This epimedium (sometimes commonly called large-flowered or longspur epimedium) is one of the larger epimediums. It is a dense, rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 10-12" tall and is primarily used in shady or woodland areas. 'Alba' produces racemes of long-spurred, white flowers in spring well above the foliage. Compound, medium green leaves with spiny-toothed, oval leaflets (to 3" long) on wiry stems form attractive foliage mounds. New leaves in spring emerge beige with a red tinge, mature to green and turn red in fall. This is a unique small area ground cover or edger for shady areas. It is also effective in partially shaded areas of rock gardens. Epimediums grow well under trees, as path edgers and even walkways that are shaded.

• Height: 1’- 2’ x Spread: 1’– 2’
• Part sun – full shade
• Zone 5-9

This epimedium is a charming petite barrenwort. It is a dense, rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 8-10" tall and is primarily used in shady or woodland areas. 'Lilafee' produces racemes of long-spurred, lavender-violet flowers in spring well above the foliage. Compound, medium green leaves with spiny-toothed, oval leaflets (to 3" long) on wiry stems form attractive foliage mounds. New leaves in spring emerge beige with a red tinge, mature to green and turn red in fall. This is a unique small area ground cover or edger for shady areas. It is also effective in partially shaded areas of rock gardens. Epimediums grow well under trees, as path edgers and even walkways that are shaded.

• Height: +/-1’ x Spread: 1’– 2’
• Part sun – full shade
• Zone 5-9

Rubrum is a robust Epimedum with dense, clump-forming foliage that grows 10”-12” tall. 
This is a unique small area ground cover or edger for shady areas. It is also effective in partially shaded areas of rock gardens. Epimediums grow well under trees, as path edgers and even walkways that are shaded.  Three quarter-inch crimson and creamy yellow flowers with upward curving spurs blossom in late March.  It has heart-shaped leaves that are accented beautifully with flushed red when leaves are young, turning red and bronze in autumn. In between the leaves are shiny and green. Leaves remain throughout winter

• Height: +/-1’ x Spread: 1’– 2’
• Part sun – full shade
• Zone 5-9

One of the most darling yet sturdy Epimediums.  Flowers range from a soft butter yellow to almost “glowy” highlighter yellow and command attention when planted in mass in the shade.  It is a hybrid of two Eurasian species, E grandiflorum and E. pinnatum colchicum.  The display of foliage evolves over the season from bright green delicate leaves, speckled in ruby red and chocolate brown then turning more brilliant as autumn progresses. Soft yellow blooms top wire-thin stems in spring. Needs a shady spot for easy care; in sunnier locations, provide plenty of water

• Height: +/-1’ x Spread: 1’– 2’
• Part sun – full shade
• Zone 5-9

This is a petite Epimedium but strong grower.  It blooms a bit later in spring than other epimediums in absolutely pure white, short-spurred little flowers.  They rise daintily just above a low mound of foliage. This is a tidy epimedium, not overwhelming to choice small bulbs and perennials within an integrated bed.  True to its parentage, this Epimedium will slowly but surely grow in the dry, shady places where most other plants would quickly wither away.

• Height: 6”-10” x Spread: 1’-1 ½’
• Part sun – full shade
• Zone 5-9

‘Roseum’ is lovely 6" groundcover to grow in the woodland garden, or shady border. Pretty, lavender-pink flowers dance above the foliage in springtime.  This is a unique small area ground cover or edger for shady areas. It is also effective in partially shaded areas of rock gardens. Epimediums grow well under trees, as path edgers and even walkways that are shaded.

• Height: 6”-10” x Spread: 1’-1 ½’
• Part sun – full shade
• Zone 5-9

Wide 1" felty silver foliage with a hint of green coloring. Upright open form. Softens color transitions in the border. Do not cut into old wood - look for buds to start and do not cut below that. Can be sheared during the summer if needed - new foliage will flush out quickly. Prized for their silver leaves, excellent texture and vigorous growth. They do not flower conspicuously, but are used for their contrasting foliage.

• Height: 10”-14" x Spread: 2’
• Full sun
• Zone 4 to 8

Despite the boldness of its leaves, which have deeply cut and pointed margins, it is a compact grower, at home even in a large container. In full sun, bear’s breeches produces equally dramatic, pagoda-like inflorescences, up to three feet tall. These are composed of tiers of hooded flowers. Each flower has a sharp spine, so be careful when handling them. Because bear’s breeches grows well in sun or part shade.

