Popular Species Elevator Pitches

Achillea (Yarrow)

Whether you’re a lazy gardener or a botanical overachiever, Yarrow’s got your back. Plant it once, forget it forever, and enjoy the drama-free beauty.

So named because Achilles allegedly used this plant to speed his wounded soldiers’ healing during the Trojan War, Yarrow has historically been prized for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and astringent properties both in European folk medicine and indigenous North America.

Achillea is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, and blooms with lacy, flat caps of flowers for much of the summer.

Pros

• Yarrows come in a wide range of colors... you can mix them all together and get a pastel wonder.
• Unique peppery, sharp smell that isn't unpleasant (except to deer and rabbits).  It's also an insect repellant.
• Great cut flowers

Cons

• Will not tolerate shade
• Susceptible to Powdery Mildew (Water the soil instead of the foliage and give them space to grow for air flow to help prevent disease.)

Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)

Pros

• Thrives in part shade to full sun
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Will grow in most soil and moisture conditions
• Stays low, making it an excellent alternative to grass
• Attracts pollinators
• Will grow in gardens, yards, planters, probably a hot asphalt road…

Cons

• Likes to grow and grow and grow, sometimes even where you don’t want it

Allium (Allium)

Ornamental onions' purple puffballs look like Dr. Seuss designed them after a particularly whimsical dream.  Their globe-shape blooms shoot up like botanical lollipops, demanding attention.  After a relatively short bloom, the seed heads continue to look interesting (spooky?) into fall and winter.  They’re low-maintenance pollinator favorites which are also deer-resistant due to a pungent onion-y smell.  Alliums look good in masses, and often make themselves that way by reseeding.

Allium, is a large genus of onion- or garlic-scented bulbous herbs of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). Allium species are found in most regions of the world. Several are important food crops, including the onion (Allium cepa), garlic (A. sativum), chive (A. schoenoprasum), and leek (A. porrum), and some are cultivated as ornamental border plants.

Allium species are characterized by pungent linear leaves and flowers with six petals. Many arise from bulbs or rhizomes, and most are perennials. The flowers are frequently borne in spherical flower clusters and produce black seeds in dry capsule fruits. Some plants reproduce asexually from bulbils in the flower head.

Pros

• Architectural flair
• Pollinator magnets
• Extremely low-maintenance
• Deer-Resistant
• Interesting seed heads months longer than blooms

Cons

• Short bloom time
• Oniony smell
• Self-seeding
• Leaves can flop or yellow before the flowers bloom

Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)

About Snapdragons

Snapdragons are a well-loved favorite of annual enthusiasts for their long-lasting, bright colors, and cheerful, nodding spikes of snout-shaped flowers.

These beauties come in a wide range of heights and hues and are a must in any traditional cottage garden.

Snapdragons don’t love extremely hot weather and may lose some bloom brilliance in extended heat, but do prefer sunny spots as long as they’re well-watered.

Pros

Long bloom season

Lots of color and height variety available

Cons

Do not tolerate heat well

Not cold hardy

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)

About Swamp Milkweed

Don’t let the undesirable common name “Swamp Milkweed” fool you - these are beautiful, useful plants that gently smell like vanilla (mmm) and feed valuable pollinators with their sweet nectar.

These plants can be invasive without natural competition, so makes a great choice for a wild pollinator garden or a meadow planting. 

Swamp Milkweed gained its unfortunate nickname for liking wet feet… very wet feet. This plant would be happy in standing water for days on end!

Pros

• Happy in very wet conditions
• Pollinator favorite
• Loves full sun to partial shade

Cons

• Can be invasive in a more “formal” garden
• Not drought-tolerant (would need regular watering during hot periods)

Aster (Aster)

Asters are your garden’s grand finale—bursting into bloom just when everything else starts to fade. These late-season stars bring a confetti of purples, pinks, and whites that pollinators adore. They’re tough, low-maintenance, and thrive in Chicagoland’s fall. Plant asters, and your garden will go out with a standing ovation.

Asters are a beloved genus of perennial flowering plants that are renowned for their vibrant, daisy-like blooms and important role in supporting late-season pollinators. Native to North America and Eurasia, asters are a diverse group, comprising hundreds of species and cultivars that vary greatly in their growth habits, flower colors, and bloom times.

Common garden asters, such as New England aster (Aster novae-angliae) and Smooth aster (Aster laevis), typically feature large, showy flower heads composed of delicate, radiating ray petals surrounding a central disk. These blooms range in hue from classic purple and lavender to pink, white, and even deep red, adding pops of color to landscapes in late summer and fall. Asters' adaptability to a variety of soil types and growing conditions, from full sun to partial shade, make them versatile selections for borders, meadows, and naturalized areas.

Beyond their ornamental appeal, asters are a vital food source for a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths, providing a crucial nectar-rich floral display when many other plants have finished blooming for the season. This ecological value, combined with asters' ease of care and long-lasting flowers, solidifies their status as beloved, must-have perennials for any garden.

Pros

• Vibrant late-season color and pollinator joy when other plants are fading
• Variety of sizes and colors
• Several native Asters are available
• Cold-hardy and reliable in Chicagoland

Cons

• Can become leggy and flop over in formal gardens without regular pruning or early-season pinching back
• Short bloom window
• Needs full sun
• Some types can self-seed aggressively

Astilbe (Astilbe)

We don’t play favorites, but if we did, Astilbe might take the cake. These part-to-full shade lovers bring long-lasting, feathery blooms in red, purple, white, and pink that float on tall stems over fern-like leaves. Astilbes are low maintenance and come in a huge variety of sizes and colors, and some can even take full sun as long as they are watered adequately. Dappled light is best for big, gorgeous blooms, but full shade won’t kill these plants, just limit bloom number and size.

Astilbe prefers regular moisture but won’t do well in standing water (no “wet feet” here!). Well-draining, rich soil is this plant’s happy place, but really, Astilbe is quite low maintenance and will bring beauty to your garden for years to come.

Astilbe 'Maggie Daley'  blooms later than most other Astilbe, but makes up for lost time with giant, fuzzy pink/purple towers of blooms.

Astilbe 'Weisse Gloria' puts out sparkling white plumes that really set off surrounding colors, and contrast beautifully with its own dark green leaves.

Astilbe 'Visions' smells delicious and looks even better with deep pink blooms over a shorter-variety foliage mound. 

