Making a dramatic statement in the landscape, Pennisetum setaceum (Purple Fountain Grass) is a showy ornamental grass forming a mound of gracefully, arching, narrow leaves. In mid-summer to early fall, the foliage is topped with slender feathery pinkish flower plumes, up to 15 in. long (37 cm), drying to tan as they mature. Requiring very little care while providing color and movement in the garden or patio, Pennisetum setaceum is tolerant of high temperatures, humidity, wind, and drought, and is pest-free. A popular warm-season grass that is perfect for tropical effects in cold climates. Evergreen and ever-blooming if well watered in mild climates.

One of the longest living Penstemon hybrids, award-winning Penstemon 'Garnet' or 'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn' is a bushy semi-evergreen perennial with gracefully arching spikes, densely packed with garnet-red trumpet-shaped flowers revealing red-striped throats. Its smooth, narrow, dark green foliage is finer than most penstemons. The flowers give way to charming seedpods. On display from early summer through fall, this Penstemon grows vigorously to 24-36 in. tall (60-90 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm) and adds lovely vertical lines to the landscape. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Tall and robust, award-winner Chinese Silver Grass 'Kaskade' is a remarkable ornamental grass grown for its large, cascading, rose-pink flower plumes on display from mid-late summer on. They change to silvery white as they mature and provide good winter interest. They rise elegantly, well above the foliage of narrow, arching green leaves with prominent white midribs, which turn to rich copper-red and bronze shades in the fall before bleaching to pewter. Easily grows in a dense, upright 6-7 feet tall (180-210 cm), rounded fountain-like clump. Drought and salt tolerant, it is deer and rabbit resistant!

Verbena rigida f. lilacina 'Polaris' (Slender Vervain) is a compact, low-growing perennial with attractive, three-branched candelabras of small pale lilac flowers over a long blooming season. Shining from early summer through to the first frosts, the luminous blossoms rise above dense clumps of rigid, lanceolate, dark green leaves. A front-of-the-border performer, this delicate looking Verbena is however tough and easy-to-grow.

Attractive and long-lasting, award-winning Kniphofia 'Timothy' (Red Hot Pokers) is a clump-forming perennial with bronze stems bearing dense spikes of tubular, soft peachy salmon flowers from early summer to early fall. Changing color as the flower matures, this robust perennial displays the deepest shades in bud and fades as the flower opens, resulting in a bicolor look. Virtually disease free, this favorite of hummingbirds is also drought, deer, and rabbit tolerant.

Adding lovely vertical lines to the garden, Agastache rugosa (Korean Mint) is a short-lived, erect, herbaceous perennial boasting eye-catching purple flower spikes, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), from mid-summer to early fall. They are held above the aromatic foliage of stiff, toothed, light-green leaves. The long flowering season, showy flower spikes, licorice-scented foliage, low maintenance, and deer resistance of this Agastache explain its great popularity among gardeners. And it is not only pleasing to people. Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies love it too.

Long-lived and drought tolerant, award-winner Sedum 'Purple Emperor' is a lovely sight in the landscape with its masses of rosy-pink flowers, densely packed in large umbrella-shaped flower heads, and showing off atop bright reddish-purple stems clad with dark purple, fleshy leaves. Vigorous, hardy, carefree, good-looking, with a season of interest lasting more than 6 months from early summer until well into winter, this standout perennial grows up to 18-24 in. tall (45-60 cm) and is rabbit and deer resistant.

A glamorous beauty with its opulent, brilliant orange flowers superbly contrasting with the spectacular and massive, dark burgundy foliage, award-winning Canna 'Wyoming' immediately provides a cheerful touch of the tropics in the garden or patio. Blooming from mid-summer to fall, it has a medium size that makes it a perfect fit for container planting.

Noted for its dramatic foliage, award-winning Sambucus nigra Black Beauty® (Elderberry) is a large, upright, deciduous shrub or small tree adorned with a striking lacy foliage of deeply dissected, deep purple leaves from spring to fall. In early summer, a profusion of lemon-scented umbels packed with large, pinkish-purple flowers are on display. They contrast nicely with the dark leaves and give way to edible purple-black berries later in the season. Tough and adaptable, this is a stunning shrub for the back of mixed borders, hedges or screens.