This rare and highly-prized, tropical-looking, oriental native provides the appearance of an evergreen hosta. The 1' long x 2" wide, thick, dark green leaves form an upright vase-shaped clump to 2' wide in 10 years. Late in the season, the insignificant flowers produce short stalks of red berries that persist through the winter at the base of the plant. When used en masse, Rohdeas are a dynamite evergreen addition to the deep shade garden for a presence even in winter.

• Height:  12”
• Spread: 12”
• Part shade - Shade
• Zone 6-10

It is a large-leaved, clump-forming perennial that is primarily grown as a ground cover. It is noted for its large shiny cabbage sized foliage.  It has dark rose pink 16” tall flowers in April and its dark green leaves which turn purplish-bronze in winter.   ‘Winterglut’ features large rosettes of leathery, glossy, toothed, rounded, dark green leaves (to 10” long by 8” wide) that are heart-shaped at the base. Leaves typically form a thick, slowly-spreading clump of foliage to 12” tall. ‘Winterglut’ has unique reddish fall and winter foliage color.   The common name is generally, simply Bergenia but it has been historically called Pigsqueak because of the noise produced by rubbing a leaf between your thumb and finger.

• Height: 1 -1 ½’ x Spread: same
• Part shade to full shade
• Zone 4-8

Strong growing plants in a wide mix of flower colors and leaf types. Use in part shade, but will take full sun in the north. Blooms in early spring. The bright colored flowers come in mix of rose, pink and red with lilac, purple and white. Large glossy leaves take on a reddish to purplish-red color in the fall and winter.

• Height: 12” x Spread: 1- 1 ½’
• Part sun to full shade
• Zone 4-8

Alpine Sea Holly, largest flowering, showy form, gun-metal blue flowers in a soft feathery ruffled foliage.  It thrives in dry, hot sites but prefers deep soil.  It is often used in perennials borders are prized as a specimen for its amazing botanical architecture.  It is an excellent cut flower for drying.  It attracts both bees and butterflies.

• Height: 18”-24"x Spread: 8”-10”
• Full sun
• Zone 5-9

This is a rarely-sited native perennial plant that appears naturally in varied habitats ranging anywhere from moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, sand prairies, thickets, typical savannas, sandy savannas, and limestone glades. It has a stout central stem that is unbranched, except near the flower head. The alternate leaves tend to occur near the base of the plant, although a few smaller leaves occur along the upper portion of the stem. These leaves are long and strap-like, rather stiff in texture, and up to 2½' long and 2½" across. They are narrowly lanceolate, often curve downward, and have parallel venation. There are widely scattered, but stiff, teeth along the margins. The entire plant is bluish or greyish green and hairless.  Interesting fact, this is a very odd member of the Carrot family that resembles a yucca.

• Height: 2’-5’ – Spread: 2’
• Full sun
• Zone 5-9

Baccharis halimifolia is a fall-flowering evergreen perennial that is commonly found in the southeastern United States, although it may be found as far north as Maine.  It is typically found in coastal plains and wet areas.  Its numerous branches extend from short trunks and are covered densely with branchlets.  It is a deciduous shrub bearing grey-green, oval leaves.  White-green flowers appear in small, dense, terminal clusters.  It is wonderfully tolerant of saltwater spray.  That makes this handsome ornamental one of the few eastern shrubs suitable for planting near the ocean.

• 6-12 ft x same
• Part Shade full sun
• Zone 5-9

Brunnera is a rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial which features small, forget-me-not-like flowers (light blue with yellow centers) in airy, branched racemes rising well above the foliage on slender stems to 18" tall in April-May.   Attractive heart-shaped, blackish-green leaves (3-5" wide) form a foliage mound which remains attractive throughout the growing season.  The vivid flower commands attention in the shade when it blooms.  Hardy and attractive in the woodland garden. 

• Height: 1- 1 ½’  x Spread: 1 ½’  to 2 ½’
• Part shade
• Zone 3-8

This collection is best expressed in the landscape en masse.  The ‘Rotogold Hybrids’ lets you avail a gamut of colors ranging from sunny yellow, gold, orange, bright red to brownish red.  These blooms come in several dozen or more at a time.  It makes an exquisite display of long blooming flowers in really hot garden colors.

• Height: 3.5’-4’ x Spread: same
• Full sun to light shade
• Zone 3-8

• Height: 8”-12” x Spread: same
• Part shade- Shade
• Zone 3-9

E. ‘Excalibur’ is a clump-forming perennial that has particularly attractive foliage and long lasting flowers that are actually yellow bracts. It typically grows to 3’ tall. The red-tinted early spring foliage is easily identifiable in the perennial landscape. It has mature green leaves that have a light yellow central midrib.  The yellow flowers in corymbs appear in summer with long-lasting pale yellow bracts. The pink stems turn deeper red in autumn.  Very unique contribution to the full sun perennial bed.

• Height: 2’-3’  x Spread: 1.5’-2’
• Full sun – light shade 
• Zone 6-9

This variety has dark, glossy evergreen leaves arranged in tight rosettes and produces yellow-green bracts in mid-spring and early summer. This plant is useful as an effective ground cover, as it spreads by root runners. Its drought tolerance also lends this plant to xeriscaping.  This Euphorbia will also tolerate full shade and coastal conditions. Care should be exercised when locating this plant as its sap may cause an allergic reaction in some people.  Ecologically this plant will attract pollinating insects such as bees that will feed on its nectar. Spurge is one of the best for using as a groundcover in milder winter regions. Plants form an evergreen spreading mound of deep green, leathery leaves held on bronzy-red stems. Clusters of greenish-yellow bracts are showy in late spring. Good candidate for problem areas and may be trimmed immediately after blooming, if desired.

