There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. grandiflora ‘Baby Sun’

Zones 5-9

Cardininal Bush – There are about 12, mostly arching to upright, deciduous shrubs within the Caprifoliaceae family, found naturally occurring in Japan, Korea, and Northeastern China, in this genus.  Most grow 6-10’ feet tall and wide and produce opposite, pointed elliptical, toothed leaves, usually to 4” long.  The foliage often develops orange, red, and purple tone in fall.  Weigelas are grown for their showy, bell to funnel shaped, pink to red, sometimes white or yellow flowers borne in late spring and early summer, these are usually 1 ½” long, and are borne singly or in corymbs or cymes of 3 or 4 on previous years growth, many are sparingly remontant.  Suitable for a mixed or shrub border, or for open woodland garden.  The flowers attract hummingbirds.

Grow in any fertile, well-drained moist soil in full sun or partial shade.

Prone to  root knot nematode, Japanese beetles, scale insects, Verticillium wilt, twig dieback, and lepidoptera.

W. florida ‘Tango’  – Old-fashioned Weigela –

Zones 5-8

There is a sole species of an erect perennial in this genus. It is found naturally occurring in conifer woods on moist, acidic soil in southeastern USA. It produces evergreen, simple, smooth leaves which are smooth edged, or sometimes with spines toward the bases, and form basal rosettes. The long lasting, colorful, terminal, corn flowers-like flowers are borne from late summer to fall, either solitary or in few to many flowered corymbs, they are good for cutting. Grow in a warm position in a herbaceous border.

Grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained, acidic soil in full sun or part shade. Liable to rot in damp, heavy soils. Provide support. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Divide in spring.

Prone to leaf spots and caterpillars.

S. laevis ‘Klaus Jelitto’ – Stokesia cyanea – This rosette forming, evergreen perennial from Southeastern USA, grows 24″ tall and 18″ wide. It produces elliptic to lance shaped, mid green basal leaves, to 8″ long, slightly spiny near the bases, and with conspicuous, pale greenish white midribs. From mid summer to early autumn, upright stems, with smaller, stalkless leaves, bear solitary, terminal, cornflower-like flowers, to 4″ across, these have spreading, fringed petals in light blue with whitish blue in the centers.

Zones 5-9

This genus comprises crosses between Heuchera and Tiarella, which make evergreen, mat or clump forming, occasionally stoloniferous perennials. They have heart shaped or broadly rounded, lobed, distinct veined, sometime hairy leaves, shaded brown when young and turning reddish brown in autumn. Short loose panicles of dainty tubular-bell shaped, pink or white flowers, to 1/4″ long, are borne over a long period from late spring to autumn. They are excellent as a groundcover or edging in a herbaceous, mixed, or shrub border, or for a woodland garden.

Easy to grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil, in sun or partial shade is best, but full shade is tolerated. Divide in autumn or spring.

Zones 5-8

This genus comprises crosses between Heuchera and Tiarella, which make evergreen, mat or clump forming, occasionally stoloniferous perennials. They have heart shaped or broadly rounded, lobed, distinct veined, sometime hairy leaves, shaded brown when young and turning reddish brown in autumn. Short loose panicles of dainty tubular-bell shaped, pink or white flowers, to 1/4″ long, are borne over a long period from late spring to autumn. They are excellent as a groundcover or edging in a herbaceous, mixed, or shrub border, or for a woodland garden.

Easy to grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil, in sun or partial shade is best, but full shade is tolerated. Divide in autumn or spring.

Zones 5-8

There are about 40 species of annuals, biennials, and perennials in this genus. They occur in damp meadows or woodland margins in North and Central America. They are mostly clump forming plants with sturdy, branching stems and alternate, oval to inversely lance shaped, mid green leaves, 6-8″ long. The daisy-like flowers have prominent yellow or brown centers, and petals in yellow, bronze, orange, or red. Heleniums flower over long period and are suitable for a sunny, mixed or herbaceous border. The flowers are useful for cutting and are attractive to bees. All parts may cause serve discomfort if ingested, contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies.

Easily grown in any fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Provide support for taller species and cultivars. Deadhead to prolong flowering, and divide every 2 or 3 years.

Prone to powdery mildew, rust, leaf smut, and fungal spots

Zones 4-8

There are about 20 species of annuals, biennials, perennials and subshrubs, in this genus. They occur in moist places and prairies in North America. They have alternate, simple, rosetted, lance shaped to elliptic or spoon shaped, pinnatifid, mainly basal leaves, and airy racemes or panicles of short-lived, flat, irregularly star shaped, pink or white flowers, usually 4 petalled. They are graceful plants in a border.

Grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun, but drought and partial shade is tolerated. Cut to ground after flowering.

Prone to rust, Cercospora leaf spots, Septoria leaf spots, downy mildew and powdery mildew.

G. lindheimeri ‘Patriot’

Zones 6-9

There are about 10 species of upright, leafy perennials in this genus.  They occur damp habitats in China, Korea and Japan.  They have alternate, linear-ovate to elliptic, sometimes toothed or smooth edged or pinnatifid leaves.  They are grown for their panicles of white, sometimes violet or pink tinged flower heads with a yellow center appear from summer to fall.  All species grow to be about 3-5’ feet tall.  They are best suited to a wild or informal border.

They are easily grown in any average soil that moist in sun or partial shade, stake taller species and shelter from wind.

Zones 5-9

There are about 10 species of upright, leafy perennials in this genus.  They occur damp habitats in China, Korea and Japan.  They have alternate, linear-ovate to elliptic, sometimes toothed or smooth edged or pinnatifid leaves.  They are grown for their panicles of white, sometimes violet or pink tinged flower heads with a yellow center appear from summer to fall.  All species grow to be about 3-5’ feet tall.  They are best suited to a wild or informal border.

They are easily grown in any average soil that moist in sun or partial shade, stake taller species and shelter from wind.

Zones 5-9

There are about 30 species of perennials, in this genus.  They are native to dry often-hilly habitants in China, Japan, and North America.  Most are very upright with stiff angular stems clothed in toothed edges.  It bears lance shaped leaves ½-6” long depending species.  They can grow any where from 6”-6’ feet tall.  On upright stem tip bear long lasting spikes of tubular, 2-lipped flowers from mid summer to autumn.  Flowers are usually white, pink, mauve, or purple with bracts that back the flowers being the same or slightly contrasting in color.

Easily grown in moist well-drained fertile soil and prefers sunny position.  Most will tolerant occasional frost down to 20 degree Fahrenheit.

Prone to mildew, rusts, downy mildew, and are very attractive to insects.

Agastache foeniculum ‘Liqorice’  – Agastache anethiodora – Agastache anisata – Anise  Hyssop – This native to North America is commonly grown as an annual but can be a perennial that grows 3-5’ feet tall and just a foot wide.  The sweet smelling oval to egg shaped to lance shaped, veined leaves 2-3” long with downy and whitish green undersides have been used for herbal tea or food flavoring.  From mid summer to early autumn it bears 1 ½-3” dense spikes of blue or blue with violet bracts.

Zones 4-11