Extremely Attractive Foliage

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A (nearly) complete list of perennials that can be valued for more than just their flowers. The plants in this article have shown exemplary foliage color, variegation, or other unique characteristics that keep them interesting even when not in bloom.

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Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop'

Attractive smaller-scale groundcover with glossy, near-black, scalloped leaves. Shocking violet blue flowers appear on short spikes in spring. Stays compact without growth regulators.

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Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'

Tri-colored foliage in shades of creamy-white, rose-burgundy, and dark green. In fall, mature leaves turn deep bronze, and newer growth is a rose tone. Produces short spikes of blue flowers. Evergreen.

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Amsonia hubrichtii

A southern native with very narrow, needle-like leaves that line the stems like bottlebrushes. Produces 2-3" clusters of small, light blue, star-shaped flowers. Valued for its golden yellow fall color.

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Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud'

New stems emerge near-black like a dark rain cloud. Dark green leaves have silver veining and form a wide, mounded habit. Light periwinkle blue, star-shaped flowers cover the plant for many weeks.

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Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks'

Big Bluestem come into prime earlier than other ornamental grasses. This variety emerges deep green to dark purple and deepens to near black by fall. A foot shorter than ‘Indian Warrior'. One of the very best Big Bluestem from hybridizer Brent Horvath.

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Aralia cordata 'Sun King'

This hardy, tropical looking beauty brightens up the shade garden with its very large, compound, bright gold leaves. Color is greener in deep shade. Tiny white flowers give way to purple-black berries in fall.

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Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'

Soft feathery leaves grow into compact, cushion- like mounds. Has multiple applications in the landscape including edging, rock gardens or containers.

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Aruncus aethusifolius

A miniature selection with the same traits as A. dioicus at roughly ⅓ the size. Fine, glossy, fern-like foliage. Creamy white, 3-4" long, feathery spikes of flowers appear above the foliage. Excellent fall color.

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Aruncus dioicus

Outstanding specimen plant. Looks like a giant white Astilbe. Creamy white flowers are produced on feathery, open panicles which can grow up to 1' long. Robust habit; can be grown in place of a shrub in the garden.

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Aruncus 'Chantilly Lace'

With the addition of 'Chantilly Lace' to the Proven Winners® program, you can be well on your way to a complete shade garden lineup! This part shade-loving plant produces beautiful sprays of lacy, cream-colored flowers in late spring to early summer. It is very floriferous when it's in bloom, completely covering the deep green foliage. Goatsbeard is similar in appearance to Astilbe in the garden, but it is more drought tolerant.

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Aruncus 'Fairy Hair'

This new Goatsbeard is an appropriate size for tucking into places in your shade garden. 'Fairy Hair' produces sprays of creamy, triangular flower plumes that age to a darker color. Its foliage adds a whimsical touch to the garden with its needle-like, medium green leaves. Although the foliage is incredibly dissected, it produces a thick, substantial clump for a solid presence. Goatsbeard is similar in appearance to Astilbe in the garden, but it is more drought tolerant.

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Aruncus 'Misty Lace'

The perfect size Aruncus for smaller gardens. Large, creamy white, feathery plumes on dark red stems. Selected by Dr. Allan Armitage for its heat and humidity tolerance. The best Aruncus for the south.

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Asarum splendens

Vigorous, spreading groundcover with heart-shaped, dark green leaves elegantly mottled with silver. Semi-evergreen; fresh foliage is produced over older leaves each spring. Dark purple flowers are produced under the foliage at soil level.

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Astilbe 'Amber Moon'

Emerges radiant chartreuse yellow with a tinge of red in spring; in summer, the foliage turns to chartreuse green. Tall, strong, blush red stems topped with rose pinkflowers are excellent for cutting.Chinensis hybrid; exhibits good heat tolerance but is best in shade. Discovered by Darrell Probst.

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Athyrium filix-femina 'Lady in Red'

Dark green, upright fronds with deep burgundy stems. (Note: This burgundy color takes 2-3 years to develop.) Pair with purple heucheras to really help the stem color stand out.

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Athyrium 'Ghost'

A hybrid of ‘Pictum' and A. filix-femina. Frosted apple green fronds emit a ghostly white light in the shade. Dark purple stems hold the broad fronds rigidly upright. This selection is taller than many other Athyriums.

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Athyrium 'Godzilla'

Similar to ‘Pictum' but much larger. Thought to be a sporeling of ‘Pictum' and Lady Fern, discovered at Plant Delights. Forms a massive, arching clump of silvery fronds with green highlights and dark purple stems.

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Athyrium niponicum 'Crested Surf'

We are proud to introduce the first perennial fern to the Proven Winners lineup. ‘Crested Surf' looks similar in color to a traditional Japanese Painted Fern, but the tips of the fronds are double crested. A vigorous, taller variety that can fit the middle of the border. Perfect for moist, shady areas of the garden.

