Common name:Purple Coneflower
Botanical name:Echinacea purpurea

The Purple Coneflower is a long-lived, reliable standby for the perennial garden. And while not xeric, it manages quite well with just weekly watering. Rosy purple petals fall below the prominent orange-tinged cone and blooms in late June to September. Foliage is large, with a rounded lance shape. An excellent cut flower, they provide nectar for bumblebees and butterflies, and the seeds provide forage for migrating song birds, so don't cut them all!

Common name:Goodness Grows Veronica
Botanical name:Veronica 'Goodness Grows'

This Veronica grows about 12 inches tall and wide, with green to grey-green foliage and spires of violet-blue flowers that bloom from June until fall. 'Goodness Grows' was discovered as a seedling at the Goodness Grows Nursery in Lexington, Georgia.

Common name:Powis Castle Artemisia
Botanical name:Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

With its finely dissected, silvery foliage, Powis Castle Artemisia is a wonderful foil for other plants with colored foliage or brightly colored flowers. Its silvery foliage is attractive over a long season, helping to bridge those gaps in the perennial border between lulls in flowering. Stems are useful in flower arrangements, and it is undisturbed by deer and rabbits. It may grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. I admit to liking this cultivar so much more than Silver Mound.

Common name:Neon Stonecrop
Botanical name:Sedum spectabile 'Neon'

This is a relative of Brilliant sedum. It was selected for its brighter pink flower and more dense habit. It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Neon pink flowers put on a long show August to October. Bees and butterflies enjoy the flowers. The spent flowers and plant have great persistence going into the winter months, providing interest in the garden and seeds for birds.