Astilbe 'Deutschland' has white blooms that show earlier than other white varieties of astilbe, making it a midsummer must for garden contrast.

Astilbe ‘Fanal’ sports narrow, deep red blooms and is more cold-hardy than most of its cousins.

Pros

• Thrive in part-to-full shade
• Make great cut flowers
• Come in a wide variety of colors and sizes
• Deer and rabbit resistant

Cons

• Susceptible to powdery mildew (water the soil, not the foliage)
• Most will not thrive in full sun
• Need regular moisture to bloom well

Athyrium (Lady Fern)

Also known as “Lady Fern,” Athyrium is a delicate, feathery fern that loves shade and consistent moisture and will dry out quickly in sunny, dry, hot conditions. This plant will thrive when planted in the right place and brings an almost magical glow to the darker corners of the garden.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, commonly called Japanese Painted Fern, is an absolutely stunning addition to any shade garden. Metallic silver/white frames green fading into deep burgundy centers on each frond to create a truly unique.

Athyrium ‘Ghost’ sports silvery gray/green ‘ghostly’ fronds with burgundy centers, and tends to fare better than other Athyrium in dry conditions (though still prefers to be consistently moist).

Pros

• Beautiful contrasting foliage
• Shade and moisture lover
• Cold-hardy
• Very low maintenance
• Deer and rabbit resistant

Cons

• Will not tolerate full sun
• Not drought tolerant (needs consistent moisture)

Baptisia (Wild Indigo)

Baptisia, also known as false indigo, is a genus of flowering plants native to North America. These perennial plants are prized for their showy spring blooms and attractive foliage. Baptisia plants feature blue, purple, yellow, or white pea-like flowers that bloom in terminal racemes, resembling lupins. The flowers are followed by inflated seed pods that mature to a blackish color. Baptisia plants have a distinctive bushy, mounded growth habit, with gray-green or blue-green trifoliate leaves. They typically grow 2-4 feet tall and wide, making them well-suited for the back of the border, prairies, or native plant gardens. Baptisia is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. It is a long-lived, low-maintenance perennial that provides season-long interest and attracts pollinators to the garden.

Pros

• Long-lived perennial native to the Midwest, well-adapted to Chicagoland's climate and local ecosystems
• Attractive foliage and pollinator-friendly flowers
• Drought tolerant

Cons

• Slow to establish: may not reach full size or bloom heavily until 2-3 years
• Mature plants 3-4 feet tall and wide may overwhelm smaller garden spaces
• Deep taproot makes it hard to move once planted, so choose where you want them wisely
• Seed pods may be messy

Begonia (Begonia)

Pros

• Offer tons of color, height, and green or bronze foliage options
• Low maintenance
• Can tolerate full shade to full sun, depending on the variety
• Do well in containers and planted in the ground

Cons

• Needs extra water in extremely hot weather
• Susceptible to botrytis, a fungal leaf disease - pick these leaves off and put in landscape waste collection (do not compost diseased plant material) / solution: water the soil, not the foliage
• Cannot “overwinter” in the Chicago area (will need to be dug up and stored indoors or sacrificed to the snow gods in the fall)
• Will drop their leaves if the soil is too wet or too dry for an extended length of time

Begonia rex-cultorum (Rex Begonia)

Pros

• Thrives in partial to full shade
• Gorgeously colored and patterned foliage
• Doesn’t require deadheading for continuous blooms (but honestly, who cares about the blooms with those leaves!)

Cons

• Can be a bit of a diva when overwatered
• Will burn if over-fertilized
• Susceptible to botrytis blight, a fungal leaf disease / solution: water the soil, not the foliage

Begonia semperflorens-cultorum (Wax Begonia)

Often called “Wax Begonias,” for their shiny, waxy leaves, Begonia semperflorens are a bit “vertically challenged” which makes them a beautiful choice for borders and the outside edge of mixed containers. These plants will tolerate partial shade to full sun, depending on how hot and humid their growing environment is: they’ll grow taller but bloom less in shady areas, and will be shorter but have more blooms in sun, but are prone to burning in full-sun, dry, very hot conditions.

Pros

• Will tolerate partial shade to full sun
• Blooms from spring until first frost
• Doesn’t require deadheading for continuous blooms
• Beautiful along borders or in containers

Cons

• Prefers consistently moist soil, which could mean daily watering during hot weather…
• … But will wilt and/or rot if overwatered
• Needs well-draining, loose soil to grow and thrive
• Does best in humid conditions (only a con if you have curly hair and/or an aversion to feeling slightly sticky all the time)
• Susceptible to botrytis blight, a fungal leaf disease / solution: water the soil, not the foliage

Begonia x benariensis (Whopper Begonia)

Pros

• Blooms from spring to first frost
• Doesn’t require deadheading for continuous blooms
• One of very few plants that thrives in both shade and sun

Cons

• Um… she’s too tall to wear heels?
• But seriously, there’s very little to not love about this gal except her susceptibility to botrytis blight, a fungal leaf disease / solution:? water the soil, not the foliage

Begonia x hiemalis (Rieger Begonia)

Begonia x hiemalis is kind of the best of two worlds. This plant is a hybrid of a tuberous begonia and a wax begonia, a match made in low-maintenance heaven. These little gems are super easy to grow and have one parents’ lovely, waxy leaves, and the other parent's tubers, making it easy to dig them up, overwinter them in a cool dry place, and pop them back in the ground come spring.

Pros

• Thrives in part sun to full sun
• Tubers can be dug up in the fall, overwintered in a cool dry place, and replanted in the spring
• Doesn’t require deadheading for continuous blooms

Cons

• Doesn’t like “wet feet,” so be sure the soil dries out between waterings
• Susceptible to botrytis blight, a fungal leaf disease / solution: water the soil, not the foliage

Begonia x tuberhybrida (Hybrid Tuberous Begonia)

Need a pop of color for that shady corner of your garden? Look no further than Begonia x tuberhybrida! Commonly known as “tuberous begonias,” these little lovelies pack a powerful punch and are pretty unfussy, as a general rule. Their Achilles Heel is powdery mildew, so don’t plant too densely to allow for air circulation between each plant, which will help fight off this unsightly affliction.

