A favorite of many gardeners - and deservedly so - Hydrangea macrophylla Endless Summer® The Original is an exceptional mophead cultivar for 2 reasons. Firstly, its unique ability to bloom on both old and new growth, giving it the ability to bloom consistently and provide gorgeous flowers all summer long as flower buds are produced not only in the fall but also in spring and summer. Secondly, it has an excellent winter hardiness, which makes flowering quite reliable, regardless of winter temperature. The flowers grow up to 8 in. wide (20 cm), pink in alkaline soils or blue in acidic soils.

Perfect for small gardens, Astilbe chinensis 'Visions' (Chinese Astilbe) is a compact, clump-forming perennial boasting sweetly fragrant, raspberry pink flowers held in dense pyramidal plumes. Blooming in midsummer, each plume consists of hundreds of densely packed tiny flowers opening in succession for a long-lasting floral display. The blossoms rise gracefully above an attractive mound of large, fern-like, clear green leaves. The foliage remains attractive all season long under satisfactory growing conditions. Blooming when other plants are beginning to wane, this dwarf Astilbe is relatively trouble-free, requires little maintenance, is heavy shade tolerant, and attracts butterflies but is deer and rabbit resistant. The perfect perennial for a shady border with dappled light.