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Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

Silvery-grey fronds are dusty purple towards the center. Purplish-red veins and stems. Low, mounding habit. Spreads slowly by rhizomes.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Emerald Mist'

An improvement over ‘Langtrees'; heavier silver bars connect to form a silver collar around the perimeter of the leaf. Very light silver dusting over the entire leaf. Baby blue, forget-me-not type flowers.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

‘Jack Frost' is a name known worldwide and it continues to be a top seller for our customers. It forms a beautiful mound of heart-shaped, silver leaves with green veining. Airy sprays of baby blue, forget-me-not flowers appear in spring.

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Brunnera mmacrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'

A giant version of the classic ‘Jack Frost' – with a twist. Huge 9-10” leaves overlap at the base, appearing circular from a distance. The leaves have a heavy silver overlay with wide, dark green veining. Baby blue, forget-me-not type blossoms are held in clusters above the foliage. Superior leaf spot resistance.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Queen of Hearts'

Compared to its companion plant ‘Jack of Diamonds', ‘Queen of Hearts' has more heart-shaped leaves and a more pronounced silver overlay with narrower bands of dark green veining. Baby blue, forget-me-not type blossoms are held in clusters above the foliage. Superior leaf spot resistance.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Sterling Silver'

An improvement on ‘Looking Glass' with the same silver color and heart-shaped foliage, but with larger habit, leaves (7-8” wide), better leaf quality, and increased heat tolerance. Blue forget-me-not flowers in early spring.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata'

Large, heart-shaped leaves with irregular, creamy white leaf margins are striking from a distance. Some leaves are almost entirely white. Baby blue, forget- me-not like flowers. Performs best in full shade.

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Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Overdam'

Variegated foliage has bright creamy-white margins which turn white with a pink flush. Strikingly erect, feathery plumes turn tan as they age.

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Campanula 'Dickson's Gold'

Bright gold foliage forms a low growing, dense, weed-suppressing clump. A profusion of lavender blue, star-shaped flowers provide striking contrast. If grown in part shade, the foliage is lime green.

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Carex elata 'Bowles Golden'

Bright gold foliage with thin green margins. This selection is taller than most other sedges. It needs consistant moisture to thrive. It will grow in shallow water or in garden beds that are watered regularly.

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Carex oshimensis EVERCOLOR® 'Everillo'

Sport of ‘Evergold'. Similar performance to its parent but with a solid gold leaf color. Long, thin arching leaf blades are chartreuse-green near the crown, but turn gold as they are exposed to UV light. Short, tan infloresence just above the foliage.

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Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

This versatile sedge is beautiful as a spiller in containers, rock gardens, and landscapes. Forms a cascading clump of narrow, creamy yellow leaves with dark green edges. Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Insignificant blooms. Very easy to grow.

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Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

Dark green leaves with bright white edges measure ¼ to ½" across. Grows in nearly full sun to shade in average to moist soil. A slow to moderate spreader that can be used as a groundcover or in containers.

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Carex siderosticha 'Banana Boat'

This showy broad-leaved, deciduous sedge lights up the shade garden with its wide, bright lemon to banana yellow and green striped leaves. Creeps slowly to form a dense mass of bold foliage. Insignificant flowers.

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Carex siderosticha 'Snow Cap'

Similar in size and habit to ‘Banana Boat'. Nearly all-cream to bright white, wide, strappy leaves with narrow green stripes. Reverse variegation pattern of ‘Variegata'. Grows surprisingly well for a plant with so little green. Forms a dense, spreading clump of deciduous foliage. Insignificant flowers.

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Cimicifuga 'Chocoholic'

Deep bronze purple, dissected leaves form a dense, upright clump. Greener in full shade. Fragrant, bottlebrush flowers open mauve pink, then lighten to white. Distinctive specimen for partial shade.

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Cimicifuga ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty'

Striking dark purplish-black foliage; the darkest Cimicifuga to date. Fragrant, 1' long, bottlebrush flowers open white with a pale blush pink tinge. A collector's item.

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Dicentra 'Fire Island'

More vigorous and disease resistant, earlier flowering, and heavier crop of sterile blossoms compared to ‘Burning Hearts'. Sun loving alpine. Magenta-red, heart-shaped flowers appear for months. Finely textured, frosty blue foliage.

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Dicentra 'Luxuriant'

A timeless classic. This everblooming selection produces dark reddish- pink, heart-shaped blossoms for many months beginning in spring. It is sun and heat tolerant, and the foliage does not go summer dormant if given adequate moisture.

