A favorite of many gardeners, multiple award-winner Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' is a striking ornamental onion with perfectly round flowerheads, 3 in. wide (8 cm), packed with dozens of small, star-shaped, rich violet-lilac flowers. They are borne atop sturdy stalks, which arise from a group of 6 to 8 handsome, blue-green leaves. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this spectacular Allium enjoys long-lasting blooms and makes outstanding cut flowers that will last for 2 weeks.

Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina) is a wonderful evergreen perennial, mostly grown for its rich rosettes of showy, velvety, silvery tongue-shaped leaves, resembling lamb's ears and bringing interest to the border. Pink-purple flower spikes appear in late spring or early summer. Their fuzzy flowers add textural interest, but cutting them off promotes foliage growth and improves the plant's vigor.

A giant in the world of the Fescues, Festuca mairei (Atlas Fescue) is a long-lived evergreen clumping grass which forms fountain-like mounds up to 24-36 in. tall and wide (60-90 cm) with a rich khaki green foliage. Native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, hence its common name, this handsome ornamental grass is mostly grown for its tidy foliage, which brings interest to the landscape all year around in warm winter areas. Its tiny flowers are inconspicuous. Aside from its foliage interest, it is drought tolerant once established (although regular waterings would be appreciated), virtually trouble-free and requires low maintenance. This plant doesn't need to be cut back.