulent stalks are translucent green topped by spoon-shaped, dark green leaves. Sow in succession for continual harvest spring through fall.
Since flowering isn't controlled by day length, grow these in a winter greenhouse for bright golden yellow flowers with dark brown centers.
Unusual silver-green velvety foliage covers this vigorous, bushy, multi-stemmed plant. Long-blooming flowers have creamy yellow petals with chocolate brown centers. Disease resistant.
Fluffy, 6 in. (15 cm), double blooms without centers give this branching, dwarf plant its name. Easy to grow.
Striking 5 to 7 in. (12.5 to 17.5 cm) flowers cover this many-branched plant. Blooms are burgundy red, brightening to yellow at the tips of the petals.
Flowers range from yellow to gold and deep bronze. Bicolored flowers are rusty red, radiating to light orange-yellow, with 2 in. (5 cm) dark-brown centers. Some semi-double blooms. Deadhead for more flowers.
This sunflower is named for the range of earth tones in its flowers which bloom mahogany, bronze, gold and burgundy.
Its heavily mottled, bellshaped flowers bloom in striking colors.
Choose this Cosmos for a continous bloom. Its semi-double flowers are deep orange, bright yellow, and red.
This easy to grow, sweet, tangy Asian veggie has deep green, finely-cut leaves that you can add to salads. Harvest as young leaves or cut mature rosettes. When harvesting, leave about an inch when you cut so that plants continue to produce throughout the season.
This vigorous vine blooms early with masses of 4- to 6-in. (10 to 15 cm)-wide single flowers. Bright yellow anthers contrast with deep red petals.
Its looseleaf green leaves with ruffled edges mature in 45 days. Slow to bolt.
This early flowering, French-type marigold has many double, 3 in. (7.5 cm) blooms of mahogany edged with gold.
Its large, showy white flowerheads give off a vanilla fragrance. Grows best in moist to wet soil.
This frost-hardy selection blooms early, offering big, velvety, crimson flowers with red anthers.
A vigorous late-bloomer with rose-lilac flowers 6 in. (15 cm) across, it needs hard pruning in spring. Does best with humus-rich soil and a warm, sunny wall to climb.
Yellow anthers accent the dark-rimmed, bright carmine red blossoms. Protect lower leaves from scorching in late summer.
Rosy pink flowers stand out above dark, strongly fragrant foliage. Grow some in a pot on the kitchen windowsill for fresh seasoning year 'round.
Snip the deep green, licorice-smelling leaves to flavor Thai and Asian dishes. Blooms in deep purple.
Red sunflowers always attract attention. The velvety, deep crimson petals of this generous bloomer steal the show.
Hummingbirds sip from these sweet-smelling rosy pink trumpets.
Though the Nicki hybrids may self-seed, offspring tend to revert to the parent flower's colors.
Goldilocks could have won over the three bears with a bouquet of these double or semi-double, golden-orange flowers with dark chocolate conical centers.
A compact dwarf for tight spaces, it blooms with golden petals and chocolate cone centers.
Upright, branching stems bear sunny yellow, deep-olive-centered flowers. Divide clumps in spring for more plants.
Bred to bloom early, this compact selection's extra-long, sturdy stalks and wealth of lemon yellow blossoms make them ideal for flower arrangements.
Their long bloom season makes these an excellent choice for the front of a colorful border. Clusters of feathery purple-blue flowers atop oval-shaped leaves will grace your garden from late spring to early autumn.
Fully hardy, its deep rose red, dark-centered flowers add a regal touch among whites and pastels.
Though compact, it produces long stalks packed with deep crimson blooms above bronzy leaves. Wonderful in bouquets.
These charming miniatures bloom all summer, stopping only with the first frost.
The roots of this adventageous species are used as a coffee substitute. Best behaved in herb gardens and dry, wild gardens, it withstands extreme drought, heat, and poor soil.
A free-flowering plant originating from China and Tibet, this tall-growing annual makes a unique and attractive addition to the annual border.
The luscious fruits follow modest yellow flowers. With many varieties to choose from, try several to find ones to suit your garden conditions and your taste buds.
Upright, fuzzy plants reach 2 to 2.5 ft. (60 to 75 cm) Good eaten fresh or dried, the pods usually ripen all at once. To harvest, clip plants at base, pluck pods just after the bright green fades.
Delicate rose-pink flowers with spurs and dark glands bloom in loose clusters on this small, dense annual. Tolerates frost, but not extreme heat. Deadhead for longest bloom.
Purple-blue flowers in 4 to 8 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) spikes rise above dark green, deeply lobed and toothed leathery leaves. Plants are poisonous so be sure to plant in a safe place.
