(Blue Hibiscus, Santa Cruz Blue Hibiscus)

Santa Cruz blue hibiscus is an evergreen shrub native to Australia. Cultivar ‘Santa Cruz’ flowers freely throughout the growing season with single, funnel-form, mauve to pale purple flowers borne in the leaf axils at the tips of the branches throughout the year in warm climates. Leaves are bright green, rough textured and irregularly lobed.

Santa Cruz blue hibiscus grows quickly, thriving in well drained soils and full sun. If plants are well mulched, little supplemental water is required. Prune...

(Mountain Madwort)

Mountain madwort is native to the Mediterranean. It is a mound forming perennial that produces fragrant clusters of yellow flowers borne above gray-green hairy foliage.

Mountain Madwort thrives best in dry rocky soil and has a preference to full sun, although it will tolerate light shade. Add vibrancy to the facade of stone walls by planting mountain madwortin empty crevices or plant towards the front of dry borders. Interesting addition to the edge of a large alpine trough container. Cultivars...

(Mountain Gold Madwort, Mountain Madwort)

Mountain madwort is native to the Mediterranean. It is a mound forming perennial that produces fragrant yellow flowers borne in clusters above gray-green hairy foliage. Mountain Gold is one cultivar that is worth its weight, since it covers itself entirely with yellow flowers that its foliage becomes hardly visible.

Mountain Gold madwort thrives best in dry rocky soil and has a preference to full sun, although it will tolerate light shade. Add vibrancy to the facade of stone walls by planting...

(Love-Lies-Bleeding)

Though grown in American gardens primarily for its curious tail-like clusters of colorful flowers, this large annual has long been a staple grain in the northern Andes, where it originated. Once more popular than corn, amaranth grain and greens fed the Incas for thousands of years, and are still a vital crop for peoples of the Andes. Two other species of amaranth are important grain (and ornamental) plants: Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus.

This fast-growing,...

(Mexican Grain Amaranthus, Prince's Feather, Purple Amaranthus)

Nothing beats this tough, heat-loving annual for big, bold summer bedding displays. This Central American native has been grown since ancient times for its grain and greens, as have two other amaranths: Amaranthus hypochondriacus and A. caudatus. Purple amaranth was central to the Aztec culture, playing an important role in many of its religious rituals. Most contemporary gardeners cultivate it purely for its showy flower spikes, though it is increasingly grown...

(Prince's Feather, Prince-of-Wales-Feather)

This large, colorful annual is probably a naturally occurring hybrid originating in Central Amercica. It has been grown since ancient times for its grain and greens, as have two other amaranths: Amaranthus cruentus and A. caudatus. This amaranth was widely cultivated and revered by the Aztecs, playing a central role in their diet and in many of their religious rituals. Most contemporary gardeners cultivate it purely for its showy flower spikes, although it is increasingly...

(Joseph's Coat)

Grown in flower gardens for its dazzling plumage, this large annual is an important leaf vegetable in tropical Asia, where it is native.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves that are often brilliantly hued when young, forming colorful ruffs atop tall, erect stems. The new leaves may be yellow, red, purple, bronze, ivory, or combinations thereof. The leaves gradually age to medium or dark green. In tropical Asia, where this plant is grown for the flavor rather...

(Serviceberry)

(Saskatoon Serviceberry)

This is one of the classic small, shrubby deciduous, landscape trees with multi-seasonal beauty. Saskatoon serviceberry displays beautiful white flowers in spring, edible berries in summer and brilliant fall foliage color. Its upright to rounded shrubby shape and smooth light gray branches offer interest in winter.

Native to northwestern North America, this Amelanchier typically has many slender trunks. Its simple, oval, green leaves appear after the showy white flowers in spring. After...

(Common Serviceberry, Downy Serviceberry, Juneberry, Shadbush)

Snowy white flowers fill the branches of downy serviceberry in mid-spring followed by violet-red berries and a bright fall foliage display. A rounded deciduous shrub to small tree, it will produce root suckers and create a shrubby thicket in natural settings. It is native across the whole of eastern North America from Quebec down to Texas. In the wild, this adaptable tree can be found in many sites from lowland wetlands to dry, upland woods and rocky or sandy bluffs. Its slightly tart and sweet reddish...