Bred for cut flower production, Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow' is particularly beautiful with its fully double, upward facing, spurless, dark plum-purple (almost black) blooms, resembling starry pompons, in late spring to early summer. Rising with natural grace above a ferny foliage of gray-green divided leaves, each plant produces 3 to 5 stems in the first year and 5 to 10 stems in the second year. Grows in a bushy, upright clump up to 28-30 in. high (70-75 cm) and spreads 16-20 in. (40-50 cm). This perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically to form large colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.

Tall and white, as suggested by its name, Allium 'Mont Blanc' is a splendid beauty with 4-inch wide (10 cm) umbels of pure-white flowers atop sturdy, upright stems. The foliage of basal, semi-erect strap-shaped grayish-green leaves is also quite ornamental. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this spectacular bulbous perennial enjoys long-lasting blooms and remains ornamental in the garden well into summer.

Verbascum 'Caribbean Crush' is a short-lived perennial with abundant, graceful spikes smothered with compact clusters of rosy-peach, yellow and mango ruffled flowers, each adorned with a fuzzy purple eye. Blooming over a long flowering period extending from late spring to late summer (if properly deadheaded), with a possible fall rebloom, the flower stalks rise elegantly from a handsome low-growing rosette of woolly, ovate, silvery-green leaves. It is ideal as a background plant in flower borders and cutting gardens where each plant will produce hundreds of flowers.

A beautiful and popular feature of the countryside, the Flanders Poppy, or Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), is an annual wildflower known for its stunning, vibrant red flowers. They stand atop long, hairy stems, accompanied by pinnately lobed, cut or toothed, and hairy leaves. These delicate flowers showcase four rounded, overlapping, papery petals, typically in brilliant scarlet-red shades but also in pink or white, often displaying a dark basal blotch. Blooming from late spring to early summer, the flowers are followed by ornamental seedpods, extending the season of interest for this captivating plant.

Elegant and eye-catching, Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing' (Cow Parsley) is a particularly decorative biennial or short-lived perennial. It boasts a rich chocolate-purple, finely cut, ferny foliage topped by abundant, lacy umbels of frothy white flowers with pink bracts. Adding a lovely airiness to the landscape, the flowers gracefully mingle with other plants, adding unmatched elegance. Blooming from late spring to early summer, 'Ravenswing' is easy to grow and requires very little care. It associates dramatically with most plants in the border and has become a favorite of many garden designers. If cut back to prevent self-seeding, a second flush of richly colored foliage will arise.