Native to Australia, Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw) are tufted evergreen rhizomatous perennials with vibrant flower colors atop fans of narrowly strap-shaped leaves. Borne on leafless flowering stalks, the remarkable flowers are clustered at the ends of the stalks. Tubular, they are covered with velvety hairs and have pointed lobes, which are curved at their tips, giving them the appearance of kangaroo paws, hence the common name.

Bushy, well-branched, with one of the longest blooming seasons, Red Valerian (Centranthus Ruber) is a popular perennial grown for its ornamental and showy star-shaped flowers. Fragrant, this border beauty is also easy to grow, fairly pest and disease free and attracts butterflies. What else to ask for? A prolific bloomer from early summer to fall, it produces abundant, rounded clusters of crimson ('Coccineus'), pink ('Roseus') or white flowers ('Albus'), rising atop a blue-green, lance-shaped foliage.

Native to Eastern and Southern Africa, Dietes iridioides (Fortnight Lily) is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial with attractive flowers resembling small Japanese Irises. They appear on branched stalks over an incredibly long season, extending from spring to fall and sometimes well into winter in mild climates. Flowering occurs in bloom bursts that seem to occur at 2-week intervals, hence the common name of Fortnight Lily. The flowers last one day but are quickly replaced by new ones as each stalk carries an endless supply of buds. They rise above fan-shaped clumps of narrow, sword-shaped, stiff, evergreen leaves.

Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican Daisy) is a graceful, trailing, woody-based perennial noted for its endless production of small daisies almost year-round. Opening white, the delicate flowers turn soft pink, fade to purple and attract butterflies and bees. Hugging the ground, this charming groundcover forms a low mound of narrow, hairy, gray-green leaves. Its beautiful cascading habit makes it ideal for raised beds, walls, hanging baskets or containers.

Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail) is a semi-evergreen, erect shrub prized for its dazzling orange flowers, reminiscent of Lion's tails. Blooming from late spring through fall, the tubular two-lipped fuzzy flowers, 2 in. long (5 cm), of this South African native, appear in tiered whorls around the top half of the long upright stems. The foliage of lance-shaped, dark green leaves, to 6 in. long (15 cm), is aromatic when bruised. Lion’s Tail is perennial in areas with mild climates and works well as an annual in regions with cold winter temperatures. It can survive temperatures as low as 20ºF (-6ºC) and will often resprout with new growth from hardened wood if it freezes back in the winter.

Native to the Canary Islands, Limonium perezii (Sea Lavender) is a tough evergreen perennial or rounded subshrub sporting large clusters, 8 in. wide (20 cm), of tiny flowers with intense purple calyces and white corollas. They are borne on stiff branching stems, well above the foliage of long-stalked, oval to diamond-shaped, deep green leaves. Sea Lavender blooms intermittently for months and nearly year-round in frost-free coastal climates. Their dry, papery petals retain their color well, making them an excellent choice for dried arrangements. Ideal for seaside gardens or decorative containers.

A colorful southern Oregon, California and Baja California native, award-winning Mimulus aurantiacus (Bush Monkey Flower) is a bushy evergreen shrub with narrow, lanceolate, dark-green leaves typically 2-3 in. long (5-7 cm) on very sticky stems, and flowering stems that grow vertically. Trumpet-shaped, the exuberant flowers, 1.2 in long (3 cm), are tubular at the base with five broad lobes. They bloom profusely over a long season extending from spring through summer. They occur in a variety of shades and are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds. An ideal garden companion adding a touch of exoticism and a Mediterranean feel.

Vigorous and showy, Oenothera speciosa (Evening Primrose) is a sprawling perennial featuring masses of fragrant, bowl-shaped, satiny white flowers, with the delicate texture of crumpled silk. Large, 2-3 in. wide (5-7 cm), the pretty flowers age to rose-pink with deeper pink veining. They rise on erect to sprawling stems atop rosettes of oblong to lance-shaped, toothed, medium green leaves. Blooming profusely from late spring to early fall, the flowers open in the evening and remain open until late morning. They are followed by oval seed capsules bearing 4 papery wings, ready to be blown out by the wind. A valuable plant for its ability to grow in poor soils and tolerate drought.

Native to South Africa, Pelargonium peltatum (Ivy Geranium) is a trailing, evergreen perennial with fleshy, glossy, bright green leaves, 2-3 in. across (5-7 cm). Adorned with pointed lobes, they resemble those of Ivy (Hedera), hence the common name. Rounded clusters of single or double flowers in shades of red, pink, lavender, or white appear from spring through fall. This plant does particularly well in environments with cool nights and bright days. Providing a summer of lush flowering, Ivy Geranium is a great addition to hanging baskets, window boxes, and raised beds where it will cascade gracefully down, creating a waterfall effect.

Vigorous and bushy, Romneya coulteri (Californian Tree Poppy) is a spectacular shrub-like perennial that gets covered with apricot scented, large flowers, measuring up to 9 in. across (22 cm). Each flower features 5-6 crepe paper, crinkled, pure white petals surrounding a glowing ball of golden stamens. They are borne on thick stems adorned with deeply cut, attractive gray-green leaves. This beautiful California native typically blooms from late spring to early summer, or to late summer if watered, and dies back nearly to the ground by fall.