This creeper spreads a mat of round 1 in. (2.5 cm) leaves and produces whorls of small lavender flowers. Though traditionally used as a medicinal herb, a large amount is poisonous and can cause liver damage..
Spectacular flowers, 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) long, open wide on this shrub. Try types with single or double flowers of white, pink and red.
Flowers 2 in. (5 cm) wide or wider, with blotches of darker color, grow in loose clusters on this rangy, spreading plant. Heart-shaped leaves have crinkled margins and teeth. Water daily in heat.
Striking red flowers against lime green foliage make this salvia a garden favorite. It is also a favorite butterfly and hummingbird plant. Fresh or dried, the wooly light green leaves add distinctive flavor to savory dishes. This frost-tender species needs a temperate climate.
May wine's sweet hay-like scent comes from its leaves and stems. Cut back regularly, as it self-sows and spreads fast in rich moist soil. Many medicinal uses, but can cause upset stomach in large quantities.
More woody and bristly than summer savory, use its stiff narrow leaves, fresh or dried, for subtle flavor in cooking, and a comforting tea for indigestion.
This crisp, applelike, fleshy root grows just above ground. Excellent raw in salads and slaw, or lightly cooked. Grown through winter in the south and through fall in the north.
Good for hanging baskets and as houseplants, this creeping plant produces runners like strawberries. Loose clusters of white flowers open above wide, roundish, white-veined leaves. Won't tolerate drought or full sun.
Clusters of yellow to cream-colored flowers bloom above coarsely cut, white wooly leaves. Regular pruning prevents leggy growing patterns.
This fall and winter vegetable is a favorite for soups and stews. Its white to yellow beet-like root has purple to green top shoots. Harvest after two frosts for best flavor. Store tubers in the refrigerator or a cold cellar for up to six months.
Mild enough for salads or stir-fry, this veggie has spoon-shaped, black-green leaves in a compact rosette. Long growing and harvesting season. Sow after last spring frost.
Note the musklike fragrance of its 2 in. (5 cm), thistle-like, rose to lilac flowers.
Naturalized all over the U.S., its strong-scented leaves season Mexican dishes and aid digestion. Herbalists use its oil to treat worms, but an overdose can poison.
Deeply cut foliage sets off the multicolored flowers. Thrives in light or heavy soils. May become weedy in warm zones.
This eye-catching, bitter Italian lettuce is colored red with white markings. Serve braised in salads. Mild spring, fall and winter crops are best.
Many crimson flowers bloom above its 3-ft. (90-cm)-long, sword-shaped leaves. Good for naturalizing, but needs to be kept in check.
The purple flowers produce bright red stigmas that are harvested as saffron. In frost-free zones, grow in rock gardens, borders, raised beds and containers.
This bush vine produces bright yellow scallop squash. Pick at 1.5 to 4 in. (3.75 to 10 cm) long. Blossoms are also edible.
Use this oblong to pear-shaped, hard fruit for ornamentation, musical instruments or birdhouses. Most yellow, green, orange or reddish fruits are knobby and have stripes with contrasting colors.
Small rosy-purple hearts dangle above a carpet of delicately cut, cool green leaves. Occasionally blooms in white.
This very branched, airy-looking species offers parasols of starry 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers.
Clusters of fragrant flower spikes bloom on compact bushes. Keep plants moist. Protect seedlings from birds.
Add a peppery tang to salads, sandwiches and vegetable dishes with its dark green, rounded leaves. May need to add lime to soil. If grown in a pot, you should set in pan of fresh water daily.
This plant withstands heat, cold, drought and poor soil. Rose-purple flower heads make great cut flowers.
Flower forms and colors vary between the pompom, peony-flowered, anemone-flowered and ostrich feather. Use to cover walls or train into hedges or small trees. Some are well suited for groundcovers.
Its pink or white, 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide flowers bloom above rosettes of leaves.
Use seeds for flavoring. Threadlike leaves and small white to rose flowers give plant an airy appearance.
Clumps of fibrous leaf blades have purple bases and stiff midribs. Use the tender lower portion in Thai cooking. The lemony essential oil aids digestion, and reduces fever and inflammation.
Cascades of russet flower tassels, up to 2 ft. (60 cm) long, grace this sturdy branching type. They enhance fresh and dried arrangements. Leave them to ripen in the garden, and birds may nibble the grain seeds that follow.
Smallish yellow flowers form the luscious fruits on trailing vines. Most melons separate from vine when ripe.
