(Alpine Aster)

Unlike many aster species, the delicate, pastel daisies of alpine aster bloom in late spring and summer. This unusually cold tolerant perennial is native across the far reaches of Canada, Alaska and Eurasia. Wild populations grow along montane river valleys, mountain slopes, tundra and rocky coasts. Some garden-worthy cultivated varieties have been bred, which are all considerably tough and well-adapted to cold climates and rocky terrain. Habit varies, some are prostrate and others bushy and mounded....

(Aster, Royalty Aster)

Asters in the Royalty Series are notable for their abundance of late season flowers, compact mounded habit, and overall good garden performance. Introduced by Yoder Brothers, Inc., these hybrids were bred from species native to eastern North America. The vigorous, well-branched plants bear showy, double to semi-double daisies of pink, purple or violet-blue over a long period in late summer and fall.

Provide these hardy perennials with full to part sun and evenly moist, loamy, well-drained...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea)

The colorful plumes of the compact Astilbe in the Vision series are numerous, dense and showy. In late spring to midsummer the flowers rise from dense, uniform clusters of glossy dark green or bronze-green, compound leaves. The flowers last longer than others and come in shades of pink, rose and red.

Chinese in origin, these hardy perennials grows best when provided partial sun to shade and moist, rich, well-drained soil. Once established, they are low maintenance. The spent flowers...

(Astilbe, False Spirea, ShowStar Mix False Spirea)

Among the best and prettiest perennials for shade, plants in 'Showstar Mix' have upright branches and glossy, dark-green, ferny leaves. In summer tall stems rise above the plants, topped by branched flower spikes that look a bit like Christmas trees. Tiny, closely packed flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into feathery plumes in colors ranging from white to deep rose. The flowers can persist for weeks after they dry, looking attractive thanks to their shape. Cutting back spent flower stems...

(Astilbe, False Spirea)

Star astilbe (Simplicifolia Group hybrids) are clump-forming, herbaceous perennials that were first native to wooded areas of eastern Asia, primarily Japan before being crossed with other species. They are usually compact and low-growing with compound leaves (although the species has simple oval leaves) and plume-like floral inflorescences of pink, rose, and white borne in the summer. The flowerheads fade to attractive shades of brown in the fall, providing landscape interest through early winter....

(Astilbe, False Spirea, William Buchanan False Spirea)

William Buchanan astilbe is a dwarf, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial that produces 2-ternate, red-tinted leaves and a striking plume-like inflorescence of white flowers with red stamens in mid and late summer. Thus, the inflorescence looks pink. The flowerheads fade to attractive shades of brown in the fall, providing landscape interest through winter.

'William Buchanan' requires well-drained, moist soils in full sun to partial shade. The function best in shade borders, rock gardens, or...

(Rockcress, Royal Red Rockcress)

The brilliant magenta-red flowers of ‘Royal Red’ add bold color to sunny borders. This mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial becomes clothed in flowers in spring to early summer. Its blooming period lasts for an average of three weeks, sometimes even a month. The vivid flowers and play beautifully against its gray-green mats of foliage.

Sunny locations with fertile, neutral to alkaline, well-draining soil are preferred. It should be watered regularly before and after blooming but can be allowed...

(Cordyline)

The genus Cordyline is made up of about 20 species of lance-leaved shrubby perennials. All are grown for their attractive and colorful foliage and most are native to southeastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. One species calls South America home.

These tropical plants generally have an upright, tree-like form. The stems are thin, usually un-branched and woody. The long leaves may be sword or lance-shaped and are clustered in rosettes at the ends of upright semi-woody stems....

(Cabbage Tree, Cordyline, Dracaena, Sundance Cordyline)

A New Zealand native, cabbage tree is a fast growing woody evergreen with long sword-shaped leaves. The cultivar 'Sundance' has green leaves with pink midribs and bases. The upper leaves are erect or arching; the lower leaves droop. Although it can form a small palm-like tree, it is often grown as a shrub or container plant. Large panicles of small fragrant white flowers appear on mature plants in late spring and summer, followed by small white blue-tinged fruits.

Cordyline thrives in deep, well-drained...

(Cabbage Tree, Cordyline, Dracaena, Red Sensation Cordyline)

Red Sensation cabbage tree is a fast growing woody plant native to New Zealand that can be grown as a palm-like shrub or a small tree. Its narrow, swordlike upper leaves remain erect while the lower leaves in the tip cluster droop. Panicles of fragrant white flowers appear in late spring, followed by small white or blue fruits.

'Red Sensation' is grown for its dulled purple-burgundy leaves and is often used for height and texture in annual container plantings. Cordyline grows best in deep,...