Reliable and extremely showy, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon’s Favorite' (Aromatic Aster) is a compact perennial forming a mound of radiant color from late summer to fall with its profuse, violet-blue daisy-like flowers adorned with deep yellow centers. The blossoms are borne on stiff, well-branched, hairy stems clad with slender, blue-green leaves, 1 in. long (2.5 cm). The foliage is pleasantly aromatic, with a hint of mint, when crushed. Aromatic Aster is easy to grow, long-lived, brings cheerful fall color and is a great source of nectar for butterflies.

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.

One of the most popular ornamental grasses worldwide, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass) is a majestic ornamental grass, highly valued for its erect feathery flower plumes, moving gracefully with even the slightest breeze. Fast-growing, reliable, with a multi-season interest, this cool season grass is not only beautiful, but it is also virtually carefree and quite versatile. 'Karl Foerster' is a great-looking plant for the garden as it provides superb vertical lines.

Native to Texas and Louisiana, Lindheimer's Beeblossom (Gaura lindheimeri) is a remarkably pretty perennial plant with tall, airy-looking flowers giving the appearance of butterflies floating in the garden. It adds a unique texture in the garden with its 4-petaled, pink-tinged or white, 1 in. long (2.5cm), butterfly-like flowers borne at the top of the airy spikes. It enjoys a long blooming season, typically from early summer into fall, and forms a vase-shaped clump, about 2-4 ft. high (60-120 cm). Tolerates drought, heat, humidity, partial shade, and dry soils. Deer and rabbit resistant, Gaura attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Sparkling in the morning dew with its large arrow-like flower heads pointing towards the sky, Reed Grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) is a majestic and distinct ornamental grass, highly valued for its erect feathery silvery gray flower plumes, slightly red tinged, and turning to gold then light tan as the seeds ripen in the fall and winter. A great favorite of many gardeners who are looking for decorative grasses, this is a slowly-spreading perennial grass which provides beautiful vertical lines.

One of the tallest blazing stars, Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting fluffy spikes densely packed with deep rose-purple flowers. Stamens and styles protrude from the tufted flower heads, creating a fuzzy appearance. Flowering in succession from top to bottom over several weeks, the spectacular flower spikes contrast nicely with the finely textured, grassy foliage. Attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, this beautiful native American enjoys a long season of interest from mid to late summer and supplies winter bird food.

One of the most reliable trunking yuccas for cold climates, Yucca elata (Soaptree Yucca) is a very ornamental, slow-growing, evergreen tree-like yucca boasting a dense rosette of narrow, linear, blue-green leaves, up to 4 ft. long (120 cm). The sharp-pointed leaves display white margins and produce fine, silvery filaments. The rosette is mounted atop a tree trunk, which is covered with the straw-colored fibers of the old leaves, creating a shaggy skirt. In late spring to early summer, it is topped with a striking flowering stalk that rises well above the foliage, and bears large clusters of white flowers.

Good-looking, drought tolerant and fragrant, award-winner Artemisia 'Powis Castle' is a bushy sub-shrub, which is highly valued for its fernlike, silvery-white foliage, that easily blends with any flower bulbs and other perennial plants. Yellow flowers appear in late summer or early fall, but they are not spectacular and are best cut off to keep the foliage at its best.