Not just for salads, its sharp nutty flavor perks up soups, pasta sauces and pizza. Snip leaves continuously at 2 to 3 in. (5 to 7.5 cm) long, before undersides grow fuzzy. Leaves grow bitter after flowering. Susceptible to flea beetles in warm weather.
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Available in dwarf and double varieties, these dazzling flowers top tall, wiry stems. Deadhead to prolong blooming.
A rich chocolate aroma rises from the maroon-red flowers. Spreading branches of feathery leaves make a delicate effect next to sturdier plants.
Grow these for the big scarlet seeds that appear after small, blue-gray and chartreuse flowers. Sprays of the opened seedpods brighten fall and winter arrangements. Plant away from paths, as the evergreen sword-shaped leaves smell unpleasant when bruised.
These showy bloomers have inspired a wide range of cultivars and varieties. Plant bulbs in a sheltered spot with partial shade and good drainage.
Milder than ordinary parsley, it will bolt in dry heat. Keep tips pinched back to encourage growth.
The golden-orange flower heads, nestled in rosettes of spiny bracts, attract native honeybees.
Lilliputian 6 in. (15 cm) stalks gleam with spikes of 10 star-like, brilliant blue, tubular flowers with white centers.
Solitary, 1-in. (2.5-cm)-long, rose to purple flowers rise above reddish-brown and white mottled leaves.
Many bell-shaped flowers bloom along 1 ft.(30 cm) stems. Naturalizes in woodland areas.
White to greenish-white flowers are sometimes purple-spotted. The yellow center spike bears bright red berries after leaves fade. Arrow-shaped leaves are generally 8 in. (20 cm) long and wide. Good for flower arrangements.
This is a generic plant. It can be used as a placeholder in your design.
This is a generic plant. It can serve as a placeholder in your design.
This muskmelon has deep orange flesh, an intense flavor and fragrance, and a small seed cavity. Many fruits grow on these highly productive, disease-resistant plants. Sow seeds in place when soil is warm.
The Poinsettia-like upper leaves turn red with white blotches in summer. Use for hot, dry borders in poor soils.
The 7 in. (17.5 cm), short-lived, funnel-shaped, double flowers are most fragrant in the evening.
Plants are available with single or double flowers in white. yellow, blue, and red.
Use this dwarf blue delphinium in containers and borders. Its showy spires attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
This early maturing, heavy bearing, hybrid cucumber is bred for its burp-free quality. Fruits are without bitterness and seedless if kept from cross-pollinating with other varieties. Resists powdery mildew, scab, downy mildew and cucumber mosaic virus. Doesn't require pollination by bees.
Native from Nova Scotia as far south as North Carolina, and as far west as Kansas. Its nodding white flowers are tipped with creamy yellow. Propagate in fall by division of tuber clusters.
Yellow to golden-yellow flowers may reach almost 2 in. (5 cm) across. Rough, gray-green leaves have translucent spots. Older, dead leaves almost completely sheath them during dormancy.
It forms a miniature grove--perfect as a lawn accent. Bases of old leaves and brown fibers clothe the base of the slender stems.
Lily-like flowers unfurl raspberry-pink petals, with lemon yellow at the base.
Over time its stem may reach 18 ft. (5.5 m), raising a crown of glossy, toothed, dark green fronds to 7.5 ft. (2.2 m) long.
Dense tussocks of fine-textured, dark green, arching stems grace the bank of a pond or stream. Showy seed heads appear in early summer. Choose young, yellow-green cuttings for a fresh bouquet, or accent an everlasting arrangement with dried, sandy brown stalks.
Like giant matchheads, their blooming spikes have fiery red florets above pale yellow ones. Cut the long stalks for a bold floral arrangement.
Leaf blades with rough surfaces and smooth undersides curl in along their edges. Dense, 1 ft.(30 cm) flower spikes mature from bluish green to light brown. Goes dormant in summer unless watered -- for fresh new summer growth, mow then water and fertilize.
Introduced to English nurseries in 1901, this rarity won't reach the size or density of its American relative, L. tulipifera, and needs a milder climate. Spring leaves unfurl from orange to brown with pale undersides. Cup-shaped, green blooms with yellow veins reach 1.5 in. (4 cm).
It grows in full sun and tolerates cooler temperatures. Fronds up to 6 ft. (2 m) long arch from just above the ground. Glossy green 10 in. (25 cm) (25-cm) leaflets show pale undersides.
Pink buds open to chenillelike brushes of creamy stamens, up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) long. The tiny, triangular leaves spiral and overlap on the whipcord branches. Locate at least 18 ft. (6 m) from underground pipes.
This lovely ornamental produces airy domes of fragrant cream to yellow blossoms.