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Dicentra 'Pink Diamonds'

Alpine-type bleeding heart that flowers in late spring and blooms throughout the season. Pink flowers open light pink and show a two-tone effect. Medium sized clump of fine, fern-like blue-green foliage. Prefers full sun and good drainage; do not over-water.

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Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart'

A bright twist on a classic perennial. Radiant yellow foliage creates the perfect backdrop for arching sprays of large pink and white, heart-shaped blossoms. Foliage color mellows a bit in summer. May go summer dormant in some climates. Discovered by Nori Pope.

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Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'

Lustrous young orange fronds light up against the glossy, deeper green coloring of the mature fronds. Best leaf color is achieved in part sun. Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions once established.

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Epimedium 'Pink Champagne'

Flowers with white spurs, raspberry centers, and dramatic pink tones. The delicate-looking flowers have an airy feel, making them the perfect contrast to other shade items. Evergreen leaves are mottled green with dark burgundy. This is a very vigorous variety.

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Epimedium ssp. nova 'Spine Tingler'

Aptly named for its spiny margins. Dark green leaves have a slight blush tint. Soft yellow flowers bloom on compact plants. ‘Spine Tingler' sends flowers and foliage up at the same time, unlike other Epimedium.

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Epimedium wushanense 'Sandy Claws'

Similar spiny leaf shape to ‘Spine Tingler' but on a larger plant with long, lance-shaped leaves. New foliage has dramatic maroon coloring, mellowing to dark green by summer. Cream-colored flowers.

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Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire'

Phenomenal color! Deep purple, red, and orange leaves with a touch of chartreuse are set ablaze with crackling sulfur yellow bracts in spring. Turns rich red in the fall. Forms a rounded mound. From E. polychroma.

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Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'

One of the most outstanding plants in our trials. Flashy green and yellow variegated foliage takes on pink and orange tones in cool weather. Unique variegated bracts appear in large clusters in spring. Overwinters well in zone 5b with excellent drainage.

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Festuca glauca 'Blue Whiskers'

Taller and more vigorous than ‘Elijah Blue', with longer leaves and a brighter, silver-blue foliage color. Forms a fully rounded, robust clump with consistent flower coverage. Yellow-green flowers age to tan as the season progresses.

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Geranium maculatum 'Crane Dance'

Upright habit topped with blue flowers. In the fall, the foliage turns bright red (in zone 6). Compared to ‘Elizabeth Ann', the blooms are a more vibrant shade of blue. This native woodland perennial can grow in a range of conditions, from sun to shade.

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Geranium pratense 'Boom Chocolatta'

G. pratense hybrid with rich, dark bronze leaves and an upright habit. Blue-purple flowers cover the top of the habit. Compared to older genetics, this plant is more vigorous and has a very refined habit.

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Geranium pratense 'Dark Reiter'

From Jelitto Perennial Seeds comes this attractive dark-leafed selection that forms a compact mound of finely cut, plum purple foliage. Leafy scapes carry clusters of nicely contrasting, lilac blue flowers.

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Hakonechola macra 'Aureola'

Green and yellow variegated foliage forms a cascading clump like a golden waterfall. Reddish pink fall color. Spreads slowly by rhizomes but is not invasive.

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Hakonechola macra 'All Gold'

Brilliant solid gold foliage glows in the shade. Compared to ‘Aureola', this variety has a more upright habit and increased vigor. Spreads slowly by rhizomes but is not invasive. Reddish brown flowers.

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Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sunstruck'

More compact habit, more ray florets, and a deeper flower color than ‘Loraine Sunshine'. 2" large, golden yellow flowers appear above the cream and green variegated foliage earlier than typical Heliopsis. From Darwin Perennials.

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Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Sunburst'

Seed selection similar to ‘Lorraine Sunshine'. Fabulous cream and green variegated foliage is topped with 2-2½", golden yellow flowers. Greens up a bit in the heat of summer. Showy in combo containers. From Sahin.

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Heuchera DOLCE® 'Apple Twist'

This plant changes color throughout the season. Newly emerging leaves have red veining that lightens with age. Very wavy, rippled chartreuse-yellow leaves will mature to apple green. Dense, full habit with good vigor.

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Heuchera DOLCE® 'Appletini'

The perfect combination of lime foliage and red flowers! Medium sized, lime green leaves have a silver overlay. Dark rose red stems hold rich ruby red flowers, starting in early summer. This plant occasionally reblooms into fall.

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Heuchera PRIMO® 'Black Pearl'

Meet the new standard in black Heuchera! Forms a dense habit of shiny, jet black leaves with scalloped, ruffled edges and rosy purple undersides. Keeps its intense black color even in full sun. White flowers are held in pink calyxes (requires vernalization to bloom).