Santolina or Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus), a favorite of Mediterranean gardens, is a beautiful evergreen shrub noted not only for its dense, fine, silvery gray-green foliage all year around but for its drought tolerance. Blooming occurs in summer with a display of small button-like bright yellow flowers, but Santolina is mostly grown for its foliage.

Screaming out for attention with its unique flowers, award-winning Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise) brings a sensational tropical accent to the garden or in a sunny interior room. This evergreen perennial forms a clump of large, broadly oval, long-stalked, gray-green leaves. Emerging from a horizontal green and pink beak-like spathe, brilliant orange and vivid blue flowers bloom in succession, resembling the crest on a bird's head. Depending on latitude and climate, they appear anytime from late fall to late spring. Highly prized and widely cultivated worldwide as an ornamental. Flowers are a staple for florists in creating exotic bouquets, not only for their looks but also because they are long-lasting. 

Attractive and durable, Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea' (Purple Heart) is a popular trailing evergreen perennial noted for its remarkable foliage of narrow, pointed, purple leaves, 2-5 in. long (5-12 cm). Arranged alternately along thick, but fragile, purple stems, the leaves are deep royal purple above, and bright violet underneath. Blooming constantly during warm weather, small clusters of bright pink, 3-petalled, pale orchid-pink flowers emerge at the stem tips. Tradescantia pallida is a tender perennial which makes a beautiful groundcover. Evergreen in frost-free areas.

Named after Achilles, hero of the Trojan Wars in Greek mythology, who used yarrow to heal the wounds of his soldiers, Achillea is valued for its pleasantly fragrant, feathery foliage and its long-lasting, conspicuous, flat umbel flowers. Vital ingredient of herbaceous borders, cottage gardens, meadows or prairies, Achillea typically blooms for weeks from late spring to late summer, in a wide range of colors. Easy care, drought, deer and rabbit resistant, Achillea is rich in many qualities!

Agapanthus are such flamboyant and exotic-looking perennials that it is impossible not to love them! Easy to grow, pest and disease free, they feature showy, rounded clusters of brightly colored flowers on stiff, upright stalks atop clumps of beautiful, long, shiny leaves.

Coreopsis, commonly known as "Tickseed", are prized by many gardeners for the bright colors of their flowers and their ability to put up with most garden soils. There are over 100 species available and countless hybrids, including both annuals and perennials. Most of them are low maintenance, drought tolerant and enjoy a long blooming season, generally from early summer to fall, or even longer if deadheaded. Native American Coreopsis are not only workhorses in sunny borders, they also make excellent cut flowers.

Drought tolerant and delightfully colorful, Blanket Flowers (Gaillardia) are short-lived perennials renowned for their profuse, long-lasting, colorful mounds of bright, single or double daisy-like flowers atop an attractive gray-green foliage from early summer to fall. Named after the native Indian blankets, whose color pattern they resemble, their 2-3 inch wide flowers (5-7 cm) are a real magnet to hummingbirds and butterflies!

Native to Texas and Louisiana, Lindheimer's Beeblossom (Gaura lindheimeri) is a remarkably pretty perennial plant with tall, airy-looking flowers giving the appearance of butterflies floating in the garden. It adds a unique texture in the garden with its 4-petaled, pink tinged or white, 1 in. long (2.5cm), butterfly-like flowers borne at the top of the airy spikes. Enjoys a long blooming season, typically from early summer into fall. Forms a lovely vase-shaped clump of erect or arching, densely clustered wand-like stems. Tolerates drought, heat, humidity, partial shade and dry soils. Deer and rabbit resistant, Gaura attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Gazanias, also known as Treasure Flower or African Daisy, are vibrant tender perennials, often grown as annuals, originating from South Africa. Their daisy-like flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm), exhibit stunning colors and bloom over a long season. These easy-to-grow plants can tolerate drought, heat, and coastal conditions and thrive in most soils. With their dazzling colors, Gazanias are a perfect addition to sun-soaked areas with dry soil, providing dramatic beauty where other plants may struggle.

Often called the 'perfect perennial' because of its numerous qualities: showy flowers, wide array of vibrant colors, drought tolerance, heat stress immunity, ability to grow in most hardiness zones and low care requirements, Daylily (Hemerocallis) is a remarkable and stunning addition to the garden! Each flower typically lasts no more than 24 hours, opening up in the morning and withering during the forthcoming night, possibly replaced by another one on the same flower stalk the next day.

Often associated with the famous purple fields of Provence, Lavandula angustifolia, also called English Lavender, is not native to England but to the Mediterranean. Ideal for garden borders, cooking, and potpourri, this lavender also produces the best oils. Delightfully fragrant when brushed against or crushed, this lavender is celebrated for the wispy inflorescences that adorn the tip of each upright stem from late spring to late summer, creating lovely drifts of "cool" colors that sway in the summer breeze.

Lavandula stoechas also called French Lavender, Spanish Lavender or Butterfly Lavender is recognizable by the conspicuous sterile bracts, on top of the short dense inflorescence, resembling extravagant ears. Among the earliest Lavenders to bloom, French Lavender enjoys a fairly long blooming season from mid spring to late summer. Flowering typically occurs as early as May (in areas with mild summers and winters) with another flush of blooms in June followed by another flush of color in late summer or fall.