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Echinacea

Echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower)

Flowers in early summer with large 3" blooms of plae pink that last for weeks. Black cones last well into autumn. Grows to 3' and makes a wonderful interplanting among native grasses. Like its cousins, flowers make great cuts, butterflies are attracted to the flowers and birds appreciate the seed when cones are left to dry. Zone 4
Echinacea paradoxa (yellow coneflower)

2-4' yellow flowering native of the Ozarks. Like its cousins, flowers make great cuts, butterflies are attracted to the flowers and birds appreciate the seed when cones are left to dry. Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)

Showy purple flowers in July and August on plants that grow to 2-3'. Like its cousins, flowers make great cuts, butterflies are attracted to the flowers and birds appreciate the seed when cones are left to dry. Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea 'Coconut Lime'

A double flowering white coneflower grows 24-30" tall. Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea 'Harvest Moon'

Lovely, midsummer peachy orange petals surround an orange central cone atop 30" tall stems. Lightly fragrant, 4" blooms. Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant'

Shorter than 'Kim's Knee High' at just 16" tall, this little coneflower also produces larger blooms up to 5" across of reddish-purple, and overlapping petals give the appearance of an almost double flower. Long-blooming. Zone 3

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

The 1998 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year! This cultivar is an improvement on the species with larger, rosy-purple flowers with petals that ray outward rather than backwards from the cone. Plants grow 2-3' tall with a spread of 12-16". Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea 'Pink Double Delight'

A double flowering pink coneflower with 3" blooms on plants that grow to a petite 18-24" height. Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea 'Pixie Meadowbright'

Masses of 3" blooms cover this true dwarf coneflower, which grows to a petite 18-20" high. Habit s very dense and thick. Zone 3

Echinacea purpurea 'Sparkler' (variegated coneflower)

Green foliage is frosted with white, and topped with 4" pink flowers in summer. Plants grow 18-24" high and wide. Zone 3
Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'

Single white flowers with large golden cones atop 2-3' tall stems. Zone 3
Echinacea 'Summer Sky'

The first bi-color coneflower with 5" blooms of yellow-gold that shade to red-orange as they arch towards the central cone. Plants grow to 3' tall. Zone 3

Echinacea 'Sundown'

Large, fragrant, fire-orange petals. Plants grow 2-3' tall with a spread of 16-20". Zone 3

Echinacea 'Sunrise'

Buttercream yellow, lightly fragrant blooms atop 24-30" stems all summer. Zone 3
Echinops
Echinops ritro (globe thistle)

Metallic blue, spiky globe-shaped flower heads grow atop tall stems with low, highly textured foliage below. A wonderful textural contrast plant. growing 24-36" tall and 16-20" across. Sometimes self-seeds and spreads. Zone 3
Epimedium

Epimedium versicolor x 'Sulphureum' (barrenwort

Wonderful shade groundcover with small, daffodil-likelight yellow and white flowers in clusters over heart-shaped foliage that opens flushed with red veined overlay, then matures to green. Fantastic little plants tolerate dry, clay soil and are extremely heat tolerant. One of the few xeriscape plants for shade. Plants grow 8-12" tall and wide. Zone 5
Equisetum
Equisetum hyemale (horsetail)

Hollow, segmented, tubular stems grow to 4' tall and grow in dry soils to wet, marginal pond conditions. An ancient native plant, limestone fossils are easy to find in local rock. Makes a great Japanese style garden subject, but spreads rampantly. Plant in contained areas, or in places where its spread won't overcome other plantings. Excellent greenery in cut flower arrangements. Zone 2
Eryngium
Eryngium yuccafolium (rattlesnake master)

Beautiful native growing to 4' tall with glaucus, yucca-like foliage topped with clusters of white, globe-shaped flowers in late summer through early fall. Wonderful ornamental qualities with excellent drought and heat tolerance. Zone 5
Euonymus

Euonymus fortunei 'Kewensis'

Tiny evergreen foliage on spreading, flat stems make wonderful miniature garden plants. Excellent delicate texture for planters, rock gardens or edging. Does equally well in sun and shade, and tolerates poor soils, drought and heat. Plants grow 8-12" tall and are a spreading groundcover. Zone 4
Euphatorium

