What more can one say about this popular plant? The silver heart-shaped leaves 
have prominent green veining. The airy, blue, forget-me-not type flowers appear in spring and are held above the foliage on slender stalks which lend a fairy-tale quality. Forms a neat clump. Leaves will brown in summer heat if not given enough moisture. Good with Heuchera spp., Coleus, Hosta spp., and Fern (Athyrium) 'Pictum'. A frost you will definitely appreciate.
Z3-9 
blue flowers resembling lupines emerge from tapered flower spikes. The foliage starts about six inches off the ground and is a soft blue-green. Baptisia is useful for substance in the back of the border or studded throughout. Good companions: Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', Echinacea spp., or in front of Miscanthus. 
Although not the showiest (it gives a more subtle color effect), it blooms at an excellent time in late summer when there's little else in bloom. The flowers are dainty and airy. Belamcanda chinensis combines well with Agastache 'Blue Fortune' and Pervoskia 'Little Spire'. The seeds, produced in early fall, are a gorgeous, ebony. Will resow.
, so I thought I'd give 'Hello Yellow' a whirl. Strappy iris-like foliage is pretty even when not in bloom (and no nasty borers). Arching stalks display bright yellow star-shaped flowers in late summer that poke their heads through other taller perennials. The flowers are followed by ornate seed pods. The color of the seeds within is an amazing shiny jet-black. Will resow.
Shiny leaves of thick substance turn rosy-red with the arrival of cooler temps. Bright red flowers in spring are an added bonus for a plant with such appealing texture. I'd leave it out of the hosta bed myself - it's fabulous substance might detract from that of certain Hosta cultivars. Great as a stand-alone or a thick mass-planting. Combine with Heuchera spp., under Polygonum, Tiarella spp., Amsonia, or Agastache.
What could be more rewarding in a single season than a plant that blooms profusely and attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies? This particular Buddleia is the first ever to have two different-colored inflorescences (lavender, and butterscotch-yellow). Fragrant blooms appear in summer and continue well into fall. Here in Zone 4 we mulch our butterfly bushes heavily and wait to cut them back until mid-late spring to improve hardiness. Be the first on your block to have this two-toned Buddleia.
What could be more rewarding in a single season than a plant that blooms profusely and attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies? This particular Buddleia is the closest of any of the butterfly bushes to a true red. (It's even redder than B. 'Royal Red'.) The reddish flowers mature to purple. Fragrant blooms appear in summer and continue well into fall. Here in Zone 4 we mulch our butterfly bushes heavily and wait to cut them back until mid-late spring to improve hardiness. We've had great luck with this selection.
of flowers over a long period (early summer through fall). If planted in sun, it's almost idiot-proof: drought-tolerant once established and deer shun it. This is a shorter cultivar best used in the middle of a border, for its sprays are transparent to what lies behind it. Great perennial to accent any of your sunny annual beds. Good perennial companions: Coreopsis 'Jethro Tull', Callirhoe, Phlox subulata.
Great for accents in the herbaceous border, in the mixed shrub border, or planted as a hedge. Butterflies go mad for the vibrant blue to purplish flowers, which appear in midsummer and persist through early fall. C. 'Blue Myth' is a new seed form brought to us by Sahin Seeds. It's more compact, less rangy and a bit shorter than traditional Caryopteris. Definitely benefits from a hard-shearing after flowering. Will resow.
shady nooks. If you're looking for something with late summer to fall interest this is the plant for you. Although slow to emerge in the spring, Ceratostigma makes up for its slow start with gentian blue flowers in late summer, and the true beauty (to me) is the lovely bronze-red hue of its fall foliage. Keeps going until the first hard frost. Good with Asarum spp., under Hydrangea spp., and Hosta spp.
of the year. The foliage is a lustrous deep green, and the blossoms resemble a pink turtle with its mouth open. The flower spikes remind me of Physotegia, but with much larger blooms, and Chelone could never be called invasive. It forms a neat-looking well-behaved clump. Nice amongst Hosta as the flowers come on just as the Hosta are losing their oomph. Look out Major Houlihan, you've got some serious competition.
Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' from breeder Marco van Noort. Growth requirements are similar to other Cimicifugas in that it really likes shady, damp soils. Beautiful chocolately purplish-black, lacy foliage. Gorgeous fragrant bottlebrush flowers open pinkish, then lighten to white. Blooms in late summer. 
If you have a moist, shady spot, this is a definite must-have. At a mature height of up to 7 feet, this plant is not for the faint of heart. The purplish black foliage is the darkest of the Cimicifugas, and is quite attractive even when the plant's not in bloom. The bottlebrush blossoms appear in late summer to early fall and are incredibly fragrant. (Yet another reason to love this plant.) If you're looking for something to add an almost tropical flare to a shady spot - this plant is the one. 
is a great alternative if you don't have the room for a seven-foot monster. Very compact, with the same great, fragrant blooms of the Snakeroots. Lacy foliage emerges green, then matures to dark purple. Butterflies love the late summer, early fall blossoms. Somewhat more vigorous than Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty'. 
in the perennial garden. As the gardening adage goes: 'Clematis need their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade'. To accomplish shaded root zones, a well-placed rock or a thick layer of mulch works quite well. Roses make perfect planting companions, as the Clematis grows through the rose and adds another dimension of bloom. Clematis 'Guernsey Cream' has light creamy flowers with yellow-green bars and yellow anthers at maturity. This Clematis has performed very well for us. It blooms prolifically in May and June and again in August and September.
in the perennial garden. As the gardening adage goes: 'Clematis need their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade'. To accomplish shaded root zones, a well-placed rock or a thick layer of mulch works quite well. Roses make perfect planting companions, as the Clematis grows through the rose and adds another dimension of bloom. Clematis 'Henryi' has six to eight inch pure white flowers with purplish anthers. It blooms in May and June with perhaps an even greater flush in July through September.
in the perennial garden. As the gardening adage goes: 'Clematis need their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade'. To accomplish shaded root zones, a well-placed rock or a thick layer of mulch works quite well. Roses make perfect planting companions, as the Clematis grows through the rose and adds another dimension of bloom. Clematis 'The President' has six to eight inch violet-blue flowers with reddish purple anthers. It blooms in May and June and again in September through October. Very dramatic.
It's completely different from the standard large-flowered Clematis - not to mention easier to grow. The leaves and flowers are smaller and the habit is much more vigorous, climbing as tall as thirty feet in a single season. Sweet Autumn Clematis only blooms in the fall (September/October), and bees love the sweetly scented 1/2 inch flowers which literally cover the vine. I've had good luck with Sweet Autumn Clematis in our zone 4 garden, and it will tolerate some shade.
has larger flowers than that of C. 'Moonbeam' and also exhibits better mildew resistance. Vigorous grower and lengthy bloom period (all summer). Lovely with Salvia spp., Lavendula, Zinnias, Pervoskia 'Little Spire'. Although this is rated as a Zone 5 plant it's made it through three of our Zone 4 winters. The only thing that troubles me is that it might just bloom its head off.
and a more consistent fluting of its petals. For me it's been very floriferous especially if I get around to deadheading it. The foliage is of the lanceleaf type and is quite robust. Calamintha 'Blue Cloud' and Nepeta 'Walker's Low' are good companions. Makes a nice cut flower.
threadleaf airy quality and plant it in drifts throughout the perennial borders. Does well with a good shearing after its first summer flush. Likes to be divided every 3-4 years. If you don't already have C. 'Moonbeam', you positively must get one. 1992 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year !
to the literature, C. 'Zagreb' grows taller than C. 'Moonbeam' for me, with a more upright habit as well. I use it to anchor corners and love to cut sprays for midsummer bouquets. A proven garden performer.
a plant with a longer bloom period (late spring through mid-fall). I love the splash of color it brings to part-shade. The foliage is ferny and adorable in its own right. When it's happy, C. lutea will freely re-sow, (lots of babies for your gardening friends). Listed as Zone 5 but has performed well for me in a sheltered Zone 4 spot.
performer for us. In late summer the deep red buds literally explode into coral-red blooms. The blooms lighten to a peachy coral but the show continues through the fall. Although rated as a zone 5 plant, it does quite well for us here in zone 4. Nice mounding habit. 