Pros

• Thrives in shade
• Tubers can be dug up in the fall, overwintered in a cool dry place, and replanted in the spring
• Doesn’t require deadheading for continuous blooms 

Cons

• Doesn’t do well in full sun
• Susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis blight, fungal leaf diseases / solution: give them space and water the soil, not the foliage

Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)

Understatedly elegant, Siberian Bugloss will spread to create a flowering, gorgeous groundcover if planted in just the right shade to partial shade place. Small bright blue Forget-Me-Not flowers float above the foliage each spring, contrasting beautifully with the heavily textured, heart-shaped leaves. These flowers can be removed once they’ve “gone by” for the season to allow the remaining foliage to make a statement all on its own.

Brunnera is one of few groundcovers that will spread without becoming invasive, and many of its varieties sport leaves with a silvery tone that set off the greens of neighboring plants. This is a woodland native, so as long as you give it consistent moisture and cool shade, it should be extremely low maintenance and will calmly hold its own in your garden.

Pros

• Thrives in full to part shade
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Textured and veined leaves look great when contrasted with neighboring plants
• Provides not-invasive groundcover

Cons

• Needs consistent moisture
• Will not thrive in full sun
• Grows/spreads quite slowly

Buddleja (Butterfly Bush)

Butterfly bush is like a drive-thru for pollinators—fast, flashy, and always buzzing. With fragrant blooms in bold colors, it’s a nonstop buffet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It thrives in Chicagoland summers, needs little pampering, and adds instant drama to your garden. Grow one, and nature will RSVP daily. The butterfly bush (Buddleia) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn. Its flowers come in many colors, though butterflies seem to prefer the lavender-pink (mauve) of the species to the white and dark purple cultivars. It typically grows to 6-12’ (less frequently to 15’) tall with a spread to 4-15’ wide when not killed back by cold winter temperatures. It is noted for its bushy habit, arching stems, showy/fragrant flowers and vigorous growth. Butterfly bush is a rapidly growing, deciduous, drought-tolerant shrub native to Asia. Plant it in the full sun in well drained soil. Flowers on new growth which appear from summer through the first frost. The best flowers appear when the plant is severely pruned in late winter. It is an excellent choice for the summer flowering shrub border to mass plant.

Pros

• Attracts pollinators (as you might expect)
• Vibrant colors in a long bloom season, from summer into fall, after many other plants have faded
• Grow fast & don't need care once established to stay alive

Cons

• Not officially invasive in Illinois, but it can self-seed and spread beyond intended areas
• Can die back to the ground in a cold winter
• Can become leggy without regular pruning
• Needs full sun to thrive

Buxus (Boxwood)

Commonly known as “Boxwoods,” these hardy, prunable, evergreen shrubs are a staple across much of the US. Boxwoods are happy in part shade to full sun (if watered enough) and can grow up to 9” a year, making them a smart option for privacy plantings or anyone who just really loves to prune things. Boxwoods will grow from 1 foot to 20 feet high, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

Boxwoods don’t have to be pruned, but their small, glossy leaves are so dense that you can prune these shrubs heavily without exposing bare branches. Because they’re evergreen, they offer year-round color and texture, privacy, windblock, and the faint but inescapable smell of cat pee (just kidding, that’s only the dwarf English variety ‘Suffraticosa.’)

Buxus ‘Glencoe’ is a reliably cold-resistant variety developed in the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois (shop local, baby!)

Buxus ‘Green Mountain’ is a cone-shaped variety of boxwood that offers bright green foliage and grows slower than most other varieties.

Buxus ‘Green Velvet’ is a short, dense, rounded, winter-hardy variety that retains a vibrant green throughout the cold season.

Buxus ‘Wilson’ is another local legend (developed in Hampshire, Illinois) that turns bluish-green during the warmer months and transitions to a very dark black-green in the cold season.

Buxus sinica var insularis ‘Winter Gem’ turns a bronzed color in the winter, but greens up quickly in early spring.

Pros

• Evergreen
• Fast-growing
• Prunable
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Part shade to full sun tolerant

Cons

• Prone to Boxwood blight a fungal disease that stays in the soil.
• Can show “dieback,” which causes bald spots in the shrub
• Need to be watered often

Caladium (Elephant Ear)

If you’re looking for a big, bold pop of contrast and color, look no further than this beauty. Because she is native to tropical areas, Caladium acts as an annual in Chicago gardens, but what she lacks in longevity she makes up for with her red, pink, green, and white highly-contrasted foliage. 

Some Caladiums may produce greenish-white flowers, which are usually pruned to allow all of the plant’s energy to go to that show-stopping foliage.

Caladium does best as a container plant, as she does not tolerate cold, soggy soils. She can thrive in hot, dry, sunny areas of the garden, but is extremely sensitive to cold and would prefer to never get below 65°F.

Pros

Thrives in hot, sunny conditions

Gorgeous, high-contrast foliage

Bright, bold colors

Cons

Annual

Does not tolerate cold, soggy soils

Callicarpa (Beautyberry)

In fall, Beautyberry drops the mic with neon-purple berries that look straight out of a fairy tale. In Chicagoland, it thrives with minimal fuss (it's low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and pollinator-friendly) and maximum wow.  Plant beautyberry—it’s like jewelry for your landscape!

Pros

• Berries add striking fall color and are wildlife-friendly in fall/early winter
• Tolerant of partial shade
• Low maintenance

Cons

• Birds love the berries, so they disappear more quickly than you might hope
• Can die back to the ground after a harsh winter and look bare or unimpressive in spring
• Doesn't love heavy clay soil

Caryopteris (Bluebeard)

Caryopteris, also known as bluebeard, is laid-back, stylish, and always surrounded by bees. It bursts into electric blue blooms just when summer starts to fade, adding a jolt of color to Chicagoland borders. Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and low-maintenance, it's the plant that says, "Relax, I’ve got this."

Pros

• Late-season pollinator-friendly blooms when other plants may be fading
• Drought tolerant
• Deer resistant because of aromatic foliage
• Compact size

Cons

• Can die back or fail to return in the harshest winters in exposed areas
• Short bloom period
• Spent flowers can be messy
• Needs full sun

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Have a big blank sunny spot just waiting to be filled with color? Boy, do we have the plant for you.

Coreopsis, commonly known as “Tickseed,” is a sun-loving wonder. This plant will bloom for months and loves hot, dry weather. It has a unique structure: thin, airy stems with small leaves are uniformly topped with flowers, creating a mass of color atop a delicate green mound. This plant will spread slowly from season to season, but it is not considered invasive and can be divided and replanted if it grows too big for its space.

