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.

Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinglow' is an outstanding short-stemmed variety of Coneflower with big, heavily petaled, brilliant magenta flowers surrounding dark brown central cones. Standing out, this sun-loving perennial is considered as first choice by many gardeners. An early bloomer, this great-looking perennial has a compact habit and shines in the garden from early to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost. Perfect for perennial borders, prairies and cottage gardens.

Extremely showy, Veronicastrum virginicum' displays eye-catching spikes of densely-clustered, tiny, pure white flowers with pink-flushed bases and pink anthers, from midsummer to early fall. With a candelabra look, these attractive inflorescences are nicely complemented by lanceolate, dark-green leaves that are arranged in whorls around the stem. Providing interesting vertical height in the garden, this plant is deer resistant, attracts scores of butterflies, and is highly prized for its cut flowers

Appreciated for their stature, ease of cultivation, and attractive flowers, Eupatorium maculatum, commonly known as Joe-Pye Weed, are strong growing perennials that provide a wonderful garden presence. Native to North America, they are noted for their erect, purple-stained stems (therefore "maculata") that are branched with flat-topped, 4-5 in. (10-12 cm) clusters of eye-catching rose-purple to mauve flowers. Often fragrant, their blossoms are attractive to bees and butterflies in search of nectar.

Extraordinarily popular, Award-winner Sedum 'Brilliant' is one of the most durable and trouble-free of all border sedums. This upright variety sports flat clusters, 3-4 in. wide (7-10 cm), of brilliant, light pink flowers with long stamens that extend beyond the end of the petals. They color up in early fall to rust red. The foliage is smooth, light green, more glaucous underneath, and looks great all season long. Easy to grow, this standout perennial forms an 18-24 in. tall and wide (45-60 cm) clump of thick, fleshy foliage topped with flower buds resembling broccoli. Gradually, these densely clustered buds will reveal tiny, star-like soft pink flowers in mid to late summer, which will softly change to rusty red and then coppery-rust in the fall as they die. Recipient of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993

Geranium 'Rozanne' is an exceptional, unique, and unsurpassed geranium selection. There are not enough superlatives to describe this fabulous perennial. Robust and vigorous, with one of the longest flowering periods of all hardy geraniums and rare blue-colored flowers of great decorative beauty, it is an ideal element of the garden, patio, or balcony. A prolific bloomer, it continuously produces masses of large violet-blue flowers with attractive purple-violet veins and small white centers for months of color from late spring to the first frost.

A favorite of many gardeners - and deservedly so - Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Smooth Hydrangea) is an outstanding flowering shrub. In early summer, this small, bushy deciduous shrub produces huge, rounded flower clusters, up to 12 in. across (30 cm), that brighten shady areas and bring life to the garden. Blooming for up to two months, the blossoms open lime-green, mature to brilliant white, then back to pale green in late summer before switching to a tan shade in the fall. Prized for its excellent resistance to insects and diseases, Annabelle is a good choice for the mixed border. The flowers make great cut flowers, fresh or dried.

Winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, Verbena bonariensis is a tall and slender-stemmed perennial that displays rich lilac flowers in tight clusters atop long stems that sway gracefully in the summer breeze. They rise well above rosettes of lance-shaped, dark green leaves that hug the ground. A superior nectar plant, hummingbirds and butterflies love it, and so will you!

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.