Fruit Punch series from breeder Kevin Hurd. Flowers are deep velvety red, fragrant and double. Like all the Dianthus we offer, D. 'Black Cherry Wild' blooms profusely in late spring-early summer with an additional flush of bloom in the fall. Foliage is an attractive grey-green. 
prolifically for me (late spring-early fall), and I enjoy the silver blue dainty mat-forming foliage. The blossoms are lightly clove-scented and are of the most unnatural vibrant pink, that it can't help but be a show-stopper during its first flush. I shear mine directly after this flush, to keep it happily blooming until fall. Great compliment for the blue foliage of Festuca and the silver of Pervoskia. Nice for cutting. 2006 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year !
boasts fully double blooms of the reddest red. The foliage is icy blue-green, which contrasts well with the fragrant red flowers. May rebloom in the fall especially if deadheaded. Makes a very nice edger for full sun. 
'everblooming' type blooming from late spring to early fall. This variety is more sun and heat tolerant than other varieties, but will go dormant if not given enough moisture. Not as tall as the Old-Fashioned type and with fernier foliage. 
them on her side table. Not only are the long, arching stems loaded with the white-tipped puffy bleeding hearts lovely to see in the shade garden, but the plants are practically bullet-proof once established. Mine always go dormant after blooming, which doesn't bother me because their foliage tends to look a little shabby under my tutelage, and best of all I know they'll be back next spring. 
foxgloves. The spike bears flowersall the way around the stems - another big difference. The flowers are a deep rose pink with burgundy spotting on the inside. If dead-headed D. 'Camelot Rose' tends to rebloom. Although still a short-lived perennial, it should re-sow.
totally different type of Foxglove. Evergreen foliage and numerous flower spikes per plant already make it a stand out. D. 'Spice Island' purportedly blooms all summer if deadheaded after each flush of blooms. The blooms themselves are smaller than the average Digitalis and are a peachy yellow. 
the new Echinacea cultivars out there, but isn't this one something? Echinacea 'All That Jazz' was developed by breeders at Walters Gardens. The scooped petals of the fragrant, lavender pink flowers have orange cones. The quilled ray petals remind me of the annual Osteospermum 'Lilac Spoon'. It purportedly has a very vigorous growth habit. A great one to add to your Coneflower Collection. 
introduction from Future Plants. Large, fragrant, light green flowers have darker green cones. Instead of fading with age, flowers hold their color well. A shorter Echinacea with a maximum height of 24 inches. Fun! 
of Echinacea 'Sunrise' from Itsaul Plants Big Sky™ Series. Fragrant, bright gold flowers have orangish central cones. A very vigrourous grower, E. 'Harvest Moon' will form a gorgeous two foot clump in no time. The wider overlapping petals make the flowers appear fuller than other yellow coneflowers. 
'Magnus' has large rose-pink flowers with copper-colored cones. Flowers are quite large at up to three inches in diameter. Like all Echinaceas, E. 'Magnus' makes a great cut flower for your mid-summer bouquets. Goldfinches go nuts over this one! 
is the work of breeders AB Cultivars and is an improvement over E. 'Razzmatazz'. E. 'Pink Double Delight' has a shorter more compact habit with large, 3 in., pompon flowers which begin true pink then fade to a lavender pink on well-branched stems. I'm sure it truly is double the delight of plain old Echinacea purpurea. 
Itsaul Plants. A very vigorous grower and is nicely fragrant. The orange flowers have a brown cone on erect strong stems with good branching and usually has multiple flowers per plant. In my opinion the best of the orange coneflowers.
vigorous Coneflower with attractive pale lemon yellow flowers. When the flowers start to unfold the central cone is green but then turns gold. Good branching with multiple flowers per plant, blooming mid-late summer. Blossoms are purportedly rose-scented, but my sniffer must not be working very well, for I have yet to smell anything resembling a rose. Great plant, however.