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Using the color code key above, you can quickly scan and locate plants for your garden's light requirements. Simply choose plants in the correct category to design your garden.

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Oenothera

Oenothera macrocarpa (Missouri primrose)

Large, deep yellow flowers cover this sprawling native over glossy green leaves from late spring through frost. Highly heat and drought tolerant, this must-have plant grows in the poorest of soils with little or no attention from anyone. Grows only 8-10" tall. Zone 4

Oenothera macrocarpa subspecies incana 'Silver Blade'

Large, 2 inch yellow flowers adorn this low-growing native all summer and into fall.. Foliage is silvery-blue and grows 6-10" high. Very heat and drought tolerant, and adapts to horrible soil. Zone 4

Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose)

3" pink blooms cover this spreading native in spring and early summer. Plants grow 12-14" tall, and self seed throughout the garden. Foliage is small and finely textured. Zone 5

Oenothera speciosa 'Alba' (white evening primrose)

Large white flowers cover 18" spreading plants in late spring and early summer. A very pretty low-maintenance filler perennial that self-seeds that is often seen along roadsides flowering in the gravel! Zone 5

Orostachys

Orostachys iwarenge (dunce caps)

These succulent plants look like they've come from another planet! 3-4" rosettes sprout taller towers of foliage. Great xeriscape garden and green roof plant. Zone 5

Oxalis

Oxalis crassipes

Dark purple trifolate leaves grow 4-5" tall and are covered with showy pink blooms in spring. Wonderful planted with golden creeping Jenny for a striking color contrast. Zone 5

Pachysandra

Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese spurge)

Very beautiful and easy to grow evergreen groundcover forms dense, shiny carpet of interestingly cut leaves. Small white flowers on 8-12" spikes in early summer. Zone 4

Pachysandra terminalis 'Silver Edge' (variegated Japanese spurge)

Light green leaves are edged in silver-white. A very pretty variegated selection that will not tolerate sun! Grows 6-8" tall and spreads slowly. Zone 4

Paeonia

Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty'

Rose-pink guard petals surround bushy mounds of pale pink to yellow to ivory open in late spring. Plants grow 24-32" tall. Zone 3

Paeonia 'Duchess De Nemours'

Fragrant white globe-shaped blossoms have a yellow blush in the center and open in late spring. Plants grow 34" tall. Zone 3

Paeonia 'Kansas'

Scarlet-red fully double blooms open in late spring. Plants grow 34" tall. Zone 3

Paeonia 'Karl Rosenfeld'

Fucshia-red double blooms open in late spring through early summer. Plants grow 34" tall. Zone 3

Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Huge double apple-pink blooms open in early through mid summer. Plants grow 34" tall. Zone 3

Paeonia 'Shirley Temple'

Large double white blooms have a very slight pink blush. Very fragrant variety blooms late spring to early summer. Plants grow 34" tall. Zone 3

Paeonia suffruticosa 'Kinaku' (tree peony)

Woody stems do not die back to the ground like traditional peonies, and plants grow 4-5' tall over a number of years. Double blossoms with yellow petals edged in bright orange open in late spring, 2-3 weeks after regular peonies. Slow but worth the wait! Zone 4

Paeonia suffruticosa 'Kaoukamon' (tree peony)

Woody stems do not die back to the ground like traditional peonies, and plants grow 4-5' tall over a number of years. Very dark maroon double flowers are slightly smaller than other cultivars and open in late spring, 2-3 weeks after regular peonies. Slow but worth the wait! Zone 4

Papaver

Papaver orientale 'Patty's Plum'

Dark reddish-purple blooms atop 32" stems mid to late spring. Zone 3

Papaver orientale 'Prince of Orange'

Bright orange-scarlet flowers atop long swaying stems in early summer. An easy to grow heirloom garden favorite! Plants grow 28-36" tall. Zone 3

Pardancanda

Pardancanda 'Dazzler'

A dwarf candylily with extra large orchid-like flowers on stems growing 15-18" tall. Flowers open in mid summer in shades of purple, orange and pink. Zone 5

Penstemon

Penstemon barbatus 'Coccineus' ('Jingle Bells')

Native to "four corners", this Penstemon grows to 3' tall and blooms large, bright scarlet flowers in late summer. Grows in full sun in well-drained soil. Zone 4

Penstemon barbatus 'Navigator Mix'

Luminous, electric, carmine-pink or blue flowers on 12" compact plants with an 8" spread and blue-green foliage. Blooms from July through October. Zone 4

Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' (bearded tongue)

Selection introduced by the University of Nebraska with deep reddish-purple foliage and white flowers on 3' stems in late spring. Grows in full sun to part shade with no particular aversion to any soil type. Zone 4

Penstemon virgatus 'Blue Buckle'

Large dark blue flowers open July through September on 12" stems. Foliage is dark green and glossy. Zone 5/6

Perovskia

Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire' (dwarf Russian sage)

Compact cultivar grows to only 24" high and offers spikes of lavender-blue from mid to late summer and into fall over silvery-green lacy foliage. An excellent hot weather plant. Zone 5

Perovskia 'Filigran' (Russian sage)

Fine, lacy silver foliage is topped with 36" spikes of blue flowers in late summer. Easy to grow, low-maintenance adds wonderful texture contrast. Zone 5