Many Coreopsis varieties are native to Illinois, and thrive in the hot, dry Illinois prairie, which explains why they’re so tough. 

Coreopsis flowers resemble daisies or other more “casual” blooms, so they bring a cottagy, wildflowery, whimsical vibe to the garden. Mostly yellow but available in reds, oranges, and pinks, Tickseed is just… a happy plant!

Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb', also called “Threadleaf Coreopsis,” has a feathery, “thready” leaf structure that almost resembles Dill or Cosmos. Small bright yellow flowers abound at the crown of this plant, topping the dense but delicate mound of foliage. 

Coreopsis lanceolata, or Lanceleaf Coreopsis, is an Illinois native and proves it with its toughness. This is one hardy plant! Yellow blooms appear in early summer and last for weeks, attracting native pollinators like a charm.  

Coreopsis palmata, or Stiff Tickseed, is native to Illinois and sports 2” bright yellow blooms atop 1.5-2.5 foot-high stems. This plant is a great choice for hot, dry, sunny spots, as it thrives naturally on the prairies of Illinois.

Pros

• Sun, heat, and drought tolerant
• Long bloom period
• Reliable, easy grower
• Deer resistant
• Attracts pollinators
• Make great cut flowers

Cons

• Plant remains healthier if blooms are sheared once they’ve died back
• May need dividing if it outgrows its space
• Will not bloom well in full shade

Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Coreopsis)

Lanceleaf Coreopsis, is an Illinois native and proves it with its toughness. This is one hardy plant! Yellow blooms appear in early summer and last for weeks, attracting native pollinators like a charm.  

Pros

• Sun, heat, and drought tolerant
• Long bloom period
• Reliable, easy grower
• Deer resistant
• Attracts pollinators
• Make great cut flowers

Cons

• Plant remains healthier if blooms are sheared once they’ve died back
• May need dividing if it outgrows its space
• Will not bloom well in full shade

Coreopsis palmata (Tickseed)

Stiff Tickseed, is native to Illinois and sports 2” bright yellow blooms atop 1.5-2.5 foot-high stems. This plant is a great choice for hot, dry, sunny spots, as it thrives naturally on the prairies of Illinois.

Pros

• Sun, heat, and drought tolerant
• Long bloom period
• Reliable, easy grower
• Deer resistant
• Attracts pollinators
• Make great cut flowers

Cons

• Plant remains healthier if blooms are sheared once they’ve died back
• May need dividing if it outgrows its space
• Will not bloom well in full shade

Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' (Zagreb Threadleaf Coreopsis)

The feathery, “thready” leaf structure almost resembles Dill or Cosmos. Small bright yellow flowers abound at the crown of this plant, topping the dense but delicate mound of foliage. 

Pros

• Sun, heat, and drought tolerant
• Long bloom period
• Reliable, easy grower
• Deer resistant
• Attracts pollinators
• Make great cut flowers

Cons

• Plant remains healthier if blooms are sheared once they’ve died back
• May need dividing if it outgrows its space
• Will not bloom well in full shade

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Tough, colorful, and totally unbothered by Chicago's wilfe weather mood swings, Coneflowers bloom for months, feed pollinators, and ask for almost nothing in return.

Echinacea, commonly called "Coneflower," is a tough, long-blooming, pollinator-attracting perennial that is native to the US. Echinacea purpurea (Eastern Purple Coneflower) and Echinacea Pallida (Eastern Pale Purple Coneflower) are both native to Illinois and extremely well-suited to Chicago growing conditions.

Echinacea will bloom for the longest period of time if old flowers are deadheaded, so we recommend removing spent blooms from July through September, then leaving the rest to stand through the winter months. Named for their prickly center cones (the Latin word "echinus" means sea urchin), these un-cuddly beauties actually look quite nice "bald" once the flowers have gone by. Bonus points for feeding the birds through the cold season!

Echinacea 'Pixie Meadowbrite' sends out bubblegum-pink petals around deep orange to dark red cones. This variety of Echinacea is quite short (less than two feet tall) and looks great along borders or in planters.

Echinacea hybrida 'Cheyenne Spirit' is a delightful mystery: this two-foot-tall variety will bloom in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white… all on a single plant! What combination will yours create?

Echinacea 'Sombrero Salsa Red' is as tough as it is… well… red. This variety was bred to be cold-hardy and long-blooming, so plant in full sun, sit back, and watch it put on a show from late spring through fall.

Echinacea purpurea 'Pow Wow Wildberry' is a compact (1.5 foot tall), extremely hardy variety of Echinacea with vibrant purple flowers. Sure, it’s named like a fruity flavor of gum, but this plant can withstand drought, heat, poor soil, and high humidity, no problem.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' grows up to three feet tall and sports six-inch-wide, rose-pink flowers with a unique flat shape (most echinacea petals curl downwards, away from the center cone).

Pros

• Love hot, sunny, dry conditions
• Deer resistant
• Heat/drought tolerant
• Plant looks attractive even after flowers have gone by without deadheading
• Seeds can feed birds over winter months
• Tolerant of poor soil (but bloom best in nutrient-rich soil)
• Make great cut flowers

Cons

• Won’t thrive in shade
• Don’t like wet feet
• Need deadheading to get more blooms

Euonymus fortunei (Winter Creeper)

Commonly called Winter Creeper for good reason! This vine will grow anywhere you want it and some places you don’t. Its unique ability to shapeshift from vine to groundcover to bush makes it an excellent choice for stone walls, trellises, foundations, or other areas that look nice when covered with a “cascading effect” of evergreen Euonymus foliage. However, buyer beware: we do mean covered. This plant is an ambitious grower and will take over just about everything if you let it!

This plant comes in green/pink, white/green, green/yellow, several green and gold single tones, and two-tone green shades. It’s quite stunning when kept in check and extremely un-picky about growing conditions, so it’s a reliable and hardy choice for year-round color.

Pros

• Super tough groundcover, shrub, or vine
• Thrives in full sun to full shade
• Not picky about soil quality or moisture levels

Cons

• Extremely invasive
• Plants in the Euonymus genus are toxic to dogs if they eat enough of it
• Susceptible to Euonymus Scale, an insect that will also attack pachysandra, bittersweet, and privet shrubs and causes leaf and branch dieback

Eupatorium (Eupatorium)

Joe Pye Weed is the gentle giant your Chicagoland garden didn’t know it needed. Towering with fluffy pink blooms, it’s a butterfly magnet that turns heads and feeds pollinators. It thrives in wet or dry spots, shrugs off Midwest winters, and adds wild, native charm with zero attitude. Grow bold!

