(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Hollard's Gold Bear's Breeches)

This interesting Old World perennial has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breeches is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The long, sharply lobed, coarse leaves of bear’s breeches are deep green and form large, showy rosettes. In summer, tall, upright spikes of two-lipped, tubular maroon and white flowers are produced. Once spent, the old blooms should be cut back to...

(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Oak Leaf Bear's Breeches)

This cultivar of the popular bear’s breech has bigger leaves that are more deeply lobed, almost oak-like. It is an interesting Old World perennial that has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breech is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The deeply lobed, coarse leaves are rich dark green and form large rosettes. In summer, it produces tall upright spikes of two-lipped,...

(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Tasmanian Angel ™ Bear's Breeches, Variegated Bear's Breeches)

This interesting Old World perennial has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breeches is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The long, sharply lobed, coarse leaves of bear’s breeches are deep green and form large, showy rosettes. In summer, tall, upright spikes of two-lipped, tubular maroon and white flowers are produced. Once spent, the old blooms should be cut back to...

(Mountain Thistle)

This shrubby, spreading, semi-evergreen to evergreen perennial bears spiny, leathery leaves that are sharply divided and have attractive silver markings. For most, this native of West Africa is less of an ornamental and more of a weed. Mountain thistle is adapted to the forest understory and grassy fields, so it grows well in sunny and shaded locations.

Tall, upright spikes of pinkish tubular flowers appear from summer to fall. These are highly attractive to bees. Spent flower spikes should...

(Nepal Maple, Smooth Maple)

A maple with long, narrow and glossy leaves, you may mistake this tree for an exotic coffee tree across its native range of the highlands from Bhutan and Nepal across southern China to Vietnam. The smooth or Nepal maple bears light olive-green, evergreen leaves that are somewhat rippled across their surface because of raised veins. Newest leaves emerge with a pinkish coppery color. Tiny teeth occur on the leaf edges, and the leaf petiole stems are pinkish red and are smooth. Naturally occurring variety...

(Giant Needlegrass, Giant Ricegrass, Giant Stipa)

Upright, graceful leaf blades of giant needlegrass create billowy tufts across the landscape. A cool-season perennial grass that often is short lived, it's native to the rocky and gravelly soils -- especially chaparral habitats -- from the Cascade Mountains of central California southward into Mexico's Baja peninsula. The root system is fibrous.

This bunching grass forms a V-shaped clump with airy, medium green leaves. Leaf blades are thin and held upright and occur in the moisture and cool...

(Everglades Palm, Paurotis Palm)

The paurotis palm is a terrific multi-trunked, clump-forming palm crowned with large, fan-like fronds. It is native to the western Caribbean Basin, from the Bahamas westward to the Yucatan of Mexico and Costa Rica. Native populations also exist in the southernmost tip of Florida, hence its other common name, Everglades palm. This sun-loving palm can withstand moist soils, some drought and moderate salt spray, so it is also quite resilient.

Each rich green frond is like a wide fan comprising...

(Sweet Flag)

Calamus is an herbaceous perennial that is native throughout much of the United States and Canada. It has inconspicuous flowers and is grown primarily for its tall, upright, broad, iris-like foliage. One particularly attractive cultivar is 'Argenteostriatus', which has beautifully variegated leaves. These plants spread by rhizomes and grow best in moist boggy areas with full to partial sun. Semi-aquatic in nature, calamus works well in naturalistic plantings along waterways or in gardens with moist...

(Striped Sweet Flag, Sweet Flag)

Striped sweet flag, or striped calamus, is an herbaceous perennial that is native throughout much of the United States and Canada. It has inconspicuous flowers and is grown primarily for its tall, upright, iris-like foliage that is beautifully variegated with cream striations. These plants spread by rhizomes and grow best in moist boggy areas with full to partial sun. Semi-aquatic in nature, striped sweet flag works well in naturalistic plantings along waterways or in gardens with moist fertile soil.

(Striped Sweet Flag, Sweet Flag)

Striped sweet flag is an herbaceous perennial that is native throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. It has inconspicuous flowers and is grown primarily for its tall, upright, broad, iris-like foliage. Acorus calmus 'Variegatus' has very showy white bordered leaves. These plants spread by rhizomes (underground stems) and grow best in moist boggy areas with full to partial sun. Semi-aquatic in nature, sweet flag works well in naturalistic plantings along waterways or in gardens with moist,...