Mounds of fine textured green foliage give rise to masses of stems bearing flowers that feature long, prominent cones surrounded by reflexed petals in shades of deep reddish-brown, orange and yellow. This dwarf selection is perfect for the front of a sunny border and loves hot, dry conditions.

Hairy Mountain Mint is one of the best perennials for helping polliators. Aromatic foliage smells of mint and the flowers are small white to pale lavender with purple spots. Each flower is so full of nectar they are sure to be busy with numerous butterflies and pollinators.

Upright stems hold masses of narrow deep green, aromatic foliage that serves as the backdrop to terminal clusters of silvery white flowers that bloom in June and continue through August. This selection thrives in many conditions and is a must have plant for many nectar seeking butterflies and native bees.

Silvery bracts highlight dense clusters of small pinkish flowers from summer to early fall. The flowers are an extraordinarily good source of nectar for smaller types of butterflies. The leaves smell strongly of spearmint when they are crushed and, like many members of the mint family, the leaves may be used in teas.

A lovely old garden favorite for the edge of a shady path or border. Its long leaves are lavishly dappled with silvery spots that glow brightly from early spring till hard frost. The graceful clusters of rosy buds open to flowers that start pink and age to deep blue. Use a grouping of ‘Mrs. Moon’ to create an attractive ground cover. Grow in soil that stays moist (not wet) and is rich in organic matter.

Brighten up any shade garden with this early blooming perennial that is as reknown for its foliage as its bloom. Leaves emerge from the ground as the weather warms in late March forming a mound of long, narrow, deep green, spade-shaped foliage offset by an array of white spots that make the leaves look like they just have emerged from a passing paint shower! The foliage serves as the backdrop for stems of small, deep blue to pink, bell shaped flowers that rise above the mound in late April and continue through May. ‘Bertram Anderson’ is one of those indispensible plants for a shade garden that thrive where other plants falter…it looks fantastic in groups at the front of any garden and will give you months of foliage viewing pleasure. While many Lungworts are powdery mildew prone, this is one of the most resistant giving you even more reason to enjoy them!

Unique salmon pink buds transition to rich blue flowers. Silver speckling dusts the green leaves. Its attractive foliage can be enjoyed after the spring flowers are finished.

This enticing shade perennial will make you want to dance with its striking blooms and unique foliage. Starting in mid-spring, dainty light periwinkle blue flowers cover a low, mounded habit. After the flowers fade, you can enjoy its dark green leaves that twinkle with silver. This underused and under appreciated beauty will thrive in moist shade to part shade, adding bright spring color to even the darkest garden areas.

Hosta may be the king of mid spring to fall shade foliage plants but Pulmonaria make a strong case for being the ruler of the early to mid spring garden for foliage and will hold their own in the shade garden even after those Hosta unfurl. ‘Trevi Fountain’ exhibits all the gifts that make Pulmonaria so valuable in the shade landscape with long, strap-like foliage that is deep green and heavily spotted with irregular silver blotches. Unlike Hosta, ‘Trevi Fountain’ doesn’t overpower you with massive size and texture, it soothes you with its cool foliage, finer texture and ability to fill a much lower, spreading space in the garden. A bigger bonus may be its resrained yet still spectacular spring bloom. Like all Pulmonaria, ‘Trevi Fountain’ sends out a short flower stalk that stands just above its foliage as it emerges in early to mid April bearing buds that soon open to considerably sized, funnel shaped, cobalt blue flowers that stay in bloom from mid April through late May. ‘Trevi Fountain’ is perfect for grouping, thrives in partial sun to full shade and wants deep, rich, moist soils to put on its tasteful yet significant show.

This plant has many great features once you get beyond the common name! It is an under used, tremendous plant that adds foliage and flowering interest all season in the garden. Rounded mounds of foliage attractively splashed with large sparkling silver flecks are unusual and a topic of many admiring questions! The flowers are great for the spring garden, arising in mid-April and lasting into May. The flowers cover the foliage and open a pale, shining blue and mature to paler hues of blue. Flowers, foliage, and its shade loving nature make this plant a “must have.”