Pros

• Several Eupatorium species are native to Illinois and support local ecosystems
• Can reach 4-7 feet tall, adding vertical interest and structure to the back of garden borders or naturalized areas
• Blooms late summer/early fall when other plants may be fading
• Tolerant of wet areas

Cons

• Size can overwhelm smaller spaces, can flop without support
• Not very drought tolerant
• Somewhat slow to establish

Helleborus (Lenten Rose)

Hellebores are the cool goths of the garden—they don’t just survive in darkness—they thrive in it!  Lenten Roses are evergreen and bloom in late winter or early spring (around Lent), when everything else in your yard is still hitting snooze...  Many cultivars have interesting flower colors: ranging from subtle light green to dark red to almost black. Hellebores are deer-resistant (they contain 3 toxins, so you shouldn't eat them, either!).  Historically, the flowers faced downwards, but flowers of the newer varieties are more visible.  Hellebores also stay politely where they're put...  They hold their ground in the shade, but establish slowly, and don't self-seed much.

These evergreen perennials belong to the Ranunculaceae family and are primarily native to the northern hemisphere, particularly around the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia. Hellebores are notable for their unique flowers, which consist of sepals rather than traditional petals, and bloom in late winter to early spring, providing color during a time when few other plants are flowering.  These plants thrive in hardiness zones 5 through 8 and are appreciated for their ability to adapt to various soil types, although they prefer well-drained conditions. Hellebores are also known for their toxicity; all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, which makes them less appealing to deer and other herbivores. Additionally, they are relatively low-maintenance once established, requiring minimal fertilization and being tolerant of urban pollution, making them suitable for a variety of garden settings.

Pros

• Evergreen with cool flowers in late winter before the rest of your garden wakes up
• Thrives in the shade
• Very low maintenance
• Very deer resistant

Cons

• Slow to grow & establish
• They're expensive at the nursery
• Most have subtle flower colors
• Leaves are prickly

Hemerocallis (Daylily)

Ah, the old standby, Daylilies! These plants are classic favorites: they are hardy, reliable, profusely-blooming, widely-varied perennials that are (almost) impossible to kill. These plants prefer full sun but can survive in part shade (with fewer blooms).

Little known fact: Daylilies aren’t actually lilies at all (though they used to be classified as Liliaceae)! Their blooms are very similar to true lily flowers, but last only a single day before wilting. What they lack in longevity they make up for in numbers: a single Daylily can produce up to 200 blooms a summer!  The genus nam, Hemerocallis, is derived from the Greek words hemera– day– and kallos– beauty– referring to the fact that each flower only lasts a day.

These plants are available in almost every color, a range of sizes, and staggered bloom times, so it’s quite possible to plant a garden entirely of daylilies and enjoy a huge variety.

Hemerocallis’ leaves are long, slender spears that form a mounded shape, from which tall thin stalks sprout and flower. These stalks can be cut to below the foliage after they are done blooming, but this isn’t necessary to promote flowers. Daylilies grow quickly and need to be divided every few years to stay healthy.

Old-fashioned orange and yellow daylilies have been hybridized to produce modern daylilies in a rainbow of colors and with flowering times from spring through summer.  Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil high in organic matter.  When planting, cover tubers in 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil; it is not usually necessary to lift and store them for the winter.  Propagate plants by division in the fall or spring.  These plants are frequently damaged by deer but are highly salt tolerant and easy to grow.  They are excellent to plant along banks and slopes and provide a nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Pros

• Thrive in full sun
• Extremely tough perennial
• Major variety available
• Deadheading isn’t necessary to produce prolific blooms

Cons

• Deadheading spent stalks will prevent the plant from expending energy to produce seed pods (meaning greener, healthier leaves longer into the season)
• Will grow quickly and eventually limit their own blooms, so should be divided every few years
• Wilted/brown leaves are quite unattractive at the end of the season

Hemerocallis (Daylily)

Ah, the old standby, Daylilies! These plants are classic favorites: they are hardy, reliable, profusely-blooming, widely-varied perennials that are (almost) impossible to kill. These plants prefer full sun but can survive in part shade (with fewer blooms).

Little known fact: Daylilies aren’t actually lilies at all (though they used to be classified as Liliaceae)! Their blooms are very similar to true lily flowers, but last only a single day before wilting. What they lack in longevity they make up for in numbers: a single Daylily can produce up to 200 blooms a summer!  The genus nam, Hemerocallis, is derived from the Greek words hemera– day– and kallos– beauty– referring to the fact that each flower only lasts a day.

These plants are available in almost every color, a range of sizes, and staggered bloom times, so it’s quite possible to plant a garden entirely of daylilies and enjoy a huge variety.

Hemerocallis’ leaves are long, slender spears that form a mounded shape, from which tall thin stalks sprout and flower. These stalks can be cut to below the foliage after they are done blooming, but this isn’t necessary to promote flowers. Daylilies grow quickly and need to be divided every few years to stay healthy.

Old-fashioned orange and yellow daylilies have been hybridized to produce modern daylilies in a rainbow of colors and with flowering times from spring through summer.  Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil high in organic matter.  When planting, cover tubers in 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil; it is not usually necessary to lift and store them for the winter.  Propagate plants by division in the fall or spring.  These plants are frequently damaged by deer but are highly salt tolerant and easy to grow.  They are excellent to plant along banks and slopes and provide a nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Pros

• Thrive in full sun
• Extremely tough perennial
• Major variety available
• Deadheading isn’t necessary to produce prolific blooms

Cons

• Deadheading spent stalks will prevent the plant from expending energy to produce seed pods (meaning greener, healthier leaves longer into the season)
• Will grow quickly and eventually limit their own blooms, so should be divided every few years
• Wilted/brown leaves are quite unattractive at the end of the season

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

If there was a contest for the most versatile plant out there, Heuchera just might win. This plant can tolerate full shade to full sun, although it does best with at least four hours of sun daily, and can grow in almost any soil and moisture conditions (within reason - don’t plant the poor guy in a pond!). Heuchera’s foliage can range from an almost-lemon-yellow to an almost-black-purple, and its dainty bell-shaped flowers dance in the breeze over its dense and mounded crown. Heuchera makes a striking “middle row” plant in the garden but can also be found in a pot. 