Leaves of this shrub or small tree drop off just before the flowers open.
At first cloaked in a white fuzz, leaves mature to glossy bronze-green. Autumn fruits make a nice garden snack and a wonderful jelly.
Fiery blossoms evoke the molten lava of their Hawaiian namesake.
Reddish speckles twinkle on the throats of its rich yellow blossoms.
Grow this lovely star-spangled ground cover as a perennial in warmer zones, an annual where cooler. Tender below 45 deg. F (7 deg. C).
Lavender-pink flowers bloom on a dense mat of fuzzy stems and leaves. Deadhead for thicker growth.
Bright yellow with vermilion-pink furled tips, these cactus-form flowers reach 4 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm) across.
Brick red at the base, the petals shade to pale yellow.
Pale pink petals shade to deep rose in the throat.
Soft peach flushes the interior of these vibrant yellow blooms.
Each white to sky-blue flower has a white- or yellow-stained center, or is spotted darker blue or purple-black. Tolerates some shade. Best if sheltered from wind. Self sows.
There are many varieties of these thorny plants. Most are trailing and need to be cut at 6 to 8 ft. (1.75 to 2.5 m) for trellising. Canes are biennial and produce fruit the second year.
Red raspberries bear the most fruit. Grow between wire side guides, with wires at 2 in. (5 cm) and 4 to 5 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) off the ground. Tie chosen canes to wires and young canes will grow up between. Also grown as free-standing shrubs with stakes. Feed at blooming time.
This dwarf's creeping habit is ideal for borders and rockeries. Also outstanding in hanging baskets and garden containers. The snow white flowers produce freely throughout the summer.
These spring radishes are egg shaped. Roots range from red, white, pink, magenta and purple.
Its single or double, 2-in. (5-cm)-wide flowers bloom in red, pink, white, orange, salmon, scarlet and bicolors. Cut flowers when buds begin to show color.
Its 1-in. (2.5-cm)-wide, golden-yellow flowers with brownish purple centers bloom from midsummer till frost.
Clusters of 1 in. (2.5 cm) flowers nod above simple, elliptic leaves.
Once established, it offers a continual show of many single blooms until first frost.
This bushy sturdy plant quickly forms mounded clumps covered with 1- to 2-in. (2.5- to 5-cm)-long funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, yellow and white.
Its large apple-green, shell-like calyx surrounds inconspicuous white flowers. Beautiful as a cut flower.
Bright green, nearly-round leaves surround small, white flower clusters.
Grow this as a peppery, tangy, salad herb in the garden or in pots set in fresh water.
These long, carrotlike roots make a sweet addition to soups, stews and winter dishes. Freezing improves flavor, so leave in ground through the first couple of frosts.
Tight, round heads of lilac to rose flowers rise above gray-green leaves. Drought tolerant. Can be used as a lawn, but it's unattractive in winter.
Its long stems hold thimble-shaped pinkish-white flowers. Cut flowers before they go to seed so they don't self-sow. Tolerates poor soil.
Dense mosslike masses of slender leaves and stems withstand foot traffic.
Velvety textured blooms range from deep magenta to bronze, with netted veins of contrasting color.
These annuals produce great summer color in pink or white. They like warm, dry soil and are frequently dried for arrangements.
Winter radishes grown as a fall crop. Winter types grow much larger, mature more slowly and keep longer than spring radishes.
Pick this early-bearing, high-yielding, seedless cucumber at 4 to 5 in. (10 to 12.5 cm) long, when it is at its sweetest and most tender. Disease resistant. Good for greenhouses and containers, as fruits don't need pollination.
Excellent for pickling, this prolific cucumber carries a bitter-free gene. Resists disease.
Up to 300 6 in. (15 cm) (15 cm) flowers appear on the ends of its branches. Blooms have yellow centers and rose-purple or light lavender to white petals.
Its 2.5-in. (6.25-cm)-wide fragrant yellow flowers open in the evening.
Train this climbing subshrub or perennial up a trellis or against a protected wall, but watch out for the sharp spines! Clusters of bright red flowers are borne on branch tips throughout year.
Grown for the large edible tuber, it also offers upright spikes of purple-violet, sweet pea-shaped flowers. Pinch off flowers for a larger tuber and save a few seeds to plant next year.
Wide heads of tiny white flowers rise on 2 ft. (.5 m) stems.
Its 2 to 3 ft. (.5 to 1 m) spikes of white or pink flowers tower above a bright green rosette of leaves. Shelford hybrids of this plant offer shades of buff, pink, yellow and orange.
Dense clusters of pincushion flowers bloom in pale blue to violet on G. capitata. G. tricolor may sport single flowers or clusters in pale to deep violet, their throats spotted with yellow.
