A favorite of many gardeners - and deservedly so - Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Smooth Hydrangea) is an outstanding flowering shrub. In early summer, this small, bushy deciduous shrub produces huge, rounded flower clusters, up to 12 in. across (30 cm), that brighten shady areas and bring life to the garden. Blooming for up to two months, the blossoms open lime-green, mature to brilliant white, then back to pale green in late summer before switching to a tan shade in the fall. Prized for its excellent resistance to insects and diseases, Annabelle is a good choice for the mixed border. The flowers make great cut flowers, fresh or dried.

Reliable and free-flowering, award-winning Rosa 'Ballerina' is a compact, rounded shrub with large sprays of slightly fragrant, single, soft pink flowers adorned with white centers. Blooming continuously from summer to fall, they are produced in great quantities and stand out against the attractive foliage of light green leaves. Loved around the world, 'Ballerina' is a charming and versatile hybrid musk rose that is perfect for the mixed border, as a flowering hedge or ground cover and in containers. Good disease resistance.

An excellent Astilbe variety that should be grown in all gardens, Astilbe 'Deutschland' (Astilbe japonica) features masses of luminous, pure white, pyramidal-shaped flower plumes that stand out in the night garden. Quite showy, they rise gracefully in early to mid-summer, on strong, erect flowering stems above an attractive mound of fern-like deep green, glossy foliage. Long-lasting, they turn a rich caramel color which provides winter interest to the garden.

Particularly attractive and architecturally interesting, Polystichum setiferum (Soft Field Fern) is a tufted evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of soft, lance-shaped, willowy, mid-green fronds. Arching gracefully, the finely dissected fronds swirl around the center of the plant, creating a beautiful mounded plant. They remain lush and fresh-looking throughout the season. The stalks and most midribs are coated with attractive cinnamon-brown scales. Bringing attention to its unusual soft green foliage, Soft Field Fern almost asks to be touched! Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

One of the first varieties of Coral Bells to retain its shimmering purple leaves throughout summer, Heuchera 'Plum Royale' sports a lovely foliage of large, deeply cut, ruffled plum-purple leaves with silver overtones in winter. The more sun this Heuchera gets, the more intense its purple coloration. Its pretty leaves combine extremely well with a wide range of colors and help create wonderful plant combinations in gardens or containers.

Adding drama to the garden, Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' (Black Cherry Plum) is a medium-sized, round-headed deciduous tree with a striking presence in the landscape, whether in bloom or not. This plum tree boasts some of the darkest purple leaves and twigs. Emerging bronze in spring, they turn almost black in the summer before turning orange and red in fall. Opening from deep pink buds in early to mid-spring, masses of bowl-shaped, single, pale pink flowers smother the bare branches and create a terrific floral display. They occasionally give way to red or yellow plums. A beautiful flowering tree with 3 seasons of interest that fits small gardens and provides a wonderfully contrasting foliage foil for other plants.