A cygnet is a young swan. True to name, this foamflower has gracefully elongated and arching new leaves which are buff-beige, like the color of the immature swan. As the season progresses these leaves become infused with tints of green and purple. From late April into June this plant sends up flower stems bearing a multitude of tiny, foam-like blooms resembling the neck and head of the young cygnet. Try creating a drift of these plants in your woodland garden. The plant, like the swan, is such a "changeling" that it'll be interesting all year long. Propagation for sale of this plant is illegal except for licensed growers.

Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers well drained soil

You've all heard of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". You now have it in plant form! The palm-shaped leaves of this mutation have dark, tortoise shell markings on so many hands ready to slash away at the "Karate Kid". (One might ask its legendary hybridizer, Dan Heims, where all this is leading to.) In May and June, the 12-14" flower stems of this curious warrior open pale salmon and slowly fade to ivory white. Aside from our feeble attempt at humor regarding this plant, its genus, Tiarella, has become one of the new superstars of the garden world and 'Ninja' is at the top of the list of its best members

Sun Exposure: Full Shade
Cold Hardiness: Zone 4-9
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil

The very deeply divided leaves of this foamflower suggest its name. It grows into a lovely mound of deeply dissected foliage, each leaf infused with tones of green, purple and pink. The 8-10" flower stalk is somewhat shorter than the typical member of its genus and has a wonderful ivory white hue blooming in April through May and then sporadically until October. There are few shade plants that will give you such a long season of flower and foliage interest. Try combining 'Skeleton Key' with Hostas, Epimediums and ferns.

Sun Exposure: Full Shade
Cold Hardiness: Zone 4-9
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil

A member of the dayflower family (Commelinaceae), all of which have the curious habit of closing their flowers at night. One would assume they have no interest in being pollinated by moths. Despite being named for an Englishman, Tradescantia is a uniquely American native. The genus being typically green in foliage and blue in flower, 'Concord Grape' differs in being purply green in leaf and deeply purple in bloom color. It is also very much more dwarf and compact than its common cousin which can get rather sprawly and raggy. Not 'Concord Grape'! It is very easy to grow, very long-flowering and long lived. You can grow it in shade or sun!.

Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Shade
Cold Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil

This sterile hybrid between V. dumulosum and V. spinosum was crossed by Wisley Gardens in England from two rare species found only in the New Zealand Alps. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the plant is quite hardy here but needs to grow in very well-drained, scree conditions. Because it's sterile and doesn't know it, it blooms its heart out all summer in a vain attempt to coax some buzzing bee to pollinate it. The hybrid was returned from England to New Zealand and we received our original stock from there. It's a perfect gem for your rockery or alpine scree garden. Lacking either of those, try using it as the centerpiece to an alpine trough garden. Its yellow spikes only get 8" tall but each plant should bear many throughout the season.

Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Spacing: 6--12"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers sandy, well drained soil