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Heuchera 'Caramel'

Popular selection prized for its vigor and densely robust habit. Forms a rounded mound of large, fuzzy leaves that range in color from apricot to amber depending on light levels and temperature. Cream flowers. From Thierry Delabroye.

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Heuchera DOLCE® 'Cherry Truffles'

An improvement on CINNAMON CURLS™ with similar shape and color, but adding increased vigor and size. New leaves are bright red, heavily ruffled, and form a low, mounding habit. In summer the color persists, maturing to a rich mahogany red. Dark burgundy stems hold light pink flowers on dark rose calyxes.

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Heuchera 'Electric Plum'

New leaves emerge near black and lighten to an intense purple with dramatic black veining. Dainty, bright fuchsia pink flowers. Brighter purple foliage color, more attractive flowers, and improved floral performance compared to ‘Grape Expectations'.

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Heuchera 'Grape Expectations'

An excellent grower, very uniform in production. Forms a dense, upright mound of broad, thick and durable, vibrant grape purple leaves with black veins. Holds its color well, then develops a bright silver overlay in the heat of summer. Creamy white flowers. Good performance in southern zones.

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Heuchera 'Lava Lamp'

This robust grower forms billowy mass of large, rounded, coppery purple leaves which are bright copper orange in spring. Deep purple scapes carry the cream flowers in early summer. Terrific in landscapes and large containers.

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Heuchera 'Lemon Love'

Slightly ruffled, chartreuse leaves resist burning and are produced on an especially vigorous habit. Color is more lime green in deeper shade. This plant will gradually spread to about 3' wide if given the space. Cream flowers have hints of blush in the calyxes.

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Heuchera PRIMO® 'Mahogany Monster'

Massive glossy, mahogany-red leaves. Slightly ruffled leaves can grow up to 6” wide. Very thick, burgundy stems hold masses of light pink buds with blush pink flowers. Leaves become more coppery with age.

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Heuchera PRIMO® 'Peachberry Ice'

Large 4½-5”, apricot-orange leaves have a silver overlay. Pronounced ruffling reveals bright pink undersides of the leaves. The bright orange color is most pronounced in the spring with newly emerging foliage, over the warmer months the color mellows. Burgundy stems hold airy, cream flowers.

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Heuchera 'Pink Panther'

In spring, semi-glossy leaves emerge metallic pink, maturing to dark berry-pink with dark veins. Filtered light or shade protect the lighter coloration and bring out the best hue. Dark rose calyxes hold light pink flowers on dark stems.

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Heuchera PRIMO® 'Pretty Pistachio'

A big and beautiful perennial! Leaves are chartreuse in spring and mellow to lime green in summer. Huge, 5" wide clusters of medium pink flowers appear all summer long. Flowers dry on the stems to a lovely raspberry color. Best in filtered sun or afternoon shade.

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Heuchera DOLCE® 'Silver Gumdrop'

Unlike other silver Heucheras, ‘Silver Gumdrop' has vibrant pink flowers instead of the typical white. A smaller scale Heuchera with silver, iridescent leaves and a semi-glossy finish. Leaves take on a rosy blush overtone later in the season.

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Heuchera DOLCE® 'Spearmint'

Like ‘Silver Gumdrop', this plant boasts beautiful foliage and excellent flower performance. Silvery-green leaves have dark green veins. Compared to ‘Appletini', this is a rich, deep shade of green rather than chartreuse-yellow. Bicolor flowers have dark pink petal tips and light pink bases with a long season of bloom.

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Heuchera 'Twist of Lime'

Incredibly wavy, chartreuse-yellow leaves. Perhaps one of our brightest yellow Heucheras. Ruffling becomes less pronounced as the foliage matures. For best yellow color, site in dappled shade or morning sun. Cream flowers appear in early summer.

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Heuchera PRIMO® 'Wild Rose'

Dense habit of large, bright rosy-purple leaves with deep charcoal gray veining. Upright, dark burgundy-rose flower scapes with dark buds that open to rosy-pink flowers.

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Heuchera DOLCE® 'Wildberry'

Large, scalloped, glossy leaves are a bold shade of purple. Compared to ‘Blackberry Ice', the leaves are larger, have a richer hue, and hold onto their purple color for much of the season.

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Heucherella 'Catching Fire'

A polished, vigorous perennial. Rounded, vibrant lime green leaves have defined flame-shaped markings that flare from the center like cherry red fire. In summer, markings deepen to mahogany. Cream flowers. Best in filtered sun or afternoon shade.

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Heucherella FUN AND GAMES® 'Hopscotch'

Leaves emerge red with dark red centers early in spring, before lightening to bronze red. Lobed leaves create a unique lacy texture in the garden. The leaves mellow to deep green later in the season. Cream flowers.