• Height: 18” x 2’ Spread with 3’ height at blooming
• Mostly Sunny to shade
• Zone 5-9

Tolerates wide range of soils except poorly-drained ones. Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates.  An erect, clump-forming perennial which features pale pink to white flowers enclosed in spiny, reddish-purple bracts and arranged in vertical rows on substantial flower spikes rising well above the foliage to 3-4' tall. Blooms in late spring to early summer. Deeply lobed glossy green leaves (2-3' long) form an ornamental mound which usually remains attractive throughout the growing season.

• Height: 3’-4’ x Spread: 2’-3’
• Full sun to part shade
• Zone 5-7

May not flower well in too much shade. Late spring frosts can impair or eliminate flowering for the year. Remove flowering stalks after bloom. In cold winter areas, plant foliage should be left in place over winter but removed in early spring as new foliage appears. Plants can spread aggressively by creeping rootstocks, particularly in loose soils.  This species of bear’s breeches is a clump-forming perennial that is grown as much for its attractive foliage as for its architecturally bold white flower spikes with rich purple hoods.

• Height: 3’-5’ x Spread: 2’-3’
• Full sun to part shade
• Zone 7-10

Blooms from late spring into mid summer. Deeply-cut, arching, glossy green, spiny, thistle-like leaves (2-3' long) form an ornamental mound of long-stalked, basal foliage which usually remains attractive throughout the growing season. The leaves of A. spinosus are more deeply cut and have rigid spines (hence the species name) at the lobe tips than other Acanthus. The Acanthus leaf has a classic appearance and are the source of the Corinthian leaf motif developed and used as a decoration in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture.

• Height: 3’-4’ x Spread: 2’-3’
• Full sun to part shade
• Zone 5-9

One of the most popular Bellflowers. Plants form a low, cushion-shaped mound of small green leaves, with loads of upfacing, open bells appearing in early summer. This selection has flowers in a clear medium-blue shade. Will continue blooming for weeks if spent blossoms are regularly removed. Excellent choice for the rock garden, edging and in containers. Performs especially well in regions with cool nights during the summer. Plants should be divided every 2 to 4 years, in spring or fall.

• Height: 6”-12” x  Spread: 8”-12”
• Full sun-part shade
• Zone 2-9

Dicentra can be rhizomatous or tuberous perennials with attractively divided leaves and pendent, heart-shaped flowers, usually in arching panicles or racemes. 'Bacchanal' is a spreading rhizomatous perennial with finely divided grey-green leaves and short racemes of nodding, deep crimson flowers in late spring and early summer.  Perfect for the cottage garden. .  It is deer resistant.

• Height: 1’ x Spread: 3’
• Part shade
• Zone 4-8

Apparently a chance hybrid of B. australis and B. alba.  It has the dark charcoal-gray stems of alba and the blue color from australis.  It is, in our opinion a different purple than B. australis but a nice hue.   It blooms May-June in full sun as its parent does with all of the same wonderful habits.   Native – deer resistant.

• Height: 2’-4’ x Spread: 2’-2 ½’
• Full sun
• Zone 6-9

A stately plant with airy wands of ivory-white flowers in summer towering over the gorgeous dark green foliage with purple/chocolate stems. Though it can reach 4 to 7 feet tall, it does not need staking.  Excellent nectar and pollen source for beneficial insects and an important host plant for Appalachian blue and spring azure butterfly.  It blooms in shade for over 4 weeks and will grow in the dry soil even under hardwood trees.  It is long-lived, tough and easy to grow.  C. racemosa.

• Height: 4’-7’ x  Spread: 3’+
• Part shade – shade
• Zone 5-9

This Cimicifuga is a good plant for the mid to back of border and is highly adaptable  It is even perfect for damp, poorly drained soil or even soil that becomes dry. It is attractive near a water feature, pond or stream. It bears fragrant creamy-white flowers in the fall.  There is some contention that this named variety may be Cimicifuga Americana; they are likely synonymous.

