Betula utilis var. jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch), prized for its brilliant and exceptionally white bark, is a lovely addition to the landscape. While young trees have a rich brown bark, it quickly changes to gleaming snow-white as the tree matures. Vigorous and fast-growing, this medium-sized deciduous tree has an open pyramidal habit with graceful and delicate branching. It bears alternately arranged, ovate, dark green leaves, which turn bright yellow in fall. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most popular birch trees. Exceptionally hardy, it performs best in cool northern climates and does poorly in the heat and humid areas.

Adding a bright splash to the flower border, Agapanthus orientalis 'Albus' (African Lily) is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with eye-catching, rounded clusters, up to 10 in. across (25 cm), packed with over 100 crisp white, trumpet-shaped flowers. They rise on stiff, upright stalks atop clumps of beautiful, arching, glossy green, strap-like leaves, 16-28 in. long (40-70 cm). The foliage remains attractive when the plant is not in bloom.

Noted for the straight, pure line of its fronds and its tropical appearance, Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern) is an evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of arching, strap-shaped, bright green fronds. Unusual for a fern, the fronds are undivided, giving the plant a substantial appearance. They remain lush and fresh-looking throughout the year. On mature fronds, the underside is handsomely marked with conspicuous brown stripes, the sori that contain the spores of the plant. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Particularly attractive and architecturally interesting, Polystichum setiferum (Soft Field Fern) is a tufted evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of soft, lance-shaped, willowy, mid-green fronds. Arching gracefully, the finely dissected fronds swirl around the center of the plant, creating a beautiful mounded plant. They remain lush and fresh-looking throughout the season. The stalks and most midribs are coated with attractive cinnamon-brown scales. Bringing attention to its unusual soft green foliage, Soft Field Fern almost asks to be touched! Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Noted for its unique and distinctive type of fronds, Blechnum spicant (Hard Fern) is a charming, tufted, evergreen fern with interesting foliage texture. While the evergreen sterile fronds spread horizontally from a basal tuft, to form a neat arching mound of finely cut foliage, the fertile fronds rise straight up above this mound before drying out and withering away in fall. Low maintenance, pest, and disease-free, Hard Fern is easy to grow in most cool, moist, shaded sites.

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass that exhibits silvery-green thread-like leaves in late spring, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening any landscape. All summer, it bears abundant feathery panicles, which are held a little above the foliage and can be used in dried arrangements. Native to the Americas, this perennial grass provides a fairly long-lasting display with its airy silky green leaves turning golden brown towards fall.

Compact, Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood) is a small, slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, fairly glossy leaves, up to 1 in. long (2 cm). Tough, hardy and easy to grow, this dwarf Boxwood provides color year-round, as well as form, texture and contrast to its companion plants.

Vigorous and fast-growing, Hosta 'Royal Standard' is a large Hosta with heart-shaped, satiny, slightly dimpled, bright green leaves, 9 in. long (22 cm). Opening from lavender-tinted buds in late summer to fall and rising high on scapes 42 in. long (105 cm), the funnel-shaped waxy white flowers are delightfully fragrant and far more abundant than those of its parent, Hosta plantaginea. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.