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Heucherella 'Pink Fizz'

Durable perennial for sun or shade. Large, deeply lobed, soft green leaves are lightly silvered with prominent purple veins. Retains its dense habit and coloration all season. Pure pink flowers pop open from hot pink buds on densely packed flower wands.

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Heucherella 'Pumpkin Spice'

Bronze red leaves emerge in late spring and hold its color well into early summer. Each lobed leaf has deep mahogany centers that follow the veins of the leaf. Dark red stems hold cream flowers.

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Heucherella FUN AND GAMES® 'Red Rover'

Newest leaves in spring are coppery red, a brighter red than ‘Hopscotch'. Large, deeply lobed, finger-like leaves have burgundy red centers. The leaves mellow to olive green later in the season with rich, red fall color. Burgundy rose stems hold creamy white flowers.

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Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® 'Berry Awesome'

This stunning variety has a densely compact habit of deeply lobed, maple-like leaves, a vast improvement on older varieties. Its dark, midnight olive green foliage complements the lavender pink flowers for a showy display in late summer. Huge 7-8" ruffled flowers have a red eye.

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Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® 'Cherry Choco Latte'

Very large, 8-9” flowers are white with intense deep pink veining and a notable large red eye. Attractive dark olive green foliage has bronze highlights. Replaces ‘Cherry Cheesecake' in the Proven Winners® lineup with larger flowers and improved flower form, more pronounced veining on the petals, darker foliage, and an improved, compact habit.

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Hibiscus 'Dark Mystery'

Dark, wine purple foliage contrasts beautiful with the large 8-9” white flowers. Each flower has a cherry red eye and dark pink veining. Heart-shaped leaves cover the round habit.

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Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® 'Evening Rose'

8” hot-pink puckered flowers cover the round, dense habit of near-black foliage. Compared to ‘Berry Awesome', the foliage is much darker and the flower color is more magenta than lavender.

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Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® 'Holy Grail'

Incredibly dark, near-black leaves are oval shaped and pack the habit for a very full appearance. 8-9” rich, deep red flowers. The red and black colors perfectly complement each other. Bright green calyxes starkly contrast the dark foliage.

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Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel'

Absolutely stunning! Combines the deep wine purple, maple-like foliage of ‘Summer Storm' and the scarlet red, 8-9" flowers of ‘Cranberry Crush'. Relatively compact habit; intermediate in size between its parents. Indeterminate bloomer; very long flowering selection.

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Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® 'Perfect Storm'

Everything you would want in a Hibiscus: awesome compact habit, huge flowers, and dark foliage. About half the size of ‘Summer Storm'. 7-8" wide, white flowers are edged with light pink, with a bright red eye that radiates out with the veins.

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Hibiscus 'Starry Starry Night'

Stunning flowers with the darkest foliage to date makes this Hibiscus a must-have. Near-black, broad, maple-like leaves. Interesting 7-8", pale pink flowers have darker pink speckling and veining. Bright green calyxes contrast with dark foliage.

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Hibiscus 'Summer Carnival'

Unlike other variegated varieties, ‘Summer Carnival' displays excellent vigor, great flower coverage, and forms a well-rounded habit. 7” magenta pink flowers cover the upright, rounded habit. Each leaf has a narrow cream margin and the edges have a hint of blush.

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Hosta 'Afterglow'

This wide margined sport of ‘Climax' features large, green, heart-shaped leaves with incredibly striking, wide, yellow margins. Forms an impressive upright mound in the landscape; makes an excellent specimen. Pale lavender flowers.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Autumn Frost'

Incredibly showy sport of ‘First Frost'. Leaves emerge frosty blue-green with wide, brilliant yellow margins in spring and then turn green with creamy white margins in summer. One of the showiest of all hostas. Light lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Brother Stefan'

A favorite of hosta enthusiasts! Forms a large clump of thick, heavily corrugated, puckered leaves. Spring leaves are chartreuse with a blue margin. Mature leaves are gold with a green margin. Near-white flowers.

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Hosta 'Cathedral Windows'

A brighter version of ‘Holy Mole'. Grows quickly to form a large clump of rounded, bright gold leaves with very wide, dark green margins. Leaves become domed as they age. Large, fragrant, near-white flowers.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Coast to Coast'

This giant, solid gold hosta makes a striking specimen. Emerges chartreuse-yellow, then turns lighter gold in summer. Thick, puckered, wavy leaves form an upright vase-shaped clump. Pale violet flowers appear just above the foliage on proportionate scapes.

