Noted for its reliability and distinctive foliage color, Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum' is a slow-growing deciduous shrub with an elegant, broad, arching habit and nicely contorted branches. In spring, this Laceleaf Japanese Maple produces small reddish flowers which give way to seeds. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate foliage of ferny, lace-like leaves with very long, thin lobes, each further dissected into sub-lobes, is deep purple in spring and stands out beautifully in the landscape. In late summer, the leaves change to bronze-green before turning fiery orange-red in fall. Hardy, this Japanese Maple provides a great color contrast in the landscape and is suitable as a focal point or as the perfect foil for a mass of green in the landscape.

Regarded as one of the most ornamental of the flowering cherries, Prunus 'Kanzan' is a striking deciduous tree with several seasons of interest. In spring, it produces an amazing profusion of rich pink double flowers, 2.5 in. wide (6 cm), held in pendant clusters. They appear before the leaves unfold. Each blossom is packed with 20-30 petals. Since 'Kanzan' is sterile, they will not be followed by fruit. Reddish-copper as they emerge, the serrate, ovate leaves mature to dark green in summer, forming a dense canopy casting shade below. In fall, they turn various shades of orange and bronze before dropping. A graceful ornamental tree with an upright, vase-shaped habit, which can be planted in containers, along walks and streets, and also be used as a bonsai specimen.

Santolina or Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus), a favorite of Mediterranean gardens, is a beautiful evergreen shrub noted not only for its dense, fine, silvery gray-green foliage all year around but for its drought tolerance. Blooming occurs in summer with a display of small button-like bright yellow flowers, but Santolina is mostly grown for its foliage.

Noted for its attractive evergreen foliage, Ophiopogon japonicus is a desirable Mondo Grass forming dense tufts of arching, strap-shaped, grass-like, dark green leaves. Racemes of small, lilac flowers emerge amid the leaves in summer before giving way to blue berry-like fruits. Reminiscent of Liriope, this popular evergreen grass is tough, durable, very compact and perfect for adding texture to the garden. Native to China, Japan and Korea, it is a traditional groundcover used in Japanese gardens, which is also wonderful with which to create geometric layouts in contemporary gardens. Quite pleasing to the senses as it ripples in the wind, this evergreen perennial grass is perfect for shady areas.