Euphatorium coelestinum (hardy ageratum, mist flower) Now called Conoclinum

Clusters of deep blue, soft flowers in fall on 3' tall plants. A wonderful self-seeding filler perennial. Makes great cut flower arrangement filler and attracts butterflies. Full sun to light shade. Zone 5
Euphatorium purpureum 'Gateway' (Joe-pye-weed)

Excellent background plantings grow to 6' tall with deep green foliage with red veining and stems. Red flower clusters appear in late summer and early fall. Height can be controlled with an early summer cut back by half. Zone 4
Euphatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (Joe-pye-weed)

Joe-Pye Weed with beautiful, rich purple foliage, along with the flat purple flower clusters in fall. An excellent plant to grow, reaching 3-4' tall with a spread of 18-30". Self-seeds in good garden soil. Zone 3
Euphorbia

Euphorbia cyparissias

Very finely textured green foliage grows 8-12" high and spreads throughout other plants, cascading over walls. Branch ends open into yellow flower clutsers in summer. Very easy to grow plant with excellent texture and foliage color. Zone 4
Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'

Deep toned bronze-purple leaves form 18" mounds. Bracts at branch ends emerge purple in early spring and open to reveal bright yellow flowers. Very colorful foliage plant with excellent textural contrast. Fairly adaptable to difficult conditions, it looks its best in full sun. Zone 4
Euphorbia myrsinites (donkeytail spruge)

Succulent silver-blue foliage is thickly textured, drought and heat tolerant. Plants grow 12-20" around and 8-10" high. We have this planted in our green roof, where it's thriving.
Fallopia

Fallopia japonica 'Variegata'

Red stems are covered with large leaves of green and white. Stems resemble bamboo, and plants spread in good soil. Grows 3-5' tall and makes a wonderful foliage background to perennials and low shrubs. Adaptable to many soils. Also a great container perennial. Zone 4
Fallugia

 Fallugia paradoxa (Apache plume)

Wonderful southwest native grows 4-6' tall and wide and produces Anemone-like flowers of pale pink to white from late spring through summer. Dramatic feathery pink seed pods last through winter providing four season interest. Can be difficult to establish and must be planted in dry conditions in full sun. Zone 4
Ferns

Adiantum pedatum 'Miss Sharples' (golden maidenhair)

Delicate, fan-shaped yellow-green fronds contrast over black, wiry stems. Grows 12-15" tall. Zone 3
Athyrium felix-femina (lady fern)

Light green, lacy fronds grow 24-30" high. With good soil and moisture, this fern will tolerate some light morning sun. This is a native fern
Athyrium felix-femina 'Frizelliae' (tatting fern)

Tightly narrow fern fronds look like beads strung on arching wires. Unusual texture makes a great garden specimen or container plant. Grows 12-18" high. Zone 3 This is another native fern.
Athyrium niponicum 'Metallicum' (Japanese painted fern)

The most colorful fern, fronds are deep burgundy with a thick silver overlay, these highly ornamental foliage plants look great planted with anything, but try them underplanted with golden creeping Jennyin ground or container! Plants grow 12-18" tall. 2004 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year. Zone 3
Dryopteris erythrosora (autumn fern)

New foliage emerges coppery-pink, maturing to deep green fronds 18-24" long. Evergreen with protection. Zone 5
Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern)

Green fronds resemble ostrich plumes, growing 3-6' tall. Greenish-bronze fall color. Requires moist soil — this one is actually a nice marginal pond plant. This fern spreads and makes a wonderful mass planting at the back of a shady hosta garden. Zone 3
Osmunda regalis (royal fern)

Soft green fronds emerge pale pink, then age to deep green. Vase-like habit and pinnate leaves have wonderful texture, growing 3-4' tall. Try one in a beautiful pot. Zone 3
Polystichum polyblepharum (tassel fern)

Very glossy forest green evergreen fronds grow 24" tall. Zone 5
Fillipendula

Fillipendula rubra 'Venusta' (Martha Washington's plume)

Very large, showy pink flower plumes from summer through fall. Vigorous plants grow to over 4' tall with a spread of 3-4'. Zone 4
Gaillardia

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' (blanket flower)

Deep burgundy-red daisy-type flowers on drought tolerant perennials grow to 16" tall. Zone 5
Gaillardia 'Dazzler' (blanket flower)

