The most aquatic of all irises, Iris laevigata, commonly known as Water Iris, is a rhizomatous perennial with striking three petalled, rich royal blue flowers, 3-4 in. wide (8-10 cm), adorned with broad pendant falls exhibiting a white central ridge and slightly narrower, upright standards. On display from late spring to early summer, this Iris flowers in abundance and may repeat bloom. The beauty of the flowers is equaled by the unique lime-green foliage, consisting of sturdy clumps of erect, sword-shaped leaves. Very handsome in and out of bloom, Iris laevigata has been long admired both in writings and in the garden.

Regarded as one of the easiest and most reliable spurges, Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow' is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial noted for its showy orange-red flowers and red-tinged leaves. Emerging rich bronzy-red in spring, the foliage of narrow, lance-shaped leaves turns mid-green in summer before turning crimson red in the fall. Borne on upright, reddish stems, vivid orange bracts, held in umbel-like clusters, appear in early summer, and continue for many weeks. They are excellent for cutting. Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow' deserves a place in every garden with damp soil.

Noted for its superb leaf color, Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans' is a large Hosta with heart-shaped, puckered, thick, blue-gray leaves, 13 in. long (32 cm). Forming a dense mound that crowds out garden weeds, the pretty foliage is topped in late spring to midsummer with racemes of lilac-tinged white, bell-shaped flowers rising on scapes 27 in. long (67 cm). Slow-growing, this perennial Hosta enjoys excellent pest resistance and is usually spared by slugs.