Common name:Apple Serviceberry
Botanical name:Amelanchier x grandiflora

A hybrid between A. arborea and A. laevis, the new leaves of this species have the pubescent foliage of the former and the purplish cast of the later. Summer foliage is a soft green, turning orange to scarlet in the fall. This hybrid has larger and showier flowers then either parent. Numerous cultivars have been selected from this species, including 'Princess Diana,' 'Prince William,' and 'Cole's Select.' Generally 18 to 25 feet tall and about half as wide. Grown as both a single or multi-stemmed small tree or shrub. Lovely as a specimen or in masses.

Common name:Helene von Stein Lamb's Ear
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina 'Helene von Stein'

'Helene von Stein' is a cultivar or S. byzantina, and is a dense, mat-forming perennial with velvety, soft, grayish white leaves. This cultivar has larger leaves than others and is more heat and humidity resistant. Though reported to not have flowers, eventually, in time, some may begin to appear. The foliage grows to about 8 to 12 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Use in rock gardens, sunny borders, along walks, and in parkstrips.

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta racemosa

Nepeta is a fierce little perennial, growing in poor sooils and sunny, hot conditions with never a whimper. Though different nepeta vary is size and flower color, as a general rule, all are mounded and densely leaved, with heavily crinkled, aromatic, grey-green, slightly fuzzy foliage. Flowers are like all flowers in the mint family, though on nepeta the stems tend to be shorter and the flowers closer to the foliage. Usually blue to violet, blooming late spring and sometimes again in the fall. A great addition to a sunny garden or parkstrip. Many cultivars available.

Common name:English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia

English lavender is a dependably hardy, heat tolerant, drought resistant perennial, well suited to our arid, cold climate. Aromatic, green to grey-green foliage has a rich, resin scent, and grows in tight clumps 1 to 2 feet in height and width, depending on variety. Flowers form at the ends of stiff stems, in whorls of blue to lavender to purple, again, depending on variety. Flowers may add another 6 to 12 inches of height. Use in any sunny spot, such as perennial border, herb garden, parkstrip, lining a pathway.