Plant this variety for its loose spikes of fragrant white flowers.
A favorite for late summer and fall color. These blue tassel flowers are easy to grow and compliment border or container gardens.
This prolific bloomer is great for flower boxes and containers. It has a somewhat bushy habit and spreads vigorously, which also makes it a good ground cover.
The more sun this plant gets, the hotter the color. Grow in the garden where a little "fire" is needed, or bring indoors for added interest.
Young corkbarks make striking additions to rock gardens; they are also good choices for containers and bonsai. Usually symmetrical and cone-shaped, this fir holds blue-green needles against a thick, corky, cream-colored bark.
Aptly named for its flame-red fall color, this sugar maple is broader and more vigorous than most. Glossy green leaves give it a fresh appearance from spring until fall.
'Goldspire', a cross of 'Newton Sentry' and 'Temple's Upright', is densely columnar with shiny green, leathery leaves. Named for its yellow-orange fall color, 'Goldspire' turns later in fall than most sugar maples.
Quite flexible in landscape uses, this vigorous grower works well as a shrub, tree or bonsai. The winged seeds are larger than average and color up to a bright red. The deeply-lobed leaves of 'Killarney' produce brilliant fall color.
Young foliage of 'Ornatum' is edged with bronze-red, turning greenish in late summer. Especially attractive due to the long, deeply-lobed and deeply-serrated leaves that turn crimson in fall.
Plant this tree in full sun so the large leaves can become the outstanding rich red-purple color that is the source of this tree's popularity. In a shady location, leaves take on more of a greenish-red cast. Received the Award of Merit in 1960 from the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society of Holland.
A shady location will give this tree more intense, long lasting purple-red leaves. Variegated leaves are common but not consistent, which adds to its interest. These trees are tender and their leaves sunburn easily.
Large gardens and broad streets benefit from the shade cast by mature 'Gerling' trees. Originally selected for its columnar habit, older trees become broader and more conical in shape. This fast-growing maple turns scarlet-red in cold climates.
A twisting, contorted growth habit makes this is an excellent specimen for a Japanese or rock garden. New foliage emerges crimson-red, maturing to purple-red. Obviously a favorite, 'Tamukeyama' was possibly cultivated as early as 1710.
This birch can be grown as a shrub or a tree; it often grows along the ground. It has a dark, rough bark and pointed, oval leaves.
In the fall, the leaves of these shade tree-favorites turn a rich golden yellow and may have red veins down the middle. In spring, yellow-brown male catkins hang up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) long. The crown is open, and a conical shape provides a good view of the lovely thin, peeling bark. The bark is a gray-white tinged pink to orange.
This compact, dwarf selection branches from the base. Although it is a perennial, it is often planted as an annual.
Named for its young golden-yellow foliage, this cedar is often used to brighten a dark corner or to accent other points of interest. The needles are shorter than average and become green with age. Gold atlas cedars have been featured in American gardens since the late 1920s. Normally grows to 16 ft. (4.5 m) tall, but can be pruned to keep at a dwarfed size for the Japanese garden.
This weeping cedar has a slender growth habit and produces vertical sprays of hanging foliage. As tree reaches maturity, the crown becomes more open. Originally raised by a Dutch nurseryman, A. van Leeuwen, it has been available to American gardeners since the early 1900s.
The very blue foliage of this cypress is especially attractive after a rain and in the moonlight. Plant it where you can enjoy the contrast against varied greens.
This is a narrow form of the Leland cypress. It has a light, fresh, green foliage.
Upright in its youth, this beech tends to spread as it ages. Ascending branches hold small, lustrous dark-green leaves that have a roundish shape. Leafs out a bit later than other species. Slow to grow dense and bushy.
This hosta has glossy deep-green leaves that are almost 1 ft. (30 cm) long and over 6 in. (15 cm) wide with deeply impressed veins. Gray-mauve to whitish flowers are produced on a tall leafy stem. Plant several different hostas together for an interesting effect in a border or shade garden.
The oval- to heart-shaped gray-blue leaves are thick and puckered and grow to about 1 ft. (30 cm) long. The bell-shaped, ivory colored flowers are produced on a stem that grows up to 2 ft. (60 cm) high.
These dark orange flowers have a light orange throat and a sweet fragrance.
This fragrant orange daylily looks wonderful in a border.
These wide throated, bright yellow flowers have a nice fragrance.
These sunny yellow flowers bring delight to the most simple of gardens.
