BulbMay-JunAllium
Dramatic globe-shaped heads on tall stems. Architectural and deer-proof.
Z5-9
ShrubJun-JulAmerican Beautyberry
Inconspicuous flowers give way to stunning clusters of magenta-purple berries in fall. The berries are the show.
Z5-8
PerennialJul-SepAnise Hyssop
Lavender-blue spikes with licorice-scented foliage. A pollinator powerhouse that blooms for months.
Z4-9
PerennialAug-NovAster
The grand finale of the garden season. Essential for fall pollinators.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-AugAstilbe
Feathery plumes that light up shady, moist spots like nothing else can.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugAugust Moon Hosta
Glowing gold foliage all season, and one of the best hostas for brighter spots with some morning sun.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-AugBee Balm
Shaggy, crown-shaped flowers that hummingbirds fight over.
Z3-10
ShrubApr-SepBloom-a-Thon Azalea
Repeat-blooming azalea with waves of color spring through fall. Evergreen in mild climates.
Z5-9
ShrubMay-SepBloomerang Lilac
Blooms in spring, then reblooms summer through frost. Compact habit with classic lilac fragrance.
Z3-7
PerennialJul-AugBlue Angel Hosta
Massive blue-gray leaves up to 18 inches long. One of the largest and most slug-resistant hostas.
Z3-8
ShrubJun-OctButterfly Bush
Long, arching flower wands that butterflies absolutely lose their minds over.
Z5-10
PerennialJun-AugCampanula
Open, nodding bells in clear blue on tall graceful stems. Self-sows into refined cottage garden drifts.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-SepCatmint
Billowy lavender-blue haze that blooms all season if you shear it back.
Z3-10
ShrubJul-SepChaste Tree
Long lavender-blue spikes cover this heat-loving shrub all summer. One of the few shrubs that actually blooms in August.
Z6-9
PerennialMay-JunChives
Cheerful purple pom-pom flowers on a kitchen staple. Edible blooms make any salad Instagram-worthy.
Z3-9
VineMay-SepClematis
The queen of flowering vines. Over 300 species, something for every spot.
Z3-10
TreeJun-SepCrape Myrtle
The tree of the South. Months of crinkled blooms and gorgeous peeling bark.
Z7-10
Ground CoverApr-MayCreeping Phlox
Cascading sheets of spring color over walls and slopes. Evergreen mat.
Z3-10
PerennialJul-AugCulver's Root
Tall tapering spires of tiny white flowers that bees mob. Vertical and elegant at the back of the border.
Z3-8
BulbJul-OctDahlia
Endless forms from dinner-plate to pompom. The obsession of flower farmers.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-JulDelphinium
Towering spires of true blue. The tallest, most dramatic back-of-border plant.
Z3-8
PerennialApr-MayDwarf Crested Iris
Tiny lavender-blue iris flowers with gold crests on a spreading native ground cover. A spring woodland treasure.
Z3-9
ShrubMay-JunDwarf Korean Lilac
Slow-growing dwarf with dense rounded habit. Perfect for small gardens and foundation plantings.
Z3-7
TreeMar-AprEastern Redbud
Magenta flowers erupt directly from bare branches. Spring showstopper tree.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugEmpress Wu Hosta
The world's largest hosta. Individual leaves can exceed two feet. A bold statement in any shade garden.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-JulFire and Ice Hosta
Stark white centers with deep green margins, high contrast that jumps out from a shady border.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugFrances Williams Hosta
Classic blue-green heart-shaped leaves with wide gold margins that make this one of the all-time great hostas.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepGarden Phlox
Billowing clusters of fragrant summer color. A butterfly magnet.
Z3-8
PerennialMar-MayGulf Coast Penstemon
Nodding tubular flowers in soft lavender shades brighten moist woods of the Gulf Coast.
Z7-9
VineJun-AugHagley Hybrid Clematis
Soft shell-pink flowers with a hint of mauve that fade beautifully in part shade and bloom reliably all summer.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugHalcyon Hosta
The bluest hosta you can grow. Thick, heavily textured leaves resist slugs better than most.
Z3-8
PerennialJan-AprHellebore
The Lenten Rose. Elegant nodding blooms that thrive in deep shade.
Z3-10
PerennialJul-AugHosta
The undisputed queen of shade gardening. Foliage in every green and blue.
