Vigorous and eye-catching, Aubrieta deltoidea (Rock Cress) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial plant that produces delightful, vivid purple-red flowers in mid-late spring to early summer. The blossoms are so abundant that they almost completely cover the gray-green foliage below, creating a striking scenery. Low and trailing, Aubrieta excels as ground cover, planted between stepping stones, along pathways, or in the crevices of stone walls. Easy care, Aubrieta is perfectly suited as a rock garden plant where it will reward you with a long-lasting carpet of delicate flowers. Native to the Mediterranean region, Aubrieta is a very cold hardy alpine plant that deserves a spot in sunny gardens.

A fabulous little plant that should not be overlooked! Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis syn. Alyssum saxatile) is an enchanting low-growing, evergreen perennial that will charm your garden with its masses of shining, golden-yellow flowers on display for 4 to 6 weeks in spring and contrasting splendidly with its gray-green foliage. Particularly attractive in rock gardens or cascading over the edge of raised beds, this popular mat-forming plant will keep its good looks after flowering and turn into an attractive ground cover.

Native to Siberia, Bergenia cordifolia (Heartleaf Bergenia) is a clump-forming evergreen perennial noted for its incredible hardiness and vigor. Borne on thick red stems in early spring, erect clusters of deep-pink flowers rise above a rosette of leathery, shiny, heart-shaped leaves. Deep green in summer, the large leaves, 12 in. long (30 cm), turn purplish-bronze in winter, providing year-round interest. The attractive foliage is often used in floral arrangements. Low maintenance, Bergenia cordifolia is primarily grown as a ground cover and looks stunning in mass plantings.

Blooming profusely in late spring and early summer, Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-In-Summer) is a low-growing, short-lived perennial that forms a dense mat of silvery-gray foliage dotted with star-like, pristine white flowers with notched petals. Evergreen, it spreads quickly by reseeding itself and makes a great ground cover for sunny areas.

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.

A fabulous little plant that you should not be overlooked. Iberis sempervirens (Evergreen Candytuft) is an enchanting low, sprawling, woody-based perennial that will charm your garden in mid to late spring. Among the purest garden whites with its abundant clusters of 4-petaled white flowers, enhanced by delicate yellow dots on each petal, the blossoms stand out starkly against the foliage of narrow, dark green leaves.

Leucojum aestivum, although called 'Summer Snowflake', flowers in mid-spring and boasts 4-8 white, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped tepals, dangling from each long, fairly sturdy flower stem. As an added bonus, the flowers are softly chocolate-scented!

Multiple award-winner Muscari armeniacum is by far the most cultivated species of Muscari. Its tiny, bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers, each with a very delicate white border, form a compact cluster. The flowers remain beautiful for a long time in mid-late spring. A great bulb for naturalizing, that is deer resistant, perfect for containers and outstanding as a border plant.

Very popular and reliable, multi award-winning Narcissus 'Hawera' is a dwarf daffodil boasting 6-8 gracefully nodding, pale canary yellow flowers per stem, each mildly fragrant bloom adorned with starry, slightly reflexed petals. This dwarf daffodil produces up to 9 stems, giving the aspect of a cheerful bouquet in mid to late spring. Long-lived, it forms large, vigorous clumps when grown in acid soil. A great pick for containers.

Native to the Mediterranean region, Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) is a bulbous perennial bearing pretty racemes of star-shaped white flowers, green on the outside, in late spring to early summer. The flowers open only if enough sunlight is present. During dull weather, they close to display the green exteriors of their petals. Each stem bears up to 16-20 starry white flowers that are arranged in loose umbels. The foliage of linear leaves, adorned with a white mid-vein, fades as the flowers emerge. Star of Bethlehem is a vigorous naturalizer, often spreading rapidly by offsets. Best planted in areas where this plant will not disturb other plants.

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.

Tulip 'Lady Jane' is quite short but makes a striking impact with its lovely color combination: rosy red with white margins on the outside, and snow-white on the inside. The completely opened flower forms a star during the sunny hours. Wet, windy weather during its flowering period in mid-spring will have little effect on 'Lady Jane'!