Large bicolor blooms of deep red bordered with yellow on 18-20" plants in summer.
Gaillardia 'Goblin' (dwarf blanket flower)

Large bicolor blooms of deep red bordered with yellow on dwarf 12" plants in summer.
Gaillardia 'Summer's Kiss' (blanket flower)

Gorgeous pastel mix of colors in each petal, including yellow, gold, apricot and salmon. Blooms are 3-4" wide and continue for an extended period.
Brunnera

Galium odoratum (sweet woodruff)

Very wonderfully textured low-growing green groundcover with scented foliage used for flavoring wine. Five fingered leaf clusters top each 12" stem.
Gaura

Gaura lindheimeri (appleblossom grass)

Airy sprays of white aging to rose-pink bloom all summer on this 4' prairie native. A wonderful back of the border plant, or try some interplanted with native grasses and tall native coneflowers and rudbeckias. Zone 5
Gaura lindheimeri 'Crimson Butterflies'

Deep crimson purple foliage grows only 24" high, and is complimented by hot-pink blooms all summer. A great perennial for containers. Zone 5
Gaura lindheimeri 'Passionate Rainbow'

Deep pink flowers atop tricolor foliage on dwarf plants growing to 24". Blooms all summer! Wonderful heat and drought tolerance. Try one in a container planting. Zone 5
Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink'

Red stems and buds are contrasted with green foliage and bright pink flowers that open all summer on 18-24" plants. Zone 5
Gazania

Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold' (hardy gazania)

Compact mounds of deep green foliage is topped with bright golden yellow 3" blooms all summer. Plants grow 6-8" and make a wonderful companion to Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' and Achillea 'Moonshine' for a bright, sunny yellow perennial bed. Zone 4
Geranium

Geranium himalyense 'Plenum' (Birch's double geranium)

16-18" high plants are covered in double lavender-blue blooms. Fall foliage color is crimson. Zone 3
Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)

Five-petaled rose-purple blooms in spring on 2' tall plants. Thrives in full sun to part shade. This is a native plant. Zone 3
Geranium macrorhizum 'Variegatum' (variegated geranium)

Green leaves are splotched with creamy-yellow, and topped with bright magenta blooms late spring through summer. Fairly adaptable plants. Plants grow to 12". Zone 3
Geranium oxonianum 'Katherine Adele'

Deeply lobed foliage is splotched with dark burgundy, and late spring brings pink blooms that continue sporadically through summer. Plants grow 16-18" high. Zone 3
Geranium sanguineum 'Striatum'

Very low-growing lants reach only 6" in height and blooms open shell pink with crimson veining and are lightly ruffled around petal edges. Zone 3
Geranium 'Brookside' (geranium)

Improved 'Johnson's Blue' cultivar that is faster growing and longer blooming with the same clear blue flowers. 18-20" plants begin flowering in late spring and continue for an extended period, then rebloom in fall. Zone 3
Geranium 'Claridge Druce' (cranesbill)

2" wide rose-pink blooms float over fuzzy gray-green foliage late spring through mid summer. More drought tolerant than other perennial geraniums. Zone 3
Geranium 'Orion' (cranesbill)

Large purple-blue flowers with dark violet veining open for several months. Very heat tolerant cultivar also offers brilliant fall foliage color. Plants grow 18-24" high and wide. Zone 3
Geum

Geum coccineum 'Boresii' (rose of the rockery)

Bright orange flowers open in spring on 12" tall plants. Xeriscape plants won't tolerate overwatered locations, and thrive in heat! Zone 5
Geum triflorum (prairie smoke)

Nodding, dusty pink, spring flowers are followed by swirling, feathery seed heads. Grows 12-15" tall in full sun in dry conditions. A cool looking native prairie plant, we've even used them in containers. Zone 3
Glacium

Glacium flavum 'Extra' (yellow horned poppy)

Eye-catching and truly unique highly ruffled, silver foliage rosettes are excellent drought and heat tolerant foliage plants. Long branches of orange-yellow flowers emerge and are followed by 3-6" seed-producing horns. These plants grow in very little soil and very poor soil. One of our most favorite and unusual finds, you'll have trouble getting it anywhere else! Zone 4

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