(Purple Giant Hyssop)

A member of the mint family, this large, aromatic, bushy perennial is native to eastern and central North America. Feathery, light-purple flower spikes appear from summer to early autumn above large, anise-scented leaves.

This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant likes well drained soil and at least partial sun. It is an excellent choice for sunny mixed borders, wildflower plantings, and hummingbird gardens.

(Liquorice Blue Giant Hyssop, Purple Giant Hyssop)

Agastache scrophulariifolia is a large, aromatic, bushy perennial native to eastern and central North America. Its cultivar 'Liquorice Blue' bears fuzzy blue flower spikes from late summer to early autumn above large, anise-scented leaves.

This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant likes well drained soil and at least partial sun. It is an excellent choice for sunny mixed borders, wildflower plantings, and hummingbird gardens.

(Goldenflower Agave, Goldenflower Century Plant)

Few American Agave offer the spectacular looks and heat tolerance of this rugged native succulent. It’s found in a very small range at higher elevations of the mountains of Central Arizona amidst the chaparral, where it is quite cold hardy. Conversely it is one of the toughest agaves for full sun on the low desert floor. Such a wide range of adaptability makes an excellent landscape plant for a range of arid regions.

Its lovely evergreen leaves are large, blue-green to green, depending...

(Lechuguilla, Shin Dagger)

Native all the way to central Canada (as well as to much of the rest of central and western North America), this prickly pear dispels the myth that cacti are only for warm climates. It is a ground-hugging, mat-forming species bearing small, cylindrical or flattened, spiny pads that are specially adapted to survive beneath snow or dead prairie grass. Although they appear to be succulent leaves, the pads are in fact swollen stem segments (but are treated as leaves in the following description of characteristics)....

(Schott's Agave, Schott's Century Plant)

Use this tough little Agave in hot dry regions where few small ornamentals will survive. This species is native to southern Arizona and New Mexico, extending southward into Sonora, Mexico. It has an informal, scruffy look and maintains a cast iron nature in rocky infertile ground. The leaves contain saponifiers and were harvested by indigenous people for soap.

Schott's Agave tends to spread and form colonies. Each rosette is dense and irregularly shaped with linear, upright leaves...

(Miniature Century Plant, Silver Dollar, Toumey's Century Plant)

The small effusive rosettes of Toumey's century have sharp slender blades edged with slender white edges that pull away like delicate white scribbles. Though compact it makes a dramatic addition to any desert rock garden or container. This all-American native naturally exists in the mountains of Arizona. It is an unusually hardy species that can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry, particularly at the root zone.

The dark green fleshy leaves of this century...

(Fairy-ring Agave, Miniature Century Plant, Toumey's Bella Agave)

The super cute variety bella of Toumey's century plant is much smaller with shorter more uniform leaves and denser rosettes. Its flower stalk is also smaller.

The effusive rosettes of Toumey's century have sharp slender blades edged with slender white edges that pull away like delicate white scribbles. Though compact it makes a dramatic addition to any desert rock garden or container. This all-American native naturally exists in the mountains of Arizona. It is an unusually hardy species...

(Utah Agave, Utah Century Plant)

The unusually hardy Agave utahensis is a largely high desert perennial with dramatic, structurally interesting foliage. It is naturally found in scrubby rocky spots of the Mojave and Upper Sonoran deserts, from California to Utah. Its sharp spiny rosettes are formidable with grayish brown terminal spines at the tips of the dagger-like leaves. It can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry.

The gray-green fleshy leaves of this century plant are straight...

(Kaibab Agave, Utah Century Plant)

This beautiful subspecies of Agave utahensis naturally grows on the rocky limestone slopes of the Kaibab Plateau of northern Arizona. It forms a pleasing rosette of narrow darker green lanceolate leaves making it well-suited for rock garden culture.

The unusually hardy Agave utahensis is a largely high desert perennial with dramatic, structurally interesting foliage. It is naturally found in scrubby rocky spots of the Mojave and Upper Sonoran deserts, from California to Utah....

(Ageratum, Artist™ Alto Pearl Ageratum, Blue Mink, Flossflower)

Commonly called flossflower, Ageratum houstonianum is an anual native to Mexico planted for its tassel-like flowers. Flowering from midsummer until frost, available colors are shade of blue, pink, or white. Many series of cultivars exist. Usually performs well in full sun. However in hot-summered climates flossflower will need filtered sun. In mild winter climates, it may provide winter color. Use in annual beds or container gardens.