Native to southern Africa, Tulbaghia violacea (Society Garlic) is a tender perennial with sweetly fragrant lilac-pink flowers in large umbels, elegantly rising above a foliage clump of narrow, strap-shaped, gray-green leaves in early summer. The dainty flowers are tubular, slightly less than 1 in. long and wide (2 cm), spreading to an open star with six pointed tepals. Blooming continues on and off throughout the summer into fall. While the flowers emit the lovely fragrance of hyacinths, both leaves and rhizome exude a strong garlic smell when bruised. Flowers and leaves are edible and may be used in soups and salads. This herbaceous perennial spreads slowly by its rhizomes, but will not become aggressive.

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass that exhibits silvery-green thread-like leaves in late spring, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening any landscape. All summer, it bears abundant feathery panicles, which are held a little above the foliage and can be used in dried arrangements. Native to the Americas, this perennial grass provides a fairly long-lasting display with its airy silky green leaves turning golden brown towards fall.