Perennials:
- Athyrium frizellaea, fern and A. ‘Ghost’
- Uvularia grandflora * Merrybells
- Tulipa tarda, species tulip
- Hosta ‘June’* H. ‘Sun Power’
- Euphorbia: spp: any euphorbia is great.
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
- Hakonochloa macra ‘Aureola’* and a new one called ‘All Gold’ both forms of Japanese hedge grass are, to my mind, essential plants.
- Podophyllum ‘Kaleidoscope’ Asian mayapple; and of course the native mayapple, P. peltatum, is a must-have plant.
- Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’
- Pulmonaria ‘Excalibur’, lungwort
- Gillenia trifoliata*, Bowman’s Root
- Cimicifuga ‘James Compton’* Snakeroot
- Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’*, purple Joe-Pye weed
Trees Shrubs and 2 great vines:
- Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ and C. terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis)
- Cornus ‘Golden Shadows’ and C. ‘Samaritan’, variegated dogwoods Fothergilla gardenii
- Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ this form of sumach is not >supposed to spread and has a golden leaf
- Disanthus cercidipholius
- Hydrangea quercifolia oakleaf hydrangea
- Berberis thunbergii ‘Gold Edge’ and B. t. ‘Sunsation’, Barberry
- Amelanchier canadensis (actually all species of amelanchier are great)*
- Serviceberry
- Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’, purple ninebark
- Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’ * and A. p.
- shirasawanum ?Aureum?; ?Viridis?, ?Villa Taranto? and ?Red Pygmy? are all gorgeous Japanese maples
- Viburnum plicatum ‘Summer Snowflake’ *
- Sambucus ‘Black Lace’*, black leaf elder
Annuals:
- Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’
- Ipomea batatas ‘Blackie’, black potato vine
- Phormium or Cordyline species both make great pointy statements.
- Acalypha or Copperleaf
- Calocasia ‘Black Magic’ Black Taro
- Canna ‘Intrigue’
- Alternanthera ‘Purple Knight’