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.

Fabulously fragrant, Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange Blossom) is a very handsome, rounded, evergreen, dense shrub with aromatic, glossy, medium green leaves composed of 3 leaflets. A profusion of fragrant, star-shaped, pure white flowers bloom from late spring to early summer and often intermittently throughout the summer and/or in the fall. Both flowers and leaves have the divine fragrance of orange blossoms.

A truly captivating Aeonium, award-winning 'Zwartkop' is an evergreen succulent with large rosettes, 6-8 in. across (15-20 cm), of glossy, fleshy, dark burgundy, pointed leaves. If grown in full sun, the foliage of this Aeonium turns almost black, adding incredible drama and interest to the garden or containers. In part shade, the rosettes are reddish purple with a green center. Attractive when not blooming, this Aeonium is particularly striking when it produces bright golden racemes of small, star-shaped flowers in spring.

Compact, Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum' or 'Nana' (Japanese Mock Orange) is a small, broadleaf evergreen shrub featuring attractive, leathery, dark-green leaves, glossy on the top and with lighter undersides. They are arranged alternately in a whorl around the stem and provide a dense foliage year-round. Clusters of delightfully fragrant, small pure white flowers appear in late spring at the branch tips. They contrast beautifully against the handsome background of dark green foliage and last for several weeks.

Award-winner Sedum 'Herbstfreude' or 'Autumn Joy' is probably one of the best of all border sedums. Vigorous, hardy, carefree, good-looking, with a season of interest lasting more than 6 months from early summer until well into winter, who could resist? Easy to grow, this standout perennial forms a 2 feet tall (60 cm) clump of thick, fleshy blue-green foliage topped with flower buds resembling broccoli. Gradually, these densely clustered buds will reveal tiny, star-like soft raspberry pink flowers in mid to late summer, which will softly change to rich rose and then coppery-rust in the fall as they die.

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.

Award-winning Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant' (Carpet Bugle) is an evergreen perennial prized for its large, glossy purplish-bronze leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm), which quickly form a dense mat of attractive rosettes. Rising from the center of the rosettes are whorls of tiny blue-violet flowers arranged on spikes, 12 in. tall (30 cm), which create a striking display when in full bloom, from mid to late spring.

One of the best and most colorful of all Blue Fescue varieties, Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' is a wonderful dwarf ornamental grass, mostly grown for its superb, evergreen, bright silver-blue foliage. Densely tufted, the foliage of finely-textured, blade-like needles forms a neat mound topped by upright flower plumes in summer. At first, the flowers are colored like the foliage before maturing to light tan. Stunning when massed as a ground cover, Blue Fescue adds a superb color accent to the landscape all year around. Drought tolerant, deer resistant, it requires low maintenance and low watering

Award-winner Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' is a sun-loving perennial that stands out with its bold, giant flowers whose rosy purple petals are held out flat rather than drooping like most coneflowers. An early bloomer, this compact coneflower provides a vibrant floral display in the garden from early to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost. Perfect for perennial borders, prairies, small gardens and containers.

Striking and eye-catching with its brilliant crimson leaves, Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron' (Japanese Blood Grass) is a very distinctive ornamental grass. It produces upright, bright green blades whose upper half turns cranberry-red in summer and deepens to burgundy until late fall before it goes dormant in winter. Narrow panicles of silvery-white spikelets appear occasionally in late summer, but the main charm of this grass is its brazen foliage. Valuable for its stunning appeal, this highly decorative grass is one of the most beautiful ornamental grasses for the garden, where it provides a lovely contrast with other plants.

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.

Compact, Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood) is a small, slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, fairly glossy leaves, up to 1 in. long (2 cm). Tough, hardy and easy to grow, this dwarf Boxwood provides color year-round, as well as form, texture and contrast to its companion plants.