Z3-8
ShrubJun-SepHydrangea
Massive mophead blooms that shift color with soil pH. Showstoppers.
Z5-10
AnnualMay-OctImpatiens
The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-JunIris
Elegant sword-leaved perennials with intricate, ruffled blooms.
Z3-10
PerennialJul-SepJoe-Pye Weed
Towering native with mauve domes that butterflies swarm in late summer.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugJune Hosta
Gold center streaked with blue-green margins. Color shifts through the season. A collector's favorite.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-AugLavender
Fragrant silver-green mounds beloved by bees and humans alike.
Z5-10
ShrubApr-MayLilac
Intensely fragrant clusters that define spring in northern gardens.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JunMeadow Rue
Fluffy puffs of bloom on tall, airy stems above columbine-like foliage. Light and ethereal.
Z5-8
ShrubMay-JunMiss Kim Lilac
Compact lilac with pale lavender blooms and outstanding fragrance. Burgundy fall foliage as a bonus.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-AugMunstead Lavender
Earlier blooming and slightly softer purple than Hidcote. Gertrude Jekyll's favorite for a reason.
Z5-9
VineMay-SepNelly Moser Clematis
Pale pink petals with a darker pink bar down the center. Prefers some shade to prevent color fading.
Z4-8
PerennialJul-SepObedient Plant
Spikes of snapdragon-like flowers that can be pushed and stay where moved, earning a very literal common name.
Z3-9
PerennialApr-MayOregon Iris
Small purple iris flowers with yellow signals on wiry stems. A tough, underappreciated Pacific Northwest native.
Z6-8
PerennialJul-AugPatriot Hosta
Dark green leaves with crisp white margins. Classic variegated hosta that brightens shady spots.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulPenstemon
Tubular flowers on upright stems. Native hummingbird magnet for dry gardens.
Z3-8
AnnualMay-OctPetunia
Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-AugPhenomenal Lavender
Survives humidity and cold that kills other lavenders. Silver foliage stays tight and full.
Z5-9
ShrubMay-JunRhododendron
Big, bold trusses of bloom over glossy evergreen foliage.
Z3-8
ShrubJul-OctRose of Sharon
Tropical-looking hibiscus flowers on a cold-hardy shrub. Blooms late.
Z5-10
PerennialMar-MayRosemary
Aromatic evergreen herb with tiny blue flowers loved by early bees. Needs excellent drainage.
Z8-10
PerennialJul-OctRussian Sage
Airy lavender clouds on silver stems. Thrives in heat and poor soil.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugSagae Hosta
Huge gray-blue leaves with creamy margins on a stately, vase-shaped plant that wins awards for good reason.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugStained Glass Hosta
Glossy gold center with dark green margins, like light through a cathedral window.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-SepStokes Aster
Fringed, shaggy-petaled flowers in shades of cornflower blue that bloom for weeks on a tough Southern native.
Z5-9
PerennialJul-AugSum and Substance Hosta
Chartreuse giant that can take more sun than most hostas. Heart-shaped leaves grow enormous.
Z3-8
AnnualApr-OctSweet Alyssum
Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.
Z3-10
AnnualApr-JunSweet Pea
Ruffled, intensely fragrant climbing flowers in every pastel shade. Cool-season annual that hates heat.
Z2-11
Ground CoverApr-JunVinca
Evergreen mat with periwinkle-blue flowers. Tough shade ground cover.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-SepWalker's Low Catmint
Perennial Plant of the Year. Billowy lavender-blue spikes that rebloom hard after a shear.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugWide Brim Hosta
Blue-green leaves with wide creamy-white margins that age to a clean white, a standout performer in any shade garden.
Z3-8
ShrubApr-MayWild Azalea
Sweetly fragrant pinwheel flowers on a deciduous native azalea that grows from New England to Georgia. Earlier and more cold-hardy than most.
Z4-8
PerennialJul-AugWild Bergamot
The wild cousin of bee balm. Lavender puffs alive with pollinators. Tougher and more mildew-resistant.
Z3-9
PerennialApr-JunWild Blue Phlox
Loose clusters of sky-blue flowers float above woodland floors in spring on a fragrant, mat-forming native.
Z3-8
PerennialApr-JunWild Geranium
Soft pink blooms over deeply-cut foliage. A woodland edge staple.
Z3-8
VineApr-MayWisteria
Cascading, fragrant racemes that create a dreamy canopy. Needs structure.
Z5-10