Umbrella leaf (Darmera peltata) is a Northwest US native plant with astonishingly large leaves.

We love goat’s beard (Aruncus dioicus) for its impressive feathery blooms, which last for a long period.

Virtues: This is a highly ornamental, fragrant, useful herb, all owing to its green-and-cream variegated leaves. A great choice for gardeners looking to combine the ornamental and edible gardens into one. Deer resistant; attractive to …

Virtues: ‘Joanna Reed’ catmint offers a very long bloom time. Its dark purple flowers appear from late spring into fall. This perennial has a low, wide habit and it doesn’t need shearing to stay tidy …

We love sea thrift (Armeria maritima), a compact, grassy-looking perennial that’s great as edging, in the rock garden or for wall pockets.

We love Blue Storm lily-of-the-nile (Agapanthus Blue Storm) for its violet-blue flowers, long bloom time, adaptability and compact size.

We love ‘Presto’ tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Presto’) because it offers the cheerful all-summer flowers of tickseed on a plant that’s half the typical size. Great perennial for the front of the border.

We love Caribbean Coral daylily for its unique deep coral color, compact size and very long bloom time.

We love leatherflower (Clematis viorna), a native vining clematis, for its thick, bell-shaped purple flowers that come all summer long.

We love Bloomerang lilac for its compact size and because it blooms in spring, like other lilacs—but it also reblooms in summer!

We love lady tulips (Tulipa clusiana cvs.) because it’s a good naturalizing tulip that can be counted on to come back for more than one year. And for its pretty spring blooms, of course!