Common name:Amur Maple
Botanical name:Acer ginnala

Amur maple is a relatively small tree or large shrub, generally multi-stemmed, with deeply lobed, palmate leaves. There is a great deal of variability due to a wide range of seed source and grafting stock. This may make it a little tough to predict size and fall color, the two characteristics that make this a stand-out selection for a smaller landscape or parkstrip. If those characteristics are very important to you, shop for plants in the fall, when you can see both it's color and judge its growth rate. Figure about 18 to 25 feet tall and wide.

Common name:Blue Oat Grass
Botanical name:Helictotrichon sempervirens

Blue oat grass is a striking ornamental grass with blue foliage and a clumping habit. It grows 12 to 18 inches tall and wide. Its showy flowers are 1 to 2 feet above the foliage. Is evergreen in mild winters. This plant looks good alone as well as in mass plantings. The blue oat grass likes dry hill sides and is drought tolerant.

Common name:Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri

Gaura is a lovely addition to a perennial border, with its fine green foliage and delicate white to pink flowers. The plant has an open vase shape, and grows about 36 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide. Leaves are fine, green, and sometimes spotted with maroon. Flowers are arrayed on long stems and are reminiscent of butterflies; the blooms open from the bottom of the stems towards the top, over a long season of bloom (early summer to fall). Its airy quality creates movement in the garden. Combines well with other perennials and ornamental grasses. A number of named cultivars are now available, some with more distinctively pink flowers or variegated foliage.

Common name:Japanese Silver Grass, Maiden grass
Botanical name:Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus is a large group of ornamental grasses ranging from a few feet to over 7 or 8 feet tall. Blade colors range from solid green, to green with silver mid-ribs, to variegated forms. Plumes are generally held well above foliage clumps, appearing in late summer to early fall, depending on the variety, and may be cut for fresh or dry arrangements.

Common name:Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry
Botanical name:Prunus besseyi

Western sand cherry is a great addition to the landscape, as it's attractive, water-thrifty, and produces tasty edible fruit. A medium-small shrub, growing to 4 to 5 feet tall and maybe a little wider, it has silvery-green foliage that turns red in the fall, and attractive white blossoms that appear in the spring. A multi-purpose plant, many gardeners select this for use as wildlife food and habitat as well. This is a wonderful, low-maintenance fruiting shrub, especially given the resurgence in interest in home food production.

Common name:Mountain Flame Hummingbird Trumpet
Botanical name:Zauschneria garrettii 'Mountain Flame'

Another Z. garrettii cultivar, 'Mountain Flame' has the same brilliant orange to scarlet trumpets mid-to-late summer, and dense, light green leaves. It is taller than 'Orange Carpet,' growing about 18 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. It blooms earlier than Z. arizonica. A wonderful addition to the perennial border, or along the edge of a sunny shrub or foundation border. Attracts hummingbirds.

Common name:Butterfly Bush
Botanical name:Buddleja davidii

Butterfly bush are an attractive summer blooming shrub, well suited for the shrub or perennial border. Varieties range from 3 to 12 feet tall; dwarf forms are as wide as they are tall, and taller forms have widths generally half to 2/3 the height. Shrubs are mounding to upright and arching. Leaves grey green to silver. Fragrant flowers are spire-like and appear in mid to late summer. Colors range through the pinks and violets, and also white, yellow, and deep purples. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; deer resistent.

Common name:Hardy Dwarf Broom
Botanical name:Genista lydia

A profusion yellow, pea-like flowers completely smother hardy dwarf broom in the spring. The plant has distinctive cascading evergreen stems that mold beautifully around boulders and drape gracefully over ledges. It is a slow but steady grower, putting on 3 to 5 inches of growth at the tips of the branches each spring, eventually forming an impressive groundcover-like shrub. Nice for use on hot, sunny slopes when planted close together on 18-inch centers. Eventually grows 12 inches tall and up to 4 feet across.