Heuchera overwinters beautifully in the ground (it could be classified as *almost* evergreen) and only needs a light trim-back in the spring to remove winter-damaged foliage. Its flowers will dry on their stalks in late summer and actually look quite pretty, in a steampunk kind of way, but you can snip the stalks and enjoy a freshened-up, foliage-only plant for the rest of the season. 

A few favorites include ‘Caramel’ (light green to - you guessed it - caramel foliage), ‘Dolce Cherry Truffles’ (cherry red to deep red ruffled foliage), ‘Lime Marmalade’ (yellow-green ruffled foliage), ‘Frosted Violet’ (prominent veins, violet purple foliage with a silver overcast), ‘Green Spice’ (purple veins, bright green foliage with a silver overcast), ‘Obsidian’ (very dark purple foliage), and ‘Palace Purple’ (dark green to purple to burgundy foliage). Heuchera makes a stunning mass planting or you can mix-and-match to achieve bright splashes of contrast throughout the garden.

Pros

• Colorful foliage often overwinters
• Shade tolerant
• Extremely low maintenance
• Only needs a quick cut-back to look its best come spring
• No pruning needed (but can prune old flower stalks)

Cons

• Needs extra water in extremely hot weather
• Blooms are brief and (for most types) small
• Freeze/thaw cycles can push Coral Bells out of the ground
• May need to be divided or replaced after a few years

Hibiscus moscheutos (Swamp Mallow)

Swamp mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is your garden’s answer to “go big or go home.” With dinner-plate-sized blooms in shades of pink, red, and white, it turns any Chicagoland yard into a tropical vacation—minus the airfare. It thrives in wet spots, shrugs off humidity, and brings pollinators in like a block party.

Hibiscus moscheutos, commonly called Hardy Hibiscus or Swamp Hibiscus, is a statuesque native perennial valued for its large, showy blooms and adaptability to a range of growing conditions. This vigorous hibiscus species produces dinner plate-sized flowers in a variety of vibrant colors, including white, pink, red, and bicolor patterns. The flowers feature delicate, crepe-paper-like petals that surround a prominent central column and create a striking, tropical-inspired display. The plant's tall, branching stems can reach heights of 48-72 inches, topped with large, heart-shaped leaves that provide an attractive backdrop for the magnificent blossoms. Hardy in USDA Zones 5-9, H. moscheutos thrives in consistently moist, well-drained soil and full sun exposure, making it an excellent choice for wetland gardens, pond margins, and rain gardens. The nectar-rich flowers of this native hibiscus attract a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies, further enhancing its value in the landscape.

Pros

• Massive nectar-rich flowers attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds from mid-late summer
• Tolerates poorly drained soils and Chicagoland cold
• Species native to Midwest

Cons

• Late to emerge in spring
• Individual flowers don't last long, though the Swamp Mallow blooms continuously for several weeks
• Sometimes dies back to the ground

Hosta (Plantain Lily)

Pros

• Thrive in part shade to part sun, but can survive in full shade
• Make great “filler” plants
• No pruning required
• Don’t mind “wet feet”
• Come in many colors, patterns, and size
• Aren’t picky about soil or moisture conditions

Cons

• Deer LOVE to snack on hosta and rabbits love spring emerging leaves
• Will not thrive in full sun
• Dead flower stalks are unattractive if unpruned
• Are susceptible to slugs

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea)

Pros

• Beautiful large white flowers
• Climbs stone and brick without causing damage
• Thick, deep green foliage
• Can be trained to grow horizontally
• Award of Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Cons

Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea)

Pros

Cons

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)

Have a shady spot that’s just begging for a hydrangea? Oakleaf Hydrangeas are the most shade-tolerant of the bunch, and will bloom quite prolifically even in partial shade. Aptly named for their… you guessed it… oak-leaf-shaped leaves that turn a striking red and purple in fall, Oakleaf Hydrangeas also have a shaggy, peeling bark that looks quite interesting after the leaves drop. Add all this to their white cones of flowers that age to a pink and finally antique brown in fall, and you’ve got yourself quite a special plant!

These hydrangeas do not enjoy wet feet and should be planted in well-draining areas to avoid root rot.

Pros

• Very tough, low-maintenance shrub
• The most shade-tolerant hydrangea
• Interesting bark
• Beautiful fall foliage
• Blooms that change color over the course of each season
• Great cut flower, fresh and dried

Cons

• Prefers partial shade to shade
• By Hydrangea standards has relatively un-showy flowers
• Does not like wet feet, susceptible to root rot

Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens)

Commonly known as “New Guinea Impatiens,” Impatiens hawkeri are quite similar to Common Impatiens, with a plot twist: they can be grown in full sun. Their blooms are also slightly larger than their cousins’, which makes for some awkward Impatiens Family dinner conversation.

These annuals will flower all season long, come in a huge range of colors, and don’t need to be deadheaded. They do best in well-drained, consistently moist soil, so be sure to water a few times a week, especially during hotter weather.

Pros

• Can be grown in sun or shade
• Season-long blooms
• Well-behaved, mounding growth
• Wide range of colors available

Cons

• Many varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal leaf disease
• Not cold-hardy

Impatiens walleriana (Common Impatiens)

Often simply called Common Impatiens, or, our favorite, "Busy Lizzy," (how cute is that!) Impatiens walleriana is one of the most grown annuals in the world.  This "mounding" (read: well-behaved, full and lush) annual thrives in hanging baskets, pots, or in the ground along walkways and borders.  Its true allure lies in its light requirements: this plant is one of very few shade-tolerators who offers up dense, spectacular, vibrant, long-lasting carpets of blooms from spring to early fall.

Because of that, it's a popular annual bedding plant with a wide variety of colors and does best in part shade to full shade. This plant tolerates full sun, but is a water guzzler and tends to look wilted when heat loads are high and water is less plentiful. Over watering, however, can cause rot. Flowers may be bicolored or double. This plant has low drought tolerance and is hardy in zones 10-11. This plant performs best when soil is moist, well-drained, and supplemented with organic material. 

Impatiens walleriana is a species of the genus Impatiens, native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique.  The Latin specific epithet walleriana honors a British missionary, Horace Waller.

