Robust and durable, Clematis 'Emilia Plater' is a vigorous deciduous vine with masses of pale lavender-blue, semi-nodding flowers, 4 in. across (10 cm), adorned with a darker central bar on each of their sepals. Broad and rounded, the sepals are attractively wavy along their edges and catch the light in the sun. Blooming abundantly from midsummer to fall, this charming vine enjoys a good resistance to clematis wilt and is ideally suited to growing over arbors, covering walls, or scrambling through shrubs or trees. Lovely when growing among yellow-leaved or yellow-flowered plants.

Extraordinary vigorous, Lilium 'Black Beauty' is also an outstanding garden lily. This Orienpet Lily features strongly recurved flowers of dark crimson, 3 in. across (7 cm), adorned with narrow white margins, elegantly protruding anthers, and a prominent green star center. Borne on sloping stems, the semi-pendant blooms are extremely profuse - between 50 and 150 flowers per stem (!) on well-established plants. Long-lasting, this fragrant oriental hybrid lily is a cross between Lilium henryi and Lilium speciosum.