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Hosta 'Curly Fries'

This popular hosta forms a seemingly electrified clump of extremely rippled, narrow leaves. Mature plants have red speckled petioles. Best in morning sun where its chartreuse foliage will be brightest. Lavender flowers.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® 'Diamond Lake'

Heart-shaped blue leaves are thick and heavily corrugated with wavy margins. The large size of this plant translates to large leaves: measuring up to 9” wide by 11” long. Pale lavender flowers appear in early to midsummer.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Empress Wu'

The largest known hosta in commerce! Makes a tremendous focal point. Huge, thick, dark green, deeply veined leaves form a massive upright clump. Pale reddish violet flowers. A top seller.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Etched Glass'

Sport of ‘Stained Glass' with wider margins and thicker leaves than the parent. Very wide, dark green margins contrast with a bright, brilliant yellow center. Between the margin and the centers is a light green pattern. Margins have puckering when the plant is mature. Very large and fragrant, near-white flowers.

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Hosta 'First Frost'

A sport of ‘Halcyon' with the same intense blue-green leaf color. Emerges with a gold margin which changes to pure white later in the season. Good grower in containers and in the garden. Leaves hold up well until the “first frost.” Light lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Happy Dayz'

Sport of ‘Orange Marmalade' with wider, more blue-green margins and better vigor. Leaves of good substance have yellow centers which brighten to parchment in summer. Livens up the shade garden with its distinct variegation and light lavender flowers.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® 'Hudson Bay'

Improved ‘Eskimo Pie'; stronger grower and a showier specimen overall. Wider, brighter blue margins and apple green jetting contrast nicely with the creamy white center all season. Leaves are of heavy substance. Near-white flowers.

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Hosta 'Island Breeze'

Sport of ‘Paradise Island' with better variegation and leaf substance. Wide, green margins contrast with bright yellow centers in spring. Centers turn chartreuse in shade and light yellow in sun. Showy red petioles. Dark lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Mini Skirt'

This flirty mini hosta has very wavy, thick, blue-green leaves with creamy yellow margins in spring. Center turns green and edge lightens to creamy white in summer. Pale lavender striped flowers appear on proportionate scapes.

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Hosta 'Pocketful of Sunshine'

This cute small hosta grows quickly to form a compact clump of chartreuse to yellow, cupped leaves with broad, deep green margins. Thick, rugose foliage. Sport of ‘Rainforest Sunrise' with wider margins. Light lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Praying Hands'

Definitely a collector's item! Upright, narrow, tightly folded leaves resemble hands folded in prayer. The dark green leaves are heavily rippled with very thin, gold margins. Lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Rainbows End'

This incredible variegated hosta is very distinctive in gardens and containers. Shiny, bright yellow leaves of good substance have dark green margins that jet into the center which brightens to creamy white in summer. Showy red scapes carry dark lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Royal Wedding'

Prestigious wide-margined sport of ‘Diana Remembered'. Forms an upright mound of thick, shiny yellow leaves with very wide, creamy white to pure white margins. Enjoy its sweetly perfumed, large 3-4", white flowers.

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Hosta 'Stained Glass'

A sport of ‘Guacamole'. Huge 10½" long, brilliant gold leaves with wide, dark green margins. Large, fragrant, pale lavender flowers. Exhibits greater sun tolerance.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Seducer'

This showy hosta has large, dark green leaves with a slightly ruffled, gold margin and a trace of white between the center and margin. Requires summer heat to develop full coloration. Near-white flowers.

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Hosta 'Touch of Class'

A tetraploid sport of ‘June' with wider blue margins, chartreuse to yellow centers, and green jetting. Leaves are of heavy substance. Lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Vulcan'

This vigorous sport of ‘Captain Kirk' has crisp white centers that do not melt out. Dark green margins and yellow coloring jet toward the center of each broad, heart-shaped leaf. Light lavender flowers on white scapes top the clump.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Waterslide'

‘Waterslide' has wavy, ruffled leaves with heavy substance. The blue, rippled leaves look like water splashing in the shade garden, and hold their blue color well into the summer season. Lavender flowers appear on proportionate flower scapes.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Wheee!'

Like a little girl's wavy locks, extremely ruffled leaves are wavy all the way from the crown out to the leaf tips. This ruffling is evident even on juvenile plants. Green leaves with cream margins are of good substance. Light lavender flowers.

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Hosta 'Wrinkle in Time'

A sport of ‘Pilgrim' with showy, wavy margins. Dark green leaves with creamy yellow margins have a single prominent wave that begins one third of the way from the leaf base. Margins mature to creamy white in summer. Lavender flowers.

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Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Wu-La-La'

Sport of ‘Empress Wu' with the same size and presence and takes it to the next level with an attractive margin. Blue-green leaves have a striking apple-green margin, as well as good substance. Like its parent, this hosta will take about 5 years to reach full maturity and size. Violet flowers.

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Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'

Popular in the north where it spreads slowly by underground runners to form a thick patch of green leaves with striking blood red tips. Glows nearly all-red in fall; rarely flowers. Spreads more quickly in the south; care should be taken to control its spread there.

