Common name:Creeping St. Johnswort, Aaronsbeard
Botanical name:Hypericum calycinum

Hypericum calycinum is semi-woody perennial groundcover. It has attractive blue-green foliage that stays evergreen in mild winters, sometimes taking on a purplish hue. It has interesting bright yellow flowers June through September, followed by red berries. It grows 12 to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide, and spreads by underground runners. Does well in dry shade areas.

Common name:Alkali Sacaton; Alkali Dropseed
Botanical name:Sporobolus airoides

Alkali dropseed is a warm-season, clumping grass with soft green blades and airy pinkish seed plumes. Clumps grow about 12 to 20 inches, and the plumes can reach 20 to 40 inches. Plumes emerge June and persist until frost. Flowers are excellent for arrangements; the grass is a good choice as a large scale ground cover or for erosion control. Though too tall to replace a traditional lawn, it does make a lovely meadowy-sort of space.

Common name:Purpleleaf Sandcherry
Botanical name:Prunus x cistena

Purpleleaf sandcherry is a deciduous shrub valued for its reddish-purple foliage, fragrant white and pink spring flowers, and purple-black fruit. It grows about 7 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide, with an upright, vase shape. It is sometimes sold as a single-stem tree, but will require maintenance to maintain this form. Bark is a dark brown to red, and is a nice contrast in the winter garden. Branches are nice in vases.

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.