Pardancanda

Phlox divaricata 'Miss Lingard'

White flowers with yellow eye on 2-3' mildew resistant plants in early to mid summer. Zone 3

Phlox divaricata 'Louisiana Blue'

Rich, dark blue blooms on 12" plants. Zone 3

Phlox paniculata 'Becky Towe' (tall garden phlox)

Dark green and gold variegated foliage gives this summer blooming perennial longer interest. Salmon-rose blooms have a dark magenta eye and grow atop 28" stems. Excellent mildew resistance. Zone 3

Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes' (tall garden phlox)

Pale pink petals have a dark pink central eye. 28" plants. Excellent mildew resistance. Zone 3

Phlox paniculata 'Mount Fuji' (tall garden phlox)

White flower clusters top 28" plants. Excellent mildew resistance. Zone 3

Phlox paniculata 'Orange Perfection' (tall garden phlox)

Striking orange flower clusters grow on 30-36" stems. Excellent mildew resistance. Zone 3

Phlox paniculata 'Red Magic' (tall garden phlox)

Dark, rose-red flowers grow on 28" stems. Excellent mildew resistance. Zone 3

Phlox subulata 'Blue' (creeping phlox)

True blue flowers cover this low-growing, spreading mat in early spring. Plants grow 3-5" tall and spread18-30". One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, these plants cascade wonderfully over walls and rocks and require very little care. Zone 3

Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripes' (creeping phlox)

White and pink bicolor flowers cover this low-growing, spreading mat in early spring. Plants grow 3-5" tall and spread18-30". One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, these plants cascade wonderfully over walls and rocks and require very little care. Zone 3

Phlox subulata 'Red' (creeping phlox)

Scarlet-red flowers cover this low-growing, spreading mat in early spring. Plants grow 3-5" tall and spread18-30". One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, these plants cascade wonderfully over walls and rocks and require very little care. Zone 3

Phlox subulata 'White' (creeping phlox)

White flowers cover this low-growing, spreading mat in early spring. Plants grow 3-5" tall and spread18-30". One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, these plants cascade wonderfully over walls and rocks and require very little care. Zone 3

Physallis

Physalis alkengi 'Gigantea' (Chinese lantern)

Large orange lantern-shaped flowers cover these 12" perennials in summer. Great cuts for unusual arrangements. Zone 3

Physostegia

Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant)

Spikes of pink flowers cover this2- 3' native in summer. Spreads moderately, filling in around other perennial or grasses. Requires no special care. Zone 3

Physostegia virginiana 'Variegata' (variegated obedient plant)

White and green variegated foliage extends the ornamental season of this easy to grow perennial. Bright pink flowers appear in summer on 2' plant. Zone 4

Platycodon

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue' (balloon flower)

Dwarf hybrid growing to only 8" tall and producing intense blue ball-shaped blooms in mid summer and continuing for an extended period. Easy care, adaptable plants. Zone 4

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Shell Pink' (balloon flower)

Delicate, soft pink balloon-shaped blooms on 24" plants. Long-blooming, easy to grow. Zone 4

Podophyllum

Podophyllum reptans (mayapple)

One giant, lobed leaf grows 12-18" tall and produces creamy, nodding flowers below followed by red fruit. Goes dormant in summer. A wonderful spring native that can be planted throughout other groundcovers for spring display. Zone 4

Polemonium

Polemonium reptans (Jacob's ladder)

Blue bells open on this 8-12" native in early summer. Zone 3

Polemonium 'Brise D' Anjou''

Green leaves are edged in creamy-white and are topped with violet-blue flowers in early summer. Plants grow 18-24" high. Zone 4

Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven'

Perennials for the shade garden are often subtle, but this foliage plant is a real attention-getter with variegated foliage of white and green tinged with pink and topped with lavender-blue flowers in early summer. Plants grow 12-18" high. Zone 3

Polygonatum

Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon's seal)

2-3' arching stems carry rounded leaves with small white flowers alternating. Black berries follow. Spreads underground. A wonderful woodland wildflower. Zone 5

Polygonatum multiflorum 'Variegatum' (variegated Solomon's seal)

Round green leaves are thivkly edged in creamy-white and grow along 18-24" arching stems. Small white bell-shaped flowers open under foliage along stems in late spring. Excellent foliage for the shade garden. Spreads like it's wild cousin. Zone 3

Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria saccharata 'Mrs. Moon' (lungwort)

Large green spear-shaped leaves are speckled with silvery-white drops and spatters. Pink flowers age to blue. Plants grow to 12" high. Zone 3

Potentilla

Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Wilmott' (cinquefoil)

Carmine-scarlet flowers open all summer on this 12-15" groundcovering perennial. Zone 5

Primula

Primula 'Pacific Hybrids' (primrose)

Showy blooms in a wide range of colors for part shade. Plants grow to 12" and make a wonderful mass planting. Prefers well-drained soil. Zone 5/6

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla patens (pasque flower)

Delicate lavender-pink, cup-shaped blooms in early spring cover frilly foliage. South Dakota's state flower, foliage grows 6-8" with the flowers reaching up to 12-16" Full sun and well-drained soil. Zone 4

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