One of the most superb ornamental grasses, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Hakone Grass) is a very beautiful golden variegated grass. Its foliage forms attractive mounds of gracefully arching, shiny leaves that ripple in the slightest breeze. The leaves are almost entirely variegated with gold longitudinal stripes that take chartreuse colors in the shade and turn brighter in the sun. Bringing alive any garden area, its foliage provides outstanding fall color when it changes to exquisite copper-orange shades before dying to the ground in winter.

A favorite red selection, Hemerocallis 'Crimson Pirate' produces open, bright crimson-red, starry blossoms, 4 in. wide (10 cm), with paler midribs, a blood-red eye and a yellow throat atop a mound of arching leaves. Irresistible! Each flower lasts at least 16 hrs (extended blooms) but no more than 24 hours (thus the common name 'Daylily'), opening up in the morning and withering during the forthcoming night, possibly replaced by another one on the same scape (flower stalk) the next day. This midseason diploid Daylily is dormant (deciduous). Blooming in midsummer, this clump-forming perennial grows up to 30 in. tall (75 cm) and spreads slowly via rhizomes to 20 in. (50 cm).

Prolific and impressive, Lilium lancifolium or Lilium tigrinum (Tiger Lily) commands our attention with its bright and showy, orange-colored flowers covered with black or deep crimson spots, giving the appearance of the skin of the tiger, hence its common name. Native of China and Japan, Tiger Lily is robust and easy to grow. Amazingly decorative, it features unscented 5 inch blossoms (12 cm), mostly downward facing with gracefully recurved tepals. Mature bulbs can produce up to 40 blossoms (!!!) and will multiply to form clumps over the years.

A lovely, compact variegated hosta, 'June' (Plantain Lily) is a great addition to shady areas where it forms an attractive, dense mound of smooth, heart-shaped, blue-green leaves, irregularly splashed with bright yellow and greenish yellow in their centers. Bell-shaped lavender blooms appear in late summer, rising on scapes 18 in. long (45 cm) but the primary contribution of this hosta is its lovely foliage. An easy grower, this clump-forming perennial grows 15 in. tall (37 cm) and spreads 28 in. (70 cm).