Pros

• Thrive in shade
• Season-long blooms
• Well-behaved, mounding growth
• Wide range of colors available

Cons

• Do not do well in full sun
• Many varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal leaf disease
• Not cold-hardy

Lavandula (Lavender)

There is something so romantic about the scent of lavender on a hot summer’s night. Commonly called English Lavender (though native to the Mediterranean region), this semi-evergreen herb with a sweet, earthy scent that herbalists claim promotes relaxation. Lavender’s blue-gray-green leaves and cool purple spikes of flowers add beautiful pastel shades to the garden or planters.

This plant does best in well-draining, sunny conditions and actually prefers nutrient-lean, sandy soil over rich, loamy soil. Lavender blooms in mid-summer and often will produce a second showing of blooms if the first is cut back once the flowers have died back.

Pros

• Two bloom periods if cut back
• Wonderful, herbal scented fragrant foliage
• Thrives in full sun and poor soil
• Flower stalks dry well for indoor fragrance

Cons

• Not a fan of humidity and persistent moisture!
• Is semi-evergreen but not extremely cold-tolerant, so may not survive the harshest winters

Monarda (Bee Balm)

Bee balm is the garden's firecracker—bold, fragrant, and buzzing with life. Its wild, shaggy blooms look like nature’s punk rock hairdo, and pollinators can’t get enough. Hummingbirds? Obsessed. Bees? Ecstatic. You? Delighted. There are several native Monardas, and a growing number of cultivars...  All are low-maintenance, and smells like minty heaven. Grow bee balm—your garden party just got a headliner.

Bee balm is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Native to the North Carolina mountains, it may be seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway flowering during the summer months. 

Monarda smells very similar to the rind of a Bergamot Orange, one of the main ingredients in Earl Grey tea. You’ll smell the spicy herbal notes on the air if you get anywhere near this plant, and its leaves can be used in salads or a tea of its own to enjoy more of this unique scent.

This plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun but will tolerate some shade. Bee balm can reach a height of 4 feet and will spread rapidly by underground stolons. Blossoms attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, and the leaves have a minty aroma when crushed. 

Nepeta (Catmint)

Catmint is the garden's chill-out champion—soft, fragrant, and buzzing with pollinators. It blooms like it's on vacation, needs almost no care, and handles Chicagoland's heat and drought like a pro. Bees love it, deer avoid it, and it looks great spilling over borders. Plant catmint—your garden will instantly exhale.

Pros

• Long pollinator-friendly bloom season
• Responds well to shearing for repeat blooms
• Easy to grow and maintain: adaptable, drought-tolerant, deer/rabbit-resistant

Cons

• Can look messy midseason
• Needs deadheading for longest bloom
• Can spread aggressively
• Attractive to cats (hello Catmint!)

Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese pachysandra)

What would we do without Japanese Pachysandra? Seriously, this lush, evergreen, shade-loving groundcover is a lifesaver in those dim, romantic corners of the garden that no other plant can seem to survive. Pachysandra carpets the ground with a springy mat of green that aggressively spreads if given free reign. While this plant does send out delicate white flowers each spring, it’s primarily used for filling in hard-to-plant areas and providing beautiful, rich color even during those cold, dark, brown winter months.

Pros

• Evergreen in the Chicago area
• Thrives in full to partial shade
• Prolific spreader

Cons

• Cannot tolerate full sun
• Cannot tolerate prolonged wet conditions
• Will overtake other plants if allowed

Paeonia (Peony)

If the Plant Kingdom had a Royal Family, Paoenia (Peony) might just be Queen.

Peonies rely on their somewhat fragile, very thin stems to support their frilly, absolutely breathtaking blooms. Form beats out function on these beauties, as they often need to be staked or hooped to remain upright under the sheer weight of their own gorgeousness. Oh, and did we mention that they smell divine?

Pro tip: notice an ant parade in your peony patch? No worries. Peony nectar is very sweet and these plants are usually quite revered by their hardworking subjects. After all, ants know a good queen when they see one! If you’d like to enjoy cut flowers without inviting an ant colony into your home, just cut right before a bud blooms - it should be about the size and firmness of a marshmallow and just starting to show color. Put it in water, wait a day or two, and enjoy ant-free beauty for up to a month straight.

Pros

• Delightful floral smell
• Beautiful, big, colorful blooms
• Make great cut flowers

Cons

• May need to be staked or hooped to remain upright during bloom time
• Should be deadheaded after blooming

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)

Perovskia, also known as Russian sage, is the garden’s silver-haired rockstar—tall, wispy, and always ready for a windblown photo shoot. It thrives in Chicagoland heat, laughs at drought, and blooms like it’s got something to prove. Bees love it, deer avoid it, and your neighbors will definitely ask what it is.

This aromatic perennial that captivates with its distinctive, silvery-gray foliage and spikes of lavender-blue flowers.

Pros

• Cold-hardy (Hello Russia!)
• Long, pollinator-friendly bloom period
• Aromatic foliage is deer and rabbit resistant
• Drought-tolerant once established

Cons

• Late to leaf out
• Can flop over when it gets leggy (which it is wont to do in partial shade)
• Needs full sun
• Spreads via underground runners, potentially crowding out nearby plants

Petunia (Petunia)

Pros

• Tons of colors and varieties available
• Bloom from spring until the first frost
• Showy and colorful in planters or the garden
• Adapt easily to most soil conditions
• Prefer full sun, but can tolerate partial shade (6 or more hours of sun a day)

Cons

• Dead blooms need to be pinched off to keep the plant looking its best
• Require selective pruning to retain lushness
• Need daily watering during hot weather
• Prone to root and stem rot if planted in poorly-draining soil
• Need to be fed (fertilized) often / solution: every other week with fertilizer dissolved in water or once a month with a slow release granular fertilizer in the soil

Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox)

Phlox paniculata shows up fashionably late, but inevitably steals the spotlight with its bold colors.  Garden phlox is not just pretty—it's fragrant. Like, "Did someone just spritz perfume in the garden?" fragrant. Pollinators love it. Bees buzz around like it’s brunch, and butterflies treat it like a VIP lounge.  And yes, it's native-ish, so it knows how to handle Chicagoland's mood swings: blazing sun, surprise thunderstorms, and winters that feel like a breakup.

But beware: Garden Phlox is a bit high-maintenance. Powdery mildew? She’s had it. Needs space, sunshine, and a little pruning to keep her from flopping like a tired diva. But give her what she wants, and she'll reward you with a show-stopping performance every year.