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Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning'

Light green leaves are shaped like lightning bolts with creamy yellow to white margins. Compact, shorter selection with the same deep reddish purple flowers as the species. We ship clean stock.

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Lagerstroemia BARISTA® 'Cherry Mocha'

A very refined shrub for the landscape. Woody, burgundy-colored stems bear semi-glossy burgundy foliage. Cherry red flowers open from shiny red buds, contrasting nicely with its dark foliage.

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Lagerstroemia BARISTA® 'Like a Latte'

A petite habit with branched, woody stems. Attractive, dark green foliage with burgundy veining. In late summer, coppery red buds open to pure white flowers.

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Lagerstroemia BARISTA® 'Spiced Plum'

An exciting new color to the collection. Rosy red flower buds open to raspberry purple flowers. Dark red stems hold deep green leaves with heavy olive highlights, forming a compact, rounded habit as stellar as the flowers.

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Lagerstroemia BARISTA® 'Sweet Macchiato'

Upright, branched, and bushy selection. Dark blue-green foliage with glossy deep red new growth. In late summer, glossy red buds burst open to sweet, hot pink flower clusters with mustard yellow stamens.

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Ligularia 'Bottle Rocket'

A more compact sport of ‘Little Rocket'; delivers excellent garden performance. Perfectly proportional plant forms a dense clump of thicker, serrated green leaves with mustard yellow flower spikes held on chocolate stems just at the top of the foliage. Foliage holds up well in the summer heat.

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Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford'

Broad, glossy, chocolate-purple leaves with bright purple undersides make a bold statement in the garden. Golden orange, daisy-like flowers on purplish-black stems. A top seller!

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Matteuccia struthiopteris

Green, pinnate fronds are shaped like ostrich plumes, being much wider at the top and tapering to a bare stipe. Turns bronze-gold in fall, then brown in winter. Spreads rapidly by underground runners. Needs moist soil.

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Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland'

A dwarf form of ‘Variegatus'; similar green and white variegated foliage but a shorter, more compact growth habit. Does not need staking. Very showy, silky pink plumes. Nice in containers.

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Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra'

A popular grass, especially in northern regions, since it blooms reliably each year in late summer. Green leaves with distinctive gold banding form a rounded, almost ball-shaped clump topped with reddish purple plumes.

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Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'

Distinctively elegant ornamental grass. Very narrow, finely textured leaves have a silvery green appearance and glow when backlit by the sun. Refined upright arching clump is topped with bronze red plumes which age to cream.

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Miscanthus sinensis 'Oktoberfest'

Improved ‘Graziella'; better fall color and early blooming. Forms a narrow, upright tower of wide, deep green leaves that develop deep purple and red highlights in late summer to early fall. Shimmering burgundy flowers turn creamy tan as they age. From Gary Trucks.

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Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'

Similar green and yellow banded foliage like ‘Little Zebra' but a totally different habit. Spiky textured foliage grows strictly upright like porcupine spines, thus the name. Pinkish copper blooms in areas with long growing seasons.

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Mukdenia rossi 'Karasuba'

Unique perennial for partial shade. Green, fan-shaped leaves are topped by delicate panicles of starry white flowers in spring. Beginning in summer, deep red tones creep inward from the edges. Fire red fall color.

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Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Niger'

Grass-like plant forms a compact, dense clump of nearly jet black foliage. Looks much like a black Liriope. Short spikes of light purple to white flowers are followed by purplish black berries in fall.

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Panicum virgatum PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Cheyenne Sky'

Petite red Panicum; ideal for containers. Forms a tight, vase-shaped clump of blue-green foliage that turns wine red in early summer. Purple flowers. From Gary Trucks.

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Penstemon 'Blackbeard'

Named for the famous black-bearded pirate, this perennial has incredible dark eggplant purple foliage. Dark purple flower stems hold its lilac purple flowers with white flaring tubes. Stays strictly upright all season long.

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Penstemon 'Midnight Masquerade'

A sturdy clump of deep burgundy purple leaves. Rich lavender-purple flowers have pure white interiors and are produced on dark stems just above the foliage. This superior selection boasts a fuller, more refined habit, more vibrant flower color, and a more consistent flowering performance.

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Penstemon 'Onyx and Pearls'

A combination of dark foliage and soft lavender flowers with white interiors. From a distance, the flowers look completely white. Compared to ‘Blackbeard', this is a taller, fuller plant with lighter colored flowers.

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Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Blue Jean Baby'

A shorter, manageable Russian Sage that is still vigorous in the landscape and production. Lavender-blue flowers held in smoky purple calyxes bloom for a long period starting in midsummer, with the color from the calyxes extending appeal into fall.

