(Leichtlin's Rockcress, Purple Rockcress)

The brilliant purple-red blooms of Leitchlin’s rockcress will add umph to any sunny border in need of a color boost. 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 glowing flowers and play beautifully against its fuzzy green mats of foliage. Purple rockcress originates from regions in the eastern Mediterranean to Iran where it is adapted to alpine locales.

Sunny...

(Purple Rockcress, Variegated Rockcress)

There are various variegated forms of purple rockcress that fall into this group. 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 pretty vivid flowers and play beautifully against its fuzzy green mats of variegated foliage that’s usually edged in cream. The flowers come in an array of colors to include violet-purple, violet-blue, pink and white. Purple rockcress originates...

(Basket-of-Gold)

The glowing golden flowers of basket-of-gold will brighten any sunny spring border or rock garden. This low-growing perennial is native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Europe and Turkey. It has small, semi-evergreen leaves of gray-green and forms a neat mound. In spring it produces many clusters of small, bright yellow four-petaled flowers. These literally cover the plant and should be lightly sheared off when spent.

Basket-of-gold prefers a sunny site and average, friable soil...

(Basket-of-Gold, Dwarf Basket-of-Gold)

Dwarf basket of gold is a low-growing perennial native to the mountainous regions of south and central Europe and Turkey. The cultivar 'Compacta' has sea-green leaves which form a neat evergreen mound. In spring, dense clusters of small mustard yellow, four-petaled flowers are carried on short stems above the plant, literally covering the entire plant.

Not tolerant of heavy clay soils, basket of gold prefers sunny site with good drainage. A great plant for the rock garden or as a groundcover,...

(Basket-of-Gold, Gold Dust Aurinia)

Gold dust aurinia is a low-growing perennial native to the mountainous regions of south and central Europe and Turkey. Its evergreen gray green leaves form a neat mound from which arise dense clusters of small bright golden yellow four-petaled flowers. The spring blooms literally cover the plant and should be lightly sheared off when spent.

Not tolerant of heavy clay soils, basket of gold prefers sunny site with good drainage. A great plant for the rock garden or as a ground cover, it looks spectacular...

(Basket-of-Gold, Summit Aurinia)

Basket of gold is a low-growing perennial native to the mountainous regions of south and central Europe and Turkey. Its evergreen gray green leaves form a neat mound from which arise dense clusters of small bright yellow four-petaled flowers. The spring blooms literally cover the plant and should be lightly sheared off when spent. The cultivar 'Summit' is notable for its uniform plant size and early flowering start in spring.

Not tolerant of heavy clay soils, basket of gold prefers sunny site...

(Oat)

Oats once fueled ancient agricultural endeavors as essential forage for livestock, but in today’s world they are a key grain for cereals and breads. Modern oats (Avena sativa) are annual grasses thought to have originated from southeastern Europe and first cultivated around 1,000 B.C. They are believed to be the hybrid progeny of wild oats (Avena fatua) and wild red oats (Avena sterilis). Historically, they were considered less than desirable weeds that infested fields...

(Bush Groundsel, Cottonseed Tree, Sea Myrtle)

A puffy-seeded shrub that handles dry and wet soils as well as salty groung, bush groundsel is its prettiest in summer and autumn. Typically evergreen in milder climates, this billowy plant has upright to arching stems that is often lax and floppy, but more rounded shrubs are encountered. It is native to the United States from Massachusetts to Texas as well as in nearby Mexico and the West Indies.

Softly light green, the foliage is small oval leaves with irregular, jae\gged edges. Plants are...

(Desert Marigold)

Desert marigold is a tender, perennial wildflower that offers a brilliant show for a short time in spring. It is native to the low deserts of southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. There it’s found in infertile, sandy or gravelly soils. It is visible in large populations for weeks in spring when new plants sprout from seeds. Only in the warmest regions do plants become perennial as they do not stand the slightest frost. Even there most fail to survive extreme summer heat and drought. However, in...

(Arrowleaf Balsamroot)

This cheerful golden-flowered perennial is a tough compact mountain dweller. It is native to most western states, and western Canada, where it inhabits forest clearings and sandy outcrops from 1000 feet (304.8 m) up to the timber line. Each plant produces a very large carrot-like root that affords excellent drought resistance where summer rainfall is rare.

The short wide-leaved plants produce individual clumps of emerald green, and put forth many leafless stems topped with golden daisies in...