Phlox paniculata is an erect herbaceous perennial that may grow 2 to 4 feet tall and is clump-forming. Flowers come in various colors and bloom mid-summer to mid-fall. It mixes well with other perennials, attracts hummingbirds, and is a good selection for a bird garden. This popular flower has escaped gardens and naturalized into areas beyond its original native range.

Phlox paniculata prefers sun to partial shade and moist, fertile, and well-drained soils. Good air circulation (adequate spacing and thinning of stems as needed) will help combat powdery mildew. Overhead watering should be avoided. Phlox needs to be watered in dry summers and mulched to keep the root zone cool. Removing faded flower panicles will prolong blooming and prevent self-seeding as cultivars do not come true from seed.

In winter, plants should be cut to the ground and removed from the garden in order to minimize possible powdery mildew infection for the following season. This plant has numerous pest and disease problems and is not always an easy plant to grow well. Phlox bugs, powdery mildew, and root rot can be serious problems. Spider mites can also be a problem, particularly in hot, dry conditions. Taller stems may need staking.

Pros

• Pollinator-friendly, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, for a long period in mid-summer
• Wide range of colors amongst commercial cultivars
• A number of native phlox exist.

Cons

• Can be leggy and may require deadheading to maintain appearance and encouraging reblooming
• Susceptible to powdery mildew in humic conditions or when air circulation is poor
• Needs full sun

Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)

Commonly known as Creeping Phlox, Phlox subulata creates a literal carpet of blooms every spring that will last for about six weeks and is, quite frankly, hard to compare to any other groundcover. Creeping phlox is minimally invasive, so it’s rather well-behaved and plays well with others (read: will fill in around plants without smothering them to death).

Put this showy spring perennial in full sun; along walkways, on steep slopes, and anywhere that could use an evergreen groundcover to really look filled out. When this plant is done blooming, it resembles a needly kind of moss, which makes it an attractive, reliable filler.

Pros

• Dense, bright color for six weeks in spring
• Minimally invasive
• Many colors and varieties available
• Evergreen ground cover
• Can grow in most soil types

Cons

• Very susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal leaf disease
• Requires full sun to bloom and thrive
• Doesn’t like having wet feet

Rosa (Rose)

A quick Google search found several hundred species of roses, and tens of thousands of cultivars. There’s a reason roses are so beloved among men that we’ve found and bred this astonishing variety: they are beautiful, they smell divine, they are reliable, and they can grow in an array of conditions. Just make sure your plant gets lots of sun and lives in well-drained soil, and she’ll give you stunning blooms for years on end.

That kind of performance is worth a little finger prick every now and again, right?

Pros

• Lovely scent
• Beautiful blooms
• Huge variety of shapes, sizes, colors, scents, and growing preferences

Cons

• “Ouch!”
• Should be pruned carefully according to type
• Need full sun to bloom well

Sage (Salvia)

Salvia is a garden overachiever in a purple suit—blooming nonstop, buzzing with bees, and totally unfazed by Chicagoland's heat or humidity. It's low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and pollinator-approved. Whether you want bold color, fragrant foliage, or a butterfly magnet, Salvia delivers. Plant it once, and enjoy the encore all season long.

Perennial Salvias (also known as “sage”) are mainstays of the midsummer garden border—blooming summer to autumn! Planted in the spring, these aromatic beauties are great for cutting and beloved by bees and butterflies. They are also drought-tolerant.

Part of the mint family (Lamiaceae), salvias appear as a colorful spike of densely-packed flowers with tubular blossoms atop square stems and velvety leaves. Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. 

Hummingbirds and butterflies love salvia’s tubular flowers and they’re adored by bees, too, so plant them if you wish to attract these pretty pollinators!

Fortunately, salvia does not tend to attract deer or rabbits. It is the distinctive, pungent odor of their leaves that acts as a repellent to garden pests.

Pros

• A top choice for pollinator gardens: Salvia's tubular flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds 
• Long bloom season
• Wide variety of colors and sizes
• Deer, rabbit, and drought tolerant

Cons

• Be sure to check the label: Only some Salvias are cold hardy...
• Deadheading and pruning may be needed for best blooms and appearance
• Relatively short-lived perennials

Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedum is an overachiever... It thrives on neglect, laughs at drought, and blooms like it’s got something to prove. Bees adore it, deer ignore it, and it turns fall into a floral fireworks show. Plant sedum -- your future self will thank you!

“Sedum” refers to an extremely diversified group of plants that has one thing in common: all sedum leaves are succulent, meaning they store water in their leaves. This gives them a plump, shiny look that provides a unique contrast in the garden, in planters, or along stone walls and walkways. The genus can be loosely split into three groups: upright (commonly called Border Sedums) and low-growing Creeping and Trailing Sedums.

There’s a moment in the garden when most plants have died back and things start to look a bit bleak, usually right around Halloween. This is Border Sedum’s finest hour. These Sedums begin blooming in August and certainly hold their own during the peak of any late-summer garden, but these plants can withstand very cold temps and look good doing it, which makes them an amazing addition on those dark November days. 

Low-growing Creeping and Trailing varieties of Sedums come in a huge array of shapes, sizes, and growing habits; some spread slowly, some are quite invasive, and some fit cozily into any little nook or crevice they can find and stay there quite happily. Most low-growing sedums do bloom, though some varieties have relatively muted blooms and are better known for their striking leaf shapes, colors, and designs.

Pros

• Late season color
• Unique shapes provide high contrast
• Huge variety
• Drought-tolerant (they store water in their leaves!)
• Low maintenance

Cons

• Some low-growing varieties are very invasive
• Most varieties prefer full sun

Thuja occidentalis (American arborvitae)

Often referred to as Arborvitae, Latin for “The Tree of Life.” It’s easy to imagine this nickname when the Arborvitae will stay vibrant and evergreen when almost everything else dies back for the winter - but it actually earned this title in the 1500s when it was discovered that a tea made from Arborvitae bark and leaves cured scurvy (hellooo, Vitamin C). 

While it’s certainly pretty cool that these shrubs saved lives, we love them for their reliable winter color, well-behaved growth patterns, and unfussy growing requirements. Most varieties grow quite quickly and all are very dense, making them the perfect privacy planting.

Pros

• Evergreen
• Can grow in a variety of soil and moisture conditions
• Most varieties require minimal to no pruning to keep their shape
• Excellent privacy planting

Cons

• Require part to full sun to thrive
• May be susceptible to winter wind burn