With sunny-yellow foliage year-round, Chinese juniper is a good choice for a shady spot or a highlight for an area that needs more attention. Cultivated from a branch mutation of 'Old Gold', this is a more compact and slow growing form. Branches ascend at a 45-deg. angle.
Line a walkway with this lavender to enjoy its lovely scent and appearance. Narrow gray-green leaves set off the large lilac-blue flowers that bloom in loose spikes. Make lavender "wands" by cutting bunches of the flower spikes and tying their ends.
The pale pink flowers in compact heads are a soft variation of this favorite herb plant. Intermix with lilac blooming lavenders in a border and combine with roses for a real scent-sation.
A relative of the true catnip, this plant also attracts cats. Cushions of soft gray-green leaves make an interesting ground cover when planted in multiples.
In the yard, dark reddish-purple leaves are eye-catching against shades of green. Small, usually light pink, flowers bloom before the leaves emerge, making it a spring favorite. A favorite street tree in some areas.
This dwarf spruce was discovered in Alberta, Canada in 1904. Slender, curved leaves remain in the juvenile form. Forms a dense, conical shape. Other color variations are available in this miniature form.
Discovered in 1835, this dwarf blue-green cultivar of the Norway spruce did not become commonly available until the 1950s. The needles are thick and very sharp. This relatively vigorous grower has a broad, conical shape. In winter, the tree is covered with orange-brown buds.
This selection grows more loosely than the stronger, larger true form. The true form of this cultivar is a low, rounded cushion with thick, short branches.
This form is not as dense and full as the typical Norway spruce.
This almost spherical dwarf grows to 5-ft. (1.5 m) tall. It is dense with dark green needles and grows slowly.
This prostrate, creeping, dwarf form has very dark green needles.
'Stachys' means spike in Greek and refers to the way the flowers grow above the dark green leaves. Several cultivars are available with flower colors ranging from white to rose-red, pink, and dark violet.
With its yellow-green effect from a distance, this variety is a good choice for brightening up a shaded area of the yard or garden. It grows to form a broad pyramidal shape and produces somewhat variegated sprays with yellow stripes.
A compact form from the 'Series Mix'.
Its broad-spreading, weeping form makes this one of the most beautiful conifers.
Plant this lovely yucca where you can enjoy the light fragrance that wafts from the blossoms in the evening. This clump forming, almost stemless yucca has leaves up to 30 in. (75 cm) long. The flexible, gray-green leaf has yellow-margins with curly, white threads of fibers.
One of the dahlia-type 'Ruffle Series', this one is also double flowered. The 3 to 3.5 in. (7.5 to 8.5 cm) flowers are terrific for cut flower arrangements.
Spangles of spines with wooly, white centers cover the round or cylindrical stems, which become corky from the base up. Vibrant yellow-orange flowers reach 1.5 in. (4 cm) long.
Prickly blue-gray sword blades bristle on short trunks. With the fibers, native peoples thatch roofs, weave baskets and ropes. Heads of small bell-shaped flowers bloom on sturdy 12- to 18-ft stalks.
This is a type of iceplant -- so called, for the small, crystaline projections covering the leaves. It has succulent, semi-cylindrical green leaves and a lavish diplay of flowers with narrow, orange-red petals and green centers. Around noontime, the flowers open to the sun.
Clusters of leaf rosettes come in a range of greens, reds and silvery gray. Tubular orange flowers bloom in loose spikes. Place in a rock garden or grow in a sunny window.
Rigid, narrowly triangular leaf blades have pale, scaly undersides. Sends up a stalk of tubular yellow flowers. Give a warm, sheltered spot with good drainage.
Wavy green ribs draw attention to this tiny round cactus. Bell-shaped flowers in red, pink or peach form at the top. Give it a warm, well-drained site in a rock garden or container.
Stout stems arise from rosettes of succulent, white-dusted, green leaves, bearing smaller leaves and star-shaped, yellow flowers. Good for coastal plantings.
Clusters of small, funnel-shaped blue blossoms cover the whorls of lance-shaped leaves. Good cut flowers, their fragrance fills a room. Use these annuals as seasonal groundcover, in a rock garden or container. May not survive extreme heat.
Crimson blossoms precede 10 to 12 in. (20 to 30 cm) pods on this climbing vine. Best used for dry beans.
Unlike other ice plants, this is an annual. Blooms quickly and attracts bees. Acts as a fire retardant if kept well watered.
Arching sprays of bell-shaped flowers rise above a rosette of oval to lance-shaped leaves.
Its light green, airy foliage and snow white flowers are excellent for flower arrangements.
Its golden flowers, nestled in soft, hairy, bronzy green leaves, resemble brass buttons. Easily divided.
