Requiring very little care and providing striking color as well as graceful movement in the garden or patio, Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' has become a real favorite among gardeners. How not to resist the spectacular rich burgundy foliage, the exceptionally long arching crimson plumes or the outstanding contrast provided with the surrounding plants and flowers? Fast grower, it typically grows in 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 2-4 ft. wide (60-120 cm) rounded mounds. They are topped with soft and fluffy, red-burgundy flower plumes on arching stems from mid-summer until frost. Drought tolerant and ignored by deer!

Bursting with sparkling color over a very long blooming season, drought and heat tolerant, and extremely easy to grow, Gomphrena globosa 'Firework' (Globe Amaranth) is a fabulous annual plant that will create fireworks in your garden from early summer to frost. This prolific bloomer produces masses of long-lasting, intense hot pink pom-poms tipped with gold atop long, sturdy, branchy stems. Low maintenance and fairly pest and disease-free, Globe Amaranth is an attractive architectural element in the landscape and looks amazing at home as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers and everlasting dried arrangements!

Perfect for the summer garden, Lobelia x speciosa 'Vedrariensis' (Cardinal Flower) is a vigorous, upright perennial featuring long spires of dark violet flowers atop dark green leaves flushed with purple from midsummer to early fall. The blossoms are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Adding vertical interest to the landscape, Cardinal Flowers are excellent border plants for damp or wet locations.

Award-winning Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun' is a biennial boasting unusually large daisy-like flowers, up to 5 in. wide (12 cm) - one of the largest blooms among Rudbeckia. The flowers are adorned with bright orange rays, delicately yellow-tipped, that surround a light green center disk. Blooming profusely from early summer to frost, they provide weeks of eye-catching color. The flowers are produced in such quantities that they almost cover the lovely foliage of bright green leaves. An outstanding cut flower, its seed heads have good winter interest unless they are used in dried arrangements.

Adding bold, stunning color to the garden, award-winning Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer' (Black-Eyed Susan) is a biennial boasting stunning, extra-large daisy-like flowers, up to 6-9 in. wide (15-22 cm) - one of the largest blooms among Rudbeckia. The semi-double and single flowers are adorned with bright, golden-yellow rays surrounding a dark chocolate center disk. Blooming profusely from early summer to frost, it provides weeks of eye-catching color. The flowers are produced in such quantities that they almost cover the lovely foliage of mahogany leaves. An outstanding cut flower, its seed heads have good winter interest unless they are used in dried arrangements.

Borago officinalis, commonly known as Borage, is one of the easiest and most beautiful annual plants in the garden. This easy-to-grow annual herb boasts striking sky-blue star-shaped flowers and hairy, cucumber-flavored leaves. It attracts pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden, and its flowers can be used as a garnish or infused to make tea. It is a great addition to the herb garden, vegetable garden, or mixed border.