Among the first Asters to bloom, Aster amellus 'Queen Violet' or 'Veilchenkönigin' (Italian Aster) enjoys a long flowering season, bearing masses of star-shaped, vibrant deep violet blossoms, up to 2 in. wide (5 cm). Held on erect stems, each flower has a thick layer of slender petals surrounding a golden yellow center. Blooming generously for weeks, from late summer to mid-fall, this fall Aster doesn't need staking and is not sensitive to mildew. Native to Europe, it is easy to grow, long-lived, and is a wonderful addition to the late summer garden. Compact and fast-growing, up to 18 in. tall and wide (45 cm). Drought tolerant, it attracts birds or butterflies.

Quite compact, Dwarf Chinese Silver Grass 'Yakushima Dwarf' enjoys a small size that makes it extremely useful in the landscape. Its fine-textured foliage, which consists of arching, silvery-green leaves borne on short, upright stems, creates an exquisite fountain shape that stands out beautifully and sways gracefully in the slightest breeze. Blooming in late summer to fall, 'Yakushima Dwarf' displays long-lasting, pinky-brown plumes, which change to silvery white as they mature and provide good winter interest. Rarely flopping, it is easily grown in a dense, upright 3 ft. tall (90 cm), rounded fountain-like clump. Drought tolerant, it is attractive to birds but deer ignore it!

Kniphofia rooperi is one of the most distinctive kniphofias with its large, egg-shaped, bright red flowers fading to yellow, held over a broad and high foliage. This tall, late-flowering perennial from South Africa is really one of the highlights of the late summer to early fall border. Changing color as the flower matures, this robust, evergreen perennial displays the deepest shades in buds and fades as the flower opens, resulting in a bicolor look. Virtually disease free, this favorite of hummingbirds is also drought, deer, and rabbit resistant.

Providing a charming display that is a feast for the eyes, award-winning Rosa 'Sally Holmes' is a vigorous, climbing rose with generous clusters of fragrant, single (4-8 petals), creamy white flowers, and pink-peach buds. The large blossoms, 3.5 in. across (9 cm), open their ruffled petals to reveal their golden stamens. They stand out against the healthy foliage of glossy, dark green leaves. Free-flowering and almost continuously in bloom from early summer to fall, 'Sally Holmes' is well-branched and almost thornless. Very versatile, it may be grown as a climber or a bushy shrub. Excellent cut flowers. Very disease resistant.

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.

Blooming later than most Aconitum species, award-winning Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii'(Monkshood) is an erect, tuberous perennial with dense spires of rich azure-blue flowers in early to mid-fall. Its hooded flowers resemble the hood worn by medieval monks, hence the common name of monkshood. They are borne atop thick, rigid stems clad with handsome foliage of deeply divided, leathery, dark green leaves. This fall-flowering makes outstanding cut flowers and is perfect for wet soils.

You will be charmed by the bountiful long-blooming spikes of vivid red flowers of Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail'. A real beauty for the border, this award-winner is a vigorous, upright perennial which enjoys an extremely long bloom season from early summer to fall and features cheerful bright crimson-red fleecy flower spikes held on long, graceful wands atop bushy clumps of large, slightly puckered, dark green leaves. Trouble-free and easy care, it attracts birds and butterflies but deer and rabbits ignore it!