• Height: 2’-3’  x Spread: 1.5’-2’
• Sun-shade
• Zone 5-9

This is a highly desirable, purple variation of wood spurge goes through an interesting seasonal evolution of coloration. Its foliage starts out green in the Spring, then each sprig of new growth coming in with a wine-colored blossoms. In late March throughout April, it bursts into a profusion of lime green flower heads almost blotting out the foliage.  In Fall & Winter, the upper leaves and stems mature to a deep purple-ruby. The following Spring, the leaves become green again.  This particular wood spurge will give the best show in full sun in coastal areas with average to low water and well-drained soil. As it ages, the parent plant will self seed new plants to refresh itself.

• Height: 2’-3’  x Spread: 1.5’-2’
• Sun-shade
• Zone 5-9

An erect, rhizomatous perennial that grows a bit shorter than our other spurges.  It has the same oblong leaves with dusky leaves but these have a nice purple in the spring.  It does not wait for the fall to show off its colors.  It matures to a rich burgundy-purple and then a reddish tinge in autumn.  The stems are also purple.  The yellow showy bracts will appear in late spring and are usually lightly tinged with purple as well. The true flowers are yellowish-green and inconspicuous. Foliage provides interesting summer and fall accent. Milky sap can irritate skin and eyes and is mildly poisonous if ingested.  The more sun the deeper the foliage color. 

• Height: 1’x Spread: 1’
• Full sun - part shade
• Zone 5-9

Fleshy, blue-gray, evergreen leaves spiral up the trailing stems that bear bright yellow-green flower heads from mid-spring to summer. Great for dry sites.

• Height:  ¼ “ - ½ “ x Spread: ½” – 1 ½” 
• Full sun
• Zone 5-9

This is a European native Euphorbia that is also most attractive in the fall when the the foliage turns bright orange and yellow. In the spring it forms bright radiating green, willow-like leaves on delicately branching stems. Then, in spring to mid-summer it puts on quite a show of large, umbel-like, chartreusy-yellow flower bracts. True to its name “palustris” meaning swamp-loving, it thrives in moist conditions, but tolerates some dryness, too. Perfect for the edge of a woodland garden, where deer are prevalent as it not attractive to deer in the least.  Remember, Euphorbias have a milky sap that can be irritating to skin and eyes so use caution when cutting back.

• Height: 2’ - 3’ x Spread:  3’ to 4’
• Sun - part shade
• Zone 5-9

This native looks most like the annual sunflower.  It’s sunny lemon-yellow flowers appear neatly with gold/green wide centers.  Prefers moist soils in full sun, but is tolerant of drought and light shade. It responds nicely to a light fertilizer before blooming.  After blooming, cut foliage back to keep your garden tidy.  Helianthus can naturalize an area quickly so keep an eye on its development over the season.  It is best utilized in the back of a border garden.

• Height: 5’-6’-x Spread: 2’-3’
• Full sun (tolerates some shade)
• Zone 4-8

This perennial sunflower bears bright yellow blooms during late summer to early autumn. The foliage is deep green in color.  This specimen Helianthus decapetalus 'Plenus' can help to create a focal point in your garden design for a dramatic end-of-summer blooming event.  The difference from this bloom as compared to other H. decapetalus is that multiple overlapping petals that are as full as a mum-flower.  Not the typical single, obident petal form of other sunflowers.

• Height: 5’-6’-x Spread: 2’-3’
• Full sun (tolerates some shade)
• Zone 4-8

In true H. decapetalus form it has an attractive upright flower head.  ‘Lemon Queen’ has a distinctive softer color than the others.  Its single row of petals glows in a soft, sunny yellow rather than the deeper gold.  This tall perennial can reach 6-8 feet tall in clumps of dark green foliage.  The flowers are a branching spray of lemony flowers in the late summer.  It prefers full sun and moist soil.  Attracts butterflies and birds. Makes an excellent cut flower

• Height: 5’-6’-x Spread: same
• Full sun (tolerates some shade)
• Zone 4-8

This is a narrow leaf sunflower that is naturally found along bogs and ponds in more than 20 states in the Union.  Here in the Mid Atlantic its significant blooms appear in October in a golden mass along our rivers and inlets surrounding the Chesapeake Bay.  It thrives in sandy banks and mesic areas in full to part shade.  It has thin dark leaves which are attractive but it is the fall blooming 2” golden flower that makes this an attractive native.  In the optimum environment, it is quite prolific.  In a typical perennial bed without the excessive moisture it is less aggressive but will adapt nicely. 

• Height: 3’-4’-x Spread: same
• Full sun (tolerates some shade)
• Zone 5-9

This is a selection from the native narrowleaf sunflower.  The deep dark leathery foliage of ‘Gold Lace’ is a magnificent back drop to show off the wildly gold flowers that bloom in absolute profusion in October.  Drought tolerant once established but tolerant of a wide variety of conditions.  Swamp Sunflower prefer consistent moisture while establishing.  In the optimum environment, it is quite prolific.  In a typical perennial bed without the excessive moisture it is less aggressive but will adapt nicely. 

• Height: 3’-4’-x Spread: same
• Full sun (tolerates some shade)
• Zone 6-10

This stoloniferous perennial has small white flowers and narrow leaves used as food and beverage flavoring and in sachets.  This is a widely cultivated old-world woodland ground cover.

• Height:  6” x Spread:  groundcover
• Full sun to part shade
• Blooms in May
• Zone 4-8