• Height: 4’-5’ x  Spread: 3’+
• Part shade – shade
• Zone 5-9

Intense purple leaves have fragrant white bottlebrush flowers are produced in fall. Excellent for late season color. Because Cimicifuga is deer  resistant it is very attractive in a woodland garden or at the wood’s edge.  C. racemosa ‘Brunette’

• Height: 4’-5’ x  Spread: 3’+
• Part shade – shade
• Zone 5-9

Noted for the striking range of foliage colors and textures. 'Burgundy Glow' features tricolored foliage of white, pink and green with blue flowers on 6" spikes in late spring. In mass plantings, the flower effect can be very dramatic and quite painterly.  True for all A. reptans, it is easy to grow and easy to transplant.  It prefers a well-drained shady location but also performs well in sunny areas. Soil should contain organic matter. A light, early spring fertilization is sufficient.  Spreads rapidly.

• Height :  5" x Spread: indefinite, ground cover
• Sun or shade 
• Zone 3-9

This evergreen ground cover adds interest to shady areas.   A European native that spreads rapidly by stolons to form a dense carpet of vegetation. Spikes of pretty dark to medium blue flowers appear in late spring and early summer through the bronze and green-leaves.  It can be tolerant of poor soils but perform best in those that are evenly moist and well drained. Divide plantings every two to three years to prevent overcrowding and possible disease problems. True for all A. reptans, it is easy to grow and easy to transplant.  It prefers a well-drained shady location but also performs well in sunny areas. Soil should contain organic matter. A light, early spring fertilization is sufficient.  Spreads rapidly.

• Height 4"-6" x Spread: indefinite, ground cover
• Sun, part shade or shade 
• Zone 3-9

Mahogany bugleweed is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, perennial groundcover with glossy leaves of dark burgundy to black.  Typical Ajuga reptans needs and habit.  True for all A. reptans, it is easy to grow and easy to transplant.  It prefers a well-drained shady location but also performs well in sunny areas. Soil should contain organic matter. A light, early spring fertilization is sufficient.  Spreads rapidly.

• Height :  5" x Spread: indefinite, ground cover
• Sun or shade 
• Zone 3-9

This is just the sweetest little, tight mounds of rich chocolate, purple thumb-sized and shaped foliage for the A. tenorii ‘Chocolate Chip’.   It is the smallest Ajuga on the market.  The deep blue flowers on 2 inch spikes help make this one of the most attractive ground covers for any landscape with some shade.  It will tolerate light foot traffic between pavers  as well along borders, trees and shrubs.  Not ideal for a path cover that will be tread frequently.

• Height :  6" x Spread: indefinite, ground cover
• Sun or shade 
• Zone 3-9

So far, the reddest butterfly bush that we’ve seen.  It is open, airy, vase-shaped shrub shoots up 6 to 8 feet tall and wide if left to its own devices.  Benefits from severe pruning/cutting back in late.  Cut spent flowers before they go to seed to encourage repeat flowering. The blooms will appear refreshed on foot or more long wands, arching in all directions on sturdy stems. The fragrance is sweetly evocative of summer and the brilliant color is radiant. 'Attraction' breaks new ground with rich cranberry-red.

• Height: 4-6’  x  Spread: 4-6’
• Full Sun
• Zone 5-10

The darkest purple and a very old variety that is a breeze to grow.   It is a atall and stately shrub with extremely dark purple booms that are complimented by a rich dark green foliage.  Against a clear blue summer sky, the wands of profuse flowers appear as a black silhouettes and thusly named Black Knight.

• Height: 4-6’  x  Spread: 4-6’
• Full Sun
• Zone 5-10

This gentle pink butterfly bush seems to be a magnet for the Sphinx moth or hummingbird moth.  Among the butterflies and bumble bees, the moth hovers over this shrub for most of the day.  This shrub is not only attractive in form but also mildly fragrant.   It has a gentle pink color that fades into an almost white throat with a golden eyed center.

• Height: 4-6’  x  Spread: 4-6’
• Full Sun
• Zone 5-10

White Profusion is a large stately beacon to butterflies and beneficial insects.  It is a good clear white flower that blooms from late spring through late summer. It has soft silvery undersides on its leaves which complement the white of the flowers.  Significantly taller than other butterfly bushes.

• Height: 6-8’  x  Spread: 6’
• Full Sun
• Zone 5-10