Its impressive flower stalk may reach a height of 21 ft. (7 m), bearing 20 to 30 branches of chartreuse 3 in. (7.5 cm) flowers.
Chartreuse-yellow centers accent the rosettes of garnet-purple leaves.
Sprawling or upright, its purple pads with reddish-brown to pink spines contrast handsomely with its own yellow blossoms and with green cacti in a desert bed.
Warty and bumpy when young, its ribs become deep and even as it matures.
Its dark green 8 in. (20.5 cm) fruits grow on space-saving bushy vines. Tolerates powdery and downy mildews, target leaf spot, cucumber mosaic virus, and scab.
This blue-green cactus grows in low clumps and has 1.5 in. (3.75 cm) spines ("Polycantha" is Latin for "many thorns."). It bears yellow flowers that ripen into spiny, dry fruit.
A low, shrubby cactus with flattened branch segments, it has yellow flowers and thorns that can reach 3 in. (7.5 cm)
This statuesque, flowering tree has a stout trunk with forked branches. Green blossoms with rose colored tips about 1 in. (2.5 cm) in size rise 2 ft. (60 cm) on a usually three-branched flower stalk.
Side arms, which only older plants develop, give this tall-growing columnar cactus an anthropomorphic quality that makes for a whimsical desert photograph. The flowers have dark red to green outer segments with white centers.
A succulent perennial with round, fleshy leaves and thick, wrinkled stems marked with red, this is usually grown as a houseplant or greenhouse plant. It can be used as shady area ground cover in very warm areas. Its white flowers are very small.
Fleshy green leaves marked with cream margins characterize this succulent perennial. The thick, wrinkled, upright or trailing stems are marked with red. The white flowers of this plant are minute. Grown as an indoor or greenhouse plant; it can be used as groundcover for shady areas in sub-tropical climates.
This semi-trailing plant's green, heart-shaped leaves grow on long stalks. Commonly grown as a houseplant, it can be grown outside in very warm areas.
This grand, slow-growing cactus may not form "arms" until it is well over 50 years old. Can be grown in containers for many years to ensure proper drainage.
If you love butter beans, you won't need persuasion to plant them in the vegetable garden. However, if you aren't sure, then plant these! The 3 to 4 in. (7.5 to 10 cm) pods produce 3 to 4 small, smooth beans that are medium green when fresh and turn white when dry. This heavy yielding selection is one of the best for drying.
'Pickalot' is a pickling cucumber that will keep you busy canning. Early to bear and producing through the end of summer, this selection is tasty at any size but the dark green fruit is best picked under 5.5 in. (14 cm). Tolerant to powdery mildew.
'Burpee Pickler' is an early-maturing, medium-green cucumber that is excellent at all sizes. A heavy producer throughout the summer, if you love cucumbers you'll definitely want this variety in your garden. Tolerant of cucumber mosaic.
'Vittoria' is a prolific producer of beautiful glossy purple-black 9.5 in. (23.5 cm) cylindrical eggplants. This fast-growing, vigorous variety is resistant to tobacco mosaic virus.
'Agori' is an adaptable variety that sets fruit even in adverse conditions. Pick the 5 to 6 in. (12 to 15 cm) pear-shaped fruit frequently, and you'll have a bountiful harvest all season long.
Although the lovely white eggplants on 'Osterei' are only the size of large eggs, they are full of flavor. For a real treat, try them grilled or sautΘed. This variety is the perfect size for growing in a container.
'Violette di Firenze' produces beautiful oblong lavender fruits that are sometimes striped white. These decorative eggplants are especially wonderful roasted or stuffed.
'Asian Bride' produces 5 to 6 in. (12 to 15 cm) fruits on compact plants that are perfect for containers. The tender thin skins of this eggplant are white with lavender streaks. 'Asian Bride' has a lovely creamy texture when cooked.
This ornamental dwarf banana is especially attractive because of its dark green leaves with red midribs. It adds a tropical touch to any size garden and the 3 in. (7.5 cm) pink fruit are a novelty. Protect the ornamental leaves from wind.
Bananas give a subtropical feel to gardens like no other plant. This one also provides bright yellow 8 in. (20 cm) fruits that are a fun and flavorful addition to the grill.
Large clusters of 4" scarlet flowers make this shrub a hit! A long flowering season makes this an excellent choice for a showy background or border.
Good for borders or large containers. The long, heart-shaped leaves of this fuchsia have red-tipped teeth. The showy nature of this plant is extended further into the season with the production of oblong, purple fruit.
Attractive as an informal hedge or border plant, Chinese indigo's glossy leaves and small pea flowers are attractive in cut arrangements.
