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:Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Botanical name:Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

Bloodgood Japanese maple is a lovely, upright to rounded small tree, well suited to patios and courtyards. It has red to bronze-red foliage, becoming more bronzy with summer heat. Fall color is brilliant red. New wood is very dark, turning a reddish brown as it ages. Grows 15 to 18 feet tall and wide, though it will do so slowly.

Common name:Autumn Joy Sedum
Botanical name:Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Autumn Joy sedum is a garden staple, and for good reason. Emerging in early spring, fleshy, green to grey-green leaves form a rosette of foliage, and soon expands on sturdy stems, growing about 18 to 24 inches tall and wide. Flower heads begin to form in early to mid summer, looking something like little cauliflower, but soon the buds open to pale pink stars that progressively deepen in color, until they become a russet red in the fall. Use in perennial, shrub, or foundation borders, in parkstrips, with ornamental grasses. Attracts butterflies and bees. Flower heads persist well into winter.

Common name:Heavy Metal Switch Grass
Botanical name:Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'

This switch grass has stiffly erect blades of metallic blue-green during the season, turning yellowish-orange in the fall, and buff in the winter. Tiny purple and orange flowers line wiry stems forming billows of color about grass clump. Grows 36 to 40 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Very attractive when planted in masses.

Common name:Elijah Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue'

The icy-blue coloration of this little grass makes it a stand-out in the garden. Its evergreen, clumping habit make it well suited for edging borders, mass planting, or ground cover. Grows in full sun to part shade. Generally under 12 inches, even in flower. Soft tufts of greenish white flowers emerge in early summer and turn tawny by summers end. Excellent for parkstrips.

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.