Regarded as one of the best purple-leaved Japanese Maples, award-winning Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' is a large deciduous shrub or small rounded tree of great beauty in all seasons. In spring, it produces small purple flowers which give way to red fruits. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate spring foliage of five or seven pointed, lobed, wine-red to burgundy leaves, holds its color in summer and turns vibrant crimson-red in fall before shedding to the ground. As the leaves fall, they expose the blackish red bark, adding interest to the winter landscape.

Boasting the biggest flower heads, multiple award-winner Allium 'Globemaster' is a striking ornamental onion with huge inflorescences packed with dozens of small star-shaped violet flowers forming a 10-inch wide (25 cm) globe-shaped cluster! Blooming in late spring to early summer, this spectacular bulbous perennial enjoys long-lasting blooms, and its seed heads are ornamental, persisting for weeks after the flower has passed.

Bred for cut flower production, Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Nora Barlow' is particularly beautiful with its fully double, upward facing, spurless, pink blooms with white tips, 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.

Iris sibirica 'Butter and Sugar' (Siberian Iris) is a top choice in terms of Siberian Irises with its white standards and unique, bright yellow falls, enlivening the landscape from late spring to early summer. Each flower stalk produces many dainty blossoms. After blooming, the grass-like foliage, consisting of sturdy clumps of upright green, narrow and fairly rigid, blade-shaped leaves, is also one of its most attractive garden features.

Noted for its reliability and distinctive foliage color, Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum' is a slow-growing deciduous shrub with an elegant, broad, arching habit and nicely contorted branches. In spring, this Laceleaf Japanese Maple produces small reddish flowers which give way to seeds. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate foliage of ferny, lace-like leaves with very long, thin lobes, each further dissected into sub-lobes, is deep purple in spring and stands out beautifully in the landscape. In late summer, the leaves change to bronze-green before turning fiery orange-red in fall. Hardy, this Japanese Maple provides a great color contrast in the landscape and is suitable as a focal point or as the perfect foil for a mass of green in the landscape.

Incredibly showy, Euphorbia polychroma is a mounding perennial considered one of the best for borders. Growing in an attractive dome, it bears dense, flattened golden-yellow flowers in spring, and is one of the few perennials to display a showy fall foliage. Although the flowers are not showy, they are subtended by long-lasting, bright sulfur-yellow bracts which are exceptionally eye-catching. The foliage of medium green leaves turns to a showy red, purple or orange in fall, providing a long season of interest.

For absolute perfection, this exquisite lily-flowered tulip, introduced in 1980, is top of the charts. It is truly the sum of its parts: flower shape (lily-pointed petals in a slim, elegant flower); color (luminous tangerine orange); and height (long willowy stems). As an added bonus, Ballerina is delightfully fragrant! Blooming in the late spring garden, this lovely provides an elegant and graceful display when swaying in the spring breeze. Grows up to 24 inches tall (60 cm)

Sweetly-scented, award-winning Tulip 'Prinses Irene' features large, bowl-shaped, bright orange blossoms with a delightful central purple flame in mid-late spring. Robust, this attractive Triumph Tulip is worth growing for its unique coloring and looks fabulous when combined with deep blues. Robust, it enjoys a sturdy stem that will withstand wind and rain. Grows up to 12-14 inches tall (30-35 cm).

Noted for its reliability and distinctive foliage color, Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum' is a slow-growing deciduous shrub with an elegant, broad, arching habit and nicely contorted branches. In spring, this Laceleaf Japanese Maple produces small reddish flowers which give way to seeds. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate foliage of ferny, lace-like leaves with very long, thin lobes, each further dissected into sub-lobes, is deep purple in spring and stands out beautifully in the landscape. In late summer, the leaves change to bronze-green before turning fiery orange-red in fall. Hardy, this Japanese Maple provides a great color contrast in the landscape and is suitable as a focal point or as the perfect foil for a mass of green in the landscape.

Noted for its showy coral bark and fall color, award-winning Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' (Coral-Bark Maple) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree that is highly desirable. In the fall, the delicate 5-lobed leaves which open pinkish-yellow, and mature to light green in summer, turn soft yellow in fall before they shed to the ground. As they fall, they expose the bright, coral-red bark on young twigs and branches, adding a much-needed splash of color to the winter landscape. Slow-growing, this maple tree features an upright, vase-shaped habit and makes an outstanding four-season tree that is enjoyed by all gardeners as it graces the landscape.

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

Adding a burst of color to your spring, Fritillaria meleagris (Checkered Lily) features 1 or 2 nodding flowers per stem, generally presenting an interesting checkerboard pattern of dark purples and whites - although all-white varieties are also available. Blooming in mid to late spring, this hardy bulbous plant grows up to 14-16 in. tall (35-40 cm). Great for borders, rock gardens, under trees and shrubs and perennial beds. Perfect for naturalizing in a moist woodland edge. Hardiness Zones: 4-8

A robust native of Corsica and Sardinia, award-winning Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore) is an evergreen perennial with large open clusters of bowl-shaped, nodding, pale green flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm). Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to early summer, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems clad with large blue-green leaves divided into three sharply toothed leaflets. Showy and long-lasting, ideal to brighten the shade garden, this Hellebore is more sun tolerant than others.

Hellebore Winter Jewels 'Onyx Odyssey' (Helleborus) features very large, 3 in. wide (7 cm), fully double, cup-shaped blossoms, packed with 15-20 petals in shades ranging from slate to rich purple to black. The flowers keep most of their intense coloration and do not fade over time. Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to early spring, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems above the leathery, glossy, evergreen foliage, which emerge purple before turning into an attractive green shade. This perennial will self-seed in satisfactory growing conditions.