These dramatic flowers are very double and very red. A great bedding plant!
This is the perfect lettuce if you occasionally forget to water your vegetable garden. 'Rosy' is slow to bolt and tolerant of bad conditions. Older leaves and leaf edges are colored a beautiful dark red.
The scrumptious medium-size fruits on 'Goldie' make it a delectable pleasure to work in the garden. Produces a heavy crop from July to frost. Because it's self pollinating, you can invest less space and still get a bountiful harvest.
Perfect in a border or naturalized in a woodland garden, this vigorous Asiatic hybrid produces up to 30 lemon-yellow flowers with dark reddish spots inside.
Grow this short-lived vine on a fence or trellis or try it in a container with a good support. Although the flowers emerge a scarlet red, they quickly begin fading to orange, then yellow, and eventually white. This adds interest to the plant, especially when all color phases are showing.
These large rose-mauve flowers have long stems, making them a good choice for cut flower arrangements. The sparkle comes from the blue-flecked falls. Plant these in a rock garden, border or woodland garden.
The golden-orange flowers of this Heliopsis will provide nectar for butterflies in late summer. Use this clump-forming plant in a border or use as a bedding plant.
'Oregon Giant' has strong vines to support its prolific production of large-podded sugar snap peas. The 5 in. (12 cm) long, wide, flat pods are crispy, juicy, and sweet. Resistant to powdery mildew, mosaic and wilt.
The almost black, freshly emerging leaves of this loosestrife makes it an interesting addition to rock gardens and borders.
Like floating sunshine, these grow readily along muddy pond edges and slow moving streams. Grow in submerged pots for a barrel-type water garden.
Grow this eye-catching Mediterranean plant in a border, rock garden or container. These 3" flaring trumpet-shaped flowers are pale to dark purple-red with deep pink or purple veins.
Draw butterflies into your garden with the sweet nectar of 'Azure Fairy'. This clumping cultivar is great for borders and rock gardens.
A vigorous clumper, this daylily can fill large woodland areas and works well for a spacious border. The flower stalk rises above the lime green leaves producing up to 20 rusty orange-red flowers.
The fast growing vines of 'Norli' need supports to grow up. Harvest the 2.5 in. (6 cm) pods while flat, before peas begin to swell. They are terrific fresh off the vine or stir fried, and hold their flavor when frozen.
Plant several of these tidy mounds around rocks or create an informal pattern in your border. The small, bright, coral-pink flowers bloom in loose clusters on the ends of slender bare stems like fairy wands.
Coral bells are a favorite for rock gardens and containers. 'Northern Fire' also brightens shady areas with its silver mottled leaves. When blooming, the scarlet red flowers dance like fire in the slightest breeze.
You'll want to plant plenty of these honey-sweet strawberries. 'Honoeye' is a vigorous grower producing large, firm, juicy fruits. Winter hardy and resistant to berry rot.
'Ruegen Improved' produces plenty of dainty, bright red, conical-shaped berries. The fruits may be small, but they are full of the wonderful flavor and fragrance of a wild berry. The plant is neat and runnerless, making it a good edging plant.
With 'Heritage' in your garden, you'll have a hard time getting back inside! This prolific producer keeps you harvesting from early July until a hard frost. The luscious berries are bright red and juicy.
This large 8 in. (20 cm) cylindrical carrot is sweet and vivid orange through and through.
Grow in containers, borders, herb gardens or scented gardens. The aromatic rhizome is used medicinally as an expectorant.
These lovely flowers are great for rock gardens and woodland landscapes. They also grow well in containers. The creamy flowers are tinted pink on the outside and act as parasols for your little garden nymphs.
Try planting an informal hedge with sunflowers. They also create fun borders and backgrounds in sunny spots. Kids of all ages love to greet these cheerful flowers outside their windows, too.
This large shuttlecock-shaped fern grows most lush in moist ground. The sterile fronds grow to over 5 ft. long and 1 ft. wide. Spreading vigorously by underground runners, offsets can be divided and transplanted in fall.
The showy flowers on this twining plant will draw attention wherever its planted. Up to 5" across, the rich blue-purple flowers often mature to a purplish-red.
The 'Golden Prince's' compact habit makes it a good choice for a hedge or creating an interesting edge in a border. The young leaves are gold tipped, adding light to the garden.
Polka-dot plants are best grown as houseplants or short-lived annuals. The dark green leaves "splashed" with pink spots are more showy than the tiny flowers.
This is a good groundcover for shady areas where the soil is porous but moist. The bright green leaves have an eye-catching thin silver stripe down the center. Small clusters of deep mauve-pink hooded flowers bloom atop the foliage.