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Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Denim 'n Lace'

One of the best Perovskia we offer–a must have! Stays compact, has stronger stems, with a more upright habit than most older varieties. Lace-like, bright sky blue flowers are held on amethyst calyxes for a very full look.

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Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Rocketman'

A narrower, upright vase-shaped habit and relatively short stature set this new Perovskia apart. Its aromatic, grey-green, non-dissected leaves line the silvery stems which are topped with large, fluffy textured, lavender-blue flowers.

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Polygonatum ordoratum 'Ruby Slippers'

Upright and slightly arching stems are red from base to tip. Deep green leaves have silvery undersides. White flowers in late spring below the stem. At the leaf axils, blue berries follow and remain until late fall. Plants grow in colonies and will spread slowly in the garden. Of Japanese origin.

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Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'

Classic shade groundcover. Green and white variegated leaves line the arching, unbranched stems. Dainty white flowers dangle from the stems soon after emerging in spring.

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Pulmonaria 'Pretty in Pink'

Large, bright rose pink flowers are produced in large flower clusters over a low and wide habit. Dark green leaves are lightly to moderately speckled with silver. This plant will thrive in part to full shade with adequate moisture.

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Pulmonaria 'Twinkle Toes'

Dainty light periwinkle blue flowers cover a low, mounded habit. Dark green leaves are lightly sprinkled with silver. Thrives in part shade to full shade with adequate moisture.

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Sanguisorba officinalis var. microcephala 'Little Angel'

Tiny, deep green leaves have creamy white margins that form a dense, petite clump of foliage. Bright green stems hold long, oval-shaped rosy red flower panicles–reminiscent of matchsticks–that pop out the top of the plant. A Japanese selection.

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Schizachyrium scoparium PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Paradise'

A result of an extensive Schizachyrium breeding program. Upright and columnar habit stays upright all season, silvery blue leaves in summer. Deep wine fall color.

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Schizachyrium scoparium 'Smoke Signal'

A beautifully refined version of our native cultivar that takes on scarlet red tones in late summer, turning deeper red-purple in fall. Tiny, tan seed heads appear in early fall. Maintains its strictly upright habit through fall without flopping.

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Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone'

A standout cultivar that possesses a nearly iridescent silvery mauve purple cast all over beginning in midsummer. Retains this color through fall when brighter purple highlights develop. Forms a strictly upright, narrowly columnar clump.

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Sedum takesimense ATLANTIS™

Variegated groundcover sedum from Hortech, Inc. Small, serrated leaves are dark green with wide creamy yellow margins. Margins become tinged with pink blush tones with cold temperatures late in fall. Great for rock gardens or dry landscapes.

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Sedum AUTUMN DELIGHT™ ('Beka')

Upright sedum with chartreuse-yellow leaves and a narrow, blue-green, serrated margin. Cream buds open to large clusters of light pink flowers. Bronze seed heads. From Intrinsic Perennial Gardens.

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Sedum ROCK 'N GROW® 'Boogie Woogie'

A summer-flowering groundcover type. This sport of ‘Little Miss Sunshine' has cream margins and is sprinkled with yellow flowers during early to midsummer. Excellent vigor and a good variegated option for a groundcover in the landscape.

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Sedum 'Frosted Fire'

Similar to AUTUMN CHARM™, ‘Frosted Fire' is a variegated sport of ‘Autumn Fire' rather than ‘Autumn Joy'. Light green leaves with creamy yellow, serrated margins form a dense, upright mound.

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Sedum sieboldii

Low, spreading species; forms a rounded mound and spreads horizontally from the crown. Round, blue-green leaves with a narrow pink margin. Small clusters of bright pink flowers in early fall. Brilliant fall color.

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Tiarella 'Cutting Edge'

Finely dissected green leaves with dramatic dark burgundy centers and a nicely rounded habit. In early spring, creamy bottlebrush-like flowers cover the entire plant. It has a clumping habit, meaning it is well behaved and won't run in the garden.

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Tiarella 'Fingerpaint'

This semi-running woodland perennial has bright green foliage in spring and is deeply lobed with pointy edges and an overall lacy texture. Burgundy blotches in the center of the leaves. Ivory flowers in spring.

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Tricyrtis formosana 'Autumn Glow'

Improvement over ‘Gilt Edge'; much more impressive variegation. Wide, yellow leaf margins are showier in the shade. Arching stems of orchid-like, reddish purple to blue violet speckled blossoms are great for late season interest.

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Yucca filamentosa 'Excalibur'

An improvement over the species; much more uniform, compact habit. Forms a spiky clump of evergreen, blue-green to glaucous greygreen leaves lined with an extraordinary number of curly white filaments. Sturdy spikes of white flowers.