Mostly grown for its attractive foliage, Liriope muscari (Blue Lily Turf) is an evergreen tuberous perennial forming a dense clump of narrow, arching, dark green leaves. Blooming for weeks in late summer and fall, erect spikes of thickly clustered, small violet-purple flowers, 6-8 in. tall (15-20 cm), appear on 5-12 in. stems (12-30 cm). They resemble grape hyacinth (Muscari), hence the Latin name. The blooms give way to round, shiny, black berries which often persist into winter. Hardy and compact, Lily Turf is a popular, alluring plant, particularly handsome when grown in large swaths or undulating rivers. Liriope muscari can be used as a lawn grass substitute too.

Noted for its outstanding color and vigor, award-winning Acer palmatum 'Garnet' is a medium-sized deciduous shrub with large, deeply cut, dissected leaves of great beauty. In spring, it produces small purple flowers which give way to red fruits. While attractive close up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate spring foliage of seven lobed leaves emerges red-orange, just like the gemstone garnet, and holds its color into summer before turning red in fall. Vigorous, this upright maple tree features a pendulous, spreading habit and forms a wonderful, cascading, mound-shaped shrub that stands out in the landscape.

Carex comans Bronze-Leaved is a delightful New Zealand Hairy Sedge forming a low, cascading mound of narrowly linear, reddish-brown leaves, with inconspicuous brown flower spikes in late summer. Evergreen, this perennial grass is valuable for its year-round appeal and is regarded as one of the most beautiful ornamental grasses for the garden, where it provides a lovely contrast with other plants, mulch, or gravel.

Geranium 'Rozanne' is an exceptional, unique, and unsurpassed geranium selection. There are not enough superlatives to describe this fabulous perennial. Robust and vigorous, with one of the longest flowering periods of all hardy geraniums and rare blue-colored flowers of great decorative beauty, it is an ideal element of the garden, patio, or balcony. A prolific bloomer, it continuously produces masses of large violet-blue flowers with attractive purple-violet veins and small white centers for months of color from late spring to the first frost.

Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea (Purple Moor Grass) is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass. Tall, with an open growth habit, it exhibits arching thread-like leaves topped in summer with a haze of delicate flower spikes, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze. Emerging green then fading to purplish-brown to finally mature to golden shades, they provide a long season of interest extending into the fall. Wet soil tolerant, it requires very little care, is deer resistant, and provides weeks of interest from summer to fall

One of the best vertical varieties of switch grasses, Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' is a deciduous, perennial grass of architectural distinction. It forms a dense, strongly upright, narrow clump of olive-green to blue-green foliage, which gets topped in late summer with a profusion of finely-textured, golden flower spikelets which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. Both flowers and foliage turn beige in fall and usually remain attractive in the garden all winter long.

Award-winning Acer palmatum 'Katsura' is a lovely deciduous shrub with a striking foliage, season after season. Emerging golden-orange with pink edges in early spring, the delicate foliage of small 5 to 7 lobed leaves matures to bright green in summer before turning brilliant shades of orange and yellow in fall. ‘Katsura' is a dense, compact Japanese Maple with a graceful vase-shaped habit that stands out boldly in the landscape. It is perfect for small gardens or containers.

Noted for its superb elegance, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very pretty deciduous fern forming a large rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds. The fronds are soft blue-green with a silvery overlay accented by contrasting dark burgundy midribs. Slowly spreading, this Fern is easy to grow and one of the most rewarding ferns. Low maintenance, pest and disease free. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Prized for its tolerance to sun, cold, and humidity, Rhododendron 'English Roseum' is a dense and showy evergreen shrub. From late spring to early summer, 'English Roseum' graces the garden with its profuse, large, dome-shaped clusters of 8 to 10, trumpet-shaped, lilac rose flowers with delicate orange freckles. They contrast beautifully with the foliage of large, smooth, glossy, medium green leaves. A very reliable performer, this pretty late midseason Rhododendron is quite tough and can withstand temperatures as low as -25ºF (-32ºC). This large ornamental shrub is perfect for background plantings or filling areas beneath deciduous trees where it will add elegance and brilliant color. 

Regarded as one of the best purple-leaved Japanese Maples, award-winning Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' is a large deciduous shrub or small rounded tree of great beauty in all seasons. In spring, it produces small purple flowers which give way to red fruits. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate spring foliage of five or seven pointed, lobed, wine-red to burgundy leaves, holds its color in summer and turns vibrant crimson-red in fall before shedding to the ground. As the leaves fall, they expose the blackish red bark, adding interest to the winter landscape.

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.

One of the best blue hosta cultivars, 'Halcyon' (Plantain Lily) is a great addition to shady areas where it forms an attractive, dense mound of smooth, flat, spear-shaped, thick-textured, intense blue leaves. Bell-shaped, pale lilac blooms appear in late summer, rising on mauve-gray scapes 26 in. long (65 cm) but the primary contribution of this hosta is its lovely foliage. This cultivar retains its extraordinary blue leaf color well into late summer if provided with good light to dappled shade. A slower-growing hosta (which takes several years to develop its mature shape) whose dense foliage crowds out most garden weeds.

Prized for its gorgeous flowers and extreme cold hardiness, Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla' is a vigorous small evergreen shrub that produces large rounded trusses of brilliant red flowers. Blooming in mid to late spring, each trumpet-shaped flower is delicately splashed with deep maroon blotches on its upper lobes. Flowering is so prodigious that they smother this midseason rhododendron in an exceptional floral display. The evergreen foliage of elliptic, glossy, thick, and dark green leaves does not develop any appreciable fall color. Raised and introduced by Koster & Sons, 'Nova Zembla' features stout trunks with thick stems, their bark becoming scaly and very attractive over time. This Catawba hybrid is regarded as one of the most popular red rhododendrons for severe climates. It is also tolerant of heat and sun.