Scientific name: Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’

Common name: black mondo grass

Family name: Asparagaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 6 – 9

Mature height and spread: 0.75 – 1 feet height, 0.75 – 1 feet spread

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water Use: medium

Soil Requirement: medium moisture, well-drained soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bloom time is from July to August, pink

Suitable uses: medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade

Quick ID description: Low maintenance, Herbaceous perennial, tough plant, evergreen, black leaves, pink flower, be careful to use it, expensive in demand, tolerant shade

Scientific name: Begonia grandis

Common name: hardy begonia

Family name: Begoniaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 6 – 7

Mature height and spread: 1.5 – 2 feet height, 1.5 – 2 feet spread

Sun: part shade to full shade

Water Use: medium to wet

Soil Requirement: moisture, organically rich, well-drained soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bloom time is from July to October, pink

Suitable uses: best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade

Quick ID description: leaves front green, back is red; need well drain soil, shade; easily broken; lots of water in the stem

Scientific name: Campanula takesimana

Common name: Korean bellflower

Family name: Campanulaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone:

Mature height and spread: 45 – 90 cm height, 60 – 90 cm spread

Sun: full sun, sun to part shade

Water Use: average water needs, water regularly, do not overwater

Soil Requirement: moisture, average

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bloom time is mid summer, Late Summer/ Early Fall

Quick ID description: nice flowers, bees like, hummingbirds can not go that low ground 

Scientific name: Carex glauca

Common name: blue sedge

Family name: Cyperaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 4 – 9

Mature height and spread: 0.5 – 1 feet height, 1 – 1.5 feet spread

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water Use: medium to wet

Soil Requirement:  medium to wet soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bloom time is from June to July, light green

Suitable uses: ground cover, naturalize, rain garden

Quick ID description: from bottom to the top of the stem – no nodes on the stem, plants of wet place, often in express moisture, tolerant drought, tough plants, looks good in winter

Scientific name: Pennisetum orientale

Common name: fountain grass

Family name: Poaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 5 – 8

Mature height and spread: 2 – 3 feet height, 2 – 3 feet spread

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water Use: medium

Soil Requirement: medium, well-drained soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bloom time is from June to August, rose-purple

Suitable uses: Easily grown is average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, best   in full sun

Quick ID description: nice plant, last for months, 50cm tall, 70cm cross, very good reliable, tough grass

Scientific name: Deschampsia cespitosa

Common name: tufted hair grass

Family name: Poaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 4 – 9

Mature height and spread: 2 – 3 feet height, 1 – 2 feet spread

Sun: part shade

Water Use: medium, well-drained

Soil Requirement: well-drained soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): bloom time is from July to September

Suitable uses: Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in part shade

Quick ID description: native north America, easy plant to grow, nice size, semi-evergreen; problem is one plant is not enough, at least 25 to form a group

Scientific name: Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’

Common name: Fireglow spurge

Family name: Euphorbiaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 4

Mature height and spread: 0.5 -1 meters height, 0.5 – 1 meters spread

Sun: part shade

Water Use: moisture, well-drained

Soil Requirement: rich, moisture, wet soil doing very well

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): orange/red flowers, green/red leaves

Quick ID description: summer flower and leaves colours, sun and moisture – good choice

Scientific name: Fuchsia magellanica ‘Little Giant’

Common name: Little Giant fuchsia

Family name: Onagraceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 6 – 10

Sun: Sun, part sun, part shade

Water Use: even moisture

Soil Requirement: well-drained and rich soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): summer, fall, red and purple flowers, flower 4~5 months, hummingbirds like it

Quick ID description: attract hummingbirds

Scientific name: Delosperma cooperi

Common name: hardy ice-plant

Family name: Aizoaceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 6 -10

Mature height and spread: 0.25 – 0.50 feet height, 1 – 2 feet spread

Sun: full sun

Water Use: dry

Soil Requirement: dry soil works very well

Leaf arrangement:

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): purple/pink flowers

Suitable uses: ground cover, naturalize

Quick ID description: south Africa plant, green roof plant, not tolerant shade

Scientific name: Eschscholzia californica

Common name: California poppy

Family name: Papaveraceae

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 6 -10

Mature height and spread: 1 – 1.5 feet height, 1 – 1.5 feet spread

Sun: full sun

Water Use: medium

Soil Requirement: sandy, poor to average, well-drained soil

Flower/cone/fruit description(s): orange flower, 6 weeks flower period

Suitable uses: like poor soil, rocky area, sunny area, don’t like shade and competition